 marked the beginning of his highly successful career in the Indian film industry?){kind=link}
Do you know how one of the top stars of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) marked the beginning of his highly successful career in the Indian film industry? As we have seen and come to know from various reliable sources, he commenced his acting career by playing a loveable “soldier” in the Doordarshan (Indian Television) series “Fauji (1988)”. This role of a young “Chulbula” young soldier garnered him recognition and led to starring roles in more television shows, followed by ‘Circus’ and ‘Dil Dariya’ serials. Soon he started receiving film offers.
SRK had his first release with the romantic drama Deewana (1992), in which he played a supporting part. Thus, in a way, he was introduced to Bollywood by filmmaker Rishi Kapoor and director Raj Kanwar through this film, which was released in 1992. In fact, Actor ‘Dream Girl’ and MP Hema Malini is actually the first film Producer-Director, who gave him a chance to start with her film ‘Dil Aashna Hai’. However, it got delayed and “Deewana” was released first. Two more films, ‘Chamatkar’ and ‘Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman’ also got released before ‘Dil Aashna Hai’.
In the early days after coming to Mumbai, Shah Rukh used to mention that a relative of his houseowner (landlord) had helped him to meet a Retired Military Officer (Col. Ram Kumar Kapoor) who produced the famous ‘Fauji’ serial. Thus, Khan began his career with appearances in several television series in the late 1980s and made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with a musical romance.
This marked the beginning of Shahrukh’s highly successful career in the Indian film industry. Many of his films thematize Indian national identity and connections with diaspora communities, or gender, racial, social and religious differences and grievances. Born on 2nd November, Shah Rukh is one of the most famous actors of Bollywood and only the last year he has completed magnificent 30 years in the Indian film industry as he turns 57 years old this year.
SRK’s story is exactly a “rags to riches” story. He is “the outsider” who went to Mumbai and struggled in the world of acting and then became the magnanimous Bollywood star. He was born to a middle-class family where his father never had a steady income and shuffled from one business to another. Through his father’s mess business at National School of Drama, New Delhi, he came into the close contact of theater artists and perhaps fell in love with this craft. He lost his dad when he was just 16 and his mother died when he was 26.
Debuting with the TV serials, he worked in Idiot by Mani Kaul, Umeed, Wagle Ki Duniya, and English-language television film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones. During his early days in Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan intended to do only 3-4 films and go back to Delhi to take care of his mom who was on her death bed. However, he got success in the industry so quickly that he had to stay back and rest as we say is history.
The story of SRK also had rejections for his average height, unruly hair, and an unkempt look, in short for not looking rich and handsome. While tired of rejections and in depression, he used to promise to the self while standing at Marine Drive: “One day, I will own this city” – in filmy style! And he did that. SRK’s father was one of the youngest freedom fighters of India. He tried his hands in many ventures but never met with success. Later, he had opened a mess, which proved as SRK’s ticket to knowing the theater personalities and then falling in love with the art.
The man who counts more than many a crore per movie today was paid only Rs. 50 as an helper at the Pankaj Udhas concert in early 80’s. That was his first salary which he spent in buying a train ticket to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.
Presently, SRK is an actor, producer, and TV personality. He redefined stardom just like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, and Amitabh Bachchan did in their times. He is fondly called the “King of Bollywood”, “King Khan”, “Badshah of Bollywood”, “Badshah Khan”, and of course “King of Romance”. He is also a motivational speaker and some of his quotes in films and surroundings are lovable to all. His favorite actors are yester-years top stars Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu, both of whom used to consider him as their son. Actor Mumtaz was also his favorite.
SRK is a voracious reader and his favorite books are: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Album, Why Men Don’t Listen And Women Can’t Read Maps by Barbara and Allen Pease, & Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. What can scare SRK? Well, SRK has a phobia of riding horses, and never eats ice-creams. All the number plates of all his cars read 555. SRK is superstitious about numbers and believes that the right numbers always bring him good luck.
For his 1994 film Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, directed by Kundan Shah, he sold tickets at the booking window too. This is touted to be one of his finest performances till date & won him a Filmfare Award. He was paid Rs. 25000 for that movie, back then which is near about 2 lakh today. Known as the “King of Romance” by all his leading ladies, contemporary actors, & upcoming generation of actors, he himself finds romantic movies very boring.
Many a times, he is seen playing the character named “Rahul” to steal our heart: Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Darr, Zamana Deewana, Yes Boss, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Chennai Express etc. He was Raj in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaenge, Chalte Chalte, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Mohabbatein, & Dilwale. He also performed antagonistic roles in movies – Darr, Baazigar, Anjaam, Duplicate, Don, and Don 2. SRK holds the greatest number of nominations for his movies. Out of 226 total nominations, he won 207 times. 29 times he won the Best Actor award.
Shah Rukh Khan is the only Indian actor to make it to the top 10 combined rich actors list of Bollywood and Hollywood. Once SRK was found to be richer than Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood or Adam Sandler. As per Forbes, SRK is estimated to be worth $780 million USD dollars.
He has received an honorary degree in recognition for his acts of philanthropy, altruism and humanitarianism and his global reach as an actor, from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. So, technically he is Dr. Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh Khan has been given the status equivalent of Knighthood in Malaysia.
One of SRK’s craziest fans from Australia buys him a piece of land on the moon from Lunar Republic Society on his birthday every time. And she has bought him several acres on “The Sea of Tranquility” which is one of the most sought-after addresses on the moon.
SRK’s birth place is New Delhi; and, School-St. Columba’s School, Central Delhi. At School, he loved Hockey and Football. Also, received School’s Highest Award of Excellence. His college were-Hansraj College (DU) and Jamia Millia Islamia with subjects Economics & Mass Communications. At College, joined Theatre Action Group (TAG), where he studied acting under the mentorship of theatre director Barry John. He got degrees for Bachelors In Economics, Masters in Mass Communications, Chubb Fellowship at Yale University, Doctor Honoris Causa from the University Chancellor HRH The Princess Royal in Edinburgh, & Doctorate at Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad.
His famous company is-Red Chilies Entertainment, and, he also co-owns IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. His famous current address is “Mannat”, Land’s End, Bandstand, Byramji Jeejeebhoy Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai.
He has been awarded with prestigious awards including, Padma Shri by Indian Government, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Légion d’honneur by French Government, and, UNESCO’s Pyramide con Marni.
Best-Seller Books written on Shah Rukh Khan are: ‘SRK- 25 Years Of A Life’ by Samar Khan; Power Of A Common Man by Koral Dasgupta; King Of Bollywood by Anupama Chopra; and, Still Reading Khan by Mushtaq Sheikh.
About SRK, legendary actor Irrfan Khan once said, “Hollywood doesn’t have Shah Rukh Khan,” perfectly capturing the unparalleled power, charm and charisma of Bollywood’s Baadshah with expressive, lively, smiling and dimpled face- “The world has many stars but only one Shah Rukh Khan”.
This isn’t merely due to his remarkable acting talent or the iconic performances that have captivated audiences for decades, but also because of the person that he is beyond the screen. His humility and grace in real life have earned him millions, if not billions of fans.
I, personally, remember his coming to a university in Punjab State, Lovely Professional University (LPU), along with Deepika Padukone, for the promo of ‘Chennai Express’ , where he entertained a massive crowd of many thousands of students of many states and countries to the fill and full of the students. At one point, he chided an organizer who was stopping students to dance with him. On this he yelled, “A Man, why are u stopping them…don’t do that”. Then, he came down amid them and danced on the tunes of Dhol Nagara for Punjab’s favorite “Bhangra” for many a minute together, as being a true Punjabi.
Once, Shah Rukh Khan also cared for co-actor after she met with an accident on the set of TV show. ‘Shah Rukh Khan was comforting her by stroking her hair, when she was in a hospital bed in the middle of the night’.
An absolute outsider who carved out his path into show business without the backing of influential godfathers or power groups, Shah Rukh Khan’s journey is a testament to his grit and determination. His parents — Mir Taj Mohammed Khan, an Indian independence activist, and Lateef Fatima, a magistrate — passed away long before he achieved fame. His father succumbed to cancer in 1981 and his mother to complications from diabetes in 1991, even before he entered the world of cinema. His parents were Taj Mohammed Khan (father), died of cancer in 1981 & Lateef Fatima Khan (mother) died in 1991 from complications of diabetes; Sibling include Sister- Shahnaz Lalarukh born in 1960; Spouse-Gauri Khan (Married Since 1991); Children-3 (Aryan, Suhana, Ab Ram).
The superstar has recently reflected on how his parents’ untimely deaths shaped his outlook and career. “A lot of things that happened in my life were need-based. After my parents died, I had no money. I (initially) studied to be a scientist, then I went on to be an economist, then I learned mass communication. So, I did my masters in all these things which, sometimes, may not be relatable to why would he become an actor after this. But television came into India and I was sitting there and they paid me Rs 1,500 which was a lot of money then. So, I said “okay”, this is a job and I’ll start doing it. Then, one thing led to the other,” he said at the third Global Freight Summit in Dubai.
Quoting poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, he said, “‘To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness’. I felt very sad and I had nowhere to go. It was just me and my sister left. Then, one morning, I felt that my parents are there somewhere and that I will meet up with them again. I believe that they’re stars in the sky and I’ll meet them; these are simple, true beliefs I have. Then I thought, won’t they worried right now thinking, ‘Oh my god, what must be happening to my kid who has no sustenance?’ So, I started working very hard, I became very determined to be successful because I didn’t want my parents to feel bad that they’ve not fended for me. So, it’s a very strange way to look at things. But I knew they shouldn’t feel that way.”
“So, I decided to try and work very hard, earn some money, become successful and turn around and tell them, ‘I’m doing good; don’t feel guilty you died early.’ It (their demise) was unavoidable, so I didn’t want them to feel bad. Now I am determined for my children and in a good way that their lives should be healthy and they should be happy. All three of them are very beautiful, lovely, loving and hardworking. I just want them to be healthy and happy.”
Shah Rukh also shares a moment when he discovered his passion for acting. “I remember, I was riding in a three-wheeler. There were two ladies (in another vehicle) and they were, I think, a little disturbed with life. As soon as my vehicle came and stopped next to theirs, they both suddenly smiled and got very happy. That’s when I realized, this is what I need to do… I need to make people happy. I don’t know them, they don’t know me, yet they got so happy despite the humdrum of their daily life. Thus, I became an actor,” he added, in his signature style. Blending life’s poignant realities with humor, Shah Rukh quipped that he became a producer because his producers never allowed him to have cars with power windows.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Mantra of success underlines: “A moment will come when there isn’t anything that’s going right. But don’t panic. All you have to do is make a move and move on a bit”. Shah Rukh Khan is, undoubtedly, one of the biggest names in Bollywood, and he gives a mantra of very great appeal to his voice on being resilient during trying times. He mentions that everyone goes through setbacks, but one has to keep calm and carry on despite the problem.
SRK’s words will urge people not to weigh down under problems but instead to move forward little by little. This means that every small step contributes to larger achievements be it ups or downs.
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Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
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