Anupama Chopra talks about Shahrukh Khan

An Exclusive Interview With Anupama Chopra - First Part

How will you describe your forthcoming book, King of Bollywood Shahrukh Khan and the seductive world of Indian Cinema? Will you call it a biography?
No, I have always resisted calling it a biography though I suppose that’s the label it’s being given everywhere. It’s more an attempt to look at Hindi cinema and at India through the life and work of Shahrukh Khan. He is in the foreground but I wanted to paint the picture of the film industry. It’s not just him. There are many narratives that are woven through his main narrative. He is the main plot but then there are lots of sub plots.

But when I read the book, it also comes out as a commentary on the socio-political and economic changes in the country over a span of sixty seventy years.
Sure. We wanted to give a context for his rise and why he connects so perfectly with the new shining India. How this new shining India has then evolved and Bollywood has evolved along with that and how Shahrukh is the face of a lot of this evolution. So, that was the grand attempt and I hope I have managed it somehow (laughs).

One of the most poignant aspects of the book is Shahrukh’s idealistic handsome dad Meer. Here was a man who aspired to be an actor, failed professionally most of the time but loved his wife dearly. Ironically many unfulfilled dreams of Meer have been fulfilled by the son. Don’t you think SRK is similar and dissimilar with his dad in many ways?
Yes he was. If you see the pictures in the book, Shahrukh looks a lot like his father. His father was a really really handsome man, very tall, very good looking. Curiously one thing that I didn’t know before I started writing the book was that Meer also wanted to be an actor though it was more like: Let’s try it because he was a good looking man but not in a very focused determined way the way his son did it. I thought that was a very very interesting parallel that Meer came to Bombay, made a half hearted attempt, was friends with Dilip Kumar’s brothers, stayed around for a while, good friends with Anil Kapoor’s father and then left. It’s ironical, it’s also interesting that then the son made the same journey and did it with such success. Shahrukh himself says that his father didn’t succeed at any of the things that he tried to do. His son has succeeded so enormously that it’s an amazing parallel and it’s very sad that his father never saw the success.

Meer was very idealistic and steadfast while Shahrukh Khan has broken ideals. When he entered the film industry it was being said that the kind of filmmakers he started off with (Aziz Mirza, Kundan Shah) had socialistic leanings and hence Shahrukh will strive towards serious meaningful cinema as well. But today he is known more for his Raj-Rahul brand of cinema that you have talked about in great detail in your book.
(laughs) A lot of people see the Raj Rahul roles as propagating Indian values and Indian culture but of course that is a very narrow view of what Indian culture is. But I don’t think he broke values. I think what he broke was the stereotypical and very old fashioned rules of Bollywood like when you come in you shouldn’t be married, you shouldn’t do negative roles. I find that very admirable for this completely outsider guy, makes up his own rules and succeed. The values propagated in Raj Rahul roles for some is Hindu culture, for some it is regressive values. There’s always a debate on what is being propagated.

He broke the rules in many ways for he endorsed products whereas many actors felt that it was below the dignity of a movie star to sell….
He and Aamir were the first two actors to really go in and do advertisements (though Aamir has always been more restrained). I spoke to many people in the advertising world to find out why Shahrukh is considered still effective. They call him a promiscuous brand endorser who sells everything from oil to Tag. They said that he still connects. He made himself into an omnipresent brand. You are right it was not something that Hindi film actors used to do. But then he changed the rules.

One aspect that is very poignant in the book is the detailing of the demise of both his parents.
When he spoke about it, I was a bit wary because no matter how many years distance you from that event it is still a very tough thing. It’s not as if you can ever get used to it or forget about it but he spoke very eloquently and openly about what happened and the way it affected him. I think those two events shaped who he is, shaped his journey. His mother’s death was what really pushed him into films. He figured there’s nothing left for him to do in Delhi any more. Before that he had done Mani Kaul’s film and Maya Memsaab which were art house non stream movies. He said yes to mainstream movies only because his mother died and he had nothing else to do. If you recall there’s a point in the Dilwale Dulhaniaya chapter, where Aditya Chopra talks about Shahrukh Khan as an actor. Adi has this interesting analysis that since he has lost his parents that he is reaching out to the world. The way he acts or connects is in a way related to the death of his parents.

One thing that comes across objectively in your book is that apart from Raj-Rahul kind of hero he doesn’t succeed in other brand of films.
Yes, though there is a whole chapter on Devdas which in a way was his comeback, and his acceptance in a role which was very very difficult. People frankly just laughed that he is gonna do a role that Dilip saab has done. His main success has been in a certain kind of roles. He is frank about saying that I am never the character; I’m always Shahrukh Khan playing the character. But now the kind of films he is doing like Chak De, Don or Dev Saran in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna was Raj-Rahul gone bad (laughs).

But he was not accepted that well in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and people had their reservations about Devdas as well.
He wasn’t. Absolutely! But it really stretched him in terms of image, in terms of what he is capable of doing and what he wants to do. But there are lots of suckers like me (laughs) who wants that one last candy floss, Raj Rahul kind of role. I think he is done with it. If you look at what is coming up like Om Shanti Om is not Raj Rahul while Chak De India is absolutely not. I think he is done with it.

Source: IndiaFM

CHAK DE INDIA, KAAFILA and RUSH HOUR 3 open together

It seemed like a solo release for Yash Raj Films and Shahrukh Khan's CHAK DE INDIA when the release date of the film was announced as August 10th. First jolt came in the form of Sunny Deol's KAAFILA which suddenly found itself hot in the industry circles after the success of APNE. After being delayed for quite a while, the film would now be opening simultaneously with CHAK DE INDIA.

If this wasn't enough then there is more to come. Competition now only multiplies with the arrival of RUSH HOUR 3 which sees a worldwide release on August 10. Starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in the lead, the film should be yet another Hollywood success in India after SPIDERMAN 3, DIE HARD 4 and HARRY POTTER's latest adventure, which is still doing good business.

With the adventures of Chief Inspector Lee [Chan] and Detective James Carter [Tucker] traditionally been accepted with open arms by the Indian audience, one can expect some real action at the box office counters ones CHAK DE INDIA, KAAFILA and RUSH HOUR 3 open together.

Source: IndiaGlitz

Shankar has signed up Shah Rukh Khan to play the lead role in Robot

CHENNAI: Director Shankar, the emperor of style, has pulled off a spectacular coup.

He has signed up Shah Rukh Khan to play the lead role in Robot, a sci-fi film, and supposed to be Shankar's dream project. Robot is Shankar's second project in Hindi, Nayak being the first.

King Khan was so bowled over by the story that he has stepped in as producer too. And Shankar's magnum opus would be produced by Red Chillies Entertainment.

Shah Rukh, whose Chak de India is set to release soon, is so excited about Shankar's film that he has decided to push all other projects aside, sources close to the actor revealed.

Work on the mega budget film will commence in four months' time, although Shankar is already busy writing notes on every aspect of Robot.

The rest of the star cast is being finalised, and with the badshah of box office in the lead role, there is already stiff competition among other Bollywood frontrunners to go the Robot way.

Much is being read into the fact that Shankar and A R Rahman were in Canada on the eve of Rajnikanth's Sivaji and speculation is rife that the latter may score the music for Shankar's latest celluloid offering.

Shankar when contacted, refused to comment on the movie but confirmed that the film would be on the floors soon with SRK in the lead role.

Robot the making of which was first reported by this website's newspaper, is likely to hit theatres in 2008.

Source: Newsindpress

I would like to believe that I am the last superstar of India, Shah Rukh Khan

Film critic,Anil Sinanan, talks hockey and greatness with Indian hero Shah Rukh Khan

I arrive for my 5pm appointment with Shah Rukh Khan at the plush Yash Raj Studios in Bombay, only to be told: “I am afraid Mr Khan is running a little late.”

This is no surprise: Khan is a busy man. The star of more than 50 films and with a fan base that’s numbered in the billions (Bollywood has a global audience of 3.6 billion; Hollywood has 2.5 billion) it is the consistent success of his films that was directly responsible for putting Bollywood as we know it on the global cinematic map.

Born in 1965 in New Delhi, Khan entered Bollywood via theatre and television in the 1980s. Initially, his success was based on his antihero turns in Baazigar and Darr, both released in 1993. In 1995 he resurrected the good romantic hero in the blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) – or DDLJ, as it is known – which widened his fan base and took Indian cinema to an international audience.

This was the first film to include a positive “untainted by the evils of the West” nonresident Indian (NRI) character. It spoke to the NRIs of the world, who returned to the cinema in droves. His subsequent NRI hits such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001) entrenched Khan’s hold on the domestic and overseas box office.

So it is that all of five-and-a-half hours after the appointed time that I finally meet “King” Khan. He is dressed in jeans and a crisp white shirt, and wearing large sunglasses, because of an eye infection. Even without being able to see his eyes I think he looks tired.

Luckily, he lives up to his bubbly reputation and chats away about his next release, Chak de India (Go for it, India!), which next month becomes the first Indian film to be given a London open air premiere. In the film he plays a hockey coach who trains a girls’ team. Traditonally, hockey is India’s national sport – Indians invented the game – but in recent times its popularity has slipped behind those of cricket and football. Does he hope that his film will revive interest in the game?

“I think the reason Indian hockey went down was due to the change in the format of the game, from one that was skill-based to one based on physical strength,” Khan explains. “If, in this country of one billion people, six girls and two boys decide to take up hockey after seeing the film I think I will have succeeded in passing on a message of the importance of hockey as an art form.”

But Khan is taking a professional risk. With the exception of the Oscar-nominated Lagaan (2001), which dealt with cricket, there are hardly any successful sporting Indian films. Was he aware that the film may fail? “If people such as me who are at the top of our work do not take chances and make different kinds of cinema, no one else will,” the actor reasons.

And Khan’s mission may well succeed – Bollywood stars are treated like gods. Why is this so? “In this country entertainment is the last achievement for the common man,” he says. “People regard me as taking away their everyday sadness for three hours, when they can sit in a dark, air-conditioned hall and see me fulfil their dreams. Shah Rukh Khan gives hope to people.”

He is right: he is often dismissed by critics as a ham actor with five basic expressions, but Indian audiences do not really care about acting ability. It is star quality that matters and Khan’s energetic, endearing and cheeky screen presence is the key to his appeal.

So what’s next for King Khan? Has he thought of going back to his theatre origins, perhaps in London’s West End? “I do not think my accent is right for the West End,” he smiles. “And I don’t have the time.”

As I take my leave – at midnight – I ask him about Bollywood’s future. “The entertainment industry is changing rapidly, with the growth of satellite channels and multiplexes. Soon there will not be any superstars. I would like to believe that I am the last superstar of India.”

Source: Times Online UK

Shahrukh and wife Gauri will buy 10 per cent stake in BAG Glamour

BAG Glamour, which will soon launch channels in the entertainment and lifestyle space, is part of the the parent company BAG Films & Media Ltd.
Sources confirmed the development adding that the actor and his spouse will hold the stake in their personal capacity.
The other investors in BAG

Glamour will be India Bulls’ promoter Sameer Gehlaut, who will buy 15 per cent, Kolkata-based private investor High Growth will have 15 per cent, and the remaining 60 per cent will be held by the parent company and promoters such as Anuradha Prasad, Rajiv Shukla among others. When contacted, Chairman and Managing Director, BAG Films & Media, Anuradha Prasad declined to comment. Khan has been dabbling in the entertainment space though this is the first time that he will invest in a TV channel and production house.

Earlier, Khan had floated film production house Dreamz Unlimited with actor Juhi Chawla. He also launched
Red Chillies Entertainment, a film production house in 2004. BAG Films & Media, apart from producing television shows, also operates in the radio space, under the brand name Radio Dhamaal, via a separate entity BAG Infotainment.

The company has announced plans to diversify into television broadcasting and will launch channels in the non-news and news segment. While the non-news channels will operate under BAG Glamour, the news channels will come under BAG Newsline. The channels are expected to go on air by 2008.

Source: Business Standard

SRK talks about Abu Salem’s phone calls

Not long ago actor ShahRukh Khan used to live in fear of underworld Don Abu Salem. However, in a recently released biography, King Of Bollywood Shah Rukh written by Anupama Chopra, the actor talks about Salem’s phone calls.

Shah Rukh says Salem tried to pressurise him to do certain films on communal grounds.
“What kind of a Muslim are you? You refused to work with a Muslim. Shouldn't you be doing something for your community?” Salem used to say reveals Shah Rukh.

However, Shah Rukh says that he did not flinch. He apparently replied to Salem.
“I have worked with Mansoor Khan, Abbas Mastan and Aziz Mirza. I am also working with Mahesh Bhatt whose mother is a Muslim,” says Shah Rukh.

According to the book, Salem was impressed by Shah Rukh's composed answers and decided not to attack him.
Security was beefed up at Shah Rukh’s residence after the incident. But the phone calls did not stop.
Salem did not resort to extortion but kept asking Shah Rukh to do certain films.

The book also claims that impressed by the actor's courage, Salem finally let him off.

"I believe that technology is the promise of tomorrow," Shah Rukh Khan

If reports are to be believed, King Khan is also 'tech savvy' as he is acting savvy...

During a Hewlett Packard event yesterday, Shah Rukh 'Don' Khan actually confirmed this...

Speaking to this correspondent, SRK, as he is fondly called, said it's through technology that a child, the society, and the country can progress. "I believe that technology is the promise of tomorrow," he said.

A self-confessed gizmo freak, the debonair Khan said, "The day a new gizmo hits the market, I grab it. Its in fact kind of a 'first day first show' for me."

A tad wary of computers, SRK feels every now and then you need to update and upgrade your PC with the latest software available in the market.

Meanwhile, he loves his laptop, and ferries it along wherever he goes.
"In fact I have stopped writing. I use my laptop for everything -- script reading, editing, going through shots at film shoots, et al."

All said, he believes that in today's day and age, every household - every child - in fact, everyone with a dream - must have a PC.

Known to be a devoted father, Shah Rukh said he allows his kids to mess with his PC. One can always retrieve what is lost, he says.

Of course it irritates when kids keep pestering you with questions. But he informs that the simple way out is to ask your kid to search whatever it is that he/she is looking for on the net.

Shah Rukh's penchant for technology is much publicized. In fact, the Bollywood buzz is that he's set-up a gaming zone in his gym to play virtual games every night after work-outs.

The other thing he likes is dabbling in visual effects. Which might explain why he's signed S Shankar, director of "Sivaji: The Boss" for his next film. Shankar is credited with some of the best computer graphics in his films.

Source: Techtree

Shahrukh Khan announce New Compaq Desktops and Laptops in Mumbai

As if one Shah Rukh Khan isn't enough, sometimes you get two for the price of one. "You always believed in the future. Don't you always say Kal tumhara hai (Tomorrow is yours)? I believe if you don't have a dream, what do you have?" said Shah Rukh. On Tuesday, the actor turned up at an event to promote a new range of Compaq computers he endorses. The computer-savvy star said he doesn't have much time to spend on his computer, in fact he used the opportunity to make a dig at contemporaries like Aamir Khan and Anil Kapoor who have recently taken to writing Internet blogs to promote their films. "I think one of the reasons that I have good fan following is because I work very hard. So, either I can write blogs or can keep working hard," said Shah Rukh.
endorsed practically every available product already, one cannot help but ask him what he would like to endorse next himself. "Would I want to do more products? The more the merrier. I could promote journalism," said Shah Rukh. Any takers for journalist Khan? We think not. That one, we'll pass!

An exclusive interview with Shah Rukh Khan

Chak De India appears like a very non-SRK film with you having no romantic liaisons or tear-jerking concerns.
I have known the director (Shimit Amin) for years. He is a very simple, hardworking and talented guy. He has worked with me in the film Asoka. He's a very sweet, unassuming kind of a guy and to choose a film which is on sports and which is normally neglected is daring. Apart from Lagaan, Hip Hip Hurray and Iqbal we haven't really made sports film now. It’s something that I wanted to do when I was younger but I didn't get a chance. So when I am old and grey and over the hill I am glad someone like Shimit thought that I could sort of fill in to a sports film. Field hockey has been a personal favourite sport of mine and I have been wanting my kids to learn it. I do feel I am no one to really comment from the outside that the state of Indian Hockey is not good but I have always felt that if there is anything I can do via the medium I love, that is acting, I will go to any extent to do it. Plus the fact that Yash Raj was producing it made it even special because they are all friends and family to me.

Also this time your character doesn’t have a lover-boy image.
Yes. I play Kabir Khan. He is a coach and an ex-Indian hockey player. He is having some problems in his life and wants to overcome them without being cynical and disturbed. He decides in his mind and heart that he is going to do something positive about it. It's a film about achievement in the face of failure and it's a film that looks at failure in a positive way. The idea is to take on some kind of a challenge and try to overcome that obstacle which had stopped you earlier so I would say the character is quite aggressive when he wants to be. It’s a mix of Jaideep's writing, Shimit's outlook, Adi's belief and my mannerisms and style – all rolled into one.

You don’t look the regular Shahrukh in Chak De India
I have reached a stage where directors do not want me to look the same old ShahRukh Khan. Shimit wanted Kabir Khan and that's how I look. A tough coach and a determined coach. I think the producer, director and the writer all thought that may be with a beard and shorter hair I would look different and I was fine with it. Only it’s very scratchy when you wake up in the morning. Even after a bath, you don't feel clean. I hope I don't have to grow a beard for another role for the next couple of years.

The entire hockey team in the film comprises of new actors.
Earlier I thought that working with newcomers would be a bit of a hassle because they would not know their lines. You know you become a little patronizing and a little kind at times, a little agitated and irritated too because things are not going the way you think they should go. But I think the whole production team had worked very hard with them and I do not want to take any credit away from these girls. I think they are very hardworking and wonderful. They have put their heart and soul into the film. They have practiced and learnt hockey, they have learnt the lines, they know the scenes they knew everything and at the end of it all after having worked for 18 years as an actor I thought I got a lot to learn.

Among the girls in the team, many of them must have been your fans.
We had a lot of readings before we started the film and couple of meetings so that we got easy with each other apart from some of them liking me. It's a little embarrassing because some of them were five to six years old when they saw my films. Then you suddenly realize, god! you are old and you've been in this industry for long. It was also important for me to be comfortable with them and not treat them like kids because the whole purpose of the character of Kabir is that he doesn't treat them like kids or girls he treats them like grown up, tough people. I think that little bit of being fans and stalwart compared to the others got over very fast in the reading and meeting stage and then we were all co-actors and co-actresses, just working together and having a great time.

You are known to be a sporty person. Did you play hockey in school?
Yes. I used to play a lot of field hockey in my school days. I was good at it but when I went and played for the film I was horrible. I was really awful. I had no stamina left. I think the technique of hockey has changed, Astroturf itself is very tiring. As shameful as it is to say but I thought I would be able to beat the girls but they kicked my butt as they were really good. I am no good at playing field hockey I realized. I realized while playing with them that it would be better if I use my status as a super star and not practice at all and tell them that I can pull it off by acting so I did that because I knew that no matter how much I practice, I would never be good at it but I have given it my best shot and hopefully it looks good enough.

What was your experience of working with Shimit Amin?
I think Shimit is a very sweet director. He's very quiet and very unassuming. He is an amazing technician because he himself is very skilled at editing which I think is half the battle won for a director and knowing fully what he wants, where he wants and how he will edit it. A sports film has to be shot in a very special way and normally it required somewhere between two to six cameras at times to shoot the film, so its very difficult to keep track of all that unless you happen to be a good technician. I think he has had a lot of education in world cinema and not just Indian cinema. He loves Indian cinema. Thus his exposure to both kind of cinema gives him an edge over a lot of other directors. He's young and he's made a wonderful film in the past 'Ab Tak Chhappan' and he's a friend. I have known him for years and he is very comfortable to work with. A really sweet guy, he doesn't get angry, is great by nature and knows his job. He's an ideal director to work with.

Hockey as a sports option is not very common in schools today. Do you think it's a good game for the children of today?
I just hope the film can educate people to understand that even though Hockey is played with a stick and white ball it's not pool, it's not billiards, it's a different sport. It's a national sport. I would tell kids to give it a shot if they like it and go ahead otherwise there is always soccer, cricket or a Taekwondo.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the words Chak De India?
Chak De strangely to me is a line from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. I remember we used to say Chak De Phate in DDLJ. I hope Chak De India becomes like a sporting line whenever Sachin is playing. Or perhaps when Dhanraj Pillai is going with the ball, somebody screams Chak De India which means score a goal or hit a sixer or get Sania Mirza to win the Wimbledon.

Source: IndiaFM

Nothing but the best Shah rukh Khan starrer 'Chak De India'

On the face value, USP of CHAK DE INDIA may appear to be just Shahrukh Khan. Still, if one digs deep down, there is much larger effort that has gone in making this film truly different from what Yash Raj Films has made in the past.

First and foremost the director at the helm is Shimit Amin who could easily be counted as the unlikeliest of all when it comes to associating a film maker with YRF. Otherwise how could one imagine the man behind a gritty AB TAK CHAPPAN to be making a film for the production house which thrives on feel good entertainers?

Well, this is not all as the major part of the film's crew also comprises of technicians who are easily the best in the business.

Jaideep Sahni, the man behind projects as diverse as 'Company', 'Bunty Aur Babli' and 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' pens the screenplay of 'Chak De India'. Amitabh Shukla, who has used his scissors to perfection in films like 'Namastey London', 'Krrish', 'Kabul Express' and 'Bluffmaster' has been roped in as an editor. Sudeep Chatterjee, who has captured the frames of 'Iqbal' and 'Dor' with as much élan as 'Jaan-E-Mann' is the film's cinematographer whereas art director Sukant Panigrahy has left the fantasy world of 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' behind to get more realistic with the real drama of 'Chak De India'.

Usual suspects like Ganesh Acharya and Salim-Sulaiman hardly need an introduction as they come together for choreography and music of the film. Last but not the least, with brains of producer Aditya Chopra behind the project, it makes it a 10 out of 10 for 'Chak De India' when it comes to setting the base right for the film.

'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' may have bombed at the box office but that hasn't stopped Yash Raj Films from being busy. Neck deep into the promotion of 'Chak De India', the country's numero uno film making house has made sure that they deliver nothing but the best for this ambitious Shahrukh Khan starrer.

Source: Bollywood Trade News Network

S Shankar is all set to work with Shah Rukh Khan

Director S Shankar is keen to repeat his recent success working with Tollywood’s finest Rajnikant in Sivaji, this time working with Bollywood’s finest Shah Rukh Khan. Khan and Shankar have been in touch for some time and are working on the script and other details of the action thriller.

Shah Rukh, who is yet to sign on the dotted line, will like to start work on Shankar’s film after he completes Shirish Kunder’s untitled Sci-Fi film in which he plays the lead, possibly as a super hero.
A common thread between Shah Rukh and his new directors appears to be their love for FX.

Kunder is an FX aficionado having used it extensively with his directorial debut Janeman.

Shah Rukh, of course, happens to own India’s finest FX studios.

S Shankar, a reputed director of Tollywood, is known to use state of the art FX in his films.

Besides Sivaji, Shankar is well known for films such as Indian and Anniyan.
Shah Rukh will be next seen in Yash Raj Films Chak De which is set to hit theatres on 10 Aug 2007. The film is directed by Shimit Amin, who made the gripping crime thriller Ab Tak Chappan, starring Nana Patekar.

Shah Rukh’s home production Om Shanti Om, directed by business partner and choreographer Farah Khan, is slated for a Diwali release. In the film Shah Rukh is paired against debutant Deepika Padukone.

Source: Sawf News

Dilip Kumar isn't playing SRK's father in 'Dulha Mil Gaya'

Another rumor regarding a forthcoming film of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan bit the dust recently. Contrary to reports being strategically placed in sections of the media, the mighty thespian Dilip Kumar isn't playing SRK's father in the Vivek Vaswani comedy ‘Dulha Mil Gaya’.

The thespian's wife Saira Banu personally denies any such plans for her 84-year old husband. Beyond that the gracious couple refuses to say anything. But a close family friend has a lot to say about such arbitrary and illusory attempts to bring the two Khan superstars together.

Actually the Dilip Kumar–SRK ties go back a long way. Both are Pathans and share a common passion for cinema. There's a more- than- passing facial resemblance between the two.

What clinched the matter was Saira Banu’s declaration some years ago at an awards function that if she and her husband had a son he'd probably look like SRK.

The idea of casting them as father and son must have been born then, but as of now they are not coming together in any film.

‘Dulha Mil Gaya’ was shot in Tobago and Trinidad and the film stars Sushmita Sen and Fardeen Khan. SRK is paired with Sushmita in the film.

Om Shanti Om beats the previous best - Rajnikant starrer Sivaji

The Don is back in action, and this time around, the world is not enough for Shah Rukh Khan. The matinee idol has managed to sell the rights of his forthcoming production, Om Shanti Om (OSO), to Eros International for about Rs 75 crore, the highest for any Indian film so far.

OSO beats the previous best—Rajnikant starrer Sivaji—which was sold for Rs 65 crore. “Yes, the deal is done. We have an alliance with Red Chillies Entertainment (SRK’s home production firm) for the film,” Eros director Sunil Lulla told ET.

The deal gives Eros the rights to distribute the film both in India and overseas (Europe, UK , US and Fiji) as well as satellite, DVD and new media rights. Eros, say industry experts, has extracted a good bargain by negotiating the intellectual property rights (IPR) for an extended period of 15 years, as opposed to the industry practice of a decade.

What remains outside the ambit are the music rights, which have been sold separately to T-Series for about Rs 8-9 crore. T-Series will also enjoy the rights to exploit the music by selling mobile downloads to a growing mass of mobile consumers.

The deal is yet another signal of the growing appetite among Hollywood-styled entertainment companies in the country to get big on movie acquisition rights.

Some of these companies, such as UTV, Eros and Studio 18, have recently raised money on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM). They now need compelling content to drive revenues.

As a result, in the last year, acquisition rights for content in the Indian entertainment industry has risen dramatically, with premium content—goes with a top star cast—commanding at least 10-15% more.

“Since each of them have built large distribution channels, they now need to compete with compelling content. These companies also have to contend with a host of TV channels, including several new ones in the pipeline, as well as the DVD space.

All these companies can demonstrate results to their shareholders only if they have the content to generate,” says former head of Twentieth Century Fox Aditya Shastri.

However, a top star cast alone is no guarantee for success, as Eros discovered after plonking about Rs 40 crore on the table to buy the rights of Salaam-e-Ishq. The multi-starrer movie, panned by critics, met with dismal result at the box office, but is said to have cut its losses in the DVD market.

“SRK has an extraordinary market overseas and we are very confident of our returns; the number of prints will definitely be record-breaking,” said Mr Lulla.

Huge tiff broke on the sets of Chak De India

It is indeed tough time for Yash Raj Films. We hear that after strings of flops Yash Raj's upcoming films Chak De India and Lagaa Chunari Mein Daag are also undergoing some problems.

According to sources a huge tiff broke on the sets of Chak De India between the lead star Shahrukh Khan and the director Shimit Amin resulting in SRK's walkout.

"Shimit has tendency to shoot the same scene over and over again, even when everyone present there could see that a take was fine, really got on SRK's nerves," says a source on the sets.

Another major difference arose during the post production of the film when director Shimit approved the earlier promos of Chak De India which was screened with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

Apparently SRK was not satisfied with the earlier promos as he felt that it was not up to the mark. Nonetheless the promos were released but after it received a poor response from audiences, they were immediately pulled out. Now the new promos will soon be aired.

However the Yash Raj spokesperson denies that there were any earlier promos, she says, “There were no pulling out of any promos. We had a music video for the film along with Jhoom. There will now be one promo along with Partner and a new music video on television.”

Chak De’s other problem is the Women’s Hockey Association who have been demanding a screening of the film prior to its release.

President of the Women’s Hockey Association of India, Vidya Stoke says, “We want to see the movie before its release. Yash Chopra sought help from us and we were more than happy to help them thinking that it would create awareness about the sport in the country. They took a lot of inputs from us.”

The film is based on a girl’s hockey team and Vidya claims, “we need to have an idea about how they have portrayed women’s hockey in the film. If they are portraying us in a bad light, we are going to take serious action against them.”

A great moment for Shah rukh khan and all his fans

After a wax statue at Madame Tussauds in London and being honoured as the Officier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettre s (Officer of the Order of Arts and letters) for his fruitful career and his contribution to the Indo-French cooperation, Shah Rukh Khan's statue will be disclose at the French Graven Museum in Paris. It is a great moment for King Khan and all his fans. He is the first Bollywood actor whose statue will be placed at the museum. His upcoming movie ‘ CHAK DE INDIA ' is slated for release on August 10, this year.

Shah Rukh Khan's incredible energy levels

The secret to Shah Rukh Khan incredible energy levels and bounce may be reflection. Not the careful consideration kind but the one that stares back at you from within a mirror.

On the sets of Om Shanti Om, once the 41-year-old is ready with his make up, he stands in front of the mirror for a good 10 minutes before stepping out for the shot. During that time no one, including his close staff, is allowed to disturb him.

A crew member from the film told the Mumbai Mirror, "That's his way of de-stressing himself and keeping his energy levels high. He is the most enthusiastic individual on our sets. Even at the end of the day he is all up and above."

What ever it is he does standing in front of the mirror - hone his facial expressions for the forthcoming shot, fret over why fans don't like his new hairstyle, or wonder why anyone would want to install his statue in French Graven Museum in Paris - there is no denying Khan has given a whole new meaning to what constitutes reflection.

Source: Sawf News

Shah rukh khan to say "come on india" in august

Shahrukh Khan's next upcoming movie is Chak De India in which he will be appeared after a long time in his new change looks with beard like Veer Zaara. In this movie he plays the lead role character of a Muslim coach of Indian Girls Hockey Team. Beisdes Shahrukh Khan the female lead role plays by Vidhya Malvade. The movie has been made under the production of Yash Raj Banners.

The title Chak de means Buck Up India OR Come On India. Yash Raj Banners this forthcoming movie shot in Yash Raj Studios and also Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia. Earlier Yash Banners Salam Namstey also shot out in Australia. The first trailer of the movie released in 15th June with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom( JBJ was pathetic movie and plz don't waste your time). Story writer of the film Chak De India is Jaideep Sahani and Edited by Amin. Music by Salim and Sulaiman, and film directed by Shimit Amin. This is Shimit second film before this he directed the master piece Ab Tak Chappan.

SRK's Om shanti om breaking records

Set for a Diwali release Om Shanti Om has become a much sought after film because Shah Rukh and Farah Khan’s previous production Main Hoon Na was a roaring success.

Baba Films, production and distribution company, has offered a record Rs 11 crore for the rights to the Mumbai Circuit, easily surpassing the highest amount ever paid for the territory of Rs 8.5 crore for Jaan-E-Mann. SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment has reportedly sold the world rights for the film to Eros International for between Rs 72-75 crore.

Explaining their readiness to shell out the big bucks for the film, Baba Films executive director, Rakesh Upadhyay, says, “The film is releasing during the Diwali period when we can get a clear run due to vacations. Farah Khan had earlier had a huge commercial success with Main Hoon Na. This film also has the same combination (Farah and Shah Rukh Khan). We are confident of the film’s success at the box-office.”

Considering that Jaan-E-Mann failed to excite the box office we hope Rakesh Upadhyay is right.

Source: News Sawf

Shah rukh Khan has taken on a new role - as protector of India's threatened wildlife

NEW DELHI: Bollywood’s King Khan has signed on the dotted line to speak out against illegal wildlife trade and for the forest guards as part of a new awareness campaign that will soon be “played” at all national and international airports across the country.

The nationwide campaign put together by non-government organisation Sanskara in collaboration with the Asian Conservation Awareness Programme is also being supported by Indian Broadcasting Foundation, leading television networks including Doordarshan, National Geographic Channel, Discovery and Animal Planet.

Highlighting the challenges faced by forest guards in protecting India’s wildlife, superstar Shah Rukh Khan in his message says: “The forest guards are real life heroes because they work to save the jungles and the animals that live there. Day in and day out they are matching their wits and battling powerful enemies including wildlife poachers and timber smugglers, and they are willing to lay down their lives for this.”

The Airports Authority of India, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and Members of Parliament have also supported the wildlife awareness campaign that is slated to start with a broadcast of Shah Rukh Khan’s message across all international and domestic airports this week.

Sanskara Development Trust managing trustee Tykee Malhotra says: “We hope that the momentum of this powerful and unique campaign will help complement India’s ongoing efforts to save its remaining wildlife and its threatened habitats. Ours is a non-profit organisation that aims to build support for preservation of wildlife and its natural habitat through innovative programmes and projects, working collectively with governments, non-government organisations, corporates and local communities.”

According to Ms. Malhotra, the celebrity-endorsed announcements in Hindi and English will be broadcast at all domestic and international airports in the country as well as on leading TV networks, highlighting the importance of protecting India’s wildlife. “We hope to secure further support from everyone to end illegal wildlife trade,” she adds.

The Asian Conservation Awareness Programme -- a programme of WildAid -- is a multi-media education and awareness campaign aimed at ensuring the future of the world’s endangered wildlife by drastically reducing consumer demand for endangered species parts and products.

ACAP Director and WildAid founding director Steve Trent says: “With continuous and sustained support from Indian celebrities and by working in collaboration with the Indian Government, associations such as the AAI, media, businesses, conservationists and the public, ACAP in collaboration with Sanskara is building up long-term support for India’s as well as the world’s wildlife and natural heritage.”

Source: The Hindu

God has been very kind to me, SRK - An Exclusive Interview With Shahrukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan has done it again. After Madame Tussauds, his wax statue will be housed in France's Musee Grevin.
And the actor is pleased as punch at the news, not to mention honoured. "I am the only living Indian who would be there," SRK says.

SRK spoke to Narendra Singh about his upcoming film, Chak De India, his new hairstyle and more

Have you ever given a thought of working in a mythological film?
I don't know, I have not been offered any such role so it's difficult for me to comment on it.

Your looks have undergone a metamorphosis.
Actually, I am not shooting for any film now so I just grew my hair in my spare time. I will not be shooting for the next two or three months. When I am not working, I generally don't comb my hair and I prefer wearing normal clothes.

Do you like experimenting with your looks?
No, not at all. I would like to shoot every film wearing white T-shirts and blue denim.

How religious are you?
I am very god fearing and pray to Allah everyday. I pray for the health of my children and my family. As far as mythological films are concerned, the filmmakers decide the subjects of such films. It's difficult to make a comment on such films -- if people like them, then it's a good film.

The common notion among people is that your films always do well. Your comments?
God has been very kind to me. People keep saying such things about me but they are not true. I have given flop films too. But yes, it's true that in the past 19 years, God has given me a lot and I am happy that people think so. I will keep working hard so that people think so in future also.

Coming to your forthcoming release Chak De India, is it true that it's based on a real incident?
It's not completely based on a true story -- the end is different. Yes, (Mir Ranjan) Negisaab did suffer a similar fate but (writer) Jaideep Sahni, (director) Shimit Amin and (producer) Aditya Chopra have jointly written this film. Negisaab has given so many inputs for the film. In fact, all the hockey inputs in the film have come from him.

Yet another book on you will be launched next month. Please tell us more.
Till date there have been two books on me, the last one was written by Mushtaq Sheikh. Anupama Chopra has written the book this time after interviewing me for the past three to four years.
I have read certain parts of the book where it talks about the changes in the socio, political, economic, and of course, the film world of this country from the 1990s to now. It's not about me but talks about my perspective and views.
It's an intellectual book and very intricately researched book, and Anupama has devoted a few years of her life on it. But all said and done, I find this pretty strange because I don't consider myself so important.

Tell us more about Chak De India.
I like the thought of a film whose plot is about women. Actually, it's about young girls and I like young girls. I think young women should be encouraged in every field of life. It's difficult being a woman and that's why I try do such films every year.

You play hockey pretty well.
I don't play so well now. I used to a long time ago. I could not play so well for the film.

How was the feeling of being surrounded by 16 girls?
I love girls even more now.

Will you teach hockey to your kids?
When we do a film, it does not mean that the roles we portray on the screen need to be incorporated in our real life too.
But I have already started teaching hockey to my son. My daughter is too young right now. I would like my kids to learn whichever sport they like. I think if you don't play sports then you don't become a sport. You are not happy. If you play sport, then you learn to be nice to others and play like a team in your life. Sports is very important. I love people who play sports.

These days one can see many films based on sports. Do you see a trend?
I don't think it's a trend. If it's there in the movies, it's there. Sports is a good thing to show in films.

How do you react when people tell you that you have crossed all the frontiers of success in terms of awards?
All I can say is that I feel very happy and humbled. I really can't fathom why I got so many though my constant work may account for that. I can only pray and hope that I keep doing my work. I hope I deserve these honours because I don't feel I deserved them.


Source: Rediff News

"I say only one prayer but my kids say all," said Shah Rukh

Shah Rukh will be the only living Indian to be honoured with a statue at the famous museum in France

Mumbai: It was an evening of much chaos. Nobody paid much attention to either filmmaker Mani Ratnam or producer Bharat Shah, as all eyes were on actor Shah Rukh Khan making his first public appearance after a long holiday in London.

He didn't bring gifts for his fans, but good news he had in plenty.

“I don’t know if I should be saying this or it should be announced later but France's Grevin Museum, like Madam Tussaud's museum in London, are going to put my statue, which is a big honour. I am supposedly the only living Indian who will be there,” he said.

Lest we forget, the occasion marked the music release of the new devotional film Jai Jagannatha, which will release in 15 Indian languages.

For anyone who thinks the chain-smoking, booze-endorsing superstar doesn't make the ideal guest of honour at such an event, we'll leave it to Shah Rukh himself to surprise you with a side of his that few are familiar with.

“I say only one prayer but my kids say all,” said Shah Rukh. Judging by his ever-growing popularity, clearly that prayer has reached the Lord's ears.

Source: Ibnlive

KANK the top grossing foreign language film in UK '06

MUMBAI: Karan Johar’s Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna (KANK), which was released globally last year, is amongst the four top grossing foreign language films that were released in the UK last year.

The data has been compiled by the UK Film Council’s Research and Statistics Unit.

KANK starred Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta along with Amitabh Bachchan and Kirron Kher.

According to data released by the UK Film Council, Spain’s entry for the Oscar this year Volver was the top grossing foreign language film in the UK last year.

Second in like was this year’s Best Foreign Language Film of the Year winner at the Oscars - Pan's Labyrinth from Mexico. KANK from India was third in line and was followed by Hidden from France.

A total of 171 foreign language films in 29 languages were released in the UK last year, which comprised 33.9 per cent of all films. The total UK box office collections of these foreign films in the UK were £29.8 million.

Source: Businessofcinema

Shahrukh Khan looking sexier than ever

The Bollywood Badshah's new look is a cut above the rest.
Khantastic times are here again with Shah Rukh Khan back in the city after holidaying with his family in London. And he's looking sexier than ever (if that's possible!). He's 'hair', there and everywhere! Badshah Khan's new longhaired look is the talk of the town, not to mention the lean, super-sculpted bod, but then again, when it's Shah Rukh, everything about him is newsworthy isn't it? His smooth tresses are definitely very becoming, adding to his sex appeal and charm. Dilshad Pastakia, his hairstylist, was in a way responsible for the cool ponytailed look SRK had sported for a while. He reportedly went on record and said that since Dilshad was on maternity leave with her first born Dalai, he had no choice but to wait till she could cut his hair. That's loyalist Khan for you. She's the lucky lady who gets to run her hands through his smooth, dark hair.

"SRK's long hair currently is not really a look as such. But when it's SRK, I guess it becomes a 'look'. He's just growing it out and it's not for any particular film. When he had the ponytail earlier, he looked fab in it! I don't understand why people think he doesn't change his hairstyle, because he does. He doesn't need to do radical stuff like go blond to look different. He's Shah Rukh Khan! Even the smallest change makes a huge difference and becomes the talk of the town, rather world I should say, because his persona is so powerful. I think long hair suits him as much as any of his other looks have. Everyone's gonna want their hair the SRK way now," says scissor-happy Dilshad.

SRK is clearly and undoubtedly a 'cut' above the rest! Other than creating a different look for himself off screen, SRK's also creating a point of difference in his films. His next release, Chak De, sees him in a new avtar - not the romancing SRK we have seen of late, but a driven and passionate coach of a girls' hockey team. Chak De is releasing in August, just around Independence Day - patriotic fervour at its best - the SRK way.

Source: Times News Network

Shahrukh supremely articulate and is a very entertaining speaker, Anupama Chopra

A widely praised new biography of Shah Rukh Khan by Anupama Chopra, author of Sholay: The Making of a Classic, will be released in India in August. Nisha Susan speaks to the award-winning writer

Who gave you the most interesting insights about SRK?

I would say SRK himself! He is by far the most fascinating source and tells the best stories. He is supremely articulate and is a very entertaining speaker.

Does your book overturn received ideas of SRK?

The most prevalent perception about SRK is that he is a bigger star than he is an actor. My book cannot overturn that perception, only a movie can! That notion about Shah Rukh has been a singular note in his career right from his theatre days with Barry John. Despite people laughing at him, his friends making fun of him, that style has been constant. His friends would say, aaj chhath ko uda diya! What was interesting for me was how he used that over-the-top, highly energetic style and transformed it into global superstardom.

Your book starts at an unlikely place — in a small town in Georgia — with an SRK fan who dreams one night that he is dancing with SRK.

I heard bizarre stories about SRK fans everywhere, over and over again. There was one moment with SRK that I will never forget. It was in the rural outskirts of Chandigarh during the production of Veer-Zaara. The scene needed a pastoral setting. The unit had just arrived in this field and I stepped into the makeup van to chat with SRK. We spent an hour talking. Then we came out of the van. First, I stepped out, then SRK followed me. I was suddenly hit by this strange, very loud sound. It was frightening. When I had stepped into the van the field had been empty. Now there were 400 people chanting SRK’s name. It was surreal. More so because I had been sitting for an hour with SRK with very little sense of talking to God. There was none of the old-style megalomania of stars about Shah Rukh. I had forgotten that this guy is worshipped. His stardom is like nothing I have ever experienced. Being around him is nonstop entertainment.

What did you yourself most want to know about SRK?

I wanted to find the ‘X’ factor in the whole SRK phenomenon. Obviously, there really is no key to explain how he arrived where he is or who he is. There is no single factor to explain why he, who to many is a mediocre actor and a mediocre looker, is the face of post-liberalised India.

What is the one thing about SRK that few people know?

I didn’t know that his first movie role was in Arundhati Roy and Pradeep Krishen's In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones. I could not believe it. I dug up the movie and watched him in it and keeled over laughing. There he was, in three scenes, just one of the crowd. He was quite hurt about not landing a lead role in that film.

Does he remain elusive to you or do you now feel you know him well?

SRK will always be elusive to me. SRK is fiercely intelligent. He reveals only what he chooses to reveal. He will only tell you what he wants you to know. There are spaces in his life in which someone like me would never be admitted

Your book explores SRK, the city of Mumbai and Bollywood. How has SRK shaped Bollywood?

I think SRK has shaped Bollywood enormously. I think his presence and the work he did with Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra structured 90s Bollywood. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge was a watershed moment in terms of the overseas market, stories and how characters were shaped. Then he picked up Karan Johar who was Aditya's assistant director and they did Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which was another watershed moment. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai transformed the style, the costumes, the look of Hindi films. Shah Rukh is the face of New Bollywood. When I first started reporting on Bollywood even in the early 90s, most of the directors were men in their 50s. It was still a cottage industry and quite unprofessional. SRK and the directors he worked with had a lot to do with changing that.

What is your favourite Hindi film?

My all-time favourite still is Sholay. For people from my generation there is nothing like Sholay and no one like Amitabh Bachchan. That reverential low-angle view we still reserve for Mr Bachchan.

Finally, did SRK stop you from writing up specific stuff on him?

Never. He never told me what to write or what not to write. He made it clear from the start this was going to be my take on him.

Srk's New Hair Style

Recently the Shahrukh ‘King’ Khan was present at the music release and premier of the mythological film JAI JAGANNATH. SRK left every one surprised with his new hairstyle. He was spotted sporting a new look completely different from what he has experimented for his movies till now. Probably this might be the look for his forthcoming venture, or is it that the DON (SRK) is experimenting with his looks. What say all you gals ?

Shahrukh Khan - The Super Star of the Bollywood

India is a massive, crowded country of hustle and grind. With so many people, competitive drive isn’t just inevitable, it’s admirable. Indian audiences look up to stars who they believe exemplify the rugged warrior virtues that spell success: lithe, statuesque Amitabh Bachan, brawny Sanjay Dutt, or Salman Khan. It’s rare that someone comes along who represents the average Indian, and is loved for it. India doesn’t usually have the wistful admiration for the reticent, yearning everyman. But if the country had their own versions of Jimmy Stewart and Gary Cooper, they’d probably be very close to Dilip Kumar, Naseeruddin Shah, and Shahrukh Khan.

Shahrukh Khan’s reputation precedes him.
He’s huge.
His celebrity is at level with Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor at the time of their Andy Warhol silkscreen portraits: movie actor as cultural icon.
Swarms of people gather at his shows, his movies, and whenever he is hosting an event.
How did someone whose appeal is that he’s an accessible, everyguy grow into a superstar? Something similar happened to Tom Hanks, yet few people want to mob him when he’s in public.
People have to be literally restrained when Shahrukh walks by, and not just teens, but middle-aged women and men as well.
Shahrukh’s movies in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s had him as an awkward, yearning teen. Early on he showed great range in playing both heroes and villains. His relentless stalker in Yash Chopra’s Darr (1993) was a disarmingly poignant portrayal of a morally repugnant character, not unlike Peter Lorre’s child-murderer in M.

His affability and gift for musical performance shot him up the ranks to being one of the most versatile, bankable actors. In 1998, two movies made him the most popular star in Indian commercial cinema, the deliriously inane, but wildly popular Badshaah and Karan Johar’s endearingly schmaltzy Parent Trap send-up, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
His popularity grew, and in recent years he’s shown a gift for nuanced acting in films like Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Veer-Zaara (2004), Swades (2004) and Don (2005).
He’s one of India’s most well-rounded stars, a thoughtful actor as well as a great dancer and performer, but most important, he’s someone Indians identify with intimately; he could be the teasing neighbor, or the winsome cousin, or a protective brother.
Watching him talk to his awe-struck fans on the game show he hosts on his off-season from making movies, Kaun Banega Crorepati (the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? ) is really quite amazing: he’s unusually giving and open for someone so famous, and the audience responds with unabashed enthusiasm and gratitude. In spite of all Shahrukh’s celebrity, he’s never forgotten from where he came.

Om Shanti Om and Saawariya will release together on November 9

It has been confirmed that both SRK’s film Om Shanti Om and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Saawariya will release together on November 9, the Diwali week.

Earlier it was rumoured that both Shahrukh and Bhansali would be at loggerheads as both their films were releasing on the same day. But Shahrukh has put a rest to all rumours by actually sorting the matter out amicably with Sanjay. Shahrukh apparently told Bhansali that they should not higgle and haggle over minor things like release dates etc before the press. Also they were all in the same boat as they are in the same industry and there was ample of space for both films in the market. Both SRK and Bhansali agreed that both the films could do well in spite of releasing on the same date. SRK has been keen on releasing his film for Diwali as he feels it has a very festive mood and feel in keeping with the season. SRK has had many of his hit films released during the Diwali week. Last year too SRK’s Don released along with another big film, Salman’s Jaanemann.

"I have been abroad for a month, so I guess the people really missed me," Shahrukh

Shah Rukh Khan gets mobbed by the shutterbugs and fans during the music launch of film ‘Jai Jagannath’.

It is not always easy to be loved and mobbed by the media and fans. Shah Rukh Khan learned it the hard way, when his arrival for the launch of a film caused a glass door to break over both fans and media alike.

The price of being a celebrity can certainly be overwhelming sometimes, as the Bollywood ‘King Khan’ learnt the hard way on the occasion of the music launch of the mythological film "Jai Jagannath'. Khan and director Mani Ratnam were the guests of honor at the event.

A routine music release it was - till the King Khan arrived and the media struggled for one glimpse of the man! First it was crowds jumping on each other, and then a glass door that shattered all over leaving King Khan with mild bruises. But taking it all in good spirit, Shah Rukh said that it was but an example of people’s love. What’s a glass door?

“The media's overtures are always like this - in fact, their love is not complete without some shattered glass thrown in for good measure. So thank you, that you all love me so much. May buildings and monuments crumble next time,” said Khan flashing that dimple, and assured everyone that he wasn’t hurt. “I have been abroad for a month, so I guess the people really missed me,” he added sheepishly.

Shahrukh Khan at JAI JAGANNATH Premiere

In an attempt to introduce different genres of films to patrons, Cinemax associated with the much-awaited mythological movie JAI JAGANNATH in a big way! Cinemax not only hosted the premiere but also conducted the music launch for the film in 15 different languages for the very first time in history. All this was held in the magnificent foyer of Cinemax Versova. Making the event even grander were luminaries such as Shah Rukh Khan along with his wife Gauri, Mani Ratnam and Shankar attending the event.

To launch the movie’s music in an extraordinary manner, Cinemax presented a beautifully organized skit with God’s favourite “Naradmuni” as the host. For every new language, Naradmuni, famous for his wit and humour, invited a different celebrity guest present to release the melodious tunes.

Mr. Devang Sampat, Vice President, Marketing & Programming, CINEMAX, said, “Cinemax has hosted different genres of films till date but this is our first experience with a mythological film. India being a very religious country, mythological movies hold a very special place in the hearts of people. Another highlight of this event, which makes it unique and unusual, is that for the first time, in the history of events, a Music Launch is being hosted immediately to be followed by a Premiere! And of course, we are immensely pleased to welcome King Khan, Mani Ratnam along with Shankar at our property.”

Shahrukh Khan's New Look

Not only has King Khan lost oodles of weight, he’s got a new, messy haircut too!

Just what’s happening to all our stars! After Kareena Kapoor, John Abraham and several other actors, ShahRukh Khan too seems to be aiming for size 0.

King Khan had already lost most of the flab for his character in ‘Don’, but now it seems he is losing even more weight, add to that his new messy haircut (which, we must admit, makes him look quite yummy!).

Well, new look or not, the actor has certainly not lost his star appeal abroad. Khan fever swept the UK as thousands of dedicated fans queued for many hours to get a glimpse and chance to meet their favourite star at the fourth Asian Lifestyle Show in Olympia, London.
Not even the UK’s biggest sports weekend, Wimbledon tennis finals, the British F1 Grand Prix, Tour de France, live earth concert and all the road closures around London, could put people off coming to see the King Khan.

His fans got the opportunity to get up close and personal as he signed autographs, appeared on the two huge stages at the venue, charmed and inter-acted with the crowds, enacted his favourite film dialogues from his recent blockbuster ‘DON’, a scene from ‘Devdas’, and even sung a few lines from his all time favourite movie ‘Dilwale Dulhania...’ .

Any doubts now as to why he’s still Bollywood’s Baadshah!

ShahRukh Khan carries his laptop wherever he goes

But a birdie near his Bandra abode tells us that SRK has two e-mail IDs — one is an old Hotmail account that he uses for professional reasons, while the other is a Mac account purely for personal contacts.

Apparently, SRK is very protective about this ID and only gives it out to friends and close acquaintances.

So where does that leave his zillions of fans?

Sorry darlings, but you’ll just have to make do with his personal website!

Work starts on Shah Rukh Khan's Sci Fi film

Director Shirish Kunder has started work on a Sci Fi film that will feature Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, most probably as a super hero.

When asked how it felt to be directing Khan, Kunder said, "He is the coolest star I have worked with so far."

Kunder made his directorial debut with the musical Janeman (2006) featuring Salman Khan, Preity Zinta and Akshay Kumar in the lead. The film, whose production was marred by differences between Salman and Kunder, had a long production run and eventually bombed at the box office.

Kunder is the husband of Shah Rukh Khan's business partner, choreographer Farah Khan. He has earlier edited two films for Khan's home productions, Red Chillies Entertainment - Main Hoon Naa (2004) and Om Shanti Om. The latter is in post production.

With Hrithik having already made his mark as India's first super hero with Krrish , and Abhishek Bachchan firmly sitting in the superheroes bandwagon with the in production Goldie Behl's Drona, there is an urgency for Shah Rukh Khan to catch up.

SRK may easily do that because he has one big advantage - He owns a state-of-the-art VFX studio with a team of 40 world class professionals, a combination that is probably the best in the country.

Recently it was reported that entertainment colossus Walt Disney Pictures is set to invest a whopping $30 million in the studio.

In the past SRK's VFX team has worked on Main Hoon Na, Paheli and more recently, Don.

Shah Rukh to make an appearance in Sajid's directorial debut

On Monday there was a very hush-hush post-completion spot of extra-special shooting for Sajid Khan who’s much-talked about take on Leonard Nimoy's Three Men & A Baby entitled Heyy Babyy is being readied for release.

However one song accompanied by a few comic scenes had been left behind. Says a source, "Sajid wanted Shah Rukh to make an appearance in his directorial debut. After all, his sister Farah Khan has directed both her films with SRK in the lead. When Sajid requested Shah Rukh to put in a guest appearance in Heyy Babyy, SRK agreed without a second thought. His only condition was that Sajid would have to wait until SRK returned from his family holiday in London."

The minute SRK returned to Mumbai he allotted the dates to the anxious debutant director.

SRK's comic scenes and songs with Anupam Kher were shot at Film City from Monday onwards. Anupam and Shah Rukh had created a very special chemistry in Aditya Chopra's Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Mahesh Bhatt's Chahat and Amol Palekar's Paheli. Apparently Sajid has tried to create the same crackling and cackling chemistry in the Kher-Khan scenes.

Says the source, "The crew was in splits watching the duo's antics. The unit had a ball on Monday at Film City. Anupam and Shah Rukh added to Sajid Khan equaled a laugh riot. Loud laughter and grand guffaws kept emanating from the studio floors where they were shooting."

Shah Rukh Khan is the king and he has no close competition

It pays to be a Shah Rukh Khan, more today than ever before! Why? Because Shah Rukh as an actor-producer is minting money like nobody else! On a very realistic estimate, his home production, 'Om Shanti Om', starring himself, must have cost Rs. 35 crore to make.

Now to the revenues. There are several corporates bidding for the worldwide distribution rights of the film, directed by Farah Khan, but the highest bid is by Eros and is said to be in the region of Rs. 55 crore. Add to that around Rs. 6 to 8 crore for audio rights and another Rs. 14-15 crore for satellite and other electronic rights, and you have a recovery of over Rs. 75 crore on the table, before release! That means, it's a straight doubling of investment and even more.

This arithmetic is making other top actors go crazy. Reportedly, a couple of them have decided to further hike their already high prices. But everybody needs to understand some things about Shah Rukh Khan and 'Om Shanti Om' clearly. One is that Shah Rukh Khan's popularity in the Overseas territory is unmatched.

Therefore, the price an SRK starrer commands for overseas circuit is one that no other hero can dream of. Secondly, on the satellite and DVD circuit too, Shah Rukh Khan is the king and he has no close competition.

Given this mathematics, it doesn't make economic sense for Shah Rukh Khan to act in any other banner's film except his own. Of course, exceptions for close friends like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra will always be made.

"Chak De India" with "Partner"

As we had told you last week, the trailor of Yash Raj's CHAKDE! INDIA, which made its first appearance in the prints of their JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM, released last month, did not find much appreciation, as per a section of the media.

Also the fact that JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM has now been removed from most theaters (after its dismal third week run) means that the CHAKDE! INDIA promo won't be able to get the type of coverage that Yash Raj wanted.

We now hear that the new follow-up trailor of CHAKDE! INDIA may be included in the reels of David Dhawan's Govinda, Salman, Lara and Katrina starrer, PARTNER, which is expected to open to bumper houses on 20th July.

While on CHAKDE! INDIA, the Shimit Amin directed, Shah Rukh Khan starrer will be released / distributed by Yash Raj all over on August 10.

Karan Johar's Next Film Titled "Khan"

Shahrukh Khan has always been a part of Karan Johar’s films and he will be seen in the latest venture too. However Karan has pulled a coup of sorts by finally roping in the reluctant Kajol as she was not very keen to take up a film which will be shot outside the country as that would mean being away from her daughter for a long period. SRK and Kajol have shared great chemistry in their earlier films and once more Karan hopes to capture that magic in his new venture titled ‘Khan’. The film has been tentatively titled ‘Khan’.

However it was not an easy feat for Karan to convince Kajol about taking up the film. Kajol is not worried about her film career now; she is happily enjoying motherhood and wants to be there for her daughter whilst she is growing up. Kajol in fact has not signed up too many film projects for this reason. Meanwhile Karan’s film ‘Khan’ definitely has a unique title and one wonders if it has anything to with his fixation for Shahrukh Khan. According to sources though Karan is keeping the subject of the film extremely secretive but he has conducted plenty of research regarding social issues, including safety issues and terrorism at NGO’s in the US. Supposedly SRK and Kajol will play husband and wife in the film and it will be shot in New York.

Kajol is currently busy with hubby Ajay Devgan’s directorial venture in which they will be seen together. Kajol and Ajay have also been fianlised to play Ram and Sita in Rajkumar Santoshi’s mega budget project Ramayan. Since Kads already has her plate full, she was reluctant to do Karan’s film. But in the end Karan managed to convince the actress by using a bit of emotional blackmail claiming that he would not make the film at all without her. Well that settled it for Kajol who is also a good friend of Karan's and she agreed to do the film.

Meanwhile SRK will also be doing another film for his home production to be directed by Shirish Kunder. After working with Farah again for his home production Om Shanti Om, he decided to work with her husband director Shirish. The movie will be a mega-budget film and has been titled ‘Joker’. It is based on science fiction and SRK will in all probability play a new kind of superhero. Well move over Hrithik and Abhishek, SRK is gearing up to play a superhero . Also another book revolving around Shahrukh will hit the stands on August 9. The book titled ‘King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema in India’ has been authored by noted film critic Anupama Chopra.

"Super Hero" Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan is finally treading the part of his much younger contemporaries and is set to experiment with a new and varied role. Like Hrithik, SRK is soon set to play a superhero. SRK is in talks with director Shirish Kunder to produce and star in a sci-fi film that will most likely have him play a superhero. The film’s storyline and script is being researched and readied for taking off next year. As for this year, SRK will soon be seen in Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om which is based on the re-incarnation theme and Yash Raj Films Chak De India which according to sources is based on a real life story of an ex-hockey player.

According to sources Chak De India is based on the life of former hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi. The story of Chak De India depicts the life of a former hockey goalkeeper, how he was charged for match fixing after India lost to Pakistan at the Asian Games at New Delhi. Sources claim that Mir Ranjan was the dishonoured goalkeeper who was ousted from the team but later proved himself and was given a privileged position. SRK plays the dishonoured and troubled coach who goes through a struggle when he is suspected of match-fixing. However later on the ex-hockey player goes on to coach a girl’s team and brings home the gold medal. He is then restored to a position in the Hockey Federation with dignity.

Negi has given major inputs to the film to try and make it as authentic as possible. In fact Negi also plays a small role in the film and has accompanied the cast and crew to Australia to give more inputs in the sport of hockey. Negi has personally interacted with SRK sharing his personal traumatic experiences with him and many a times Negi broke down as it was quite emotional for him to re-live those painful memories when he was dishonoured. However owing to the secrecy surrounding Yash Raj Films, no cast and crew members are allowed to confirm any details regarding the storyline.

As for being the next superhero, Shahrukh will be competing with Hrithik who has already starred as a superhero in Krrish and also Abhishek Bachchan who will soon be seen playing a role akin to a superhero in Drona. SRK’s Red Chilies is slated to personally see to the SFX for this sci-fi film. Well SRK’s fans will surely be anxious to see him in a superhero avatar.

Walt Disney Pictures keen to invest in SRK's Red Chillies Entertainment

It is believed that Walt Disney Pictures, the bigwigs in the Hollywood's entertainment business, have approached Shah Rukh Khan.

The company is keen to invest in SRK's Red Chillies Entertainment.

According to sources, they want to invest $30 million in the deal. When SRK was holidaying in London with his family, it is believed that representatives of the company flew down from Hollywood to meet him and strike a deal.

Other international companies like Sony Pictures and Rupert Murdoch's company have also expressed interest in investing in Red Chillies. So far, the actor has not confirmed anything about the deal.

So one will just have to wait and watch.

Book on Bollywood Super Star Shahrukh Khan

Noted film critic Anupama Chopra's next book, this time on superstar Shah Rukh Khan, will be released Aug 9.

Titled "King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema in India", the book will trace Shah Rukh Khan's climb from a middle-class Delhi boy to a Bollywood superstar, both in India and abroad.

"King Of Bollywood ..." will also be available in Hindi, Marathi and German translations.

Chopra's earlier book, "Sholay - The Making of a Classic", won her a National Award in 2000 for the best book on cinema.

SRK and Kajol come together again

Karan Johar is already working on his next film. It is a given that actor Shah Rukh Khan will play the lead in it. But what is surprising is the title of the film. It will be called Khan.

Khan will see the jodi of SRK and Kajol come together again. Kajol has signed on the dotted line. She took her time to think and has now finally agreed to work in the movie opposite SRK. The main issue for her was her daughter. She did not want to be away for too long from her daughter. It is believed that Karan even resorted to emotional blackmail to get her to say yes to the film. The film will be based in New York and deals with social issues like terrorism and safety. Karan has done the rounds of NGOs in US while doing research for the film.

Hrithik met SRK at his residence Mannat

Great minds sure think alike. Guess what is common between Bollywood baadshah Shah Rukh Khan and heartthrob Hrithik Roshan. The two stars have the same physical trainer Prashant Sawant, after an impressed Hrithik insisted on having a fit body like SRK.

Hrithik met SRK at his residence Mannat before SRK left for his long holiday to London. That’s when some serious guy talk happened between the two, since Hrithik was quite impressed by the way Shah Rukh’s body was looking.

And the next thing they did was exchange Prashant’s number. A close source says, “Hrithik met Shah Rukh at his residence recently and was quite impressed with SRK’s fit body. Hrithik immediately took Prashant’s number and asked him to train him too.” Prashant confirms the news. “I have been training Shah Rukh for a long time now. Recently I also got a call from Hrithik saying that he wanted me to train him too. I was a little surprised initially when Hrithik invited me to his residence. He was also impressed by the power equipment that I use to train Shah Rukh. It was great fun training him and he’s quite a hard-working actor. Even though Hrithik has a state-of-the-art gym at his Juhu residence, he visited my gym and checked out the equipments and was quite impressed.”

The source adds, “Prashant trained Hrithik for a week on a regular basis before he left for his vacation. Hrithik’s wife Susanne was very pleased with Prashant’s training and she also sent him a ‘thank you cheque’ after she met him the first time.”

T-Series has bagged the audio rights of Shah Rukh Khan starrer film Om Shanti Om

Music giant T-Series has bagged the audio rights of Shah Rukh Khan starrer film Om Shanti Om. The film is directed by Farah Khan and is produced by SRK's company Red Chillies.

Despite repeated attempts, T-Series chairman and managing director Bhushan Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan were not available for comment. However, sources inform that the deal has been struck for an amount in the range of Rs 60 - 70 million (Rs 6 - 7 crore), making it the biggest audio buy ever.

The highlight of the music and the film is that close to 36 film personalities (mostly actors), from the Hindi film fraternity come together in one song and even do small cameos throughout the film. They include Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Rishi Kapoor, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Subhash Ghai, Suniel Shetty, Karisma Kapoor, Karan Johar, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Govinda, Bobby Deol, Kajol, Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra, Shilpa Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Zayed Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Dino Morea, Ritesh Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani, Rekha, Shabana Azmi, Lara Dutta, Vidya Balan, Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora, Juhi Chawla, Tusshar Kapoor, Tabu, Urmila Matondkar and Vishal Dadlani.

The music of the film has been scored by Vishal Shekhar. Lyrics have been penned by Gulzar. The film also stars debutante Deepika Padukone alongside, Arjun Rampal and Shreyas Talpade.

The film is due for release in the month of November, however exact date is yet to be known.

SRK's home production Om Shati Om bags Rs 75 crore

For over two months, big boys of showbiz have been bidding for the worldwide rights of Shah Rukh Khan's home-production Om Shanti Om. While one of the Bollywood trade papers pitched the deal at Rs 80 crore, sceptics scoffed the speculation because it was an unheard of amount for a Bollywood film. Buzz is the deal is largest for worldwide rights for Om Shanti Om finally closed in the last couple of days.

It is learnt Kishore Lulla's Eros International, listed on AIM's junior LSE, has bagged the worldwide rights for the Khan flick for Rs 72-75 crore.

When asked about the deal, Sunil Lulla of Eros said, "I will be in a position to talk to you about the deal only next week." But insiders say the deal has been signed, sealed and is waiting to be delivered.

Another film that is being sought after is Aamir Khan's under production Taare Zameen Pe. "Since PVR is producing film with Aamir, they may distribute it themselves," says analyst Amod Mehra.

Acquiring the worldwide rights of a Bollywood film is the latest innovation in showbiz deals. "Since companies like Adlabs Films, Eros, UTV, Studio 18 and T Series are flushed with funds, it has become easier for them to shell out astronomical sums to acquire the worldwide rights of a film," says Mehra.

"Consolidated distribution rights will be the business practice in the future," adds Sandeep Bhargava of Studio 18. "This is primarily due to the entry of organised players in the distribution business." Studio 18 recently acquired the worldwide distribution rights of Mahesh Bhatt's Awarapan.

According to Bhargava, producers prefer to sell worldwide rights to a single party because it saves them the bother of dealing with a network of distributors.

One of the earliest examples of the acquisition of consolidated distribution rights started with Yash Raj Films taking over Mangal Panday The Rising. Next, UTV took over the WWR of Taxi 9211 from Adlabs and Ramesh Sippy Entertainment.

Vipul Shah, whose Namastey London was acquired for global distribution by Eros, feels selling worldwide rights makes good business sense.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is being sought to promote Basmati rice

After promoting cars, soft drinks, biscuits, chyawanprash, computers etc. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is being sought to promote Basmati rice.

SRK is being sought by rice exporters to promote Basmati rice, but there is a hurdle as the government has raised objections over the global Basmati promotion campaign.



Upset over objections raised by the government on their Rs 21-crore proposal to launch the campaign featuring SRK, rice exporters will present their case before ‘higher-ups’ in the Commerce Ministry.

"I will soon seek an appointment with higher officials in the Commerce Ministry and explain how this campaign, to be launched in Europe and Middle East, is important for the country’s rice growers and the industry," All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA) Chairman Vijay Setia said.

The AIREA along with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had finalised the campaign to be executed by Grey Worldwide and Crayon Advertising. It was to be financed by the Basmati Development Fund (BDF) which is created by contributions from exporters.

One of the objections raised by the government on a complaint from a Punjab-based association relates to the fact that the entire money lying with BDF would be spent on this high profile campaign.

"What is the use of keeping this money in a Fixed Deposit when we can get a definite value addition from advertising," Setia asked.

He said since the exporters are enjoying good times in the world market, they can again bring money to BDF many times over ‘in a matter of days’.

Shah Rukh Khan's next home production "Joker"

Shah Rukh Khan's next home production after 'Om Shanti Om' will be directed by Shirish Kunder and the film has already generated curiosity with its title. It has been titled 'Joker' and will have SRK as a superhero.

The film will be perfect blend of comedy, action and special effects and will be the costliest films ever made in Indian Cinema till date. The film will start in the first quarter of next year and will be released in 2009.

Walt Disney officials had met Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan's (SRK) Red Chillies Entertainment, which has been investing heavily in assembling a world class team of VFX professionals in Bombay, is set to get a whopping $30 million investment from entertainment colossus Walt Disney Pictures.

According to the Mumbai Mirror, representatives of Walt Disney Pictures met SRK with an offer during his recent holiday in London.

"Walt Disney has plans of investing $30 million in the first phase of their partnership tenure…other international companies like Sony Pictures and Rupert Murdoch's company had also shown interest in investing in Red Chillies Entertainment. Although SRK hasn't confirmed the deal yet, it might be interesting if he decides to do so," says a source.

Bobby Chawla, Shah Rukh's manager was guarded when asked to confirm the report.

"I don't want to comment on this subject. I only know that Walt Disney officials had met Shah Rukh, but I am not too sure what happened after that."

SRK has been investing heavily in assembling a world class VFX team that currently consists of 40 professionals but is likely to grow rapidly in the days ahead.

Before leaving for his recent vacation in London SRK has leased a property in the Lokhandwala area of Andheri (West) which has enough office space to support the 300 professionals that the company eventually plans to hire.

In the past the VFX team has worked on Main Hoon Na, Paheli and more recently, Don.

Currently it is working on TV commercials and Farah Khan's film, Om Shanti Om.

Shahrukh Khan to attend Indian Festival in London

A floating replica of the Taj Mahal will sail down the Thames to launch a spectacular Indian festival in London.
The marble mausoleum will be recreated as part of a three-month festival celebrating the country's culture in advance of a visit by Mayor Ken Livingstone to India in November.
Created by Bollywood film-set designer Bijon Das Gupta, it is now under construction and will be launched on 17 July, on a barge from Vauxhall to London Bridge.
Mr Livingstone, who will view the floating six-metre metal and wood replica when it docks near City Hall, will visit Mumbai and Delhi in November to open two offices to boost business and tourism links with one of the world's fastest growing economies.
His office is co-ordinating the India Now festival of around 1,500 events at 200 cultural institutions, including a three-week showcase in Trafalgar Square from 2 August that will cost £383,000.
Other highlights include appearances by "Indian royalty" - Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, whose new film Chak De India will premiere at Somerset House, and India cricket captain Rahul Dravid.
There will be a fashion show at the Victoria & Albert Museum and exhibitions at the British Library and Museum of London, while the Regent Street festival on 2 September will have an Indian theme.
A Bollywood night will be held at Kempton Park racecourse, Sanjeev Bhaskar will give a talk at the V&A and there will be a Mumbai clubbing night at the ICA.
The 430,000-strong Indian community is the largest minority group in London .
The Mayor hopes to use the festival and his official visit to showcase contemporary India.
"Modern India is developing so rapidly that Londoners cannot refresh their knowledge of it fast enough or too often," he said.
"I hope that all Londoners will experience the many exciting cultural events taking place throughout July to September as part of India Now. It is our biggest opportunity to enjoy the cultural richness of a country that will be a huge part of our futures."
The Mayor has also lent his support to a new tour of London promoting the time spent in the capital by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
The two-hour walk has been devised by Ajay Goyal and covers Gandhi's five visits to London, starting in 1888 when he was training to become a barrister and used to walk up to seven miles a day searching for vegetarian food.
Many of the restaurants and places he lived in have since been demolished or destroyed in the Blitz, but the tour includes Gandhi's first London home in Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, plus Inner Temple and Farringdon Street.
Mr Goyal said India Now was a "very positive" initiative. He added: "India is going to be one of the biggest international players in the next 10 to 20 years. If you have billions of dollars worth of Indian businesses listing on the London Stock Exchange and opening offices here, the Mayor is right to focus on India for the commercial investment and co-operation.
"I think it's very important that India is highlighted as an example of peaceful co-existence. What we have learned in India is that you need two things to survive. You need tolerance and peace. You need to tolerate your neighbour no matter what his creed or colour or religion."

Ckah De India Trailor has not found much appreciation

According to a section of the media, the trailor of Yash Chopra's CHAK DE INDIA, which made its first appearance in the prints of his JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM, released last month, has not found much appreciation.

For one, the trailor has just a song which, too, is unlike the traditional songs that we are used to listening and seeing in films. In fact, it is more of a poem than a song! Secondly, there is no heroine in the film, and so, despite the presence of an entire team of hockey players (in the song), the thirst of the audience to see that one glamorous face may not have been quenched.

However, not too much should be read into the 'so called' lack of appreciation for the trailor. These days, with so many films, which have magnificent and enticing trailor, falling like nine pins at the box-office, CHAK DE INDIA, just might stand tall in the cinemas, when it hits the screens on 10th August.

As a leading trade expert says (in a lighter vein) - If a great trailor is no guarantee for a hit or even an average film, a dull trailor just might be a surefire precursor to a hit film! Yes, one never knows!

Shahrukh Khan Back to Action

Having only returned from his European holiday late Sunday night, Shah Rukh Khan is already getting ready to jet back to London for work. The star has a busy six months lined up ahead of him and well rested he is looking to get back into the thick of things.

A source close to the actor says that Khan already has his schedule chockablock for the coming months. “He is leaving for London tomorrow. It’s a very short trip of just two days. While he was away, Chak De India was in post production. It is in fact almost done. Once back Yash Raj will begin promotions for the movie,” he says.

Khan’s own home production Om Shanti Om, starring Khan and debutant Deepika Padukone is almost ready too. “Certain parts need to be canned other than that the rest of the movie has been shot. Also there are two song sequences that need to be completed. So basically SRK will finish all his current shoots by the first week of August,” he says.

Although there are plans of Shah Rukh returning to television for his second season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), dates are yet to be finalized. “He enjoyed the programme a lot and wants to surely come back,” says our source, “But he has so much going on! No one knows anything about his dates – it was to begin post Om Shanti Om release but now it looks like Shah Rukh will be doing a movie with Adi (Aditya Chopra) so again he first needs to sort those dates before he can give his commitment to a long project like KBC.”

In the next few months Shah Rukh Khan will be seen on the big screen in the soon to be released Shimit Amin’s Chak De India, Viveck Vaswani’s Dulha Mil Gaya with Sushmita Sen and Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om.