London, July 10 (IANS): Shah Rukh Khan becomes Dr Shah Rukh Khan Friday.

The Bollywood superstar is to be presented an honorary doctorate in arts and culture by Britain's Bedfordshire University at a ceremony in London for his contributions to culture.

Shah Rukh was nominated by Routes to Roots, a non-government organisation that works across the SAARC region to bring South Asian people together.

"Shah Rukh Khan needs no introduction - being a superstar his contribution to arts, culture and media is well recognised. He has a huge fan following not only in India but across the globe," said a spokesperson for Routes to Roots.

"In spite of being a busy superstar he reaches out to the needy, poor and contributes to charities for the upliftment of the underprivileged at large. He is a great philanthropist but rarely talks about his charities," the spokesperson added.

Bedfordshire University deputy vice-chancellor Ashraf Jawaid said: "We are absolutely delighted to confer this honorary doctorate on Shah Rukh Khan. He has made an outstanding contribution to the arts, culture and media, which is recognised around the world."

Befordshire University, whose 29,000 students include 1,300 from India, was ranked second in Britain for dance, sixth for journalism and 11th for marketing accounts in a 2008 national survey.