An encounter between teams of Shah Rukh Khan and Sunil Shetty

Come September 11, Chandigarh will witness an absorbing feast of hockey featuring an encounter between teams of Shah Rukh Khan and Sunil Shetty.

Shah Rukh’s team India will take on a team of Bollywood and TV stars in an exhibition game after Asian hockey giants India and Pakistan play a friendly game at the Sector 42 hockey stadium the same evening.

This unusual hockey gala event featuring top stars and the entire cast of “Chak De India” is the brainchild of Sunil Shetty, the game ambassador of the Indian Hockey Federation.

India and Pakistan will field their full strength teams here.

The sports department of the Chandigarh administration has agreed to make available the flood-lit stadium for the night-long event.

The event has been planned to coincide with the holding of the Asia Cup Hockey Championship for men in Chennai. The Asia Cup concludes on September 9. Both India and Pakistan teams will then travel to Chandigarh for the friendly game, to be followed by the exhibition match.

To make the event more colourful and entertaining, some prominent singers, including Punjabi folk singers, will also perform.

“It will be an evening dedicated to hockey, fun and entertainment,” says Hardeep Singh Sandhu, a Mumbai-based hockey player and a member of the organising team.

There will be no entry fee for the event, which will continue late at night.

The proceeds from the event, which will only come through sponsorship and TV coverage, will go toward promoting hockey at the grassroots.

Sources reveal that movie stars, who have no shooting on the day such promotional hockey events are organised, will participate without charging any fee.

Source: TheTribuneChandigarh

SRK on CDI : Outlook interviews Shah Rukh Khan

On his character Kabir Khan...

What I like about the man is that he has faced a big failure and then changes his fate in a most honourable way. He is not a typical, caricaturised Muslim, but a modern man, someone who respects women immensely.

On what attracted him to the script...

The fact that it had no heroine but 16 new girls, there was no love story, no villain. The nation is changing. I think the film reflects that spirit.

On his association with sports...

I am a sportsman who took to acting. I played hockey, football and cricket in school teams. I even enjoyed playing gulli danda on the streets of Delhi. Even today, I play a lot with my kids.

On the risks of making a film on hockey...

Every time you can't make a Lagaan or Iqbal. As a spectator sport, hockey isn't glamorous. I was scared—but then, it's good to be scared sometimes!

On sharing screen time with so many women...

This year I am working with 17 new girls, the 17th being Deepika Padukone who makes her debut in Om Shanti Om. The last I remember working with so many women was way back in 1982 in Shriram College for a play where I was pitched against 11 ladies.

On his favourite girl in the team...

Some of them are great hockey players, some are very good actors, some are pretty and could be future heroines. They used to joke about me liking the little 4-feet-nothing Chautala. But actually I love them all.

On the many messages in the film...

The film is about players from all over India coming under one wing. It's about not playing for the railways, for a job or an apartment—but for the country. It's about women in sports, from big and small towns and the problems they face.

Source: Outlookindia

King Khan will rock through 2007 and right into 2008 too

King Khan has made it to Emperor status in Bollywood this year. More than the moolah that films like KANK , Don and Chak De India have made, it's how he has picked roles with variety and established himself as a versatile, powerful star that puts him in the news every other day.

But it's no coincidence that this year has been so big for Shah Rukh Khan, according to numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani. SRK is is ruled by the romantic Moon (2) and the creative Netpune (7), which also rules some legendary names like Dilip Kumar (December 11), Rajesh Khanna (December 29) and Amitabh Bachchan (October 11). In numerology , his name adds up to a dream number, 42, Jumaani points out. "42 is 6, which denotes Venus, the planet of love, luxury and entertainment ," he says.

Enduring entertainment brands like Warner Brothers, Universal Studios and Walt Disney also add up to 6. "Besides, Shah Rukh is also in his 42nd year. No wonder he started the year by signing a mega TV deal for a game show. Soon after, his wax statue was installed at Madame Tussauds - all adding to the hype."

Jumaani also has an explanation for his excellent working relationships with some of Bollywood's biggest production houses. "SRK is a Scorpion, ruled by 9 of Mars. Yash Chopra is also a 9, being born on the 27th, so they gave many hits together , starting with DDLJ (which itself added to 6, an immensely good number).

Karan Johar is also ruled by 7 and 2 (Neptune and Moon), SRK is ruled by 2 and 7. No wonder they look so happy together," he says, tongue firmly in cheek. His association with Farah Khan (January 9) has resulted in the hit Main Hoon Na; Aziz Mirza (Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Chalte Chalte) is also 7, another of his lucky numbers. Don, too, added up to 7.

Some lookouts: "Shah Rukh should be careful about his diet," says Jumaani, "He should be wary of wining, dining and womanising." But other than that, King Khan will rock through 2007 and right into 2008 too, predicts Jumaani. "This year being his 43rd (4 + 3 = 7), he should continue to entertain us.

Don to pakadna mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hai !"

Source: TimesOfIndia