King Khan Shah Rukh Khan: The Man We Know, The Journey We Don’t

“Woh sirf star nahi hai … duniya hai meri , Rehne de tu nahi samjhega” – FAN

I was around 8 years old when I went to the multiplex for the very first time with my family. We had gone to watch Om Shanti Om starring Shah Rukh Khan and debutant Deepika Padukone. The moment Shah Rukh Khan appeared on screen the audience went crazy.  The audience started hooting, whistling and cheering “Shah Rukh, Shah Rukh” and I was awestruck by his magical charm. It is the year 2020 and even now SRK continues to rule my heart with his magical charm. Actors will come and go but the love SRK incites among his fans is unlike any other feeling. Stardom is synonymous to Shah Rukh Khan. On the occasion of his upcoming birthday i.e. on 2 November this article is a tribute to the undisputed king of our hearts. In this article, we are going to talk about The Badshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan.

Unfolding Shah Rukh Khan: The Journey Of a Delhi Boy to The Badshah of Bollywood

1) Childhood of Shah Rukh Khan

SRK was born on 2 November 1965 into a lower-middle-class family in Delhi. Shah Rukh, son of an Indian independence activist Meer Taj Mohammed and Lateef Fatima grew up in Rajendra Nagar in Delhi and studied in St.Columba’s school. During his school days, Shah Rukh Khan excelled in his studies and sports.

Khan in his childhood excelled in hockey and aspired to be a hockey player. However, due to a shoulder injury in his early days, he could not pursue it further.

2) Teenage of Shah Rukh Khan

In his youth, Shah Rukh Khan’s interest grew in the field of acting. Khan’s father worked in the canteen of National School Of Drama. So every day after his school time he used to go and act their along with his childhood friend Manoj Bajpayee. He acted in several stage play during his early days and received a lot of appreciation.

He looked up to Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Mumtaz in his early theatre days.

Also Read: Best Comical Villains In Bollywood Films

3) Life is tough: The first test of destiny 

SRK lost his father due to cancer at the age of 16 which was a big setback for him. However, ideology and upbringing of Meer Taj Mohammed helped Shah Rukh to overcome all these setbacks. He studied in Hansraj College, Delhi from the year 1985 to 1988 and graduated with a major in economics.

However, even during college days, Khan was more active in co-curricular activities. Instead of sitting in lectures, he used to spend most of the time at Delhi’s Theatre Action Group. After Hansraj, he began studying for a master’s degree in mass communication at Jamia Millia Islamia but left to pursue his acting career

4) Love Prevails

“Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho … to poori kainath use tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai”

Shah Rukh Khan met Gauri at the party for the first time when he was 18 years old and she was just 14 years old. He saw her hitting the dance floor with another kid, and because of his timid personality, he was unable to approach her for a move. He finally gathered the courage to ask Gauri but she turned him down

Later on, Gauri soon fell for Shah Rukh wit and confidence and they both started dating. However, things didn’t go smooth for these two young couples. Gauri decided to take a break from this relationship and she left for Mumbai with her friends without telling him. Shah Rukh decided to follow Gauri and he made up with her at Gorai’s Beach, Mumbai. SRK and Gauri both decided to marry but religion was a big obstacle for these love birds. Shah Rukh was at last ready to get Gauri’s hand and her parent’s concerns. The couple, at last, got hitched on October 25, 1991. Shah Rukh Khan wore a suit from his film Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman for the event.

6) The First Call

Shah Rukh Khan started his journey as an actor by starring in Television. Khan’s first role was in Lekh Tandon’s television series Dil Dariya but due to delay Fauji became Khan’s television debut. Shah Rukh Khan played Abhimanyu Singh an army cadet for which he received a lot of appreciation.

Khan also later appeared in television series Circus and mini-series Idiot. However, destiny was ready to test Shah Rukh again.

7)Unbearable Loss

Shah Rukh Khan initially never thought of acting in films as he felt he was unfit and was not good enough. But destiny tested him again. In the year 1991 Shah Rukh lost his mother. The loss of both the parents led Shahnaz(elder sister of SRK) to depression. Shah Rukh who was younger decided to take care of her.

Nonetheless, he altered his perspective to act in films in April 1991 referring to it as an approach to get away from the sorrow of his mom’s death. He moved from Delhi to Mumbai to seek after a full – time vocation in Bollywood. After reaching Mumbai Shah Rukh struggled to get a part in a film but he kept striving.

8) A star is born 

 “One day I will rule this city” – Shah Rukh Khan

A boy once said I will rule this city and today we know him as Shah Rukh Khan. After facing struggles and hardship SRK received his first offer from Hema Malini’s directorial debut Dil Aashna Hai. He quickly signed 4 more films. These movies were rejected by stars of that era.   Shah Rukh Khan debuted in Deewana released in 1992.

Deewana turned out to be a blockbuster and launched SRK career. Later in the coming years, Shah Rukh Khan earned a lot of praise for his negative roles in film likes Darr and Baazigar and thus we say A star was born in the year 1992. Later on, after the release of Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, he was declared as King Of Romance.

Being the nation’s biggest superstar is no simple undertaking. It requests extended periods on the film sets, tending to work duties, appearing for occasions over the globe, pulling out dusk ’til dawn affairs far away from home and Shah Rukh has managed to pull this off.

Interesting Facts About Shah Rukh Khan.

Being one of the most popular stars there would be hardly anything that you might know about him. However, in this section, we have tried to list some facts that you might not know. So here we go…

1)  Before Shah Rukh Khan it was Abdul Rahman

SRK spent his first five years in Mangalore along with his Nani. Originally after his birth, his Nani named him Abdul Rahman. However, his dad never liked the name and later on renamed him Shahrukh Khan.

2) Shah Rukh belongs to a family of Freedom Fighter.

Yes, you read that right. SRK’s dad Meer Taj Mohammed was an Indian independence activist. His dad was a part of the non-violent resistance movement in Peshawar led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan. He was also affiliated with Indian National Congress. Even his maternal grandfather (Nana) was part of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Army.

3) Shah Rukh Khan owns the land on the moon.

Two Australian female fans buy a piece of land on the moon for Shah Rukh every year. These two have brought several acres of lands and Shah Rukh receives the certificate from Lunar Republic Society every year. Also in the year 2009, a crater on the moon was named after him.

4) Shah Rukh Khan is the richest actor in the world.   

Shah Rukh’s first salary was 50 Rs. Now SRK is the richest actor in the world. Shah Rukh has an estimated net worth of USD 700 million.

5) SRK first Indian to bag UNESCO award for Charity.

Shah Rukh bagged UNESCO award for his kind acts and charitable nature. He was the first Indian to receive this honour.

 

6) It is Dr Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh has received 5 honorary doctorates. He has received an honorary doctorate for his work in the field of philanthropy, altruism, humanitarian and his global reach as an actor from the University of Edinburgh, University of Bedfordshire, University of Scotland, the University Of Law in London and Maulana Azad National Urdu University.

 

7) Shah Rukh has received France highest honour 

The legislature of France granted him both the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Légion d’honneur – The highest honour of France

8) Shah Rukh is the first Indian actor to shoot in NASA

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Swades’ was shotted at the space community at NASA. He shot a scene for his film which included dealing with the precipitation checking satellite known as the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) at Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

9)Holds the record of the longest-running movie of Indian cinema

Shah Rukh’s DDLJ holds the record of the longest-running movie of Indian cinema. The movie is still running in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir. It has been 25 years and it is still running cause ” Bade Bade Deshon Me Esi Choti Choti Baaaten Hoti Rahti Hai”

10) 80% of people know India as SRK’s Country

According to a survey conducted by BBC, 80% of people abroad recognize India as Shah Rukh’s country. Declared as world biggest movie star by BBC.

11) Global star for a reason

There are several other instances where King Khan has represented India at the international level.

1. Shah Rukh Khan is the second Indian after Mahatma Gandhi to have a statue in Grevin Museum
2.  Ascocenda Shah Rukh Khan a type of orchid found in Singapore is named after him
3. Only Indian to receive Brand Laureate Legendary Award from the Malaysian government for his amazing contribution in the field of cinema
4. Only Indian to invited by Yale University, USA.
5. SRK is appointed as a goodwill ambassador by the government of South Korea.

And the list goes on…

12) Shah Rukh Khan runs NGO for the acid victim 

Shah Rukh Khan runs an establishment which is the Meer Foundation. Meer Foundation is named after his perished father Meer Taj Mohammad Khan. It gives stay, clinical and mental consideration, work preparing and arrangement for ladies who are survivors of acids or burn assaults.

With just one month to go for his birthday, we wish Mr.Shah Rukh Khan with all the love, success, health. Hope he keeps ruling our heart with his magical charm.

WE LOVE YOU SRK !!