Shah Rukh is on for television

Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who started his career as an actor with TV serial Fauji, says that whatever he has achieved in life is all because of television.

"I started my career with television. I am what I am today because of TV. I owe my life to the small screen and stage," King Khan said.

"It is a welcome change to see the way television has evolved over two decades. There is an amazing change in TV programmes both quality-wise and technically. In fact, films and media (print and electronic), everything has changed," he said.

"Earlier, when we used to go for press conferences there used to be hardly five cameras. Today the count is more than the fingers on your hands," reminisced the star.

He was in the capital Tuesday to promote a new quiz show, Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain, to be telecast on STAR Plus, which he will host.

The show, based on international TV show Are you Smarter than a Fifth grader?, will have adult participants contesting to win a whopping Rs.50 million.

Asked if he himself is smarter than a fifth grader, SRK quipped: "I am not as smart as a fifth class student, otherwise I wouldn't have been an actor."

So how was Shah Rukh as a student? "I was very naughty and was nearly suspended once from school but my parents never pushed me very hard. They always said that I must do enough (in studies) so that they are not ashamed. And I did fair in life!"

"I remember my teachers said that I have a devil's smile. Every time I played a prank, I used to smile with dimples on my cheeks and they would let me go. But I was punished many, many times," he added.

Commenting on whether he would like his son Aryan and daughter Suhana to take part in any reality show, he said: "I don't want that for my children, being Shah Rukh Khan's son and daughter should not become an achievement."

"I prey to god and hope when they grow up they achieve something on their own," he said.

Indo-Asian News Service

Shah Rukh bags 10% of BAG Glamour for Rs 10 crore

NEW DELHI: King Khan’s entrepreneurial ambitions are getting bigger by the day. The actor, who recently bought Indian Premier League (IPL)’s Kolkata team rights along with actor Juhi Chawla and her hubby Jai Mehta, has now picked up 10% stake in BAG Glamour, a subsidiary of BAG Films & Media, for about Rs 10 crore.

BAG Films & Media is slated to launch its entertainment and wellness channels through BAG Glamour, which will start operations in mid-March.

Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri, who also head production company Red Chillies Entertainment, have picked up the stake in their personal capacity, say sources.

Besides being an investor in the company, Khan is expected to play a pivotal role in content ideation for the soon-to-be-launched entertainment channel. “Shah Rukh Khan is also likely to appear for some of the shows on the channel. He is creative and is likely to contribute ideas to channel programming,” said an industry source.

When contacted, BAG Films & Media’s spokesperson refused to comment. In the past, the media company had raised over Rs 62 crore by diluting about 10% equity to Fidelity Funds, Mauritius.

Red Chillies recently bought the Kolkata IPL team for an estimated $75 million. The actor turned producer in 2000 with Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. His other productions include Asoka, Chalte Chalte, Main Hoon Na and the latest Om Shanti Om among others. Khan, who started his acting career with TV show Fauji, made a comeback on the silver screen with the second season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. He is now set to host another reality game show.

BAG Films & Media is promoted by Rajiv Shukla and his wife Anurradha Shukla and is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The promoter group holds 31.8% in the company. Indiabulls promoter Sameer Gehlaut holds 21.68% stake in his personal capacity. The company launched its broadcasting initiatives under subsidiaries BAG Newsline and BAG Glamour.

Meenakshi Verma Ambwani, TNN

When Shah Rukh Khan interviewed Rajnikanth

Superstar Rajnikanth was responding to questions at the NDTV Indian of the Year Awards in New Delhi on January 17 2008. Shah Rukh Khan posted some questions to Superstar.

NDTV: There is another Badshah in the audience. Shah Rukh wants to ask Rajni a question.

Shah Rukh: What does one do to become Shahenshah, sir?

Rajni: I am telling you, Shah Rukh, you will one day become Shahenshah.

NDTV: Do you want to ask Shah Rukh a question, or say something to him?

Rajni: He is an excellent actor. One thing I like about him is his integrity. He is very serious to promote our Indian sports, like hockey. Hats off to you. I saw that picture, Chak De. I will try to do that kind of a role, Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh: Thank you sir. But I notice that you are just talking about my sports and not my acting. Anyway, God bless you and it is an honour and a wonderful thing to have you here in our midst.

Rediff

In Berlin, fans queued up to meet Shahrukh Khan

BERLIN: The King was inside while his subordinates waited patiently outside. They were young and old, fat and thin, men and women. But, for this King, there were more women than men and more young than old. They love him because “he is so flirtatious”. As one of them said: “He can even flirt with a pillar”.

They waited for hours to catch a glimpse of their new King, one who has begun to rule their hearts from several thousand miles away. Many of them carried his photograph, DVDs of his latest blockbuster, and a few carried books - the story from his film or his biography. A woman had even carried a small stool with her, to get a better view. At regular intervals they all shouted - in unison - Shah... Rukh, Shah... Rukh. It could have been at any place in India. More>>>>

SRK is the new item song hero...

A lot of attention was given to Shah Rukh’s looks and styling. The designer who worked on Hrithik’s look for Dhoom 2, Anahita Shroff was roped in. She first heard the song and decided on two changes. The first look is very basic with a white shirt and black trouser, but a black designer holster has added sophistication in big dollops. In the next change, she gave him a red and black combination.

Shah Rukh shot from the 16th of Jan to the 20th of Jan at the Yash Raj Studios. Choreographer Ahmed Khan who set the pace, has got the Badshah to do some really cool steps. Producer Rakesh Roshan confirmed, “Hrithik was present on the first day, he had to be as he is the co-producer of the film, but thereafter he flew to Singapore for his treatment.”

After the song was done, Shah Rukh very humbly said, “I have given my best shot, but I think Hrithik will do more justice to it”. This is something that the senior Roshan does not agree with. According to him, “Shah Rukh has done full justice to it in his own style.”

Indiatimes Movies

SRK = Tom Cruise + Brad Pitt x 10

"Maybe I'm German since the people here like me so much. I can't explain it any other way," India megastar Shah Rukh Khan quipped about the Bollywood and King Khan frenzy sweeping not just Berlin but also Germany.

"You don't need to sit down and understand a film, you have to make cinema that is felt," he said. "I think the Germans are feeling it."

Police vans and security guards flanked the International Theater on Friday when Khan walked the red carpet as the premiere of his film, "Om Shanti Om," screened as a Berlinale Special selection. Fans who had lined up for hours broke into the film's song and dance numbers not only along the red carpet but also during the screening. More>>>>