Shahrukh gets a mother from Kolkata

Shah Rukh: A true sportsman

The recent cricket season proved that Shah Rukh Khan is a true sportsman.

His team may have let him down, but there was never a frown on his forehead. The actor was there cheering his team all the way through, like true sportsman. In fact, after every defeat, SRK made it a point to party with the players just as he would when they won a match. The players may not have got the trophy for the owner but Shah Rukh made sure they went home with a neat packet and loads of gifts.

In fact his message box is full of smses from the players not only of his team but even other teams praising him as a human being and a sportsman. Now who can blame him for his rising popularity? In fact, his colleagues should learn a lesson or two from King Khan on sportsmanship!

'I have paid my players to win. Will I pay them now to lose'

The defeat of his Knights in the Indian Premier League seems to have left the team owner King Khan with a bitter aftertaste. The first season of the Indian Premier League will be now remembered for Shahrukh Khan's tirades, which show no sign of easing.

Still apparently in a fit of sulks, Khan has lashed at the IPL, saying on Thursday (May 22) that he hadn't paid his team to lose, but to win.

Khan had felt quite at home among his Knights - so much so he wouldn't budge an inch from their side. But then one fine evening he was asked by the authorities to keep his beloved team at arm's length - the actor was miffed, and swift came the first salvo in these words:

"My hanging around in the dressing room, is apparently 'anti-Anti-Corruption'. I'm like, listen, don't tell me that I am corrupt...let CBI, ICC Code of Conduct team - anybody - dare try to stop me from meeting my team for every match."

Khan was then provided with a solution - following the tradition of handing out purple and orange caps to the players, IPL announced a red, all-area accreditation badge to one member of each of the eight franchisees, to be given by the ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) which gave them access to the team dugout and dressing room as well.

But Khan did not take the bait provided by the officials and was absent from the very next match.

Subsequently the Kolkata Knight Riders were knocked out of the IPL, and afterwards the Kolkata team came under some battery. The egotist in the showman came out and the second salvo hit when it mattered; Khan's supposed SMS to his team, which took another dig at the IPL, has become a public dossier.

The message comes close to ridiculing the IPL governing body. Khan says he has again decided not to come on the ground till he figures out the "headmaster's rules".

"I am still trying to understand the code of conduct expected of me at the matches of the IPL.... ICC... Etc.... After I understand it, I will decide whether to accept it or not.... Till such time, I will be with you guys at the hotel... in the meetings etc., but won't come for the matches.... So, please don't ever feel it is anything to do with us as a team," read the SMS which was published by The Telegraph.

What is more, Khan has since been crying foul wherever he goes. The latest was outside the studio of his popular TV show.

Reiterating that he was not corrupt, SRK lashed out at the governing body saying he has paid his players to win and not to lose.

"I have paid my players to win. Will I pay them now to lose? This is illogical," he said yesterday (May 22). He added, "Why pick me? Other team owners are seen near their players. Is it because I am a celebrity and vulnerable?"

All in all, it's a joy that has gone haywire, a tale that was scripted, hit an incredible high only to turn a damp squib within two weeks.

Times Now

“SRK is not my backslapping buddy,”says Karan Johar

You go all out for Shah Rukh Khan. Recently, you came back all the way from Miami to attend his first IPL match and postponed your own film to accommodate Aditya Chopra's film with SRK.
Yes. But isn't that a given in any friendship? Shah Rukh is like family for me. I'm quite petrified of Shah Rukh and he knows it. He is not my backslapping buddy. His wife Gauri is the one who is more of a friend. She's the one I can say, ‘Oh, Shut up!’ to but even in my wildest dreams, I can't imagine telling SRK to shut up.

But, will SRK do as much for you as you do for him?
I want to reach a point where I don't expect anything in return. I have full faith in my relationships and believe that they will never disappoint me.

So, no more formula-based films from you?
My Name Is Khan is an exciting project. For the first time, I'm directing a film that has characters and situations I'm not familiar with. I think I'm the wrong man to direct this film.

So who do think should be directing My Name Is Khan?
Mani Ratnam, Rakeysh Mehra or Raju Hirani but certainly not me. But, I'm hundred per cent sure I can pull it off.

Can you ever make a film without Shah Rukh Khan?
I wouldn't like to think about it. Of course it can happen. One can never predict where life will take us...