SRK arrive for Temptations Reloaded

An evening in London, with SRK

The King entertained the British lords as well as old mates like Vijay Mallaya and Nikki Bedi.

From dancing, to answering questions, to pulling up fans on the stage, King Khan had his audience eating out of his palm.

When contacted, Nikki Bedi, a presenter in the UK, talks about her evening out with Khan.

She says, "The evening was just brilliant. SRK danced, performed, played Paanchvi Pass and answered questions from the audience. Kunal Ganjawalla and Ganesh Hegde also performed, but Shah Rukh took the cake."

Nikki particularly goes ga-ga over SRK's stunts in the event. She reveals, "The act where he topples off the chair drew in much cheer. I am amazed at his fitness level. At one point, he invited me on stage and made me play Paanchvi Pass. And it was not just me, even Vijay Mallaya was quizzed. It was so much fun," recalls Nikki.

Khan was in the UK as a part of his annual break with his family. After wrapping up his holiday, he got back to work - initially with his bank event and followed by his Temptations Reloaded performance in Amsterdam on Saturday night.

Mumbai Mirror

"SRK is a charmer I couldn't keep my eyes off him," - Yuvika

Models, we often hear, are eager to make it in Bollywood. But Yuvika Chaudhary, who follows up her cameo in Om Shanti Om with a lead role in Summer 2007, is a selfproclaimed exception. It took a lot of chasing on the part of the producers to get her to do this film, says Yuvika.

"Every time they came and said 'Do it, do it, do it', I refused," says the actress, who has been paired in the film with Sikandar Kher She is, however, not immune to fame. "Though I was hardly there (in OSO), people still call me Dolly, after the character What more can I say?" she asks, not a little proud.

The film's director Farah Khan and star Shah Rukh Khan, she says, were impressed by her work. According to Yuvika, Farah had to do a bit of wooing, too. "I was the first one to be approached for the role in OSO," she says. "Farah left the choice to me, saying, 'If you refuse the role, only then will I approach somebody else." It was the thought of working with Shah Rukh that clinched the deal. "He is a charmer I couldn't keep my eyes off him," she says.

Her most prized possession is a message from Farah, saying, "Shah Rukh is really impressed with you and so am I," It took her a long time to accept Summer 2007, Yuvika continues. Modelling assignments, including a cola ad with Kunal Kapoor where Farah spotted her, were a more attractive proposition.

Here, too, her idol influenced her decision. "I was turning down film offers, but then Kirron aunty Anupam uncle, Farah and even SRK told me to take up Summer 2007 SRK said, 'In the initial stages of my career; even I did films that I thought wouldn't do the magic."

Her initial reluctance gave way to interested involvement as the shooting progressed: "I realised that Summer 2007 is destiny's gift to me. It taught me that acting is a lot of hard work." As she sets out on the road to stardom, Yuvika still retains the young fan's gushing enthusiasm for King Khan. "When I looked into his eyes, it was hard to believe that he is in his forties," says the actress. It was a bit of magic, that overwhelming star quality. It's magic ghat Yuvika hopes will a one day be hers, too.

Minakshi Saini, Hindustan Times