Circus, Fauji, Wagle Ki Duniya and 5 other TV serials that Shah Rukh Khan did before he became King Khan!

Shah Rukh Khan proved his acting mettle on the small screen before he hit the jackpot in Bollywood.

Written by: Vandana.Srivastawa

Updated: February 20, 2017, 11:27 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/viral/circus-fauji-wagle-ki-duniya-and-5-other-tv-serials-that-shah-rukh-khan-did-before-he-became-king-khan-1845258/ Copy

Shah Rukh Khan is all set to return to Indian television serials as a talk show host on Star Plus. The new show is one of the biggest projects of Star India and is titled, ‘TED Talks India: Nayi Soch’. The talk show will feature speakers sharing big ideas in TED’s signature format of short presentations of 18 minutes or less and will be broadcasted on Star Plus. Shah Rukh Khan will host the show and introduce the speakers along with engaging them in conversations the way TED CEO Chris Anderson does. The series seems to be a niche show.

Shah Rukh Khan has hosted a number of shows on Television and he started his acting career with TV serials way back in the early 90s. Shah Rukh Khan is a common fixture in hosting Indian Award shows like Filmfare, Screen and Zee Cine Awards. He also stepped into Amitabh Bachchan’s shoes for one season as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who wants to Be a Millionaire? He also hosted Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?, the Indian version of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? But all these TV Shows he did when he became the indisputable king of Bollywood and people started following and emulating his every action. Fauji and Circus are the two well known serials. Circus is making a comeback on the small screen from February 19 at 8 pm on Doordarshan. Renuka Shahane who starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan was overjoyed with the announcement.

Your favourite @iamsrk – Badshah Of Bollywood on @DDNational
MUST WATCH @iamsrk‘s #Circus – Popular Tv Series (1989) – From 19 Feb. at 8 pm pic.twitter.com/7QESPUHVIl

— Doordarshan National (@DDNational) February 15, 2017

That’s such good news….thanks @DDNational 😊😊 https://t.co/ELZneJPsir

— Renuka Shahane (@renukash) February 13, 2017

However, do you know which other TV serials Shah Rukh Khan has been a part off and which helped him pave his way into Bollywood? No? Then relax and check out the list below:

1. Dil Dariya
Dil Dariya was SRK’s first starring role which began shooting in 1988. Directed by Lekh Tandon the serial had to undergo production delays which resulted in Shah Rukh Khan debuting in Fauji instead. Lekh Tandon and Shah Rukh Khan later shared the screen in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades.

Watch an episode from the series here:

2. Doosra Keval

Shah Rukh Khan played the role of ‘Keval’, a village lad who goes to town and never returns. The story is narrated as memories by his mother and sister and the villagers. It was a young girl’s search for truth behind the death of her brother (played by Shah Rukh Khan).
3. Fauji
 Fauji is an iconic serial is well known and very popular. People still try to see the episodes on YouTube. Shah Rukh Khan played the role of a young army cadet by the name of Abhimanyu Rai and was based on the exploits of Lt Col Sanjoy Bannerji of the Bombay Sappers, Indian Army. Fauji was written and directed by Lieutenant Colonel R.K. Kapoor and is the most well known TV serial of Shah Rukh Khan. It attained a cult status later on and was very popular among the youngsters in 90s. Watch the first episode of this iconic serial here:

4. Ummed
Shah Rukh Khan played minor roles in Ummed. He appeared in two episodes of the TV serial. Watch an episode from the series here:

5. Circus
Circus was directed by Aziz Mirza and Kundan Shah which resulted in a lifelong friendship between the three. Shah Rukh Khan played Shekharan, an unwilling Malyali manager who takes care of the Circus going against his own dreams. He later develops a close bond with the people in the Circus which helps in eradicating his hatred for Circus. This was SRK’s first show after the success of Fauji. Circus also starred such stalwarts like Renuka Shahane, Ashutosh Gowariker, Mita Vashisht, Anita Sarin and Neeraj Vora.  Watch an episode from the series here:

6. Idiot
Idiot was a film which was released as a four –part miniseries on Doordarshan in 1991. It was based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel The Idiot. It was directed by Mani Kaul and starred Shah Rukh Khan, Ayub Khan-Din, Mita Vashist and Imam Khan. Watch the full movie here:

7. Wagle Ki Duniya
Wagle Ki Duniya was a popular comedy sitcom which aired on Doordarshan. It was produced by Durga Khote and directed by Kundan Shah. The protagonists were based on characters created by noted cartoonist R.K.Laxman, especially the ‘common man’ and dealt with the trials and tribulations of the middle class Indian man. The show starred Anjan Srivastav and Bharati Achrekar. Shah Rukh Khan made guest appearances in this show in a few episodes. Watch Shah Rukh Khan play a young arrogant man in this episode:

8. In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones
This was a television film that was written and acted by noted novelist Arundhati Roy. Pradip Kishen directed the film and starred Arjun Raina as the title character along with Roshan Seth and Shah Rukh Khan. The film received two National Awards in 1989. Watch the full movie here:

We bet you did not know all these serials and telefilms in which Shah Rukh Khan acted prior to gaining stardom in Bollywood. We also know that you’ll definitely tune into Doordarshan to watch Circus once again and are praying that some channel airs Fauji as well!