Shah Rukh Duped & Loses Passport

Bollywood superstar, Shahrukh Khan is in the news yet again though this time for an off-screen mystery that has left the Mulund (Mumbai) police baffled.

It involves his credit card which came into the possession of three people who took a big chance to splurge away merrily but were nabbed by an alert department store executive.

On February 10, Vinay Vijay Tambe (22), James Paul Peremal (28), and Shekar Jadhav (44), went to Shopper’s Stop at Nirmal Lifestyle in Mulund (W) and bought trousers and t-shirts worth Rs.25000.

So far, so good till it was time to pay up and out came an ICICI credit card. The sales executive was stunned when he saw that the name on the transaction slip was none other than SRK. He knew something was terribly wrong especially when the credit card holder signed it as Vinay Vijay Tambe.

The executive made a call to ICICI Bank to verify the card’s authenticity and also informed the police about the transaction. They wasted little time in reaching the spot and arrested the trio under Indian Penal Code sections 34 (common intention) and 420 (cheating). They have been remanded to police custody till February 18.

Shahrukh confirmed the story through an SMS to this newspaper.

The Mulund police says the card was not forged. “ICICI Bank has confirmed that the card belonged to Khan. We are trying to find out whether it was stolen or if he lost it. And, of course, the big question is how did it come into Tambe’s hands,” senior police inspector Prakash Landge, Mulund police station, told DNA.

The trio’s version, according to him, was that they found the card lying on a road in SantaCruz a few days prior to their arrest.

The Mulund police got in touch with their counterparts at Bandra to check if SRK had registered any complaint on a lost credit card. “They told us that he had lodged a complaint on his passport being lost. We are now investigating the exact source of the credit card,” Landge said.

The police might soon contact SRK on the matter.

V.Narayan, DNA India

Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader ?

Not that King Khan had gone anywhere, but he’s making a comeback on the telly with another show, which comes after the super successful Kaun Banega Crorepati. This time, Shah Rukh Khan will be the host for Star Plus’ new game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain, which will be on air later this year. An Indian adaptation of a hit Fox TV quiz show, that’s doing well in over 50 countries, Khan explained the concept with some witty repertoire at the launch in Delhi. “Main dil say khud baccha hi hoon (At heart, I am a also a child),” said Khan, who rode a bicycle to the podium for the press conference.

The movie icon will be seen in Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan, apart from three home productions from Red Chillies Entertainment. “Since I’m not shooting at the moment, I can devote my time to this show. Finally, I have work,” joked Khan. “At Red Chillies we are also planning an animation film. Barry John taught me that if I can hold a child’s attention, I can be an actor,” said Khan.

Khan watched the original show , Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, with his kids and their friends before deciding on whether he wanted to be part of this venture. “My kids found it fascinating,” he said, and that eventually convinced him to don the quizmaster’s hat yet again. With a self-imposed break from films, Khan has his plate full with cricket and television. “I think I never left television. I began my career with TV and I owe my life to this medium,” he said. He’ll host this show in a classroom environment.

Regarding his recent exploits with cricket, he is smitten with cricketer Sourav Ganguly and has set his heart at getting him on board his most recent purchase — the Kolkata Cricket League. “Sourav will captain my team. Since our team is Kolkata, we must have a signature player and who better than Sourav? Had he not been from Kolkata, even then I would have bid for him just because he is a great player,” he insisted.

Prone to self-congratulation, Khan is disarmingly modest at the same time. “With all humility, I think I am the ambassador of the Indian film industry. Those international awards might have been conferred on me, but they are a reflection of the fact that the world has woken up to Indian cinema,” said a triumphant Khan. Here we go again!

Express India

SRK and Kajol Voted Jodi No 1

It's valentine season and romance is in the air. And romance has been the staple for Bollywood for many years.

So which onscreen couple charmed the hearts of the audience? Which lead pair is the jodi no 1? We here at CNN-IBN decided to find out.

Bollywood has had some memorable onscreen couples who lit up the silver screen with their sparkling chemistry.

While the spotlight has shifted from reel life to real life couples off late, the magic that the male and female leads created on celluloid is definitely a source of inspiration for many.

So this Valetine's week we decided to check out who's the best of them all...the couple that has reigned in the hearts of the audience as the hero and heroine who made their ticket money worth every penny.

On a poll conducted on www.ibnlive.com CNN-IBN asked respondents to vote the jodi no1 in Bollywood. And the nominees are:

Guru Dutt and Waheed Rehman

Dharmendra and Hema Malini

Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol

Shahid Kapur and Kareena Kapoor

From the swarm of responses, it was evident that if there's one jodi that has melted hearts across the board, it's Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol who sizzled on screen in such films as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhie Khushie Kabhie Gham and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

They're the couple we have most enjoyed seeing on screen, they're the couple that has most often made our eyes moist, they're the couple who have immortalized romance on 70mm.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, CNN-IBN's Jodi No. 1 is Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.

Watch the video : Click Here

IBN Live

"I'm directing for Shah Rukh" - Anubav Sinha

Shah Rukh Khan has entrusted Anubhav Sinha (of Dus and Tum Bin fame) with the responsibility of directing a Red Chillies production. Though earlier there were speculations around the authenticity of the news piece, the man at the helm of affairs comes out in open.

"Yes, this is true. I am indeed going to direct this film which would be heavy on CGI and VFX. At this moment no decision has been taken on whether Shah Rukh Khan would be acting in the film or not as the script is still being finalized", says Anubhav Sinha whose last release was Cash.

Budget of this yet untitled film has been pegged at $25 million (Rs. 100 crores) which automatically makes it India's most expensive film ever. What does Anubhav feel about this transition to the super league? "With big power comes bigger responsibilities", chuckles Anubhav while obviously quoting superhero Spiderman.

He continues, "The film is obviously huge and there would be extensive pre-production required for it. Shah Rukh is getting some of the best technicians from the world to work on the project. When he makes a statement that the film has to match the standards set by Spiderman, I have to be continuously on my toes."

Since the film is CGI and VFX laden, is it mainly an animation/special effects film, as reported in some sections of media. "What rubbish", says an amused Anubhav, "You don't spend 100 crores on a core animation film. This is very much going to be a live action film with real people. But yes, it would have high dose of VFX."

It was two years back that Anubhav Sinha had got into a first round discussion with Shah Rukh Khan around the project. Khan went on to do Om Shanti Om in the interim and recently gave a nod to his dream project. Was he overtly bothered about the Cash imbroglio?

"He hasn't spoken to me about it", replies Anubhav, "I don't know whether he has seen Cash or not. In any case, he has been in the entertainment business for long and fully understands what goes behind the scenes for the success or failure of a project."

While work is still on for the production and financing of the film, Shah Rukh Khan is already said to be in talks with Eros Entertainment and visual effects guru Charles Darby who has worked on films like The Matrix and Minority Report. Most of the year 2008 would go into getting the base ready for the film to come on floors.

As per Khan, the film is going to be over the top and a madcap with a feel that would be as beautiful as Spider Man when it comes to special effects. Though Anubhav Sinha refuses to divulge much about the plot of the film, there are indications that the film with a feel of videogame would be centered on a bunch of children who wish for bad things but get a reality check when they come true.

"Let the suspense stay on about what the film is all about. In any case, I don't wish to reveal much about the film since it is at least a year away. Let me get my act in place till then", signs off Anubhav.

Screen India