Shah Rukh Khan turns 59! A sneak peek into his TV career

Lt. Abhimanyu Rai is one of SRK's most memorable characters. 'Fauji' is among the most popular serials of Doordarshan. The serial went on to become a mega success and transformed Khan into an overnight celebrity.

The character played by Khan (Abhimanyu Rai) gained instant popularity, his character of Rai was based on the exploits of Lt Col Sanjoy Bannerji of the Bombay Sappers, Indian Army.

'Dil Dariya' was SRK’s first starring role which he began shooting in 1988. Lekh Tandon directorial went through several production delays and Khan ended up making his debut with 'Fauji' instead. Later Lekh worked with SRK in the Bollywood movie 'Swadesh'. 

Years later, Tandon shared an interesting story about Shah Rukh's casting and recalled about the time when he saw the superstar for the first time. In an interview, he said,  "When I was making my television serial, 'Dil Darya', I had left a message at Sushma Seth's home that I would like to work with her daughter, Divya. Divya Seth got down from her car and the driver was her friend, Shah Rukh Khan. He dropped her off and was leaving when I asked her to call him back. When he arrived, I told him that if he cuts his hair, I would give him work in my serial," and then the rest is the history!

In 1991, Shah Rukh was also part of the mini-series titled 'Idiot'. The series was based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel 'The Idiot' and SRK played the role of Pawan for four episodes.

During his initial days as an actor, Shah Rukh Khan played many uncredited and minor roles. In 1989, Khan appeared only in two episodes of a TV serial 'Umeed'.

Doordarshan cult classic comedy 'Wagle Ki Duniya' also featured SRK. The series was based on the prominent Indian cartoonist RK Laxman's strips. Khan played a cameo in the comedy series for 11 episodes. 

King Khan has become the house name during `80s and `90s as he started his career in 1989 with the television program 'Fauji'. He also did 'Circus' show in the same year. Shah Rukh Khan made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with `Deewana`. Since then, he has continued to win our hearts with his performances in the movies.