Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh became popular thanks to his television shows like Fauji and Circus. He wasn't the regular handsome guy, but people adored him nonetheless.
But he did not land lead roles when he shifted to films, and had to contend in a supporting role in 1992's Deewana.
Aditya Chopra's Darr changed that, and SRK became a star. SRK scored many hits in negative, comical and multi-starrer films. But it was his romantic role in 1995's Dilwala Dulhania Le Jayenge that made SRK King Khan.