Bollywood Without King Khan ?

While these rumours may be baseless, it’s hard for fans to imagine Bollywood without the Khans, the Bachchans, the Kapoors or the Roshans.

And that’s because the stars never retire. Be it the Big B in Bollywood or Rajnikanth in Kollywood, they have proved time and again that old is indeed gold.

Kannada actor Upendra feels superstars never retire because the audience never forgets them. The allure of the film world is hard to shake off, he adds.

“An actor can learn so many things by portraying different roles and can convey messages that will make people sit up and take notice. Like a film like Taare Zameen Par did,” he says. He, however, doesn’t plan to be in the industry forever. “I have different plans for later. But right now, I’m too involved in films as I have so many things I wish to accomplish,” he says.

Director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar has no problem with superstars being around forever as long as they do roles that suit their age. “Actors should grow with age, like Amitabh has done with his movies,” he says. But why does this only seem to work for male stars? “We have a male-dominated society and hero worship is a huge thing here. For us, heroes are never too old to run around the trees. The audience loves and accepts them regardless of what they do,” he explains.

Payal S, an investment banker and a Rajnikanth fan, says that Rajni movies have always been a must-watch for her. “No one can carry off such impossible stunts with such style. He might split a bullet with a knife or light a cigarette in the air, but it all looks real when he does it. Rajnikanth’s movies are for full family entertainment and you know you’ll never be disappointed. It’s worth every penny you spend on the ticket,” she says, and adds that a stuttering Shah Rukh or a topless Salman will always be acceptable. “That’s their unique style and never gets outdated,” she says.

And the viewer’s love for superstars is what makes them go on forever, says actor-director Ramesh Aravind. “It’s not about age at all. Retirement really depends on the viewers as they buy the tickets. Once they say, ‘We’ve had enough of you’, the actor has no option but to quit. Retirement is not in our control,” he points out. He believes it also helps if the actor believes in diversifying. “Shah Rukh and Amitabh have hosted quiz shows. They are very talented and dabble in different mediums, and produce or direct films, so it’s easy to remember them,” he says.

Times Of India

Pepsi without SRK!

Pepsi has come up with the sequel to its earlier Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika starrer commercial. Apparently the sequel will have Ranbir and Deepika except King Khan.

The sequel has recently been shot in Mumbai’s Filmistan studio by Jab We Met fame filmmaker Imatiaz Ali. A unit hand informs us that the sequel will be a continuation of their first commercial. Though it’s a sequel, its concept is not going to be same. Imtiaz has shot with Ranbir and Deepika without SRK.”

It can be recalled that earlier John Abraham and Shah Rukh Khan played the role reversal in one of Pepsi’s commercial. The duo was seen in its sequel too. Coming back to Pepsi’s Youngistan ...commercial, it stars this young and much talked about couple Ranbir and Deepika for the first time. Apparently SRK’s presence had created a star value to the earlier commercial. Will his absence able to attract youngsters? Let’s wait and watch!

Reshma Kelkar, Indiatimes Movies

Khan vs Khan at Filmfare Awards

Welcome to the 53rd Fair One Filmfare Awards. They are being brought into your living room tonight courtesy Sony Entertainment Television, 8 pm, Black Lady, red carpet and all.

With Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan playing masters of ceremony and chief pranksters, the lovely Vidya Balan a valiant foil to their masti. It’s a Khan vs Khan show as SRK matches wit and audacity with rockstar Saif in gags that will have you cracking up with their bawdy irreverence to Bollywood.

What didn’t the Bollywood Badshah and Chhote Nawab do! They ran a spoof on debutant award winner Ranbir Kapoor’s towel dropping act from Saawariya , holding onto their own towels, thankfully. And another one saw them, well, rip co-host Vidya Balan of the bizarre costumes she wore in Heyy Babby. Celina Jaitley, they did not spare for her makeup. In this delightful manner, the duo kept the show alive, fresh and moving, making sure even their hapless victims seated below enjoyed a chuckle at their own expense.

The event, held at the Yash Raj Studios on February 23, was as fine a tribute to the world of Hindi cinema as it was a platform for the industry’s talented top stars to show what high energy they are capable of when unleashed outside of a camera. In the audience, there were black tie and velvet gown moments of suspense before the award envelopes were opened.

On stage, there was dhoom and dhamaka provided by Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Vivek Oberoi and Neil Nitin Mukesh.And then there was drama, too, as in when Rishi Kapoor accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from his first co-star, Dimple Kapadia, and shared the honour with wife Neetu Singh.

In the midst of their tears and laughter, Rishi was overheard calling up his mother Krishna Kapoor who could not make it to the function. Tonight’s telecast of the 53rd Fair One Filmfare Awards is for Mrs Kapoor and others like her who could not be at Yash Raj to witness the spectacular show unfold live on stage.

Take your seat at 8 pm and watch the stars as they accept their awards.

Afsana Ahmed, TNN