“Happy Eid to everyone” - Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan has not spoken publicly about his tiff with Salman Khan yet, but the actor is not over it yet. He talks to Girish Rao about Salman, and also wishes everyone a Happy Eid.

How was your Eid celebrations?

Happy Eid to everyone! I keep my Eid celebrations simple because ours is a multi-cultural family. I like my children to pray on this day. After waju [ablution], we do our namaaz [prayers]. The effort is to let my children know the religion and what it teaches you. My parents are no more, so I pray for them too.

Have you given or received Idi [the amount given as gift on Eid] from anyone?

I am the eldest in the family, so I give Idi. The time has gone when I used to get Idi but I still wish I were the youngest in the family. I am now a father, so I have to take care of my family and friends.

You and your family were present at the Drona premiere. How did you like the film?

I think the film will surely appeal to kids. The film has some new flavours, so it might take some time for people to understand. But Priyanka [Chopra], Abhishek [Bachchan] and Goldie [Behl] have worked very hard.

On a personal level, I am very fond of fantasy films that have a lot of special effects. My kids and I liked the film a lot.

When do you intend to play a superhero?

The day I am ready with my eight-pack abs, or when I am able to.

Have you wished your friends and those, who are not really your friends?

Everyone is my friend and I love all of them. I don’t have much time in hand to shower my love on my well wishers but deep down in my heart, I love everyone.

With the passage of each year, I am growing to understand the tenets of religions — love everyone, be content and happy with yourself.

Would you like to be friends with anyone on this day?

I am not angry with anyone and I don’t harbour ill feelings for anyone. When a person matures, he just can’t listen to horrible things from his own family members. You shower love on everyone without expecting anything in return. No one thinks ill for anyone, such thoughts creep in our mind when we start giving importance to ourselves.

I have now reached a point where I can’t and don’t think ill of anyone. I can’t do bad to anyone. It is likely that I may not think good for anyone or not think anything for anyone. Live life with your family and friend and share love with all.

Do you consider as Salman Khan your brother?

No. I have an older sister, Shahnaz Lala, who lives with me. I only work with my colleagues and I love them all but I don’t make them my brother or sister. I have a wife, a sister and two children and they are my life.

My family does not harbour any ill will towards anyone. I love Karan [Johar] and Farah [Khan] and they are such people with whom I can make an emotional investment.

Will you pass on Eid greetings to Salman?

I wish everyone happy Eid. Wishes are not for an individual but for everyone.

Girish Rao, Rediff India

SRK’s ‘big’ patch up with Bachchan’s!

SRK reportedly extended the olive branch and patched up with the Bachchans at the premiere of ‘Drona’ recently. The buzz is that nobody expected to see SRK there and that too with his entire family- wife Gauri and kids in tow! He warmed up to Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan and even Aishwarya Rai Bachchan! Now everybody knows how things between SRK and Ash turned bitter six years ago when he replaced her with Rani Mukerji in his movie ‘Chalte Chlate’ after her then boyfriend Salman Khan(with whom she was breaking up) created a ruckus on the sets?

The buzz is that during those days SRK and wife Gauri were also pleading Salman’s case with Ash and her parents after she lost all interest in him! Shah Rukh and Ash didn’t work together or publicly acknowledge each other thereafter! And now here King Khan was at the premiere hugging Big B, laughing and talking with Abhishek and Aishwarya and posing for photographs. He also didn’t forget to tell people that the war between him and the Bachchans is only media created.

Looks like SRK’s is in the serious need of friends after his recent big fight with Salman Khan. The Bollywood bad boy started shunning him completely after that, almost creating a divide in the industry. Moreover his ‘King’ status has been challenged big time with the rise of the box office king, with a new name King Kumar being coined for him.

The Bachchans who have their own insecurities (which now also includes their over ambitious ‘Drona’ biting the dust) must have been happy to oblige. Wonder what happens to the new found Abhishek - Salman yaari ( or it also another illusion) now? Even if it goes for a toss, who cares? Friendships and enmities in B-town are fragile and inconsistent and it’s been so for years, after all!

King Khan welcomes ban on smoking

Where the debate continues amongst the smokers and now-smokers relating to the ban on smoking put on by Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss’s, actor Shah Rukh Khan said he would try his level best to quit smoking.

King Khan has welcomed this ban to make India a smoke free country, "it is a good step to make sure that the country is smoke free. Better step would be to ban cigarettes, make them illegal and hang any one who is

smoking. We cannot do that as we are a democratic country."

The superstar further hopes that the smokers take this ban seriously, "I hope everyone call upon their good self to do it. I myself would try my best."

Farah Khan’s ‘lovable’ Eid lunch

horeographer and director Farah Khan hosted an Eid lunch yesterday and among the guests were Shah Rukh Khan, Arjun Rampal and love birds Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. The invitees are no surprise — she’s a close friend of SRK, while Arjun and Deepika starred in her directorial venture Om Shanti Om. But the luncheon was certainly helpful for Ranbir who got to spend some quality time with Deepika, who’ve been away from each other because of hectic shooting schedules.