My Name is Khan grosses 174.60 crore worldwide

Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name is Khan has grossed Rs 174.60 crore worldwide with India contributing Rs 102.2 crore and international markets netting an all time high of Rs 72.4 crore for a Hindi film, distributors said.

It has become the highest grossing Bollywood film in the Middle East at USD 3.3 million. With the movie opening in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria on March 10, the number is expected to go much higher, according to Vijay Singh of Fox Studios.

In the UAE, MNIK's collections are nearly on par with Dark Knight, Transformers 2, Spider Man 3 and Twilight: New Moon. At final count, the Middle East distributors expect the figures to be twice of Fox Searchlight's global 2008 phenomenon Slumdog Millionaire in this market, he said.

"In other markets too, it continues to grow and has crossed over to non-diaspora audiences. In Indonesia, for example, the film has grown from 6 to 14 screens," Singh said. Directed by Karan Johar, the movie is about the journey of an Indian family and their saga post the 9/11 attacks on the US.

SRK takes on Hollywood internationally

So India has a population of one billion, right? And its economy, brain power and youth drivers are set to rule the world right? That’s why it bothered us no end when Indian movies were often left on the wayside when it came to overseas collections and the Oscars.

Even brilliant offerings like Lagaan that deserved more than the Oscars. But we think the time is now. For a first, AR Rahman swept the world. And now it’s My Name Is Khan that is winning the global sweepstakes. We hear that apart from its India gross, MNIK has earned about Rs 72.4 crores from international markets. In the UAE alone, MNIK is set to become the 4th biggest movie of all time, ahead of Dark Knight, Transformers 2, Spider Man 3, Twilight: New Moon. And that’s the news that warms the cockles of our desi hearts.

At final count, the Middle East distributors expect it to be twice of Fox Searchlight’s global 2008 phenomenon Slumdog Millionaire. “In other Islamic markets too,” says Vijay Singh of Fox, “It continues to grow and has crossed over to non-diaspora audiences. In Indonesia, for example, the film has grown from 6 to 14 screens and has seen a jump of 300 per cent in week three. The film has not just done the highest ever theatrical business for a Bollywood film, it has become a national phenomenon.” Is SRK smiling? Sure. Is Brad Pitt? We truly doubt that.

'One has to do the right thing, whatever the outcome'

His name is Khan. But to his legion of fans across the world he's much more than a name. Now in his 17th year in Hindi cinema, Shah Rukh Khan has just delivered in My Name Is Khan what many think to be his most accomplished performance.

Do you plan to enter politics?
People keep talking about my friendship with certain individuals in a particular party (Congress). But i've known Rajiv Shukla before he joined the Congress. And i know Soniaji, Rahul and Priyanka just as i know other interesting people from other walks of life.

How do you look back on the run-in with the Shiv Sena?
It was a total waste of time and energy. It was confusing. What was i supposed to apologise for? Later i heard on television that i wasn't expected to apologise.

Not for a second did i feel any aggression towards anyone. I only felt the futility of it all. I was calm throughout. I know Balasaheb and Uddhav Thackeray well. We meet cordially whenever the occasion arises. But we're on different playing fields. I'm in the business of cinema. They're in politics. And we should keep it that way.

Did the trouble with the Shiv Sena take away from the pleasure of enjoying the success of My Name Is Khan?
The troubles that happened did take away from my thrill of the release. Frankly i was anxious about the safety of my family, colleagues, my office staff and fans. God forbid, even if one member of the audience had suffered any injury while going to see My Name Is Khan, i'd have never forgiven myself.

What about the financial losses?
I really didn't care about that. I can make money even dancing at private events. It's no big deal. But there was no question of retracting my statement. Because to do so, i had to be proven wrong about what i had said.

You are no stranger to controversies?
During Billu we unconsciously ended up hurting the hairstylists with the title of our film. And, the Muslim community was offended with the song Marjani. We sorted it out, even if it meant financial losses. One has to do the right thing, whatever the outcome.

Looking back on the whole run-in with the Sena, what are your thoughts?
I feel deeply saddened by the whole thing. I was privileged to have a father who was a freedom fighter. Not too many of us can claim such a privilege. He once said to me, 'I had a hand in your birth.But i also had a hand in the birth of a free India.'

I didn't want my father's struggle to go waste. When my son is 44 like i am now, i want him to be as proud of me as i am of my father.

Now you're getting back in action on screen?
Yes my injured back is fine. But the shoulder is not that sturdy yet. I strained it again recently and it's hurting. Ra.1 and then Don 2 would be the testing grounds for my physical recovery. I want to see if i can pull off the full-on action parts. I'll know if i can only when i do the films.

SRK, Arjun, Ritiesh: The coffee addicts

The King Khan might well be a brand ambassador for a cola company, but the man gets his caffeine shot from elsewhere. Yeah, from his countless cups of coffee.

Black coffee that too. Apparently Shah Rukh Khan is high on coffee, and if he had his way, he would have an hourly coffee break all day. And he needs his coffee just right. Mostly black coffee, sometimes with a dash of milk, with little or no sugar.

The coffee aficionado has stocked up the best blends from all over the world, and this hot black beverage is what keeps him high on energy 24/7. His good friends, Arjun Rampal and Ritiesh Deshmukh are also black coffee addicts, and when these boys catch up, you can well imagine what happens. Coffee, conversations and more coffee. We’re sure sometimes, close buddy, Karan Johar joins in too. With more conversation than ‘koffee’, of course.

'MNIK' is the first global Indian film: Karan Johar

In a candid interview with MSN India, Karan Johar discusses Sena- SRK tiff over 'My Name Is Khan', his love for Twitter, upcoming projects and much more.

Q: Do you think Sena-SRK controversy eclipsed the success of 'My Name Is Khan' (MNIK)? Did the controversy in anyway help the box-office collections?

A: No, I don't think controversy had any impact on the film. The film had great audience support. Initially, say for the first three weeks, we did lose out some business in Maharashtra. But I think audience will eventually watch a film for what it is. They would not get swayed by the controversy surrounding it. Big controversies may help some small films, not a Kajol-SRK starrer. Controversy or no controversy, such films command audience. Nevertheless, we are glad to be out of the controversy.

Q: What could have been the possible reason for SRK-Kajol starrer's domestic box office collection confining itself to Rs 90 crores in the first ten days of release?

A: It is an unusual film. What did people expect? It is a completely different film where the lead actor is autistic and has Asperger syndrome. There are no songs or quintessential mainstream comedy in the film. It is a heavy issue-based film that is saying something strong.

A comparison

It being an issue-based film will show up in its final business and will eventually end up as a very strong figure. In fact, the business 'MNIK' has done in India has been one of my highest in the domestic markets. Of course, if you compare it with other films you may feel it has not done well enough. But then, I never set out to make the biggest hit of the Indian cinema. I never sit and make calculations about my film. I am here just to make a credible film that has a strong message and can reach as many eyeballs as possible.

Q: How different was the association with Fox Star Distribution? How did it help 'MNIK'?

A: It was different because we tapped the untapped markets with Fox. Fox Search and 20th Century Fox, with their wide infrastructure, made us creep into the markets that we haven't explored earlier. With them, we have gone into markets in Middle East where no Hindi film has ever been released before. 'MNIK' is also opening theatrically in Poland, Germany and Russia. We might also do a second international cut in North America. All this is happening only because of our association with Fox.

When we got together with Fox, we wanted 'MNIK' to be the first global film India has ever produced. In fact, this is the first Indian film that has turned global. It is not just a film that has been in India only but we have taken Indian cinema across the globe, put it on the world map and made sure that everyone knows that our quality, content and our soul is unusual, different and is fantastic.

Q: How much has the mainstream Indian cinema changed since your debut film?

A: It is totally changed. I was part of the transition phase when we were transiting from the one syntax of cinema to another. The transition had been fantastic. Today, we are proud filmmakers of unusual content. We are dabbling in all kinds of cinema. We have quintessential mainstream entertainers, fun and frolic films with songs and dance, heavy issue-based films, solid parallel ones with great content and have been making our presence felt in international arenas like film festivals.

We are proud filmmakers doing all kinds of work. We have a defiling perception on day-to-day basis and we are still trying to fight the perception of Bollywood which is song, dance, fun and frolic filmmaking which actually we are very far away from today. I think what we do is done by no one else in the world. From 2001 onwards, Bollywood has only seen turning points with the success of films like 'Lagaan', 'Dil Chahta Hai', the 'Munnabhai' series, 'Rang De Basanti', 'Paa', 'Taare Zameen Par' and 'Black'. I mean, we have had so many great films this decade.

Q: What is the next project that you are working on after 'MNIK'?

A: I have no idea. I think having just delivered a baby, that too caesarean, we need to take at least month off. Otherwise, as a producer, we have 'Dostana 2' directed by Tarun Mansukhani. 'I Hate Love Stories' starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor is a small exemplary date film and is being directed by Punit Malhotra. We also have official adaptation of 'Stepmom' starring Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, in tandem with Sony Pictures.

Q: What drives you as a filmmaker?

A: My films are a reflection of my state of mind. As I grow older things will change and it will show on celluloid.

Q: Are you playing godfather to Bollywood's young and upcoming filmmakers?

A: Godfather and me? Oh no! I am just nurturing young talent within my production house so that I can leverage them time and again.

Q: You are seen to be quite active on Twitter and you recently received an award for the same. What gets you hooked to the Twitter?

A: I think it is a great platform to check your delusional level. All of us have delusions in the movie industry because of which we overestimate our position, talents and ourselves and I think Twitter connects you to everyone across the world. It is a great way of making your feet stick firmly on the ground, a great place to get feedback, great place to connect with the people. Also, sometimes it is a nice platform to express oneself. Sometimes you feel it can be therapeutic, sometimes you feel very strongly about something and you don't know what to do. So you put it up there and feel it is out there in the universe and I like that.

Q: Do you think that the certain aura surrounding the film stars can fade off with their overexposure to social networking sites?

A: Aura died a while ago. With a hundred paparazzi and cameras, three thousand media houses and ten thousand interviews prior to the release of the film there is no aura left. Aura died with Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. Now, what we have are stars without aura.

Q: What would Karan Johar say about ---

A: Love: It is a blend of trust, respect and lust.

Friendship: It is trust and respect without lust.

Family: It is forever.

Cinema: It is forever and ever. It is archived, beautiful and is the reason why I exist.

Karan Johar was in Bangalore to attend 'Obsessions and Obligations' commemorative conversations, which celebrated Tehelka's five years of Outstanding Public Interest Journalism. He was a part of the panel to discuss 'Tradition and Modernity: Is our change only skin-deep?'

Freida Pinto inspired by Shahrukh Khan

The life story of the indomitable, indefatigable and forever evolving Shahrukh Khan has greatly inspired Freida Pinto. The Slumdog Millionaire starlet shared the stage with King Khan at the Golden Globe awards last year and finds him an inspirational figure.

“His (Shahrukh’s) is by far the most inspirational story of all. He’s graceful, charming, and so wonderful, the best representation that India can have internationally. And I don’t know yet if I was more excited or nervous to be standing next to Shahrukh Khan,” Freida is quoted as saying in a media report.

There have been reports recently that Freida is again being considered for the next Bond film. Earlier also, it was rumoured that she almost missed bagging a role in ‘Quantum of Solace’.

“I’m too young to be a Bond girl. There’s not much of a role, though some of them have become iconic, and you need somebody more mature and beautiful than me,” Freida said.

She has completed the shoot of Julian Schnabel’s film ‘Miral’ and Woody Allen’s ‘You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger’. She also has in her kitty a film titled ‘Dawn of War’ by director Tarsem Singh.