SRK: The King of the Bollywood

MATINEE idol Shah Rukh Khan’s life is well documented and needs no introduction either. This book, presenting thumbnail sketches of his rise in the Bollywood filmdom, is targeted mainly at the Indian diaspora scattered worldwide and not possessing such easy access to reading material about him as we in India have. To quote the author: “When a star of his stature approaches a career milestone of 60 films and gets to a stage where he clearly needs to chart unexplored territory, it is perhaps time for a career assessment”, hence this book.

While Rajesh Khanna was called ‘The Phenomenon’ and Amitabh Bachchan was known as ‘The Supremo’ or ‘Big B’, Shah Rukh Khan took over the crown by being called King Khan and King of Bollywood. And why not, considering the fact that a documentary has been made on his life and work, a perfume carries his name and he has endorsed a number of consumer items. An icon and the most saleable celebrity in India, Shah Rukh is an “ubiquitous presence in the media”, endorsing varied brands including Tag Heur, Pepsi, Hyundai, etc.—ranging from watches to electronics, from cars to noodles. At times, he seems to be present everywhere, particularly if he belongs to the crowd he moves in. He is seen at parties, while performing on stage and giving umpteen interviews, peppered with wit and sarcasm. He seldom fails to make some ascerbic comment at old timers (like Manoj Kumar, nicknamed ‘Bharat’ Kumar) or for instance his immediate senior like Amitabh Bachchan or a contemporary like Hrithik Roshan.

Born on November 2, 1965 at the Talwar Nursing Home in New Delhi as Shah Rukh, who could have known that this “ordinary-looking, not-too-tall, mop-haired young man” would be one of India’s biggest and highest paid superstars. He studied at Delhi’s prestigious St. Columba’s School, was good both at studies and sports and took part in extra-curricular activities, especially theatre. He graduated from Hansraj College but could not complete post-graduation due to shortage of attendance—reason being his involvement in theatre and television (where he started his career by acting in serial Fauji and Dil Dariya). In the meantime he began courting a Hindu girl, Gauri Chibba whom he married after six years of courtship.

On entering the Hindi film industry, Shah Rukh established himself in only a couple of years as one of the top male stars of his time. He says about himself, “I want to be known as a performer. It would be dishonest to say I am an actor who performs…” and perform he does. No doubt, he has such a huge fan following whom “I cannot repay for what they have done for me; they have given me so much love…”

Shah Rukh’s films have become hits one after another, as his career graph shoots up and to quote his first mentor, Aziz Mirza: “He has more potential than a director is able to bring out”. We have to wait and watch him achieve that true greatness, which is yet to come, says the author, critic and screenwriter Deepa Gahlot, who has analysed various phases of Shah Rukh’s life.

Manju Gupta , Organiser.org