WATCH: Shabana Azmi on SRK vs Sena: Bollywood is an easy target

As the face-off between Shah Rukh Khan and the Shiv Sena intensifies, Shabana Azmi says film folks often face Sena's wrath as actors make easy targets.

WATCH: Bipasha speaks out in SRK's support

Reacting to the Sena vs SRK row, actress Bipasha Basu has spoken out in support of Shah Rukh Khan.

WATCH: NRIs Supports Shahrukh Khan

While urban India has come out in support of SRK online, NRIs too are shocked at the bullying and intolerance of the Shiv Sena.

Shahrukh Khan doesnt need to apologize: Salman Khan

After what happened between Salman Khan and Shahrukh at Katrina Kaif’s birthday bash no one ever thought that they will make up and be on cordial terms ever, but seems like things are on a mend now.

Apparently, Shahrukh is currently in the midst of a controversy over his comments on inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL (Indian Premier League) cricket matches. Apparently, Shahrukh refused to retract his statements and that has further irked Shiv Sena. There is high probability that they might create trouble during the screening of his movie ‘My Name is Khan’.

Subsequently, congress party favored Shahrukh Khan and assured him of a peaceful release of the movie, but now even Bollywood is coming out in favor of B-town badshah Shahrukh Khan. And the man leading the support cause is none other than superstar Salman Khan who openly cited that Shahrukh Khan had not done any crime by stating so and being an owner of one the IPL teams he had the rights to comment. Moreover, Salman added that he feels Shahrukh doesn’t owe an apology toShiv Sena.

Earlier, Shahrukh had said that Salman is a great actor and now Salman Khan is openly supporting Shahrukh Khan during such crises. This clearly indicates that both actors are in a mood to salvage the bitterness of past. So, can their fans now see them together on screen? Watch out this space for further development.

Bollywood's King Khan: 'I love being a celebrity'

Bollywood's King Khan aka Shahrukh Khan admits he loves being a superstar.

The actor has a cult following in India and has been dubbed the Tom Cruise of Bollywood.

"It's nice to be loved, I love being a star," the 44-year-old said.

"I love people screaming my name, I love not being able to walk freely, I love every aspect of it.

"Genuinely I enjoy it, I'm not joking," he added.

While some celebrities complain about a lack of privacy, Khan thrives in the spotlight.

He said: "A lot of people say 'I hide myself, I wear dark glasses' and I say to them, 'all your life you work to be recognised, what's the point in wearing dark glasses' - you know I really like it."

Khan is in the UK promoting new film My Name is Khan, released on February 11.

SRK: What should I retract?

He stood his ground, refusing to apologise.

But it was an uncharacteristically tired-looking Shah Rukh Khan (44) who spoke to Hindustan Times on Thursday.

“What should I retract?” he said. “I’ll say it again, because in my country everybody has the freedom to live peacefully. And if anybody has to come for work, sports, art, business, they are welcome… I don’t know when that changed… if it changed, I was never told so.”

Khan added if he owed an apology, it was to Karan Johar and Kajol, his director-producer and co-star in My Name Is Khan.

The film’s release on February 12 could now be affected in Mumbai, where the Shiv Sena has called for a boycott over his comments that Pakistan’s cricketers should not have been shunned in the IPL auctions.

Sitting at the Court House Hotel in London, Khan admitted he was concerned about his family — wife Gauri (39), son Aryan (12) and daughter Suhana (9). “I won’t say I’m scared, but I’d like to be with them,” he said.

Following repeated threats from the Sena, police security has been heightened at the actor’s bungalow in Mumbai.

Despite the brouhaha, Khan spoke of his good personal relations with Sena chief Bal Thacke-ray and his son Udhav, saying they’d always been “kind to me”.

“If anyone has an issue, they should discuss it with me,” he said. “I am not [being] egoistic. It’s not about ‘I’m not going to say sorry’. I don’t know why anyone in my country should say sorry for something taught to us from childhood.”

Police ensure full security to My Name is Khan

Following the threat by the Shiv Sena to ban the release of My Name is Khan if Shahrukh Khan doesn’t apologise for stating that Pakistani cricketers should be allowed to play at the IPL, BJP spokesperson Shaina NC and Mumbai Police DGP AN Roy have assured peaceful release of the film in the city.

Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star, BJP spokesperson Shaina NC and Mumbai Police DGP AN Roy made a statement at a press conference that they would ensure peaceful release of the film. The Mumbai police will provide full security to theatres releasing the film in the city.


Surprisingly, the BJP has gone against its ally Shiv Sena on this matter and come out in support of the superstar. The Shiv Sena has threatened to disrupt the release of My Name is Khan if Shahrukh fails to offer an apology for supporting the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL and for his statement that Mumabi is for all Indians.

Karan Johar, My Name is Khan, which brings the hot screen pair Shahrukh and Kajol together after eight years, is scheduled for release next Friday (February 12).

BJP, Congress come out in support of SRK

In an indication of taking yet another step to differentiate its position from that of its long-standing ally Shiv Sena, BJP on Thursday said it did not agree with the Sena’s anti-Shah Rukh Khan stand. On the contrary, the party came out in support of the Bollywood star by saying that Khan had done the country proud by virtue of being an accomplished actor.

“We do not agree with Shiv Sena’s description of him (Shah Rukh Khan) as an enemy of India. He has done the country proud as an accomplished actor,” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said. The statement came on its own and not in reply to any question from the media.

Also, coming to the defence of SRK, Congress said it would see how Shiv Sena stalled the screening of his film in Maharashtra. “We will see to it how the goons of Bal Thackeray prevent theatres in Maharashtra from screening Shahrukh Khan’s film,” AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said.

Karan Johar on the idea behind MY NAME IS KHAN

MY NAME IS KHAN may be facing quite heat at the moment and is trapped in a powerful storm. However, film maker Karan Johar continues to be convinced about the basic idea behind making this Shahrukh Khan and Kajol starrer. Though a few are left wondering of he along with Shah Rukh and Co. decided one fine day that 'Ok, let's make a movie which would make people sit up and say that even they can make different cinema which is way apart from their truly mainstream commercial work so far'?, Karan rejects such insinuations.

"I truly believe that if you are motivated just for the sake of it, you would get caught eventually. You can succeed only if you have a very strong conviction backing up your thought", smiles Karan.

Further elaborating on his growth as a film maker, Karan comments, "I just felt that cinema is maturing with every passing year and I should move on with the times as well. If I am constantly going to try and woo the audience with a certain kind of cinema without doing something that is entirely different, what's the point in sitting pretty in the position where I currently am? Why not use it for my own advantage and make something really fresh?"

Taking a breath, he continues, "I know that there are certain expectations from a Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol love story and I am sure these would be met in MNIK too which has the kind of story that has its heart in the right place and romance as an underlining theme. There is this new look and slant of Shah Rukh-Kajol love story here which will not just engage you but also remain with you for months to come. Why do I sound so confident? Because I know about the emotional content of this love story."

A co-production of Karan Johar and Gauri Khan, MY NAME IS KHAN is being marketed and distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures and releases all over on 12th February 2010.

SRK-Kajol starrer MY NAME IS KHAN ties-up with Reebok

The leading sportswear brand Reebok is unveiling their MY NAME IS KHAN Collection, showcased in the most awaited movie of the year starring Shahrukh Khan, Kajol and other stars.

Targeted at the youth, Reebok's MNIK collection is a fusion of sports and lifestyle and is targeted at a growing, globally sports & fashion conscious Indian market that is ready to experiment with style and concepts.

According to Mr. Sajid Shamim, Executive Director, Marketing and Product, Reebok India Company, "We are extremely delighted to launch the new MY NAME IS KHAN range. Since the collection is a sporty and fashionable range targeting the youth; we envisage that it will create huge appeal and pave the way for more of sports inspired lifestyle collections. For the Reebok MNIK collection promotion we are looking at television, outdoor, retail activation among other activities."

Apoorva Mehta, CEO - Dharma Productions says, "Dharma Productions and Red Chillies are very enthusiastic about its association with Reebok for MY NAME IS KHAN. A film of this stature is not a regular occurrence and therefore it is imminent that we amplify its message to people across India and the world. MY NAME IS KHAN - Reebok collection is a step in that direction. Through the message tees and other merchandise, we endeavour to reach out to all those people who would like to retain KHAN, his values and what he stands for, in their lives."

The key highlight of the collection is the footwear - Winning Stride that Shahrukh Khan's character in the movie - Rizwan Khan wears throughout.

Taking inspiration from the core thought of the movie, Reebok has also launched a crisp message tee collection. "I am More than just a name", "Stronger than my fears" and "Greater than my limits" are the lines being promoted through the collection.