"No one can match Shah Rukh," says Priyadarshan

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and director Priyadarshan have hit it off big time, be it cinema or cricket.

'After working with him I understand why he is who he is. No one can match his energy, enthusiasm and passion for cinema. I'm already planning many more films with him,' Priyadarshan told IANS.

Also, ever since Shah Rukh's Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders won a Kolkata match last month that was attended by Priyadarshan, people have started calling him the actor's lucky mascot.

'Yes, they're saying I'm lucky for Shah Rukh. Thank god. Yes, Shah Rukh has asked me to attend more of his matches. But I've been shooting 'Billo Barber' whereas he has completed his work and has made time for the IPL,' Priyadarshan told IANS.

Many people who attended the match were surprised to see Priyadarshan sitting quietly in the audience.

'Even I was surprised to see myself there, but I went for Shah Rukh's sake. Fortunately, the Knight Riders won the match that day when I was there in Kolkata.

'Or people would've said I'm unlucky for Shah Rukh. Can't afford that image while I've cast him in the most unusual role of his career, and that too after four failed attempts to work with him.'

Incidentally, Kolkata Night Riders are out of IPL matches.

Recalling his own passion for cricket, Priyadarshan said: 'I was a mad obsessive cricket player as a student. Then during one local match I nearly lost my eye.'

Recalling the harrowing incident, he shudders, 'I can never forget that day. The ball just slammed against my eye. I had a hairline fracture and I couldn't see. I thought I had lost my eye. Fortunately, the eye is intact. But the nerves on the eyelid were enfeebled. So one eye is half-closed all the time.'

So has that mishap put him off cricket for keeps?

'No way! I love cricket. Thankfully, I didn't make a career out of it. Otherwise today I'd have been working in a bank. The only reason why I don't play is because I'm making films round the clock. There's no time for anything else,' said the director whose recent hit was 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'.

IANS

Kajol has agreed to star opposite Shah Rukh Khan

Kareena Kapoor can put her hopes of being cast in My Name Is Khan to complete rest. For finally Karan Johar’s first choice Kajol has agreed to do the film. Kajol gave the nod to the project on Thursday.

A source close to Kajol’s husband, Ajay Devgan, tells us, “Kajol indeed took a long time to take a call on her participation in Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan, but the problem was that she had not heard the script in detail. This week, she took a long look at the script and finally said ‘yes’.”

“Karan and Kajol go back a long way. Their dosti is not only friendship but respect for each other as well. Kajol could not have refused the film outright,” the insider further says.

So how will Kajol adjust to the US schedule? Will her daughter Nysa accompany her? Wasn’t that one of the reasons why Kajol took long to give her nod of consent? “Well, that all will be sorted out. Kajol has worked out how to look after Nysa during that period. Whether Nysa will go with Kajol or not is still not known,” our source adds.

We sent a text message to KJo (as Karan is fondly called in the industry), but he did not reply.

My Name Is Khan, directed by Karan Johar, stars Karan’s best buddy, Shah Rukh (who co-produces My Name Is Khan) in the male lead.

The only time Shah Rukh and Kareena have been romantically paired earlier was in Asoka the Great (2001), which too was produced in part by Shah Rukh Khan.

Vickey Lalwani, Mumbai Mirror

'I love being SRK's princess'

Being a part of reality game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is the best thing to have happened to her, says 11-year-old child actor Shriya Sharma.

"Shah Rukh is my favourite actor and I love being his princess. Being on Paanchvi Paas has been my best experience," Shriya said on phone from Mumbai.

She is ga-ga over the actor who lovingly calls her his "princess" on the show.

"He is so friendly and sometimes when we don't know an answer on the show, he really encourages us. We have our kids' room at the sets, so he also comes and plays with us there," she said.

SRK takes the blame for Paanchvi Pass failure

A disappointed and mystified Shah Rukh Khan took full responsibility for the poor ratings of 'Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hain,' Star TV's reality quiz show hosted by him.

Admitting that he is the major draw of the show, Shah Rukh told journalists on its set in suburban Mumbai :

"Even in my films, it is said that it will get a good opening because I am there. If I consider the same yardstick, a star of my caliber should have brought enough audiences before the television set. If there is no opening and lack of appeal for the show despite my presence, then I think I am responsible."

"May be the format was not appealing, but we were bound by the original format," he added, referring to a contractual obligation to adhere to the format of the parent show - Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? .

"There are no options for a question on this show. This brings loneliness where as giving options sees involvement of more than one person. Some have not liked that the contestant at the time of dropping out of the contest, being asked to say that 'hum paanchvi pass se tez nahi hain'"

However, Shah Rukh said that both show producers Star TV and he planned to hold the course and see if the end of IPL season buoyed the show's rating.

Some of the other possible reasons for the poor ratings, he said, could be its relatively early airing (8pm) and the perception that it was a children's show.

Asked if he was unnerved by the poor response Shah Rukh joked, "May be next time I may not be signed for a television show paid a much lower fee."

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