Fifty Days & Sixty Crores For 'Chak De! India'

Yash Raj's Shah Rukh Khan starrer, 'Chak De! India', has entered the 50th uninterrupted day of its run last Friday and still has more than 250 prints in circulation.

The Shimit Amin directed film, that has now assumed cult status, is the second highest earner in Bollywood this year and has so far netted close to 60-crores from India.

The film that still gets good bookings during the weekends, has an impressive 11.50 crores to show, just from Bombay city.

Abid, PlanetBollywood.com

Child SRK wanted to become a Sportsman

Says the new book, SRK: King Khan by Deepa Gahlot.

Heart-throb of many a damsel, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan as a child was weak in Hindi, dreamt of representing the country in international sports events and as a young man had to court his love Gauri for six years before he could win her, says a new book.

Shah Rukh was bright, naughty, fond of sports but was weak in Hindi either scoring very low marks or failing in the subject says the book 'SRK: King Khan' by journalist, critic Deepa Gahlot.

Instead of scolding him, his mother once told him that she would take him to a Hindi movie in a cinema hall if he did well in the subject. The bait was attractive enough for young Shah Rukh and his first visit to cinema must have triggered off the acting impulse in him, says the book. The newly generated interest in Hindi made him understand Hindi films better and gave him a command over the language, a skill that stands him in good stead in his career even today, it says.

In the school he was more interested in sports such as cricket, hockey, football and athletics than in studies and hoped to become a sportsman capable of representing his country in international events.

In Delhi while performing for both television and theatre, Shah Rukh was also wooing the pretty Gauri Chibba, a Hindu girl. Because of the difference in the religion, Gauri's family disapproved of their relationship. The courtship carried on clandestinely for over six years. Gauri was not too pleased about his choice of career or his decision to move to Mumbai but their love overcame all problems, pretty much like it happens in the movies, the book says.


(About the book: SRK, King Khan by Deepa Gahlot, Roli Books, Pages 124, Price Rs. 495).

Source: PTI

Shahrukh will perform with Tulsi and Parvati in Star Parivar Awards

Ekt0914_shahrukh430.jpga Kapoor’s television awards ceremony to be held in December in the UAE is growing bigger by the day.

The latest news on that front is either Salman or Shah Rukh Khan is going to perform at the function. And one of them will be dancing on stage with ‘Tulsi’ Gautami Gadgil or ‘Parvati’ Sakshi Tanwar.

Says Balaji’s Business Head, Harsha Chugh Khanna, “Right from the start Ekta was sure of one thing, her television awards will be as big as the film awards. To that extent, she has been working towards getting the biggest of Bollywood stars to perform at her awards. However there’s only one pre-condition. Each of these Bollywood icons has to be in some way associated with television.”

So is it Shah Rukh or Salman for the main performance? “We’re currently in negotiation with Shah Rukh and hopeful that he’ll agree. He’s a source of inspiration not only in cinema but also on television. If you recall he started his career on television with Fauji and recently made a spectacular impact on Kaun Banega Crorepati. So it would be wonderful to have him perform,” says Harsha.

Ekta’s buddy Karan Johar will be facilitated at her awards named Balaji Global Indian Tv Honours 2007. Karan will also host a segment of the awards. Adds Ekta, “When I decided to have the awards I wanted television to get the recognition it deserves. Today I feel apart from a few filmmakers television is able to deliver more glamour grandeur and density than the average ‘multiplex’ film. The home medium has certainly come a long way. And that’s what we’ll be celebrating at our awards.”

Source: IndiaFM

Do Actresses find SRK's New Avatar Sexy

After India's T20 win, the next most popular dining table conversations revolve around Shah Rukh Khan, his six pack, his new hair style...

However, what intrigues us is what do our Bollywood Bombshells think of the re-packaged Shah Rukh?

Do the sexy women around town find his new macho avatar sexy enough?

Or was SRK better as the innocent chocolate hero?

Indiatimes Movies finds out...

What the glamour girls thinks..


Priyanka Chopra
I love Shah Rukh Khan and whatever he does always rock. His new image is just so cool.


Tanushree Dutta
Shah Rukh Khan the romantic hero, but his new six packs also rocks. It's commendable how he has achieved it within a short span of time.


Sagarika Ghatge
SRK is SRK. He carries off everything with style. So it doesn't matter which look he carries.


Meghna Naidu
SRK is SRK, lean or not lean. He is still the superstar SRK. I think the new look that he is sporting these days suits him. But I like him unconditionally, looks doesn't really matters to me. He is still the same SRK.


Payal Rohatgi
Both. I am a crazy fan of his. So I love him in any form. His dimples are what makes me go weak in my knees.


Amrita Rao
New SRK rocks. Today, fitness is the key to good health and age has nothing to do with achieving it. He has inspired the youth.


Deepika Padukone
I love Shah Rukh Khan's new lean and muscular look.


Sameera Reddy
I think he has a powerful personal that stands out irrespective of his new look and that's makes him a King Khan.


Soni Razdan
Old is Gold. I like the old SRK look. The romantic hero.


Suchitra Pillai
New lean look without straightened hair.


Sherlyn Chopra
Three things that catch my attention in a guy. Believer, achiever and performer. SRK was a believer then and even now. He was an achiever then and even now. Can't comment on his performance though; but his lean muscular look rocks.

Source: IndiaTimesMovies

Shah Rukh Khan is Big in Japan

Tokyo: Young Japanese girls learning how to tie the sari, trying on various shades of bindis and dyeing their hands with henna, these are just some of the scenes from the mega Indo-Japan cultural show being held here.

Also seen is the charm of the quintessential Indian curry meal and yoga-- touted as the major de-stresser of modern times at the two-day cultural extravaganza, Namaste India, which began today as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the people of the two countries.

As yoga guru Baba Ramdev espouses the cause of pranayam at the Yogiki Park here, young Japanese boys, sporting Shahrukh Khan T-shirts listen in rapt attention.

That Khan is the most popular Indian icon here, can be judged by rampant sale of music and video CDs of his movies and the perfumes named after him.

Source: ZeeNewsIndia

Jaadu Hai Nashaa Hai : SRK Casts his Spell

Yes! The one and only Shah Rukh Khan delights the SRGMP contestants by not only meeting them personally but also showing them why he is the Badshah of Bollywood!

Shah Rukh could not make it to the episode when the Om Shanti Om team visited the SaReGaMaPa sets. It was the T20 finals and he was cheering the Indian cricket Team on that day at South Africa. However, the contestants got a chance to meet the Superstar on the 26th of September when he was shooting for an ad film at a studio in Andheri East.

The contestants were upbeat meeting the King Khan,especially Aneek Dhar who said," What can I say? He is such a big man and I never thought I'll get to meet him. He never got to see my performances except for Ek Chatur Naar and was full of praise for that."

So what did King Khan have to say about that performance, we asked and Aneek replied laughing "He was impressed not just with my performance but also my get-up. He commented, "Beta, how 'Mast' you were looking with that moustache and all. You looked just like a hero.And you sang so well too."

Coming from the King Khan himself, to Aneek this was a compliment of a life time. On
Shah Rukh's request he sang the song 'Satrangi Re' which Aneek feels is a matter of honour for him. He now has just one wish, that he gets a chance to do playback singing for Shah Rukh soon.


We also asked Raja about this meeting and found even he too was overwhelmed and happy to meet the Badshah, "I simply loved the man, his style,everything. Best was the way he treated us. He was so friendly as if he knew us for long. He is such a simple and down to earth person. Not for once we felt we were meeting a Star. In our own language I would use just one word for him – 'Milansaar'. That's how we found found him."

Amanat too had the same feelings as the other two, "He is such a simple man. We felt as if we know each other for many years now. The way he was hugging us, holding our hands and wishing us, it was too overwhelming. Never dreamed that I would get to meet him and that too at such close quarters!! He even asked us for refreshments but we refused as for us meeting him was enough in itself. He even signed autographs in our diaries."

We are sure these contestants would go back from this contest with some really nice memories and from their comments it looks like this meeting with King Khan would always be a memorable one for them.

Source: IndiaForums.com

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Shah Rukh Khan was conspicuous by his absence at the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007, Om Shanti Om special episode on Monday for he chose to cheer the Indian cricket team in Joannesburg at the T20 final against Pakistan. The episode was shot with director Farah Khan and leading lady Deepika Padukone promoting the film. The mega-finalists Aneek, Amanat and Raja were terribly disappointed when they learnt that they wouldn't be able to meet SRK. But the SRK had a surprise up his sleeve!

On Tuesday, Khan informed Zee that he would like to meet the contestants at Mohan Studio where he was shooting for an ad film.

According to Payaol Patel (Creative head of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa), the entire credit for making it happen goes to Farah Khan. "We were co-ordinating with Farah regarding this. She continuously assured that us that the meeting with SRK will surely take place. It goes without saying that we are extremely thankful to SRK also for keeping his commitment," says Patel.

So what happened between Khan and the contestants? When the contestants were told about the meeting they were really excited. Says a source from the set, "They couldn't believe that they were actually meeting the superstar in person. SRK follows the show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007 as much as possible. He told Aneek, Raja and Amanat that he had seen their performances and gave them a few tips as well."

He told Aneek that he especially liked him singing 'Ek chatur nar' (from Padosan) last week. Referring to Raja as the Bikaner ka Raja, Shahrukh performed a dance step from the ‘Chaiyan Chaiyan’ song (Dil Se again) and asked him to sing it in the forthcoming episodes. Finally, he extended a warm welcome to Amanat from Pakistan and told him that his own forefathers also hail from the same country.

Amanat tells us, "I simply couldn't believe that I was seated with Shah Rukh Khan and had a conversation with him for so long. He was very warm."

Source: MumbaiMirror

A conversation with Shah Rukh Khan

His new hairstyle was on display - not so his famous six-pack abs. An unusually-sober and hard-pressed for time Shah Rukh Khan took a hurried call on a rendezvous with the media.

Your film Om Shanti Om is partly set in the ‘70s. Does the ‘70s have any special fascination for Farah and you, since there were elements even in Main Hoon Na?

Om Shanti Om traverses eras from the 1970s till 2007. We are not spoofing anything from that period but paying a proper tribute to it by recreating the era. Since I was born in 1965, I have obviously grown up on the films of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Not many are aware that the controversial term ‘Bollywood’ was first coined in that decade. So you will get to see the bell-bottoms, the side-locks, the dog-collars and of course the music. In the first half we even got a legend like Pyarelal to contribute some authentic ‘70s music. I personally love the music and cinema of that era.


What was director Farah Khan’s contribution to your ‘retro’ performance here?

Oh she just said that the acting in those days used to be a bit over-the-top and since I am prone to overacting I would carry off that kind of acting pretty well! I must say I am particularly grateful to Kirronji for her helping me with detailed nuances!


The title intrigues us, since the cult song of that name was also co-composed by Pyarelal with Laxmikant, and was from Karz, a film revolving around reincarnation like OSO. There was even speculation that it was a remake of that film. So could you explain the title?

Oh that was Farah (Khan)’s idea. In my previous birth I play Om Prakash Makhija, a struggling junior artiste who is in love with Shanti, a top heroine. His friend, played by Shreyas Talpade, tells Om that he will never become a big star with such a name. But in the present birth he is Om Kapoor, a superstar who has no talent at all! He calls himself OK for short, since the director tells him that if he gives a good shot, and also because it’s his abbreviation!


So how would you describe the film?

Different people will have their opinions, but since we have always planned it for a Diwali and Idd release it is obviously a light film with elements of a period drama, music and emotions.


And was the now-famous six-pack abs also Farah’s idea?

Yeah it was. I went into body-building because she thought that my 2007 avatar of a superstar needed it, for most heroes of today are very particular about physiques. I was always keen on this too, but thanks to my back problems I was unable to follow up on it. So now I did back exercises, some 500-700 crunches every day and diet control too. I have always looked up to Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan for being so disciplined and focussed in this matter. They guided me too. I would now request all young people to please work out everyday and keep a healthy mind in a healthy body. My kids love my abs and I am glad I made the effort!


And did you really need the conglomeration of stars in a song ?

Yes, the backdrop of the story is the film industry in these four decades. I am very touched and thankful that so many of my seniors as well as contemporaries very sweetly obliged Farah and me, especially Dharamji, Shabanaji, Jeetuji, Mithunda and others. Even Rakesh Roshanji came in.


Will a newcomer like Deepika Padukone match the image of a top heroine that she plays in the film, especially opposite you?

Deepika is very talented and in fact I hope that we won’t let her down! I am a big fan of her father Prakash Padukone and so I cannot afford to fail her! By the way she’s taller than me and that’s her biggest plus point for me!


The release dates of Saawariya and your film are clashing.Couldn’t that have been avoided?

(Shrugs) I agree that business is affected to an extent when two big films release on that day, but I am hoping for the best. I do believe that both films will make their mark and I refuse to think that we have the edge just because Shah Rukh Khan is there. Saawariya may have two debutant stars but it is a huge film. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a very big name and Columbia Pictures is a huge brand. So I do not think that OSO is a bigger film. Besides , I must say that I am emotionally attached to the team behind the other film. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has made Devdas, which will remain one of my career-highlights. I have a very deep relationship with Ranbir and Sonam, who are children of my very dear friends Rishi Kapoorsaab and Anil Kapoor, and there are Salman and Rani too.
In fact I am as anxious about OSO as any father would be about his kids doing well when they go out into the world.

Rajiv Vijayakar, ScreenIndia

SRK and Kareena will star together in Robot

It has been confirmed that SRK and Kareena will star together in Robot which is scheduled to on floors soon.

The Sci Film film Robot is to be produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Shankar.

Shankar recently directed Rajnikanth in the super hit Sivaji The Boss.

Source: TNN

What SRK and Michael Jackson Have in Common

The undisputed King of Pop and the most successful entertainer of all time according to the Guinness Book of World Records, Michael Jackson, and King Khan Shah Rukh of Bollywood, have more than just the superlative King in common other than being two of the most famous humans walking planet Earth.

And if you think we’re talking about Michael’s alabaster skin or his signature moonwalk in rhinestone studded trousers, then just ‘beat it’! It’s the Kings’ hair and aviator styles that’s making for haute conversations despite Team India’s marvellous performance at the T20 World Cup.

Whilst cheering on the Indian team, Six Pack Khan, with his wild, dark hair and aviators, bore an uncanny resemblance to MJ’s signature look of the 90s, So much so, that it appeared as if SRK would break into a moonwalk right there on the pitch!

And what a thriller that would have been! But what’s MJ got to do with SRK’s look? Nothing really except that SRK makes wild hair and aviators look real good. Never mind the moonwalk, he gives us a
‘Dard-e-Disco’! Instead of bringing sexy back a la Justin Timberlake, SRK’s just brought six packs in, Khan style!

Source: TimesOfIndia

The Re-Virginisation of Shah Rukh Khan

Re-Introduction is an under-statement, considering the amazing and 'abs'olutely commendable effort that has been invested in generating SRK's brand 'new look'.

It's a week since the first look of 'Dard-E-Disco' was out and the song, especially due to 'perfect-six-abs' of Shah Rukh Khan, is already the talk of the town.

Composed by Vishal-Shekhar and written by Javed Akhtar, 'Dard E Disco' is a 'jump-on-the-dance-floor' number which has a Persian touch to it even as overall feel of the song stays on to be Western.

"I am thrilled with the kind of reactions the song is fetching. As the teaser suggests, this is my way of re-introducing Shah Rukh Khan", quips Farah Khan, director of this year's most awaited film Om Shanti Om.

Re-introduction it certainly is, considering the fact that after 'Kaal Dhamaal' [Kaal] where he danced in designer sleeveless vests with Malaika Arora, Shah Rukh Khan has shed his inhibitions further and gone the Monty route, even if it is only half the way!

"Well, full credit to Shah Rukh for attempting something like this which showcases him in an altogether different 'avtaar'", talks Farah fondly for her superstar friend, "The idea was to give him a much leaner look, while refraining from making it all look artificial.
I really thought that with this new look (referring to SRK’s recent six-pack avatar), he looks almost like a new comer. He has never been seen like this before. At an age where most actors are putting on their shirts, he has chiseled his body at the age of 42."

Source: Sify.com

Success is all about team spirit : SRK

The world saw him out there at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Monday, cheering the Men in Blue, shouting “ Chak De, India ” and punching the air in triumph as M S Dhoni’s Demons demolished Pakistan to win the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup. Shah Rukh Khan spoke to BT after the euphoria had sunk in.

His trip wasn’t planned. The BCCI and Sharad Pawar had invited him. “It was kind of them,” said SRK. “I was sitting at home doing nothing because of the Ganpati holiday. The game was just for three hours, I could make it. I would never have been able to go for a day-night One-dayer.

My son Aryan wanted to go. And I was glad I could take him for a World Cup final, everything just fell into place,” he added, explaining his presence at the stadium.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif had mentioned earlier that it was SRK’s presence that inspired Dhoni and his men to victory. He was the ‘X’ factor that lent that extra edge to a team that was already riding a wave of confidence with Lady Luck alongside them.

Amused at being described as Team India’s lucky mascot, Shah Rukh Khan said, “That’s not true at all. Success isn’t about one person, it’s a collective effort. Let’s not take away from the boys their dues. This success belonged solely and only to Dhoni and his boys. They played superbly. We can only thank them for making us proud.”

But did he not think that his role as hockey coach Kabir Khan in Chak De India had inspired all of India to compete at whatever it was doing more fiercely and proudly? “Well, yes, Chak De has enthused India with a new spirit.

But Chak De, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai are defining movies of my career. I am glad to be able to contribute through them. But, in this case, I was another Indian among the spectators cheering the boys with my mind, body, heart and soul. Yeah, I was praying fervently as well, but then so was everyone else,” laughed SRK.

His role as the hockey coach has emboldened SRK to offer this tip to the new One-day captain M S Dhoni: “It’s important to instill confidence in the team. A captain has to be in sync with his players.

Success is all about team spirit. Treat every player as an adult who has his own mind. Leave them with responsibility and you see magic. You just channelise their energy and help them put things in perspective when they require it.” He added, “Dhoni scores on all these counts.”

Afsana Ahmed, TimesOfIndia

'I was lucky to participate in this historic event' Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan was in Johannesburg to watch the Twenty20 World Championship India-Pakistan final on Monday. Though he was impressed at the energy and enthusiasm of the young team, in an exclusive chat with CNN-IBN, he said that winning the World Cup did not mean this was the best team India had ever had.


Read on...


Sanjeeb Mukherjea: It must have been a great experience watching the final of the World T20 Championship, what with India winning the World Cup after so many years.


Shah Rukh Khan: It was absolutely wonderful. I am lucky that I could participate in the history-making piece of sportsmanship that the team has shown and I congratulate the team. I am so happy that I could make it and we won, especially against a well-deserving opponent like Pakistan, which also played wonderfully.


Sanjeeb Mukherjea: Do you think that this new team has brought in a totally fresh new look to Indian cricket?


Shah Rukh Khan: Let's not jump to conclusions so fast. They are all great players, but we have always had great players in our team. The BCCI has always made sure that there is a great team playing. However, the fact is that you win some and you lose some, but when you win some, it does not mean that this is the greatest team and when we lose some, it does not mean that it is the worst team!


But this is a great team. On good days we performed very well and we have had a great spell of cricket these last two weeks. Hopefully the form will continue. And I say that this set of guys is very energetic and they have a great belief in winning and that is good spirit.


Sanjeeb Mukherjea: What do you think of the Chak De... factor across sub-continental cricket?


Shah Rukh Khan: I keep telling everyone that the movie does not inspire people. Real heroes like the Indian cricket team which just won the World T20 Championship inspire people.


I am glad that this film of mine came when we are doing so well in football, cricket and hockey. All I would like to say is thank you for giving us more chances to make more movies on real heroes like the Indian cricket team.

Source: CNN-IBN

I Always Believed India Would Win the T20 World Cup: SRK

Expressing elation over India's historic win in the first Twenty20 World Cup Cricket Championship in South Africa, Bollywood's 'King Khan' Shahrukh tonight said he always had a strong belief that the team would emerge triumphant.

''I and my son strongly believed all through the final between India and Pakistan that we would win. At no time did we feel that India would lose. Fortunately for us, our young cricketing heroes proved us right,''Shahrukh said in his reaction over India lifting the T20 championship.

Speaking to a television channel, Shahrukh, who was in Johannesburg along with his son to watch the exciting final encounter between India and Pakistan, said it was his strong belief in the ability of the Indian youngsters that led him to suddenly decide early this morning to go to South Africa to lend support to the team.

''I was very young when the Indian team won the Cricket World Cup in 1983. But now I wanted my son to watch closely our young cricketing heroes battle in the field. Fortunately for us we were not disappointed,''Shahrukh said.

Referring to his recent film 'Chak De India' featuring him as a coach of the women's hockey team that trains them to emerge victorious in the World Cup, Shahrukh said,'' it is from people like Kapil Dev and Madan Lal (members of the 1983 world cup winning team) and Mohinder Singh Dhoni (Captain of the T20 world cup winning Indian team) that we draw inspirations for films like 'Chak De India' and not the other way round. In fact, it is these sportsmen who are the real heroes of our country. As actors, we only try to draw inspiration from them in our acting.'' Expressing his thanks to people like BCCI president Sharad Pawar, Industrialist Vijay malya and Congressman Rajiv Shukla for arranging his visit to South Africa at such a short notice, Shahrukh said,''I am extremely happy to be present at such a historic moment in India's cricketing history.'' ''I am also happy that this win by the Indian cricket team as well as the brilliant show by the Pakistani cricket team has given the much needed phillip to sports in the subcontinent and brought cricket back into the centrestage after the unfortunate loss at the 2007 cricket World Cup,''Shahrukh said.

Refusing to compare the World Cup win in 1983 and the T20 win, Shahrukh said,''I would not like to make any comparisons. A win is a win. In that sense, the present win is as much cherished as the 83 win.'' Bollywood actor Suneil Shetty also expressed elation at the Indian team's win.

''When Misbah-ul Haq hit that last shot, I had my heart in my mouth. I thought we had lost it. Its only when they showed Srishant catching the ball that I realized India had won,''Suneil Shetty told a TV channel.

Suneil said it was a really exciting tournament that they had witnessed in South Africa this last forthnight.

''I believe that T 20 cricket is here to stay and will give strong competition to one day cricket,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Pradesh BJP chief Harshvardhan also congratulated the Indian cricket team on its historic win.

''I am happy that we are World champions. We feel on top of the world on the cricket team's triumph,''Dr Harshvardhan said in his congratulatory message.

Source: UNI

King Khan Revs Up the Atmosphere

The noise was deafening in a packed stadium and even though the Indians outnumbered the Pakistanis by some distance, the shouting match was almost even. The battle cry was similar: every Jeetega bhai Jeetega, India Jeetega (roughly translated to "Brother, India will win) was followed by Jeetega bhai Jeetega, Pakistan Jeetega.

But the man who almost stole the applause from the cricketers was Shah Rukh Khan, the Indian film superstar equally adored in Pakistan. Shah Rukh, a self-confessed cricket fan, recently starred as a hockey coach in the hit film Chak De India. He was last seen on a cricket ground in England during the Indian tour, and was now seen standing next to Lalit Modi, the BCCI vice-president, deliriously cheering every Pakistani wicket. When his face was flashed on the giant screen, the crowd went even more delirious.

Sambit Bal is the editor of Cricinfo and Cricinfo Magazine

Bollywood King Shah Rukh Khan Cheers Team India to Victory !

As the Indian team celebrated the historic Twenty20 World Cup win, SRK exulted with uncontrollable joy.

Indian Film Superstar Shah Rukh Khan was constantly cheering the Indian cricket team on its way to victory in the finals of the Twenty20 tournament against Pakistan.

The New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg was not short of energetic Indian fans who waved Indian flags and shouted slogans to cheer the men in blue in the crucial match against Pakistan.

But one man who stood out among the Indian supporters was Shah Rukh Khan, who watched the match along with his son Aryan from the stands. SRK, wearing a black suit and a indigo T shirt, constantly clapped when a dot ball was bowled from the Indian side and stood from his seat in joy whenever a Pakistani wicket fell.

In the final overs, when Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq looked dangerous and the match seemed slipping away from India’s grip, SRK stood in the stands and gave a thumbs-up sign to Indian captain MS Dhoni in the field.

That was just a moment before the wicket of Sohail Tanvir, who had hit two sixes, fell and optimism returned to team India.

That was also the moment the DJ played a few lines of the song Chak De…Chak De India from SRK’s recent release Chak De India .

Words are not sufficient to describe what happened after that. A billion hearts erupted in joy as Haq flicked bowler Joginder Sharma’s ball into the air and Sreesanth caught it.

As the Indian team celebrated the historic Twenty20 World Cup win, SRK exulted with uncontrollable joy.

Later, SRK went to congratulate the players on the field. SRK hugged each player individually. Harbhajan Singh, who was completely ecstatic, lifted SRK up when the superstar hugged him.

SRK was heard saying to his son: “They (the Indian players) are the true superstars”.

Well said, SRK.

And a million congratulations to team India from us. You’ve made us proud.


N.K.Deoshi, ApunKaChoice

______________________________________________

Is it the 'Chak de' magic?

September 24: Third time in a row, it is Chak de for India. First it was football, then hockey and now cricket.

This time around the Men in Blue rocked the shores of South Africa in the just concluded inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. Team India beat Pakistan in the grand finale on September 24, a day that will be remembered in cricketing history.

It was a nail-biting encounter as the two teams fought with all their might to clinch the coveted title. But as luck would have it, the trophy went into the hands of the Men in Blue after the ball went into the hands of Sree Santh. In fact, the tournament was a big challenge for new Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his young brigade.

So as young guns brought back India's lost pride after a humiliating first round exit from the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Indian Film actor Shah Rukh Khan, along with his son Aryan, was present to grace the occasion and spell his good luck charm. Well, he is the latest sporting icon for India after the release of his film Chak de India . The film looks like a good omen for Indian sport stars.

It all started with the Indian football team creating history after lifting their first ever Nehru Cup title with a 1-0 win over a 10-man Syria in a tough final played in Delhi on August 29, 2007. The victory spurred a resurgence of football in India.

Undoubtedly the win was a return of sorts of the hit movie Chak de India , in which the Indian women's hockey team comes from behind to claim the World Cup.

The next big win for Indian sport came on September 9, 2007. And this time the game that brought laurels to our country was the national sport, hockey. Amidst a roaring crowd, the Indian hockey team did something they last did four years ago - of winning a major multinational tournament - and this time it was the Asia Cup. India retained Asia Cup beating South Korea 7-2 in a hard fought final in Chennai. Not just the convincing win, but the Indian hockey team also added another feather to its cap. Its tally of 57 goals in the event became the highest for any team.

Truely, a Chak de performance by the sporting sensations.

It looks like the stars are shining for Indian sport. As the year is drawing to a close, the match winning performances of India's sporting sensations have taken the nation to a realm of success following a never-ending exhilaration.

The title song of Chak De India is a big hit and overall the movie itself has spread its magic across all sport in India. As the adrenaline is running high with India's seemingly never-ending successes, it's time to say again Chak de India .


Divya Kalra, TimesOfIndia

___________________________________________________________


Shah Rukh Khan did a Chak de India at the Wanderers in Johannesburg as he watched the match and embraced the Indian team after their victory.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said it was the film Chak de India and actor Shah Rukh Khan's presence that inspired Dhoni and his men to victory.

Coach Khan was in the VIP lounge with his equally cricket savvy son Aryan, cheering for their favourite team right through the nail-biting finale.

From giving the cricketers his love to egging them on, Shah Rukh thoroughly enjoyed the match.

"It really was Chak de India. I am glad that my son and I became part of history. It was an exciting match and we played a strong team," said Shah Rukh.

Going by the excitement it created amongst the players, they were more than happy to exchange a jadu ki jhappi with the man who made hockey a household name.

NDTV-Correspondent

SRK speaks about his forthcoming film Om Shanti Om and how Bhansali's Saawariya is not a threat

Lately in news for his six packs, the Badshah of Bollywood aka Shah Rukh Khan speaks about his forthcoming film Om Shanti Om and how Bhansali’s Saawariya is not a threat.

The music of Om Shanti Om is catching really fast.

Vishal and Shekhar have given it a lot of thought before deciding upon the music for Om Shanti Om . The interesting thing about the music of OSO is that it has been made in two contrasting periods, one of the 70’s and one for 2007. So we hope that the music of both the eras is liked by audiences. Pyarelalji has composed the music for us for the first half of the film that depicts the 70’s. Farah too has a good sense of music. I do not have a great knowledge of music but I have been fortunate that over the years my films have always had good music directors. And the singers in the film Abhijeet, Sonu and Shreya have all been great in the film. There are two to three songs that are too good. I think youngsters will like Dard-E-Disco a lot apart from which we have also included dance mixes as well. Om Shanti Om , I would say, has a lot of variety to offer as far as music is concerned.

What sets Om Shanti Om apart from the conventional?

At the outset I would say that it is not possible to make every person happy. And also I am not in a position to explain how different Om Shanti Om is. Although the film is about reincarnation and has lots of drama, it has its humourous moments too. As a producer, to recreate the sets of the 70’s was very exciting for me and no filmmaker has tried to relive that period in Hindi cinema before. Hence it was a very enriching experience for me. Also I have a personal thinking that the term Bollywood has been derived from the 70’s cinema. Nor has it has been taken from the 50’s or 60’s or the 90’s. Bollywood has been identified by the global audience as having side locks, wearing bell-bottoms and having long hair and to portray that was exciting. I wanted Farah to do the same for her first film Main Hoon Na when we rewind to my youthful days. Om Shanti Om is a film from the 70’s and yet modern.

Do you personally have a belief in reincarnation?

No, I do not believe in it. I don’t think I can be born again.

How difficult was it for you to build your body that too at such short notice?

See nothing is difficult to achieve if you desire to work for it. Even our film has a main line that says everything turns out to be OK in the end and if it is still not ok then there is hope. I had hope even at my age that I can have abs and my children like it as well. Earlier I had a back surgery and I was told to have regular workouts to improve the flexibility. Four months back I was on diet control. I also took some supplements like amino acids and fat burners and I did 500 to 700 crunches. That has made a difference. And I feel good now having done it. I would advise all youngsters to do the same and stay fit because a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.

Whose idea was it to shoot a song with you wearing nothing but a shirt?

Farah always had this dream that I perform a song for her without a shirt. She tried it in Kaal where she made me wear a banian (vest). When I looked at bodies of Salman, John or Hrithik I felt that even I could try to compete with them, though they all have much more fantastic physiques. But I did not want to feel ashamed of myself and so I tried my best. I think that I have sort of succeeded in my endeavour. So the idea was certainly Farah’s but I had set a condition that I would bare my chest when I have a good one. I put in the efforts for the last three to four months and feel I have done just fine.

Tell us something about the characters in Om Shanti Om..

One of the characters is Om Prakash Makhija. And Shreyas who plays a very important role in the film always reminds him that he will never become a star because of his name which is Om Prakash Makhija. He is a 70’s character who is a struggling artist and wants to be a superstar but never succeeds. The second character is Om Kapoor who is a superstar but is not talented. These two characters along with Shanti (played by Deepika Padukone) form the storyline.

We hear that Om Shanti Om has a lot of comedy so then is the film a spoof of sorts at the 70’s era?

The film is certainly not a spoof. Of course there is humour in the film because Farah has a good sense of it. There are a lot of funny scenes in the film which we haven’t shown in the promos as yet but you’ll get to see it later in the trailers in October. What I like about Om Shanti Om is that it is a gritty film that has loads of drama but also has its funny moments. All in all Om Shanti Om is 2 ½ hours of pure entertainment and hope it’s happy 2 ½ hours for all who watch the film.

Was it necessary to rope in so many stars for the film?

The film is set in two different eras. One from the 70’s and the other in 2007 and most importantly the film is set in the film industry. So we felt that if we get genuine stars in the film that will make it more real and bring in a sense of reality. I am grateful to all the stars who gave their time and efforts for Om Shanti Om . Today’s actors are good friends but I must thank all the yesteryear stars like Dharamji, Shabanaji, Jeetusaab and Mithunda. They all came down at just one call to be a part of the 70’s era in the film. And I am really touched by other seniors like Amitji and Rakesh Roshanji who also are part of the movie. The film was about real people and reality, thus I felt it was necessary to get these original stars and not duplicates.

What is the best compliment that you got for the six pack abs that you sport in the song Dard-E-Dsico?

My son tells me that I am no longer fat and that I look better than before. But he thinks that I can still improve on my fitness. So I will keep at it.

Shah Rukh, you had called Salman the Dadasaheb Phalke of Bodybuilding. Now that you yourself have managed six pack abs, what would you say?

I am just a debutant. In fact I should get the ‘Best debut for bodybuilding’ award. Salman, I think, was responsible for the wave of physical fitness that came into India which was followed by Hrithik in modern times. Both keep encouraging me. In fact I showed the first photos of my body to them and they said it looked OK. I am happy that they thought that I looked nice.

Lastly, do you consider Saawariya as a possible threat to Om Shanti Om?

Firstly, whenever one makes a film they make it hoping that it is liked by one and all. To be honest, Sanjay is a close friend of mine. He has given me one of my most memorable films with Devdas which I think is a highlight of my career. I have a lot of respect for him as a friend and as a filmmaker.
Saawariya is being presented by Columbia Tristar. The film has big names like Salman Khan and Rani Mukherjee and also has two newcomers Ranbir and Sonam who love and respect me very much. In fact given a choice I would not want to compete with such a huge film and at the same time I love my film so much that I fear for it.
Business wise it would have been wiser if both films had released separately but since it is clashing, all we can do is wish all the best to them and wish that our film does well too. Ours is a comparatively small film but having said that I will try my best to make Om Shanti Om the nicest film of the year. There is no competition but yes, Om Shanti Om is my child.

Source: IndiaTimesMovies

Chak de: Shah Rukh eggs India on against Pakistan

Johannesburg: Indian film super star Shah Rukh Khan reached here to watch the Twenty20 World Championships final between India and Pakistan here on Monday.

"I am here to back India, who have been playing really well in this tournament. They have already done us proud and I hope they prevail over another team that has been doing well," said Shahrukh.

"Chak de India," he signed off in a brief impromptu session with some mediamen.

Shahrukh's recent film Chak de India has been a big hit in India and is one of the few films made in Bollywood based on sport.

It is a fictional account of the Indian women's hockey team going on to win the world championship with Shahrukh playing the role of the coach, who inspires the players to raise their game several notches.

Incidentally, the title song of that movie has been played in South Africa whenever India has won a match.

Source: IBN-Live

King Khan to attend Twenty20 World Cup final

SRK will cheer for Team India at the Twenty-20 World Cup finals against Pakistan.

Indian Film Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, business tycoon Vijay Mallya and BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla will join hundreds of fans to cheer for Team India when Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men take on Pakistan in the final of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup in Johannesburg on Monday.

Khan, who played a hockey coach in his latest release Chak De India , earlier made a surprise visit to the India-England third Test at The Oval last month.

Khan, Mallya and Shukla will leave on Sunday night by the liquor baron's private jet.

"We will root for the Indian team, which has made us proud by its commendable show. An India-Pakistan match is always a humdinger and we are going to enjoy every bit of it," said Shukla.

Source: TimesOfIndia

It is impossible to catch the "DON"

Getting combined dates from Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan can be quite an impossible task, it's driving Bhootnath producer Ravi Chopra crazy!

There seem to be no sign of a thaw in the cold war between Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. The latest to be affected by the not-so-cordial relationship between the two bigwigs of Bollywood is producer Ravi Chopra. The expensive sets of Chopra's Bhootnath, at Mehboob Studios, have been ready for months but are lying unused as SRK and Bachchan are both unavailable for shooting together.

Apparently, Ravi Chopra got dates from Amitabh Bachchan to shoot on the day of the music launch of Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om. However, a cancellation was made at the last minute.

News of the cold war between senior Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan has been doing rounds for a long time but neither has openly admitted it. An industry source says, "Combined dates of Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan don't seem to be working out. When SRK gives his dates, Amitabh Bachchan is not available and vice versa. It is very obvious that both are not very keen to work together and are just trying their best to avoid coming face-to-face with each other."

Both actors have already shot for scenes for the film. "Both of them have shot their individual scenes and the film is almost 85 per cent complete. This schedule has to be completed before the entire unit leaves for the outdoor shoots to Goa for song picturisation which is scheduled in the second week of October," says the source.

There are certain requirements that have to be made on the indoor set at Mehboob Studios. Depending on the dates from the two stars the producers can make the technical arrangements before the shoot.

When contacted Ravi Chopra, he says diplomatically, "We have got some dates and we will start shooting at the Mehboob Studios sets from October 1-10."

Kunal M Shah & Bharati Dubey, MumbaiMirror

Ich Liebe Dich, Shah Rukh Khan

Heil Shah Rukh! say SRK's German Fans.

Shah Rukh Khan and Om Shanti Om appear to be the hottest thing in Germany right now. What else could explain the mass hysteria for the film there? Says director Farah Khan, “A hand-written petition, signed by 10,000 German fans, has been sent to Dorothy Brennar (the director of the Berlin Film Festival) to get Om Shanti Om featured at the Berlinale. Apart from that, the Om
Shanti Om website (omshantiomfilm.com) has gotten at least two lakh hits and posts from Germany, Poland, France, Austria and Russia. They all want the film to be released there, which is shocking!”

Khan adds that these SRK fans come from all over Europe to attend the Berlin film festival and hence want OSO to be shown there. “I have asked our distributors, Eros International, to release the film in Russia and thus open up a new market for us there,” says Farah, elated.

Euphoric feeling

However, as much as she’s delighted with the response and euphoria towards her film, Farah says she can’t show OSO at the Berlinale. “The festival is scheduled to take place in February. It’ll be too late to release it there,” she says.

Shah Rukh Khan, who is also aware of the petition, adds, “OSO will release in Germany, along with the rest of the world, on November 9.”
Farah adds that Shah Rukh has a huge fan following in Germany. “Main Hoon Naa did very well there after we dubbed it in German. His fans keep asking him to come there as they’re dying to meet him, and now they’re desperately looking forward to OSO. They have a lot of fun watching our films, and all the songs, dances and emotions that go with it,” she says.

The German love for SRK doesn’t end there. “The German magazine Rapid Eye is doing a book on the making of Om Shanti Om. They came here to cover the shoot and even sent their photographers. Mushtaq Sheikh is writing the book on OSO in India, while Rapid Eye will be in German,” says Farah.

Upala KBR, MidDayMumbai

For Some Dreams...One Lifetime is Not Enough...

The tagline for Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om reads: ‘One lifetime isn’t enough to fulfil a dream’. After many years, the rebirth story has resurfaced in Indian Films.

Shah Rukh Khan, who starred in Karan Arjun, another reincarnation film, is back in a similar role. It’s a new avatar for the actor himself, what with the talked-about six pack and all. And that’s not all, Satish Kaushik has bought the rights to remake Karz, the 1980 Rishi Kapoor blockbuster.

Says filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia, “Two of my all-time favourite Hindi films, Karz and Karan Arjun , are based on the reincarnation theme. And I am looking forward to OSO to see what Farah Khan does with the script.” Everyone is, no doubt, but will an abstract theme like reincarnation work in the age of the Internet and palm tops? “Every religion preaches Karma and past life influences. I think it’s a cool subject to explore,” says Apoorva.

Actor Vijay Raghavendra says, “You never know. A lot of subjects that are from another era have worked in recent times. Plus, there are many examples that force us to believe in miracles.” Actress Sharmila Mandre points to Madhumati, Nagin, Hamesha, Karan Arjun and Karz, saying, “It’s been a long time since someone thought of that subject, so if the film is convincing, it’ll be a success.”

But not every movie-goer agrees. And Priya Sudeep is one of those few who isn’t too thrilled about OSO’s storyline. “I was looking forward to OSO but was slightly put off when I heard it’s a reincarnation story. I think the theme has been overused in Bollywood. I personally don’t believe in rebirth, so even when I saw Karan Arjun I couldn’t relate to it,” she says. “Then again, there’s the SRK factor. People will love it as it is.”

Apoorva explains, “There is no set formula in Bollywood. People just want to be entertained. When we started making Shootout at Lokhandwala, people had all kinds of apprehensions, but it was a hit.”
“I would love to do a reincarnation role,” says Sharmila. “It’s like playing two characters (a double role of sorts), which is very good for an actor,” she says. “And if the story is told well, people will believe in it too. I don’t know about the Karz remake, considering what happened to RGV Ki Aag, but the promos of OSO look fresh and good. With SRK, Deepika and a whole list of actors, I think the theme will just be that — an anchor,” says Vijay.


Resarch on rebirth

“There is a reference to past lives and reincarnation in every religion. While 60 per cent people don’t believe in God, all of them believe in the existence of past lives. Modern lifestyles lead people to live like there’s no
tomorrow, leave alone
another lifetime. But when they encounter serious
problems like trauma and chronic diseases, and all else fails, they think about past life influence. “Extensive research has been done on past life and it’s connection with our present. We practise past life regression therapies in which we hypnotise the patients and take them back to their previous lives to find the root of their problems. If there is enough evidence to show if the past life problem is solved, the present life will also get back on track.
“It’s just that people are not aware that
parapsychology was termed as a science in 1969. They fall for quacks and their tricks. But hopefully that will change soon.”
Sujendra Prakash, Psychologist and
qualified Indologist

Tejaswini Tirta, TimesOfIndia

"Digital is going to be big in India," says Shah Rukh Khan

Remember the time when prints were carted around in the boot of a car from one theatre to another in the first week of a film's release? Things may still remain largely the same in the bigger metros but satellites are increasingly being used for transmitting films to smaller centres, cutting not only costs but also curbing the rampant piracy existing there.

Digital prints require projectors that cost Rs 40 lakh plus transmission equipment to beam the film. But the economics works in its favour. Each physical print costs Rs 70,000 whereas the new technology allows a few master prints to be used to transmit the film across the country (see box). So, had Sajid Nadiadwala released 350 prints of Heyy Babby in celluloid, it would have cost him Rs 2.5 crore. But, by using digital technology, he managed to cut down costs by 80%.

Distributors and exhibitors gain by being able to screen the film in smaller centres in the initial weeks of its release. “There is potential for increasing box-office revenue by 100%. Piracy, which takes away 40% of the revenue, can be curbed better now,'' a cinema manager from Amravati said. New films hitting small towns like Amravati now coincides with their worldwide launch; places like Amravati are used to seeing new movies a week or two after they hit the metros and this allows pirated prints to reach these towns earlier.

Om Shanti Om and Saawariya are among the immediate releases whose makers are riding piggyback on digitalisation to broadbase their release.

“Digital is going to be big in India,'' actor Shah Rukh Khan said. Three hundred and fifty of Om Shanti Om's 850 prints are being released digitally; the plan is to bombard the smaller centres and capitalise on the hype in the first few days of its release.

Bharati Dubey, TimesOfIndia

Fab at 40

Men will always be boys. Be it their car, house or bank balance, size does matter. At least till they turn 40.

Then, all the locker-room talk is about keeping score - like how many minutes, calories and kilometres you clock on the treadmill. Or how many pull-ups you grind out.

And with even Shah Rukh Khan - who spent two decades proclaiming he was an actor, not a bodybuilder - showing off his newly acquired six pack, the bar has been raised even higher for 40+ men who're busy bench-pressing, squatting and running their to way to body beautiful.

‘‘By 40, men are settled in their jobs, have a picture postcard family, drive a hot set of wheels, own a house... personal fitness is the next obvious thing to look into,'' says Ajay Chand, a trainer at Delhi's Ozone gym. Chand reveals that the number of 40-year-olds enrolling at the gym includes businessmen and industrialists looking to work off their stress. ‘‘These members make for 40% of total gym users and the numbers are growing,'' he says. Adds Abhimanyu Sable of Pune-based Abs Fitness and Wellness Club, ‘‘I have many clients post-40 wanting a sixpack like Shah Rukh's.'' Of course, other Bollywood stars like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar have long been fitness icons. And then there's Shekhar Suman who's turning heads with his brand new biceps. But it's SRK's metamorphosis that has really inspired people. The reasoning: If he can do it, so can I.

But be warned, King Khan's transformation didn't happen overnight. According to his trainer Prashant Sawant, Shah Rukh trained and dieted for over six months. ‘‘Shah Rukh has been working out regularly since his role in Don. But to achieve this look we needed something different. I put him on a high-protein, low-carb diet along with special exercises for his chest, shoulders and back. The result is for all to see.'' Can just anyone do it? ‘‘If you really want it and work with a good trainer, you can get it,'' he says.

Source: TimesOfIndia

Mrs Khan Steps Out in Style

For the first time ever, Gauri Khan will step out of the huge shadow cast in Bollywood by husband Shah Rukh Khan and into the limelight herself. Yes, the proud homemaker is doing a small walk-in role in Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om, for which Gauri herself is producer. It’s the blink-and-you-will-miss-it kind of appearance that Alfred Hitchcock was famous for in Hollywood.

The scene requires Gauri to walk a red carpet for a song at the end of the movie as the credits come on. Typical of Farah, the technicians and crew members of the movie take a bow too in this number. Farah had tried earlier in vain to convince the elusive Mrs Khan to make a guest appearance in her first movie, Main Hoon Na . “But she ditched me. I think, Shah Rukh convinced her to do it this time,” said Farah.
Gauri is said to get bored very easily of the takes and several retakes while shooting.

“She has no patience, that’s why we don’t try to get her in front of the camera,” explained Farah. “However, for this shot, she just had to step out of a car and walk the red carpet waving to the crowd like a star.” According to the director, Gauri did not require to put in much effort for this scene. “She is very natural before the camera and is poised and stylish even otherwise,” said Farah. “Next time, I’ll try and get her to do an entire song!”

That Gauri is a style diva in Bollywood, is known. Men are also reported to find her hot! And she has constantly attracted the attention of ad filmmakers and movie producers who have all tried unsuccessfully to lure her onto the screen. Mira Nair was one of them.

Shah Rukh is among those who admits to Gauri being stylish and with a sense of fashion that is her very own. “Style is inherent. And Gauri has that,” he said. The Bollywood badshah and his begum have often been compared to British footballer David Beckham and his style icon wife Victoria. But Shah Rukh finds that amusing. “I thought we were the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of Bollywood,” he said smiling.

Afsana Ahmed, TimesOfIndia

Want to win Shah Rukh's hamper ?

Actors maybe crazy about winning Karan Johar’s coffee hamper, but now they can win something similar from Shah Rukh Khan.

Apparently, the King Khan played perfect host (read Producer) on the sets of Om Shanti Om.

And every actor who has been a part of the film — however small the role — has left the sets with a special note written personally by Shah Rukh, thanking them for making his film so very special, and a goodie bag.

Now that’s quite a generous ‘sign off!’

Source: TimesOfIndia

King Khan will soon get a tailor-made vanity van

ShahRukh Khan will soon get a tailor-made vanity van, costing Rs 80 lakh. Ritesh Deshmukh is designing it for him.

There seems to be a great demand for made-to-order vanity vans in Bollywood. Recently we heard that Salman Khan is getting himself a customised vanity van. Now, ShahRukh Khan has placed an order for one.

Apparently, SRK was mighty impressed with Ritesh Deshmukh's van (which has been designed by Ritesh himself). So much so that he wanted Ritesh to design one for him too. "When Shah Rukh was shooting for Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om Ritesh was shooting nearby for Indra Kumar's Dhamaal. Shah Rukh was very impressed with Ritesh's van," says our source.

Most actors in Bollywood own private vans, but Ritesh's van is considered to be the best. "He doesn't take his van for outdoor schedules. He is an architect himself and he is extremely fond of cars. Actually, he converted a proper luxury bus into a vanity van. Most vans need a generator to operate the van because of high-voltage equipment, but SRK's van will be different. He can drive from Mannat to Filmcity, if need be, in his van," says our source.

The approximate cost of the van is Rs 80 lakh. The van will be steel grey in colour. The interiors will sport a leather finish. "Ritesh is currently working on the colour scheme of upholstery. He will be doing it in red and white. SRK has specified that he wants a 50 inch plasma TV installed inside his van, along with five Bose speakers. It will also have a mini-kitchen with a microwave and other cooking appliances. Ritesh Deshmukh The van will also have a wardrobe and shoe rack. There will be a special corner for guests. It will have water storage system to last 24 hours. "This guest corner will be especially designed for media and other personalities who would like to meet SRK while shooting," reveals our source.

SRK will have a well-stocked library as well. "Some of SRK's friends suggested that he should have his signature at the back of the van, but Khan is yet contemplating the thought," says our source. We tried to get in touch with Ritesh Deshmukh but he was unavailable for comment.

Source: Mumbaimirror

SRK opens up the terrace of Mannat for an ad film

So far, Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan's Mannat has been the quintessential private home, kept zealously away from prying eyes. Only the very close friends of the Khan couple are allowed access inside. But now, we hear an ad film has been shot inside the grounds, the terrace of Mannat to be precise. Dircetor Arjun Sablok was the privileged one and the first one to shoot at Mannat.

Gauri Khan, we know, has been the one to always put her foot down when it came to her home being opened to the public eye. But this time she gave in, making an exception.

Says a source from the company which shot the ad, "It so happened that we were desperately looking out for a location to shoot our ad. But couldn't find anything that suited out requirement. Days were spent location hunting, approving and then disapproving the location. Finally SRK, who knew about all these problems, then allowed the director to shoot inside his home."

He adds, "The director, along with the cast and crew shot on the terrace of Mannat for an entire day."

Source: Mumbaimirror

Shahrukh Khan takes Munna Bhai's Place

Rajkumar Hirani goes for a change from Sanjay Dutt to Shahrukh Khan. Who can forget the rediscovery of Gandhian views in Lage Raho Munna Bhai, it was one of the finest movies of Sunjay Dutt and now it will be Shahrukh Khan creating the same magic for us. Hirani has decided to take Shahrukh Khan for his next project. Hirani was always interested to work with SRK and Sharukh khan was his first choice for Munnabhai MBBS but things didn’t work out with him so Sanjay Dutt got the role.

The SRK-Hirani project is based on Chetan Bhagat’s book on the IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) culture, ‘Five Point Someone’. The story revolves around three friends, who are unable to cope with the pressures of being in the premier institution. it is said that the script is being reworked and some changes have been made. lets see if the magic of Munna Bhai and Lage Raho is seen in Hirani’s next project and how well does Shahrukh Khan deal with it. Another point to think about is that if there are three people in the lead wonder who the other two can be apart from SRK? Any Guesses who it might be?

Shahrukh's wife Gauri all set to make her appearance on-screen

They say behind every successful man, lies the hand of a woman and this saying could no doubt hold true for one of our biggest stars of bollywood, Shahrukh Khan. SRK’s wife Gauri Khan has been the pillar of strength behind her husband whether it is taking care of his home or his kids, she is dedicated. Nonetheless she has always a behind the scenes person, but now the lady has been convinced to make an appearance on-screen. She will endorse a paint brand in an ad film for the first time; she will also make a special appearance in SRK’s forthcoming film Om Shanti Om.

This will be Gauri’s first brand endorsement and she will endorse a premium brand of paint. Ironically it was good friend Karan and actress Kareena who have recently themselves endorsed the same brand of paint that convinced Gauri to do the ad. Earlier too the superstar’s wife has been approached to do commercials and endorsements, however Gauri has always shied away from the camera. In the past Gauri has also designed SRK’s costumes for his films like Baazigar etc. She has also produced Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om. Gauri and good friend Karan share a close friendship and have often been spotted together at several do’s. Rajat Johri, spokesperson for the paint brand said “Karan suggested her name during one of our meetings. It didn’t take as much time to convince her as Karan and Kareena had already convinced her.”

So looks like Gauri is finally coming out into her own and will soon face the camera and get some action of her own. So will Gauri give her hubby some competition, well we’re sure that SRK being the doting husband that he is encouraged and supported Gauri completely. It is also rumoured that Gauri will make a special appearance in her own production Om Shanti Om. No doubt Gauri will soon have several more endorsement gurus lined up outside her home to sign her on as their brand ambassador.

The Story behind SRK's Perfect Bod

Director Farah Khan's second film Om Shanti Om has been creating quite a buzz even before its release and the six-pack abs that SRK has been flaunting are just adding to the hype. And they were the focus of attention even at the music launch of the film.

“I got so inspired. I treated Shah Rukh just like Ramu treats his heroines like when they are get out of the sea or when the focus is on the rear,” Farah says talking about Shah Rukh's abs in the song Dard-e-disco.
And of course, there's a story behind SRK’s perfect bod.

“I always wanted that before I retire from choreography I should at least do one song that I can have Shah Rukh as an item boy. And we had discussed during Main Hoon Na but then he had a back operation and could not work out. But he promised me if I will ever remove my shirt, it will be for you,” says Farah.

And so the King Khan kept his promise. Shah Rukh may be content with his new image, but when he needs a reality check he goes to none other than his son Aryan.

“My son says ‘now you are not fat’. He thinks I am just about ok and physically fit. But he thinks I can still improve. So, I will keep trying,” SRK says modestly.
He even took three months break to work out for the song and his co-star Deepika Padukone, who is making her debut in the film, spills the beans about his diet.

“When all of us were shooting, we would have lunch and dinner together. We would have biryani, chocolate and ice cream, he would be eating his diet food. So, he has really worked hard,” says Deepika.

The film releases on November 9 and will clash with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya.

The abs will help the film grab more eyeballs.

Somen Mishra, CNN-IBN

Memoirs of Another Day

Shah Rukh Khan’s ready wit and humour are not acquired with success. It is something that he possessed even as a newcomer. He displayed it in our first meeting at Kamalistan studio.

At that time my magazine had just carried a snippet about his 'flying high' after hitting it off with Deewana and how he would soon come down with a thud! “So why don't you come after I land with a thud?” he had grinned wickedly when I asked him for an interview.

Another time during a photo shoot he asked me to iron his jeans, saying that I would remember the incident when he became a superstar. He was not wrong!

More recently during the promotions of Don he said to all the journalists present at his place that the Pepsi was on him, after all it came free!

But when it comes to work Shah Rukh was and till date remains very serious. And that includes keeping a journalist waiting for hours, whether it was during the shooting of Baazigar or the more recent Om Shanti Om, Shah Rukh will not sit down for an interview till he feels he is mentally free from his work to do so.

Geety Sahgal, ScreenIndia

DDLJ Duo Back In Biz

It’s yesterday once more. The pair that created Bollywood history is back together. Yes, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, the jodi who urged the nation to “Come... fall in love” more than a decade ago in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, will be seen again in Karan Johar’s next film My Name is Khan.

“Yes, Shah Rukh and Kajol will be doing Karan’s film,” Bunty Behl, whose company Carving Dreams handles Kajol’s brand account, told t2. “It will be great to see the pair together again.”

And so it will, going by the hysteria the pair had created first in Aditya Chopra’s love epic followed by Karan’s magnum opus Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. That’s the last time Shah Rukh and Kajol were paired together, dancing around the pyramids in Egypt to Suraj hua maddham.

Kajol did make a special appearance in the Mahi ve song in Kal Ho Naa Ho and the Rock ’’ roll soniye number in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, both featuring Shah Rukh Khan, but that can hardly be considered as a comeback for the jodi.

Even when Kajol did make her much-awaited comeback last year it was opposite the other Khan, Aamir, for the Yash Raj Films production Fanaa. When Shah Rukh came on the inaugural Koffee With Karan show this season with Kajol and Rani Mukerji, he made it quite clear he hadn’t even seen Fanaa.

Karan has always approached Kajol for each of his films but the actress, now the mother of Nysa, has always given him the slip. But now that she is back on celluloid, she has agreed to be part of Karan’s next directorial venture.

When asked a couple of weeks ago, Karan had not revealed the casting coup simply saying that “no one other than Shah Rukh has been cast for that film”.

He did mention that he plans to start shooting My Name is Khan some time next year after his assistant Tarun Mansukhani’s multi-starrer (Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra) has hit the floors.

My Name is Khan is KJo’s take on terrorism, about Muslims in a post 9/11 world and it won’t be surprising if Kajol is seen as Shah Rukh’s wife in the film, rather than his lady love running through mustard fields.

Source: Telegraph India

I am the last superstar : SRK

Khan, dubbed ‘the King of Bollywood,’ recently said that he is the last "superstar" of Bollywood.

Khan says that the superstar breed was increasingly being wiped out because of the recent changes in the entertainment industry.

"The entertainment industry is changing rapidly, with the growth of satellite channels and multiplexes," he was quoted as saying.

"Soon there will not be any superstars. I would like to believe that I am the last superstar of India," he added.

Source: PakTribune

"Shah Rukh Khan is a revelation" : Shabana Azmi

Despite her busy schedule, the actress spent some time to celebrate her birthday with husband Javed Akhtar.

The two of them watched the Shah Rukh Khan starrer super hit 'Chak De! India' at a suburban theatre on Sep 18.

'Would you believe, we hadn't seen the film yet.People were clapping and whistling. Lovely film. The girls are so spontaneous.
Shah Rukh Khan is a revelation.
My respect for Aditya Chopra has shot up manifold.
To convince the producer to put money into something so removed from the norm isn't easy.'

Bollywood actress and social activist Shabana Azmi will join several eminent activists from across the world at the UN headquarters in New York, Sep 22-26, to plead for food for the entire globe.

Himalayan Times - Nepal

A Conversation with King Khan

Shah Rukh Khan carves out six-pack abs to get into the skin of his character for Om Shanti Om. The star who was in Dubai for the launch of the music of the film talks about his role

This is the first time you’re baring your chest on screen? What prompted you to do it?

Initially, I was very shy to do it, but my wife Gauri as well as my friends Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan convinced me that I was fit enough to bare my chest. It took a while for the idea to sink in, but then I became quite comfortable with my new look.


How did you prepare yourself for your role in Om Shanti Om?

I’m quite old now and working out was very difficult for me. It took three months of a controlled diet and tough workouts to build my six-pack abs.

I was also on a high-protein diet. My trainer, Prashant, took some tips from Salman. My new fitness regimen has also helped me control my back pain and as such I’ve decided to continue with it.


Is it true that Om Shanti Om is loosely inspired by Karz? Can you tell us about your role?

It’s not a remake of Karz. And I don’t want to talk about my role.


You’ve made Mumbai your home. Don’t you miss your earlier life?

Yes, I miss my relatives the most. I get restless in Mumbai and I’m worried that it will burn me out one day.


Any fears or insecurities you suffer from?

Yes, I have this continuous fear of losing it all. I get nightmares of losing all that I’ve worked so hard for when I wake up. Yeah, I feel quite insecure.


What has been your motto in life?

I always recollect my father’s words. He told me that to achieve anything in life, you have to work hard. I work damn hard to give my family a comfortable life. My mother taught me to love life to the maximum and also to be truthful and upfront. This has been my motto.

Source: Xpress4me.com

SRK, Farah grandly release the Music of Om Shanti Om

The music of Shah Rukh Khan's much awaited movie Om Shanti Om was released officially today, in the presence of the cast and crew of the film.

Music directors Vishal and Shekhar have composed the songs of the film, while lyrics of most songs have been penned by Javed Akhtar, music director Vishal has also written lyrics for the song Ajab Si, which is currently on air.

"We have never worked on such a large scale for the music of any film, with so many musicians and singers," said Vishal at the launch.

Commenting on the music, actor and producer Shah Rukh Khan said, "There is a lot of variety in the songs. Since the first half is based in the 1970's era, we even requested Pyarelalji do the arrangements for a song."

A live orchestra of 140 music pieces was arranged for the song Dhoom Tana.

Commenting on Vishal and Shekhar's work Farah Khan said, "The music is very different from what Vishal and Shekar's previous movies' songs. The songs of Om Shanti Om are experimental but at the same time very commercial."

While one of the songs in the film has almost 36 film stars in it, another song Dard-E-Disco has Shah Rukh Khan flaunting his six pack abs for which he worked rigorously for three months. "Farah was always keen to shoot a topless song with me, she even made me wear a vest in the Kaal song," joked Khan.

Farah added, "Dard-E-Disco was the last song choreographed by me, so I pleaded Shah Rukh to do a topless song for me. Now, as a choreographer I will only take up international projects or my own films. Besides this I will not choreograph anymore... not for Karan Johar, Shirish (her husband) or Sajid (her brother)."

Source: BusinessOfCinema.com

Om Shanti Om vs Saawariya on this Diwali

Shahrukh Khan has been all ‘Om Shanti Om’ of late. Well he might just need a prayer, considering his film is releasing with Saawariya and all that competition can only be good for the movie-goer.

“Saawariya is a huge film. Our film is a secondary film and I will try my best to make it the nicest film of the year. There is no competition; there are enough people to watch a film. I'm very attached to Saawariya also because of my relationship with so many people in Saawariya. Of course, my own child is Om Shanti Om,” says Shahrukh.

While the media hype around Saawariya verses Om Shanti Om builds up considering, both films are releasing on the same day, it looks like SRK is going the reverse psychology route by placing as little expectation as possible on his film. It certainly worked for Chak De India.
Shahrukh is also making sure he doesn't tread on any influential toes and is full of praise for the competition.

“I have a lot of respect for him as a friend, and as a director. His film is being presented by Columbia TriStar; there are many big stars in it. It’s got Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, and two youngsters who respect me - Ranbir and Sonam. So I have respect for that film and I wish it all the best,” SRK said.

But while Saawariya may have the star kids and of course Bhansali's genius, Om Shanti Om has another weapon in its arsenal - SRK's six pack - and we just had to ask him how it feels to be rippling with muscles all of a sudden. “I feel good having done this and I would tell all the youngsters to please work out, whether you run, or play sports,” he said.

Besides a buff SRK, what else do we have to look forward to from Om Shanti Om? Is the film as meditative as it sounds? “One is Om Kapoor and one is Om Prakash Makhija. Both of them form the 'Om' Shanti 'Om'. This is not a religious or meditative film,” said SRK.

Well a meditative film it may not be, but we certainly know a lot of fans who are going to be in a state of nirvana when SRK struts his stuff.

Medini Sharmaa & Beverly White, TimesNow.TV

Shah Rukh Khan refused to show his six-pack!

And now let's call upon the stage Mr Six-pack Khan er… Shah Rukh Khan." That's how motor-mouth Cyrus Broacha called out to Shah Rukh Khan at the music launch of Farah Khan's forthcoming film, Om Shanti Om last evening. Unlike most Bollywood music launches, this one had everyone hooked to their seats. The do was a mini-skit altogether as guests and stars complained about the 'only vegetarian snacks' served at the venue, actress Kirron Kher's designer sandals gave way and someone even commented, "Arjun Rampal is supposed to look good and not say anything."

The cast and crew members (Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Kirron Kher, Shreyas Talpade and Arjun Rampal, music composer duo Vishal-Shekhar ) were mostly engaged in inane conversations. They quizzed each other about how it felt working with the soon-to-be-mother Farah Khan. Deepika Padukone even made candid conversations about how she got intimidated by her seniors. Despite all that she continues to like Bollywood because she doesn't enjoy shuttling around the badminton court. After she managed to fix her shoe sole with an adhesive, Kirron Kher didn't know how to react when her mobile started ringing loudly during her short but sweet speech. Vishal and Shekhar had apparently, rented out one piece suits for the evening.

While Shah Rukh refused to remove his shirt and display the six packs, Farah volunteered to show off her three packs (she's expecting triplets). Dressed in a black tee and brown jacket he confessed, "I'm scared of Saawariya and I have no problem admitting that. If I had a chance I would have postponed the film," said Shah Rukh Khan.

Rajiv Dutta, IndiaTarget

The Music of Om Shanti Om is all set to conquer charts and stay there

Producer /Banner : Red Chillies Entertainment
Director : Farah Khan
Music : Vishal & Shekhar
Lyrics : Javed Akhtar , Kumar (Punjabi) and Vishal
Vocals :Abhijit, Caralisa, K.K, Marianne, Nisha, Rahul Saxena, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh and Udit Narayan
Label : T-Series
Just few years back, we reviewed the audio album of ‘Main Hoon Na’, that had the same team of Shah Rukh Khan, Farah Khan and Javed Akhtar. But are we missing someone here? Oh yes, the chart conquering composer of the 2004 album, Anu Malik is not associated with the 2007 album, ‘Om Shanti Om’. Given the fact that Anu is out of form and circulation, the decision of picking Vishal & Shekhar on their current form seems to be correct. How correct, we will know shortly.

Farah Khan’s 35-crore bonanza, ‘Om Shanti Om’, based mainly in the psychedelic 70s, kick starts with the absolutely mesmerizing, petal-soft, romantic track ‘Ajab Si’. Right from the first notes, the soft beats and caressing guitar strings set just the right pace for K. K. to take over. The lyrics by (no its not Javed Akhtar) by Vishal (what a pleasant surprise!) are simple and superb - “Aankhon mein teri, Ajab si ajab si adaayen hain, Dil ko bana de jo patang, Saansein ye teri who hawaayein hain.” The arrangements by Vishal & Shekhar and K.K.’s superb rendition gel perfectly.

Next up, we run into the ‘6-pack’ (SRK) song, ‘Dard-E-Disco’. The Arabic styled composition is more in the qawwali mold rather than in the disco alley! Once again, the lyrics (this time by Javed Akhtar) are the first thing that grab attention - “Woh haseena woh neelam pari, Kar gayee kaisi jadoogari, Neend in aankhon se cheen li hai, Dil mein bechainiyan hai bhari.” The lyrics couldn’t have been more perfect and Sukhwinder takes over, and is in top form! His voice modulation floats in perfect unison with the music and the lyrics, changing pace and pitch as per the mood and requirement. The background (Arabic style) vocals and crooning enhance the composition further. In a nutshell, ‘Dard-E-Disco’ takes us back to the early 70s, and we are reminded of countless Pran enacted qawwalis, with ‘Dard-E-Disco’ (in the lyrics) adding a touch of humour. As we have already mentioned at the start, the arrangements are more in the qawwali mold with slight touches of disco beats.

‘Dard-E-Disco (Remix)’, by DJ Aqeel has all the right ingredients needed for a good rehash and will serve its purpose of burning the dance floors of the pubs and the discos with its heightened pace. A nice effort.

Moving on, we reach ‘Dhoom Taana’ and the duff, anklet, woodwind and other traditional percussion instruments remind one of ‘Sargam’ days of melody and dance (Rishi Kapoor and Jaya Prada). The arrangements, lyrics and settings are based in not just 70s but early 80s. There are also a few jazz snatches (maybe a Shammi Kapoor touch). While Abhijeet is the perfect choice with his flawless rendition, Shreya gets high pitched in a few parts. This is the song that has been composed by the legendary composer, Pyarelal (of ‘Laxmi-Pyare’ fame) the song will look and sound better on screen.

Jaltarang and piano combine magically, followed by bead sounds, accompanying Sonu Nigam’s silken smooth, Rafi like rendition. Yes, we have now reached ‘Main Agar Kahoon’. Javed Akhtar’s lyrics combined with Sonu’s extraordinary singing create an almost bewitching romantic duet (with an in form Shreya). The two stars of the outstanding ‘Main Agar Kahoon’ are Javed Akhtar’s lyrics and Sonu Nigam’s singing. Right now, we cannot bring in Sonu but here are some of Javed Sahab’s lyrics – “Tumko paya hai to jaise khoya hoon, Kahna chahoon bhi to tumse kya kahoon, Kisi zabaan mein bhi, Woh lafz hee nahin, Ki jinme tum ho kya tumhein bata sakoon , Main agar kahoon, Tumsa haseen, Kaynaat mein nahin hai kahin.” A nostalgic throwback to the golden era of late Mohammad Rafi-Roshan days! The number concludes with the ‘Om Shanti Om’ theme music.

‘Dastan-E-Om Shanti Om’ can well be summed up as one of the most important (if not the most) tracks of ‘Om Shanti Om’. It sums up the entire central theme of reincarnation and betrayal. The track commences with sonorous opera like singing, followed by a big live orchestra sounds from 40 plus violins, percussion instruments ranging from tabla and dhol to santoor and heavy piano pieces and the impact leaves one awestruck. Shaan soon commences in a rather base and matter-of-fact voice “Sunne waalon, Suno aisa bhi hota hai, Koi jitna hanse, Utna hi rota hai, Deewani hoke haseena, Khayee kya dhoke haseena, Aao tum bhi aaj sun lo, Dastan hain ye ki us masoom haseena ne jise chaha, Woh tha andar se harjaee, Sangdil se dil laga ke bewafa ke haath aa ke us ne ek din maut hi payee, Ek Sitam ka fasana hai jis ko sabhi, Kehte hain Om Shanti Om.” For the fans of ‘Ek Haseena Thi’ (’Karz’) this one tries to recapture the spirit of the legendary song. With a somewhat different approach and kudos to the team of Vishal & Shekhar, Javed Akhtar and the orchestra, it succeeds in a big way, despite the big legacy it had to live up to. Shaan’s singing, to some stunning situational lyrics and the big orchestra sounds are guaranteed to make ‘Dastan-E-Om Shanti Om’ one of the highlighted tracks of the film.

‘Dastaan (The Dark Side Mix)’, by Zoheb, DJ Nikhil Chinappa and DJ Naved commences on a faster tempo. The version loses some of its suspense and edge-of-the seat element due to too much audio interference.

Richa Sharma, the queen of Punjabi folk singing, commences the heart touching, ‘Jag Soona Soona Lage’, with a ‘heer’ style singing. She deserves a perfect ten for her flawless rendition. The OSO theme music has been used to superb effect with Kumaar’s Punjabi lyrics. Then its Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who after ‘Laagi Man Ki Lagan’ (’Paap’), ‘Bol Na Halke Halke’ (’Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’) and ‘Main Jahan Bhi Rahoon’ (’Namastey London’), has truly inherited the legacy of his illustrious uncle, the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. But let us not deviate from the superbly composed, as well as rendered composition. V-S deserve all the praise for a number that is just perfect in all departments. Be it, at times soft and at times harsh musical arrangements (in form of plates and guitars), Rahat’s brilliant performance and last but not the least, Javed Sahab’s heart-wrenching lyrics in simple Hindi and Urdu. “Roothi roothi saari raatein, Pheeke Pheeke saare din, Veerani see veerani hai, Tanhaai see tanhaai hai, Aur ek hum hain pyaar ke bin, Har pal chin.”

Is ‘Deewangi Deewangi’ the highlighted song featuring almost the who’s who of Bollywood? All seems to point to it. In a way, this one is also the theme track as the fun gaiety, party song goes ” Aqlo hosh na mee danum” (which is in Persian and means “I know not what is wisdom and sense”), Hum hain dil aur janam, Bas dewangi deewangi dewaangi hai”. The chorus also chants, “All the hot girls put your hands up and say Om Shanti Om. All the cool boys c’mon make some noise and say Om Shanti Om”. The trade mark OSO tune is also present in its grandeur. Definitely a scorcher of a track, which gets turbo charged by talented singers like Shaan, Udit Narayan, Rahul Saxena, Shreya and Sunidhi. The track concludes with the orchestra going full blast with the OSO tune.

‘Deewangi (Rainbow mix)’ by DJ Kiran and DJ G is a nice piece of work. The already pacy all-star cast song has a more hectic pace than the original. The vocals have not been violated much, only the musical arrangements change to give it a good effect.

The ‘Om Shanti Om’ theme music (programmed by Abhijit Nalani) has Pyarelal written all over it. It is a superb piece, played brilliantly on piano. It starts with a slow pace, picks up and finally concludes on a slow note, but it is enough to leave a mark on the listener.

The ‘Om Shanti Om (medley mix)’ by Jackie V. is an assortment of a few songs (remixed superbly) featured in the album. The snatches of ‘Dhoom Tana’, ‘Dard-E-Disco’, and ‘Deewangi Deewangi’ can be relished once again through this version.

To sum it up, the Pyarelal touch looms large on the audio of ‘Om Shanti Om’. It is truly a complete 70 mm (a prestigious 70s & 80s term) album experience.

It’s a path-breaking work by Vishal & Shekhar, who break the myth about them being only rockish kind of composers, as they take on a melodious yatra from the early 70s to the present day.

If one is a fan of the melodious (non-synthesized) Bollywood era and even if one is not aware of it, it’s a must buy for all those who call themselves lovers of Bollywood.

Its melody and poetry.

If the initial response to the audio is any indication, ‘Om Shanti Om’ is all set to conquer the charts and stay there for a while.

Rating: 8.5/10

Abid, BollyVista

Om Shanti Om is not a spoof on Hindi cinema of the 70s : Shah Rukh Khan

Addressing the media in Mumbai on Tuesday, after releasing the film's music, SRK said he feels the biggest USP of the movie was that it seriously recreates the era of 1970s and it was his achievement as a producer.

'The film is about reincarnation. The Om of 70s is Om Prakash Makhija, a struggling actor trying to make it big while the Om of 2007 is Om Kapoor, a superstar who is not talented,'' he said.

On his expectations from the film, he said, ''you cannot satisfy all people at all times. I am releasing the movie on Diwali. The film is about celebration of life and happiness. Besides, there is lot of comedy and drama. Director Farah Khan has got a good ear for music unlike me. There is variety in the music of this film.''

Speaking about the other Bollywood biggie Saawariya which releases on the same day as 'Om Shanti Om', the King Khan said 'Saawariya' was a huge movie as compared to his own.

''Mine is a secondary film compared to ‘Saawariya’. It could have been good for business if the release dates had not clashed. But, there is no competition. There are enough people to see both films,'' he said.

'' Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given me Devdaas which I consider as a highlight of my career. Besides, Rani Mukherjee and Salman Khan who are in ‘Saawariya’, I have lot of love for debutants Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor who respect me tremendously. Hence, I pray for both the movies. But, after all ‘Om Shanti Om’ is my child,'' he added.

''I am grateful to everybody including Dharmendra , Shabana Azmi , Mithun Chakraborty and all other friends from the industry who agreed to be part of the film.''

SRK said he went on a diet control for four months and also worked out. ''I am feeling good and healthy. Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan were very co-operative. Infact, I showed them my pictures before commencing shooting. They said I was good and needed to improve further.''

He spoke highly of his debutant co-star Deepika Padukone . ''We feel a huge responsibility towards her. She has all the makings of a good star-actress,'' SRK added.

Source: ApunKaChoice.com

Cool Retro Music in Om Shanti Om : Review

Farah Khan loves the seventies! If the choreographer-turned-director's debut Main Hoon Naa saw her parody the swinging era, her latest Om Shanti Om, too, time travels all the way from 2007 to 1977 to explore her favourite decade in its hey day.

A full-blown musical set within the film industry and involving a reincarnation theme, Om Shanti Om, with its clever title and chromatic glory promises to be quite the cracker this Diwali.

While Shah Rukh Khan leads the brat pack, Arjun Rampal and Shreyas Talpade also star in this November 9 release (Yup, same day as Sanjay Leela Bhansali's grand opus Saawariya), which introduces model-turned-actress, Deepika Padukone on the big screen.

The bright, young duo of Vishal-Shekhar whip up an eclectic soundtrack against Javed Akhtar's imaginative penmanship, which is both nifty and retro. It might not be path breaking stuff but it's still really good. Instead of relying on old tunes and stretching their lingering memory, the pair formulates fresh sounds that are inspiring and lilting.

The album begins with the melting Ajab Si in KK's silvery voice about an awe-struck, starry-eyed romantic oozing poetry, penned impressively by Vishal, for his stunning lady love. The sheer velvety quality of its notes and smooth arrangement is akin to the melodious magic of Jhankaar Beats' Suno Na.

On screen, SRK shows off his brilliantly-sculpted six pack and shirtless avatar, while behind the scenes Sukhwinder Singh brings the studio down with his red-hot rendition of Dard-e-Disco. Despite its snazzy middle eastern influences, Vishal-Shekhar maintain a moderate percussion, leaving ample breathing space for the singer to spread his vocal wings. DJ Aqueel's zingy remix of Disco is high on zing and bound to enjoy a long run at clubs and discotheques.

The opening zig-zag strain tarrying all through the track is super catchy and adds bounce and attitude to the bubbly Deewangi Deewangi. The song pays a tribute to Naseeb's John Jaani Janardan what with practically half of Bollywood, from Dharmendra to Karisma Kapoor, making a special appearance.

That it has a tang 'rainbow' remix, goes without saying. Like the name suggests, the techno-washed version is loaded with colourful beats and infectious verve. Ditto for Om Shanti Om medley mix, which features bits and pieces from the entire album.

Main Agar Kahoon is a full-fledged piano number laced in fairy-tale romance, which works as the central theme of Om Shanti Om. Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal are appropriately sweetness-personified in this music-box track.

Taking a break from the vibrant mood of the album so far, Jag Soona Soona Laga charges on the unprepared listener's senses with its heartbreaking starkness and haunting melody. Richa Sharma's Punjabi delivery coupled with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's ardent cry ensures Jag Soona will find a place in a compilation of Javed Akhtar's sad ditties.

The flamboyant memories of Laxmikant-Pyarelal and R D Burman's 1970s are brought back in Dhoom Taana variating from daflis and drums to rock 'n' roll. While watching Shah Rukh and Deepika mock Teesri Manzil, Humjoli or Himmatwala, sounds like fun on celluloid, this one's not so much of a Dhoom on stereo.

Daastan-e-Om Shanti Om with its dramatic effusion and sizzling orchestra (The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra) recounts a reborn man's bitter saga of love and betrayal. Heavily influenced by Karz's immortal Ek Haseena Thi, sans the iconic guitar play though, in narrative and format, Dastaan is rocking in its own right.

Though Shaan's rendering might not be 'tough guy' stuff, he conveys the angst of his protagonist only too well. Sadly, the Dark Side mix by Zoheb, Nikhil Chinapa and DJ Naweb with all it's electronic tinkering is not a patch on the theatrical original.

Finally, Om Shanti Om is an out and out musical that captivates with its roaring polyphony and unabashed drama.

Rediff Rating: * * * *

Sukanya Verma, Rediff India