"I am just out of work right now." - SRK

MUMBAI: Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan has given a candid interview while speaking to Sonia Singh at the NDTV Indian of the Year Award Function held in Delhi on 17 January.

"I would love to work but I think I have over exposed myself last year so most of the producer, directors are not signing me. Until Mr. Chidambaram lowers the taxes I guess none of the producers can afford me. So I am just out of work right now." This was Shah Rukh Khan's statement to NDTV 24x7 managing editor Sonia Singh on being asked what his plans were for 2008.

Khan also advised all politicians to be 'as honest as is realistically possible', on being asked by Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on what his advice to politicians would be.

He received the Indian of the Year award for the actor with the most impact on Hindi Cinema in the year 2007.

The interview will be aired on NDTV 24x7 on 26 January at 8 pm with a repeat on 27 January at 11 am and 10 pm.

Business Of Cinema

Ganguly finds supporter in Kolkata team's owner Shah Rukh Khan

MUMBAI, January 24: Discarded from India's One-day cricket team, Sourav Ganguly found a big fan in Shah Rukh Khan soon after the film star won his bid for the Kolkata side in the Indian Premier League. "He is one of the most stunning and wonderful players in the world. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are two players I am most impressed by. I love them for the human beings they are," said Shah Rukh.

"I am very impressed by their commitment and by the way they play their cricket," he said. "Even as everybody kept asking when they would retire, they keep playing so well."

On whether he and his kids wanted Mumbai, Shah Rukh said: "I am happy that Mukesh has Mumbai. His team is mine and my team is his. We will all play in a friendly way. Maybe we will end in a tie, even then it will be our win."

On what his Kolkata team and captain would like, Shah Rukh said: "I like Sourav, or for that matter all other players. As for the captain and the team, it will be up to the experts to decide on that. I will have a core team to do all and I will try and see as many matches as possible and encourage the sport more."

Talking about his love for the sport, he added: "I am a brand ambassador for my country. We are not here for money, we are here for the sport."

"I will support cricket and not promote cricket, otherwise people will say I am promoting my films," said Shah Rukh.

Last year Shah Rukh was accused of turning up with the Indian team for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in order to promote his films. That was the time the film "Om Shanti Om" - where he stars - was about to be released.

"If you come to my house, you will see all kind of sports equipment and we (his family) keep on playing all kinds of sport," Shah Rukh added.

IANS

King Khan, Preity Zinta bag teams in IPL bidding

After months of speculation, the verdict is finally out. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who had expressed a keen interest in acquiring a team in BCCI's much awaited Indian Premiere League (IPL), has emerged as one of the successful bidders thereby getting hold of the Kolkata team.

Mukesh Ambani emerged as the highest bidder bagging the Mumbai team while liquor baron Dr.Vijay Mallya was not far behind when he won the bid for Bangalore. However, a surprising name among the winners of the bid was none other than Preity Zinta who has bagged the Mohali team.

One thing's for certain with such big names from entertainment and business world now associated with this event, apart from top cricketers, it will indeed be a spectacle when the season kicks of somewhere in the middle of this year.

Bollywood Hungama

Nobody actually knows Shah Rukh

“Shah Rukh's persona and the films that he does, speak to an audience that transcends all boundaries,” says well known journalist-author Anupama Chopra whose bestseller King of Bollywood Shahrukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema has been translated in German and will be launched on January 30 and a few days later SRK will be having a special screening of his blockbuster Om Shanti Om at the Berlin Film Festival.

“The translation has been undertaken by Rapid Eye Movies who are pioneers in disseminating Bollywood in Germany. They were the ones to promote Hindi films in Germany with Karan's Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. King of Bollywood…happens to be their first venture in publishing,” an excited Anupama informs.

Adding another feather to his blooming cap, Shah Rukh Khan will be honored with the honourable distinction of Officer dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) on January 27 in Mumbai either by French President Nicolas Sarkozy or the French Ambassador to India Jerome Boonafont. Arundhati Roy is the other famous recipient of this award.

Anupama, you've interacted with Shah Rukh Khan over a period of several years while writing this book. How would you evaluate Shah Rukh Khan's persona, considering he rules the Hindi Film Industry (many would say the Indian Film Industry), wins whatever possible awards that have been invented, has a great sense of humour, is supremely competitive but he also happens to have lost his parents early in life, has withstood gangster threats and a lot more? “He has had his share of ups and downs and has seen such extremes in life that he is so grounded. Gauri (Khan) once said, nobody actually knows Shah Rukh.”

Faridoon Shahryar, Bollywood Hungama

Bindass to air SRK concert on 26 January

MUMBAI: This Republic Day get ready to watch some fun performances by Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Dia Mirza, Rakhi Sawant and others on Bindass that will telecast the Airtel Bindass India Concert. The show will be aired on 26 January from 6.30 pm onwards.

The three-hour concert by Cineyug organized to celebrate the power of youth will begin with the red carpet at 6.30 pm followed by the main concert at 7 pm.

King Khan will perform with his fans on chartbusters like Mein Hoon Don, Aankhon Mein Teri, Pretty Woman along with Priyanka Chopra on Aaj Ki Raat from Don, Rakhi Sawant with Beedi from Omkara, Dino Morea showing a jhalak of his moves on Jhalak Dikhalaja , Kunal Ganjawala humming along with performances by Mauli Dave and Niti Mohan choreographed by Ganesh Hegde. And Sajid Khan has tickled funny bones here.

Also watch winners of the Dance with SRK Contest – 12 years old Viddhi from Mumbai, Andrew from Kolkata and Richa from Delhi as they shake a leg with Shah Rukh Khan.

Business Of Cinema