Written by Joginder Tuteja, for IndiaFM.com. Click Here for Original Link.
What does one expect from a book that titles 'SRK - King Khan'?
Something which is larger than size, justifies the 'baadshah' image of 'supreme Khan' through each of it's letters, carries a certain grandeur with itself, gives a reader more than what he/she would have probably 'wanted' to know, throw in a few surprises and turns out to be an 'I-can't-resist-to-see-what's-in-store-in-the-next-page' experience!
Are these expectations justified? Certainly yes! After all nothing less can be bargained for when it comes to Shah Rukh Khan. To add to it, when the (oh-so-glossy and impressive) cover of a book shows Shah Rukh stationed on a couch and killing you with a stare even if it is concealed behind those dark shades and the writer is renowned journalist, critic, columnist, editor, author and screenwriter Deepa Gahlot, you don't wait for your coffee to be served before you dig your eyes into the first chapter.
Surprisingly, the experience is not as terrific as one was widely anticipating from this 125 page book. The book turns out to be what one could term as a 'Shah Rukh Khan for Dummies' or 'A Beginner's Guide for Shah Rukh Khan'. Yes, for his diehard fans, there is a lot to drool over but for those who were looking at knowing more than they already knew about the man and his personal/professional life, there is little in the offering!
Agreed that Deepa Gahlot does maker her objective/intentions behind writing the book at the very beginning. She does confess that Shah Rukh Khan's life is well documented and hence the book is mainly a mid-year assessment than being a biography. She also claims that the book acts as a thumbnail for those Khan's NRI fans who are not too familiar about his earlier works (read early 90s).
With respect to that, she does rather well (more about this later) but in the process looses out on those millions of Khan's fans right here in India who certainly are aware about facts like Aamir Khan had left Darr which changed Shah Rukh's career path forever or the failure of his production Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani had broken his heart.
In the end, the book serves as a good text book guide for freshers who have just woken up to Shah Rukh Khan but serves little purpose for those who have been following his moves for years now. Good intentions; restricted audience!
What clearly stands out in the book are the visuals though. And by visuals, I don't quite mean that the pictures belong to the never-seen-before kinds. It is the way they have been spread out across the book and have a striking appeal which makes 'SRK - King Khan' a glossy affair.
Having said that, while at the beginning of the book, there are some behind-the-screen photographs of the actor who was not a mega-star then, the majority of the book's latter portions comprise of easily available and seen a zillion times stills and wallpapers from his films made during last 8-9 years. Still, it's the layout that makes all the difference hence making one give the book a comfortable reading.
One misses the quotes though from not just King Khan himself but even people who have worked with him. People who are heard most in the book are Aziz Mirza, Yash Chopra and Karan Johar - the trio with whom he has worked in maximum films collectively. To add to it, majority of quotes coming from them also hardly divulge anything about him or his working which you don't know already.
Shah Rukh Khan's interest in sports, his inclination towards theatre and later TV, his accidental entry into the world of films, his real life Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge kind of romance and marriage, his ever-so-energetic persona, his non-controversial working with his leading ladies or the15 ways in which he can do a scene! Isn't this something already public for years?
In the book, Deepa makes an interesting point though. She quotes Rishi Kapoor's dialogue from Shah Rukh's first released film Deewana - "Main Guzra Hua Kal Hoon, Tum Aaj Ho. Kal Aaj Mein Badal Nahi Sakta" (I am the past, you are the present, the past cannot be converted into the present). She uses this statement to (rightly) prove the point around Shah Rukh Khan's entry as a lead in 1992 when stars of the likes of Rishi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol or Govinda were either fading away or getting restricted with the kind of on-screen image they had set for themselves.The industry was looking for a bright boy and Shah Rukh Khan was just the star waiting to shine. Good observation! Nevertheless, it is rather strange though when Rahul Roy and Vivek Mushran are counted in the same breath as a new star on the horizon as Khan himself. However, none of the two got any worthwhile offers after their debut in Aashiqui and Saudagar!
Deepa is on the money though when she says states the reason behind the box office failure of Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani due to the film being ahead of it's times. Or a well shot and directed Dil Se didn't work because the audience could not understand the hero's insane passion for a terrorist. One has to agree because if released today, both the films are bound to find a far wider share of audiences.
What distracts though are detailed synopsis of each of his films which has been a commercial smash-hit. Be it Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Veer Zaara and many more, there is lot being told about the films' plot or some of the most notable scenes. Yet again, for a newbie it's a delight; for an old timer, it is a mere repetition.
In fact, one observes, that there is hardly any plot description of his lesser known/successful films like In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, Idiot, Zamaana Deewana, Oh Darling Yeh Hai India, English Babu Desi Mem, Chaahat, Army, Hey Ram, One Two Ka Four, Shakti - The Power or Yeh Lamhe Hai Judaai Ke. And no, I am not even talking about his special appearances (Dushman Duniya Ka, Gudgudee, Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Gaja Gamini, Saathiya, Silsiilay, Alag or I See You) that just find a mere mention in the Filmography section. Some dope on these films may have just about made the day for those who wish to dig down further facts about the mighty Khan who has done his bit to help his friends out!There are a few errors in the detailing too which could possibly have been avoided. Subhash Ghai has been attributed as the director of 'Trimurti' when the man behind the camera (at least officially) was Late Mukul S. Anand. His last 'special-appearance' film I See You was directed by Vivek Agrawal but the name mentioned is Vikas Agrawal. Also Deepa's colleague Samar Khan, a journalist turned director, may not be too happy to have his film Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye omitted from the list in spite of Shah Rukh being present in a special appearance.
Still, on a brighter note, she quotes Ajiz Mirza here - "....he has to guard against his own stardom. If a hundred people around him tell all the time that he is fantastic, he is bound to be swayed....after all, he is only human." Deepa makes a valid statement herself by concluding, "25 years from now, if all Shah Rukh Khan has to show for his talent is Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge or Devdas, it would be tragic.
Of course quite true, though at the time of the book going to press, Chak De India hadn't happened. And the rest, as they say, is history!
Rating: **1/2
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