Shah Rukh Khan stars in tale of Mumbai flower girl

A new Bollywood film that explores the popularity of Shah Rukh Khan, has the actor's name in its title and features conversations about him is wooing audiences at the annual film festival in Goa.

Khan also has a two-minute cameo in "Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu", about a flower girl in Mumbai whose life changes after a chance meeting with the actor who tells her that she is beautiful.

"To change ugliness to beauty, that is the power of a star. I have seen Shah Rukh becoming that kind of a star over the years," director Makrand Deshpande told reporters at the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in the tourist haven of Goa.

Khan, 44, is one of India’s biggest stars, having acted in Bollywood films for nearly two decades, and has a massive fan following.

"If he hadn't worked so hard to become that, this film wouldn't have been made," Deshpande said.

Deshpande, an actor himself, said he hoped to release the film in cinemas early next year and admitted that Khan's name would help promote "Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu".

"Yes, my film will definitely benefit from the fact that it has Shah Rukh Khan's name in it, at least till the marketing and publicity stage. After that it will work on its own merit," said Deshpande.

The film had its premiere at the film festival in Goa.

Shahrukh Khan leaves a peace message

Shah Rukh Khan was part of a peace drive in memory of the 26/11 victims.

Mumbai, which is still trying to recover from the scars of last year's 26/11 terrorist attacks, marked the first anniversary of the horrific incident, by lighting candles outside the Gateway of India and at the Taj Hotel and prayed for tranquility and a brighter hope for the city that saw 166 innocent people killed without reason.

Mumbaikars went around the Taj Hotel; one of the sites attacked by terrorists, chanting slogans of peace and reminiscencing about those who had died last year during a three day siege.

"We want peace. We have come to pay homage to our soldiers who laid their lives for us and for the country," said Shakuntla Devi, a local.

Hundreds of youngsters, men and women, drew paintings, wrote peace messages and put hand impressions on a one-and-a-half-kilometer long wall on Wednesday (November 25) - saying the city stood united against any future attacks on this cosmopolitan fabric.

Some of the peace messages and symbols like red paint symbolising blood, black paint symbolising fear and death and messages like 'we will not forget' featured prominently on the wall.

Shaina NC, a Mumbai-based fashion designer-turned politician, and one of the brains behind the wall, said the wall was an outlet for Mumbai residents to pour out their feelings.

"I think Mumbai is definitely more sensitive, if you take this as a viewing what has happened today in this one-and-half-kilometer you will see how beautifully people envisage a brighter future, a future of unity, and that happens with togetherness," she said.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan also wrote his own message of peace on the wall.

Ten gunmen had landed on Mumbai shores by boats at sunset on November 26, 2008 and fired randomly inside a railway station, a Jewish settlement, a cafe and two luxury hotels.

Several people were held hostage for the next three days and at least 166 died before commandoes smoked out the last of the terrorists on November 28 last year.

One gunman, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, who claims to be Pakistani national, was taken alive and is presently, facing trial in a special court in Mumbai. (ANI)

Love, light & prayers: SRK

If you were at Marine Lines late on Wednesday night and saw a frenzy of people and shutterbugs, well, it was because of the presence of King Shah Rukh Khan

But the actor wasn't there for a shoot, nor was he promoting a film; he was there not as Shah Rukh Khan but as a responsible MumbaiLite. The actor drove all the way from his house in Bandra at 11 pm on the eve of 26/11 to write a heartfelt message as a tribute to the victims and martyrs of last year's terror attacks on Mumbai.

Nana Chudasama and Shaina NC's NGOs 'I Love Mumbai' and 'Giants International', along with 'Prism Stand Up and Act', had organised an artistic tribute in the form of a 1.5 km wall (the prominent Chandan Wadi wall opposite Marine Lines station) on which Mumbaiites could sketch, paint or simply write their thoughts and feelings. Hundreds of Mumbaiites added their touch to the Wall through the day, and SRK wanted to put across his personal message too. He chose a part of the wall which was painted a bright red and wrote in prominent black letters: 'Love, light and prayers to all'. His message was amidst hundreds of others that proclaimed their love for Mumbai and hope for a brighter tomorrow. He even appreciated some of the other paintings, was amazed that the entire length of the wall had been covered with messages and drawings and said that it was a "fabulous endeavour!"

The actor reached the venue around 11.30 pm and stayed on till midnight, bringing in 26/11 along with other Mumbaiites. He would have liked to stay for longer, but the gathered crowd didn't let him. He left soon after, but his message is more than just another brick in the wall!

Shah Rukh is funny: Amitabh

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says Shah Rukh Khan left him in a jovial mood after the latter called him to confirm his presence at the premiere of upcoming film "Paa".

"Shah Rukh has remained with me in the late afternoon. He is a very funny man and shakes me into joviality when I inform him about the premiere and his absolute presence there. He tells me, 'He is already there, black suited and with anticipation of seeing 'Paa'," Amitabh posted on his blog.

"Aamir too communicates today and confirms his presence," he added.

The cast and crew of "Paa" – including Amitabh, Abhishek and director R. Balakrishnan have major plans for the film's premiere Dec 3 in Mumbai.

Amitabh plays a 12-year-old progeria patient in "Paa" and he had to stick on several pieces of specially crafted clay to get the right look for the movie. The disease causes premature ageing among children.

International make-up artist Stephan Dupuis designed Big B's look and the megastar had to sit for five-six hours for the make-up.

The 67-year-old says he is now anxious about how the audience and critics will react to the film.

"Slowly but surely the jig saw puzzle will begin to unfold. The test of all our hours and hours of effort at the film shall now be up for scrutiny. And within two hours and 14 minutes the verdict shall be passed. Once passed, shall remain passed. Such is the destiny of those that participate in this wondrous game of filmmaking," he said.
The film is releasing Dec 4.

Wish Shahrukh was here, says Makrand Deshpande

Actor and director Makrand Deshpande would have loved to have superstar Shahrukh Khan for the premiere of his film “Shahrukh Bola Tu Khoohbsurat Hai” at the 40th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

“I had invited Shahrukh here for the premiere of my film, but he told me that he would attend the opening night instead,” Deshpande told reporters.

Speaking about his film, Deshpande, known for his quirky roles like that of a gangling ascetic in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Swades”, said that the movie was about a girl who has a small brush with Shahrukh Khan in real life which completely transforms her life.

“This girl is in a very bad mood, when Shahrukh suddenly as a matter of chance passes by the street in a car and says ‘tu khoobsurat hai!’ (you are beautiful!). It changes the life of this flower-selling girl,” Deshpande said.

Speaking about his role as a director, Deshpande said that experience in theatre held him in good stead.

“I did not really know when I said action (for the first time). I think I was always a director,” he quipped.

Deshpande premiere's his SRK starrer at IFFI

Shahrukh Khan is back again in International Film Festival of India (IFFI) but this time on silver screen with Makrand Deshpande.

King Khan had inaugurated IFFI 2007 and he was the cynosure of all eyes. And now his friend, theatre actor Makrand Deshpande intends to recreate the magic again through his flick 'Shahrukh Bola Tu Khoobsurat Hai.'

"I would have like invite Shahrukh here for the premier of the film but he said that he will attend the opening night," Deshpande told PTI.

The debutante director hopes to release the film commercially somewhere in the first quarter of the year 2010.

The fiction film revolves around a flower girl whose life changes with few magical words uttered by Shahrukh.

Shahrukh Khan smells good: Anushka Sharma

It’s been a year since Anushka Sharma stepped into tinselville with the Yashraj film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi opposite Shahrukh Khan but she still hasn’t forgotten how the superstar smelled like.

“One thing I can't forget about SRK is his smell. He smells superb. He used to smell different each time. I would be like, 'Wow man! Shah Rukh, you smell so good'” Anushka recently told a film magazine about her experience of working with SRK.

The Bangalorean beauty went on to add that SRK remains an enigma to her. The more she tried to understand him, the more mysterious he remained.

“If you think you know Shah Rukh Khan, you don't. That's the thing about him. He can always keep you guessing. Each day I used to be like - ‘Okay, he's like this, oh no he's not like that’. Every day he used to be a new person for me. He's just so mysterious, yaar,” Anushka revealed.

Anushka is presently thrilled to have started working on her second film, another Yashraj flick being directed by actor-turned-director Parmeet Sethi. The film has Shahid Kapoor opposite her. It is being shot at foreign locations.

Sudeep's meeting with Shahrukh Khan at Mannat

Kannada actor Sudeep, who is working on four Bollywood projects like Rann, Phoonk 2, Rakta Charitra and remake of Just Maath Maathalli, has revealed that he was quite nervous when he was talking to Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan at his home Mannat. The Sandalwood star feels that it was a very moving and pleasant experience, and he truly felt honoured.

Shahrukh was impressed with Sudeep's performance after watching the promos of his movie Rann. So he told his friend Nikhil Dwivedi that he wanted to meet him. One day while Sudeep was busy shooting Phoonk sequel Phoonk 2, Nikhil took him to Mannat without disclosing him.

Nervous Sudeep had his two-hour insightful chat with King Khan. He says that he is simple and down-to-earth with no airs whatsoever. They had chat without any agenda. Finally, he felt that meeting Shahrukh in person for so long is incomparable. He also met Gauri briefly and he feels that it was moving and pleasant experience.

IS SRK THREAT FOR HRITHIK?

Hrithik Roshan doesn't want to take any risk with his forthcoming flick 'Kites'. So, he has further deferred the release date of the movie. It is said that he has done it because Shah Rukh's 'My Name Is Khan' is releasing around the same time.

The release of 'Kites' has been postponed to March 2010, as the Roshan is wary of SRK starrer 'My Name Is Khan', which is releasing in February 2010. Though Hrithik attributes the postponement of 'Kites' to the inability of finding an overseas distributor, filmi circles say that the Roshans are scared of SRK-Kajol starrer.

The SRK and Kajol's pair manages far more scorching chemistry in one scene than all the Mori-Hrithik skin-show put together in Roshan's venture, it is learnt.

Shahrukh Khan at Shilpa Shetty's Wedding Reception - Pics