Om Shanti Om music release in mid-September

OM SHANTI OM, an extravagant offering from Shahrukh Khan and Farah Khan, is aiming for a November 9th release. The film's promotion is all set to get started in a week from now while the music album is expected to hit the stands somewhere around middle of September.
Music of film has been in news ever since the project was announced. To begin with A.R. Rahman was finalised as a composer. Later due to certain differences over holding of rights, replacement for Rahman was sought and duo of Vishal-Shekhar was instead roped in. Also, services of Pyarelal [of Lakshmikant-Pyarelal duo] were sought to arrange one of the songs from the film.
As per insiders, Vishal and Shekhar have come up with a terrific soundtrack that traverses genres. A complete Bollywood soundtrack that goes with the 'masala' flavor of the film, OM SHANTI OM is one music album to watch out for as it hits the stands next month.

Source: IndiaGlitz

Minister wants PM to see Shah Rukh's film

A seasoned minister is so excited over the success of Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Chak de India' that he hopes to persuade Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to watch the surprise hit of the year.

Prithviraj Chavan, the minister of state for Prime Minister's Office (PMO), does not hide his excitement when he says that he had a 'brush' with the film.

He was handling the sports ministry when the Indian Women Hockey Federation mooted the idea of making a film on the game.

'I was excited when Vidya Stokes, president of the federation, approached us with the idea,' said Chavan, who handled the sports ministry briefly after Sunil Dutt died in 2005.

He had then taken Stokes and others to the National Stadium - where parts of the movie was shot - and asked the authorities to extend all help to them.

'Frankly speaking I did not even believe them when they said that Shah Rukh Khan would be approached for the main role,' he said.

'I am so happy and thrilled at the positive reports about the movie. I must see them (actors) and I will also request the prime minister to watch it (movie),' Chavan said.

Source: IANS

The Marathi version of Shah Rukh Khan's biography will be released on Saturday

From dancing around the trees with the prettiest of Bollywood belles to teaching the art of wielding the hockey stick to a bunch of enthusiasts , Shahrukh Khan has for years captured the imagination of a nation.

Litle wonder than that there has no been a dearth of books and biographies on King Khan-the latest to hit the market being Anupama Chopra’s King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan and the seductive world of cinema. This book, that was released in New York on August 9, has now been translated in Hindi, German and also Marathi, with the Marathi version all set for release in Pune on September 1 at the S N Joshi auditorium. “I am a die hard fan of Shahrukh Khan so the idea of publishing his biography thrilled me,” says Ulhas Latkar, the owner of Ameya Prakashan publishing house that is bringing out the marathi version.

Almost 14 years old, the publishing house has carved its niche in the genre of biographies with names like Lata Mangeshkar, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhubala, Aditya Birla immortalised by it in the pages of books dedicated to them. “It has been a conscious decision to publish biographies because they are inspiring and make a difference,” says Latkar. So when he learnt about Chopra’s book, he immediately approached her with the idea to release the book for the marathi readers. “I read the book at least four times before making this decision,” he adds. And then came the trickiest part of zeroing in on a suitable writer to do the work. Since Latekar had read Mumbai based freelance film journalist, Aruna Antarkar’s work he contacted her for the job. Working against time Antarkar translated the book in a span of one month without taking any other assignments. But she seems to have done the job more for personal than professional reasons. “Not many people know this but 12 years back Shahrukh saved my life. During the shooting of one of his films I unknowingly stood in front of a moving crane and he pulled me on time just before the machine could hit me. I guess it is about time I expressed my gratitude to him,” she says.

The autobiography is divided in three sections- one part talks about the actor, the other about Bollywood and the third about the changing phases of cinema in the country. Also Antarkar feels that the book has an unbiased approach and cuts through the fluff. “Even where it talks about Shahrukh’s competition with Hrithik Roshan, it emerges that Hrithik, despite being the younger on, comes across as more mature and wise,” she says. Also Antarkar on her part has tried to mould the book according to the taste of the marathi readers without tampering with facts. And, she adds, despite being a collection of memoirs of the actor’s life, it does not compromise on the element of entertainment.

ShvetaVashistGaur, ExpressIndia

Chak De 'Girls'

We met the nine girls at a city multiplex.

Nisha: I was elated to be chosen for the movie. Whoever wouldn’t be? But I could never imagine that the film will be such a huge success. The adulations, the fame — it’s come all of a sudden and at first I did not know how to handle this, but I am now going with the flow, taking one step at a time. What about you Sandia?

Sandia : I am living every moment of it. I am getting loads of attention and I am really appreciating it. See, it all depends on you. You could get irritated or you could just learn to live with it. But, to tell you the truth, I do not want a lot of fame... that could be a curse. What do you think Chonchon?

Chonchon : You know, how in the movie Kabir Khan tells the girls to play their best game within the stipulated 70 minutes and how their lives will change after that. Kabir Khan was right. The movie has changed everything. It’s like a dream. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it was worth it.

Chitrashi : I am enjoying myself. If success has come to me, why wouldn't I make the most it? Even on the sets I used to get pampered by SRK. You girls used to tease me na ki main kaisi unki godi mein baith jaati thi. Haha! I had never thought of taking up acting, but now I am thinking. But, at the moment I am soaking in the experience of being loved so much.

Vidya : It was an honour for me to lead you girls. I have been a part of this glam world for long... I have been a model, done ads and films too. I think you girls are lucky. You have tasted success from the word go, but I know what it feels like to have success elude you. But Chak De! India has given me a different high. It’s so wonderful to be your Didi — onscreen and offscreen.

Shilpa : I am living it up. Wherever we are going people are coming up to me and saying how much they loved the movie and how we girls were so good. Yes, we are celebrating girl power. In fact, people have been telling me how jealous they are of me for having acted with SRK and for that scene where I try to seduce him. Imagine people being jealous of me! I hope to have many more ‘fame’ous moments.

Tanya : Now, that the movie has become a hit and people are recognising me, I am hoping to get a boyfriend. Boys are too scared of me. Mereko gussa itni jaldi aata hain na! And on top of that I am a judo player. I am hoping things will change now. Haha! But to tell you the truth I am enjoying myself. People are asking me to take up acting full time. Let’s see what kind of offer I get. But I plan to complete my studies first.

Arya : You know life is ironical. I was always scared of being mobbed and remember how in Australia people had surrounded me? I cried for help and look at us now. Well, to tell the truth, I am not handling fame well. But I am getting there. I am learning to be diplomatic and not being the spitfire that I usually am. SRK is a dream I admired him as an actor, but now I admire the man. He is so very humble!

Shubhi : I have been a choreographer, been an anchor, hosted events and I thought that I am qualified enough to handle fame. But the truth is that right now fame is handling me. I think that with Chak De! India, we have all become a team and we are helping each other out even when we are out on tours. My dream would be to host a Filmfare award with SRK and then I will ask my parents to look for a boy and settle down and have children (Laughs).

JayeetaGanguly, TimesofIndia

"I need to enjoy what I am doing. I love the process of film making," Shah Rukh Khan

Congratulate him on the success of 'Chak De India' and he surprises you with, "I am glad it worked because sometimes I do films for his my own satisfaction like 'Paheli' and 'Swades', but they don't always work commercially," he says.

The actor reveals candidly, "I generally do films which are bound to be successful. But, once a year, I do one film for my own personal satisfaction as an actor. 'Chak De' was one such film and I am glad that it has worked."

However, it's not the flops that upset him. "It makes me very unhappy when people say I cannot act. Without wanting to sound pompous, if I have survived in this industry for 19 years, I must know something. I definitely can't be a fluke," he says.

Ask him who his favourite director is and he gets diplomatic, "I have worked with most established as well as new directors. I find everyone unique in some way of the other. I have enjoyed working with 90 percent of them. I am someone who is a complete slave to the director. However, I need to enjoy what I am doing. I love the process of film making," he says.

Shubha Shetty & Saha,DNA