Mega release planned for My Name is Khan

My Name is Khan just made history by having its first promo aired across 70 countries. And now Fox Star Studios plan to release the film in as big a fashion if not bigger.

CEO of Fox Star India Vijay Singh says that they are charting an elaborate plan to release the much-expected film. “I cannot give you details but it will certainly be the biggest release that an India movie has got abroad.

We should release with around 450 to 500 prints outside while inside India it will be really big too,” he says. The film will also be dubbed in other language. “We will release as per requirement.
We shall dub the film in a few countries in their language too,” he adds. MNIK is a co-production between Dharma Production and Red Chillies Entertainment. The film see Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol getting back on screen for the first time since Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

'My Name is Khan' Karan's ultimate evolution: SRK

Putting speculations to rest, director-producer Karan Johar said that his forthcoming film My Name Is Khan, that has Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in main leads, has nothing to do with terrorism.

My Name is Khan has nothing to do with terrorism. It is not a terrorism-based plot at all. It is a humanitarian tale about love and sacrifice," Karan told reporters after unveiling the first look of My Name Is Khan at JW Marriot Hotel here Wednesday.

The film's story revolves around Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh) who suffers from Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. Rizwan falls in love with a single mother Mandira (Kajol) who lives in San Francisco. Rizwan is detained by authorities at Los Angeles International Airport, mistaking his disability for "suspicious" behaviour.

"It is about overcoming a phase, it is about triumph of the human spirit," said Karan.

Shah Rukh and Karan's last outing together Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) couldn't spell magic at the box office.

But the superstar seems to be pretty impressed with Karan's work in My Name Is Khan and said that the film is the ultimate evolution of the director's work.

"I have worked with Karan in his first film (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) and has been with him all through his journey. I think My Name Is Khan is his ultimate evolution," said Shah Rukh.

"In this film, the way Karan has touched upon the scenes and sequences, it is very different from his all previous films," he added.

The film is slated to release on February 12 next year.

Yash Chopra gets a grand tour of Shahrukh's vanity van

Ever since Shah Rukh Khan purchased the costliest and biggest vanity van which has all the modern amenities, his favourite filmmaker Yash Chopra has been very keen to see it. Tickled by curiosity, he had expressed his wish to Shah Rukh. After all, it’s a swanky, fully loaded van fit for a superstar.

For quite some time, Yash Chopra has wanted to see Shah Rukh’s fancy van. Yesterday, Shah Rukh was scheduled to shoot for YRF’s TV show (hosted by Karan Johar) at their Andheri studio. Shah Rukh seized this opportunity to show it to Yash Chopra and traveled to the shoot in his vanity van.

Normally, no actor is allowed to take his vanity van inside, but yesterday Shah Rukh was given a special concession. As soon as Shah Rukh drove in at 4.30pm, Yash Chopra came out. Shah Rukh emerged from the van, held Yash Chopra’s hand and took him inside. “Yash considers Shah Rukh as his son. Shah Rukh also has very high regard for Yash Chopra,” said our source.

Yash Raj’s head honcho spent a full 30 minutes inside the van where Shah Rukh showed him all the amenities very respectfully. “He loved the van. It’s like a one-bedroom house,” our source added.

Priyanka: SRK, Sir?

Priyanka Chopra is on cloud nine. Certainly not because she exchanged pleasantries with Akshay Kumar at some awards night, but because the Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan praised her to the press at the media showcase of My Name Is Khan. No wonder the actress can't stop gushing.

At the event talking about Priyanka, Shah Rukh said, "Priyanka is one of the finest actresses of this generation. Five years down the line, Priyanka will still be on top. She has tremendous appeal as an actress and her voice and diction is terrific."

SRK, who has worked with PC in Don and will be seen with her in the sequel — Don 2, says, "Priyanka is disciplined, talented and a very professional girl. I'm fond of her."

The superstar recalls how PC embarrassed him on their first meeting by telling him that she was barely 12 when she saw Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. "I felt old," he jokes.

What is more SRK, said PC has never taken his name all these years despite having worked with him. PC on her part says, "I'm Shah Rukh's most ardent fan. When I was younger, my parents would have to put on Chamatkar for me, if they wanted me to eat my food. I have seen the film at least 35 times."

PC adds, "I can't address SRK by his name, and I don't want to call him 'Sir' because I think that is too formal. Also the truth is, when SRK is around, I'm normally speechless. Seeing my icon in flesh has that effect on me."
The Kaminey actress says, "I'm truly happy that SRK and his wife Gauri are my well-wishers."

Shah Rukh mentors Vivek Oberoi

Shah Rukh Khan is playing mentor to none other than Vivek Oberoi who was secluded by almost everyone in the industry. The young actor is currently staging a big comeback that started off with Kurbaan and he is following it up with Prince and Paritala Ravi. Vivek says he is thankful to SRK for being there when people had rubbished him.

Industry gossip has it that it is Shah Rukh who had advised him to patch up with his foes post which he had buried the hatchet with Ram Gopal Varma and is trying his level best to come in the good books of the Bachchan family despite he had a fall out with them when Aishwarya Rai became the Bachchan bahu.

An industry source says: "Vivek has been really trying hard to mend the things that he has done to stage a great comeback. He needs the support of all his industry colleagues and since he has been close to Karan Johar, automatically he has come close to SRK. Shah Rukh has sat with him and made him understand the importance of having friends and has
advised him to patch up with as many people as possible. From the Bachchans to Sanjay Dutt to Salman Khan to Ekta Kapoor and even Aditya Chopra, Vivek is on the bad books of many influential industrywallas."

The informer adds: "During a recent premiere of a Hollywood movie, Vivek was one of the invitees at the event that also saw SRK and the entire Bachchan family drop in. Vivek exchanged pleasantries with the family. He had also been to Teji Bachchan's funeral, the first sign of him trying to come close to the family. He has managed to soften the family's approach for sure as when they meet him, there is no sign of animosity between them. All this has happened thanks to SRK's advice."

Vivek says: "Shah Rukh Khan has been very kind. He has been with me when I was really going through a rough phase. Without him I couldn't have bounced back. His words of wisdom will always be treasured by me."

My Name is Khan carries the essence of love

Finally the much awaited film made its first public appearance yesterday. ‘My Name Is Khan’ was unveiled by its maker and leading couple who were visibly excited to present the film to the media.

The shutterbugs were even more excited to snap this exclusive event which was juicer than the film. B-town’s favourite pair Shahrukh-Kajol looked all love-dovey on stage, posing like a real-life couple, arm-in-arm. Maybe they are promoting the film right away when they have a live opportunity. And yeah, thanks to KJo who brought back the two actors together after a gap of eight years. As Shahrukh stated the essence of ‘My Name Is Khan’ is love, with a little Karan Joharish touch. “It deals with the fact that the greatest tool on this earth is love. You can conquer anything with it,” said SRK.

But the scribes wanted more from the team and asked about the promotional plans. Now, known for his tongue-in-cheek smartness, King Khan said that he hasn’t vanished and very much here; making a jibe at Aamir’s 3 Idiots game. So there’re definite plans for marketing the film and they will certainly come up with something, revealed the actor.

So let’s wait to see more from this one…

'My Name Is Khan' is nicest love story of my career: SRK

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, may have two decades of experience playing the romantic hero but the actor says that 'My Name is Khan', where he plays an autistic man mistaken for a terrorist, is the nicest love story of his career.

"'My Name is Khan' is the nicest love story I have ever worked in. It is the physical and emotional journey, that the two characters Rizwan and Mandira go through to find love.

The story is about hope, love and positivity," SRK told reporters last night after unveiling the first look of the film which releases in February 2010.

'My Name is Khan' explores the sudden change in the life of the two protagonists, Rizwan and Mandira, played by Bollywood's favourite on-screen couple Shah Rukh and Kajol, but the actor said the film dealt with love not terrorism.

'My Name is Khan' a love story, not about terrorism - Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan says his upcoming film 'My Name is Khan', which pairs him with co-actor Kajol after an on-screen hiatus of eight years, does not have terrorism as its main theme and is mostly a love story.

"This film is first and foremost a love story. In fact this is one of the nicest love stories I have ever participated in – and I have participated in some of the best love stories that have been made here," Khan told reporters on Wednesday night after the first look of the film was released.

Directed by Karan Johar, 'My Name is Khan' tells the story of an autistic man Rizwan Khan (played by Shah Rukh Khan), who is caught in the aftermath of the September 11 militant attacks in the United States.

Khan, co-actor Kajol and Johar are teaming up after more than eight years, in what has been billed as one of the biggest releases to come out of Bollywood in a while.

The film is widely anticipated by fans of Khan and Kajol, whose great on-screen chemistry have helped deliver several hits in the past.

Fox Star Studios has signed a deal to finance and distribute the film, which unconfirmed media reports have pegged at 21 million USD.

However, both Johar and Fox have refused to confirm the figure, which, if true would be the highest ever for a Bollywood film.

"This film will be a step towards Indian cinema reaching worldwide," Khan said. India, home to the world's most prolific movie industry, has long tried to draw wider audiences, including by forging ventures with Hollywood studios looking to offset sluggish box-office sales with new markets and cheaper production costs.

My Name is Khan releases worldwide on February 12, 2010.

Kajol: My Name is Khan completes Shahrukh and Me

Kajol was last seen in hubby Ajay Devgn’s U, Me aur Hum. She is back, in what seems to be another award-winning performance, with her favourite co-star Shah Rukh Khan in the highly-awaited My Name is Khan.

Looking splendid in a black and red Manish Malhotra sari, the reclusive actress talks about the film and working with Karan and SRK.

“We worked very, very hard on this film and it has been an experience for all of us. It is the biggest film that Karan, Shah Rukh and I have made together. Everybody used to ask me if about completing Karan’s film but I would like to say, on a personal note, that Karan’s films complete us. I am speaking for Shah Rukh and myself. From KKHH to K3G and now MNIK, it has been a very long, fruitful and wonderful experience for all three of us,” said Kajol.

“What can I say about Shah Rukh except that he is fantastic and superb? I think he has grown taller over the years. Once you work with him, you are spoilt. We have come a long way since DDLJ but each film has been special,” said Kajol of her famous DDLJ, KKHH, K3G and MNIK co-star, adding, “A lot of people said that after they watched KKHH and DDLJ, they believed in us; they believed that we were the characters. I think MNIK, will set a different standard altogether and people will come out of it talking only about Rizwan and Mandira.”

Her next film will be the remake of Stepmom, also produced by Dharma. So is she only going to work with Dharma? “It is not a conscious decision on my part to work only with Dharma but they are the only ones who are offering me meaningful roles so I am left with no choice,” replied Kajol frankly.

Five reasons why we can't wait for My Name Is Khan

The air of excitement was palpable at the press conference to unveil the first promo of Karan Johar's film My Name Is Khan, on Wednesday in Mumbai.

The main attraction, of course, being the two stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, who will be seen together on screen after almost a decade in 2001's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Which makes it the number one reason why we can't wait to watch the movie.

Plus, Shah Rukh boasts that the film will have "three times more chemistry than Raj and Simran did in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge."

As for Kajol, who plays Mandira, a Hindu single mother in San Francisco, she says working with Shah Rukh has spoilt her. "Shah Rukh is like a bad habit," she grins.