King Khan's 'Om Shanti Om' scores

When "Om Shanti Om" star Shah Rukh Khan vowed that his film would open bigger than rival "Saawariya" during the Hindu holiday of Diwali, many Bollywood fans thought he was just talking smack.
"Diwali is all mine," the Bollywood star -- nicknamed King Khan -- boasted at a Nov. 8 event in Mumbai.

" 'Saawariya' may be a wonderful film, but I have not been sitting on my hands these past 17 years," he said, reminding listeners that his films took the top spot at the B.O. during prior Diwali weekends.

And when the numbers were tallied, Khan was proved right.

His Eros Intl. release took the top berth at the overseas box office last weekend with $17 million -- beating Sony's "Saawariya," which collected $15.5 million, and even topping Tom Cruise's "Lions for Lambs," which came in third with $10.3 million.

Shalini Dore, Variety.Com

OSO Enters Record Books Netting Over 40-crores

The first week results of the 'Diwali' battle are out, and it is game, set and match to Farah Khan's OM SHANTI OM. During its astonishing seven day record-breaking run in India, the Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Shreyas Talpade and Arjun Rampal starrer netted over 40-crores.

OM SHANTI OM has broken many individual records, including that for Bombay. In the process, OM SHANTI OM has set a new first week record in India, surpassing the 35-crores netted by the Hrithik, Aishwarya and Abhishek starrer, the 2006 blockbuster DHOOM:2 ( in its first week).

While on the other 'Diwali' release, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Ranbir, Sonam, Salman (special appearance) and Rani starrer, SAAWARIYA, the movie also performed creditably, netting around 20-crores, thanks to its good weekend run.

Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network

"I'll go tomorrow with Farah and personally apologise to him" - SRK

Shah Rukh Khan's Diwali blockbuster Om Shanti Om not only created fireworks at the box office but also managed to spark the anger of a veteran actor Manoj Kumar.

Manoj Kumar is one of the many stars from the 70s era who have been spoofed in the film. After the actor threatened legal action for the spoof he believes to be done in bad taste, both Shah Rukh Khan and director Farah Khan have come out with an instantaneous apology

Although the film maker maintains that the comic scene in the movie was meant as a tribute, Manoj Kumar is not happy. He is angry because of the way he has been spoofed in the film.

In Om Shanti Om, a Manoj Kumar lookalike doesn’t get to enter the premiere of a film and even gets beaten up by the police.

He says, “Manoj Kumar who is a citizen of India has been shot in the heart. Someone who was made an icon by the Indian masses has been insulted and mocked at. I think more than legal action, moral action has more importance”.

Interestingly, Manoj Kumar hasn’t seen the film yet. Director Farah Khan is sure that once he watches the film he will enjoy it. She also says that it was never the intention to disrespect the veteran actor.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, the director justified, “I really wasn’t expecting this kind of a reaction because I thought that it was very sweet and done with a lot of love rather than any kind of malice so I was a bit taken aback in the morning.

Shah Rukh added, “I quickly called him up. I apologised to him. I’ll go tomorrow with Farah and personally apologise to him, show him the film and in case he does not like it, we’ll remove the scene, I’ll stop the film.

I would never like the wonderfulness that we’ve got with Om Shanti Om this week to be at the cost of anybody being hurt”.

The film also has a comic take on many other actors and filmmakers from 70s, current generation of Bollywood and even a hilarious spoof on South Indian films.

Watch the video


IBNlive.com

Hands off SRK !

Shah Rukh Khan is no ordinary man. The Bollywood superstar, idolised by millions of cinegoers both in India and abroad, enjoys tremendous popularity and influence. His every move, on-screen and off it, is subject to scrutiny.

Anything he says or does is news, as is the case with celebrities of his stature. One could argue that it is part of the deal of being a public figure. But public figures have private lives as well. And what they choose to do in that domain is none of anybody’s business.

Which is why the legal notice served on the actor by an NGO - the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication - for smoking during a T20 match in Mumbai is uncalled for. Sure, if Shah Rukh had lit up in a place where smoking was banned, there was every reason to haul him up. But he was in a private gallery and was not breaking any law by smoking a cigarette there. So what is the fuss all about?

It appears that the NGO has gone after the actor simply because he happens to be a celebrity and not entirely because of its commitment to the cause of tobacco eradication. There must have been many others who puffed a cigarette during the same match in question. Why have no notices been served on these ‘offenders’? This is not to suggest that smoking is fine. It is not. But smoking cigarettes is a personal choice that people make. As long as they are not breaking the rules - like smoking in prohibited areas - they cannot be penalised.

Sure, celebrities have a responsibility towards the public that puts them on a pedestal. But as long as they do not break the law, they are well within their rights to do exactly as they please in their private spheres. To argue that celebrities must watch what they say and do because they influence our choices and behaviour is to admit that we do not have minds of our own. We are responsible for our actions.

TimesOfIndia