Shah Rukh Khan versus Bollywood!

No one can deny the fact that Shah Rukh Khan is the biggest global superstar in the Hindi film industry. As is well known, King Khan has taken up another TV quiz show (after Kaun Banega Crorepati), which will run during prime time on the country's number 1 channel, across March end, April and May. It is given that the show, 'Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? ' will command record eyeballs for sure, especially during the initial episodes.

As is known, Shah Rukh Khan also owns a cricket team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kolkota Knight Riders, which will play Twenty20 competitions in which a record 59 matches will be played and telecast in April-May. Knowing the involvement of SRK and some of the other high profile members in IPL, it is naturally going to be a huge event that will command undivided attention of the cricket crazy nation.

So it is but obvious that both Shah Rukh's television show and the IPL cricket tournament will have an adverse effect on the films releasing during those times. And will take away the audience that might otherwise have bought tickets for entertainment purposes.

Well, on a serious note, its only the makers (who have cinematically inferior products) and media hyped stars who need to worry and will crib about these factors for the failure of their projects. There have been countless instances when audiences have thronged to the theatres despite the most hyped events. But then on many of those occasions, King Khan was on the right side of the fence for Bollywood!

Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network

Shah Rukh finds his Simran

The hunt for the lead girl opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is over.

Sources reveal the girl is not Sonam Kapoor as reported by a section of the media, but a newcomer from Amritsar. We are told that Shah Rukh and Adi held scores of auditions for the role before finalising the girl.

A source from the project leaked details about who the girl is. “Her name is Simran and she’s currently staying at a hotel in Juhu. She doesn’t have any acting background and was chosen solely on the basis of her looks and the screen test.”

Giving details about Simran the source adds, “The script for the film is fresh and even though it’s a love story it has an interesting twist in the climax. Adi was toying with the idea of working with an established actress, but it was Shah Rukh’s suggestion that they go with a newcomer.

Simran impressed Adi with her innocence and that was important for the character. Even though she’s new to the industry, Simran wasn’t star struck when she met SRK for the first time.”

After she was finalised, both SRK and Adi joked how she shared her name with Kajol’s character in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, “Simran told Adi how she had watched DDLJ several times and never thought she would act with SRK one day.”

It is learnt that Adi is taking all precautions to keep Simran under wraps until she starts shooting.

“She’s put up in the hotel with her folks and Adi keeps having meetings with her. He’s given her the script for rehearsal and is also working on her dialect and grooming.”

Tushar Joshi, Mid-Day