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SRK's Early Role: Dostoyevsky's The Idiot
9 Feb
Summary
- Shah Rukh Khan starred in a rare Indian TV adaptation of Dostoyevsky's The Idiot.
- The project, titled Ahmaq, was directed by parallel cinema figure Mani Kaul.
- The four-part series was later adapted into a film but never had a digital release.
In the early 1990s, Shah Rukh Khan, then known for television roles, starred in a unique Indian adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's classic novel, "The Idiot." This project, titled "Ahmaq," saw Khan take on the role of Prince Rogozhin, a morally complex character.
The series was helmed by Mani Kaul, a prominent figure in India's parallel cinema movement, known for his distinct minimalist and meditative style. Kaul's direction resulted in a production that diverged significantly from typical Indian television fare.
Produced for Doordarshan, "Ahmaq" featured a cast drawn from theater and arthouse circles, signaling its literary focus over mass entertainment. The four-part series was later transformed into a feature film, also named "Ahmaq."
The film debuted at the New York Film Festival in October 1992 but was never commercially released. Despite its unique place in SRK's filmography, "Ahmaq" has not had a formal digital release, though clips and a version of the film are available on YouTube.
