Yash Raj takes Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi online with contests

Shah Rukh Khan's first release of 2008!

Aditya Chopra's first directorial venture after Mohabbatein in 2000!

New face Anushka Sharma's debut movie!

These are some of the reasons that Yash Raj Films' (YRF) Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is being awaited with bated breath by all and sundry.

What's more, YRF is leaving no stones unturned to promote the movie online to tap the consumers directly and get them involved.

The production house has launched online contests called "Dance Pe Chance" around Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi on YouTube.com and another one called "Rab Ne Bana Diya Talent" on Ibibo.com. None other than SRK can be seen in the promo videos urging contestants to participate in the contest and win goodies. The contest on YouTube.com is on till 15 January, 2009.

The contest urges participants to upload their videos showcasing their talent. The five most talented participants on Ibibo.com will get a chance to meet Shah Rukh Khan. Participants can upload videos showcasing their talent of acting, dancing or mimicry.

The YouTube.com promotional video for the contest has Khan saying, "Hi everyone, I am Shah Rukh Khan. Everyone get ready to dance to this extraordinary chance. First listen to the song Dance Pe Chance from my film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Hidden within these lyrics are some very unique dance steps and then start choreographing a dance sequence in your own style. Upload the videos on YouTube. I'm personally going to select the videos, and the winner of the best choreographed video chosen by me will get a free music CD of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi signed by me. So everybody, get ready – Dance Pe Chance Mar Le!"

With the production house ensuring that the buzz for the movie amongst potential audiences is high, going online to social networking websites and video sharing websites seems like the way to go to tap them.

While these contests have just been activated, YouTube.com does have one sole surfer who has posted his video and it's an...interesting watch... to say the least!

SRK's High Five!

Stars are known to usually have a fascination for particular numbers.In order to enhance their luck stars spell their names differently and also commence new projects on a particular date.Sometimes they even make sure that their car plates and phone numbers are in harmony with their favourite number.

For instance, Shah Rukh Khan has an affinity to the number 555. Even the star's family members, his entire staff at his Bandra residence Mannat and most of those who work in his production house Red Chillies have the number 555 as an integral part of their mobile numbers.

One of Shah Rukh's staff members who did not wished to be named said, “We all have the number 555 in our mobile numbers. In fact, the only difference between all our numbers is the last two numbers. All one has to do is change the last two numbers to call anyone who works for Shah Rukh.”

So is Shah Rukh superstitious about the number? “No, SRK is not superstitious about the number. It's just that he has always been particularly fond of the number. That's why he wanted all of us to share his fondness for the number,” added the staff member.

According to the source, more than 30 associates of Shah Rukh have 555 as a part of their mobile numbers. To cite a few examples, Shah Rukh's secretary, Karuna and Bobby Chawla, CEO of Red Chillies Entertainment also have the power of five.

When contacted, Bobby Chawla said, “There is no mystery to it. Shah Rukh is fond of the number, thats it. We had applied for the numbers and have had these for long now.”

Apart from Shah Rukh many other stars too have a fixation for particular numbers. An industry insider said, “Amitabh Bachchan's fond of the number 11 as his birthday is on October 11. A few of Sanjay Dutt's car plates have the number 4545. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan loves to collect currency with the number 786 while filmmaker Firoz Nadiadwala is also particularly fond of the number 786. Singer Sonu Nigam has always been attracted to the number 9.”

Khan’s ‘knighthood’ joy

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he is humbled by being awarded a Datukship. He apologized for not receiving the honour in person during Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob’s birthday on Oct 11.

“I would also like to thank the Malaysian government, my friends, fans and Malaysians who have showed me so much love,” said the popular actor, clearing the controversy of whether he was reluctant to accept the award.

Shah Rukh was awarded the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) which carries the title “Datuk”.

Speaking in an exclusive phone interview with mStar Online yesterday from his palatial mansion Mannat in Bandra, Mumbai, Shah Rukh could not contain his excitement when talking about the award.

“After I heard about the award, I have not stopped telling everyone around the world – in the United States, Britain and South Africa – that I have been knighted,” he said.

He said he only came to know about the award when he arrived in Singapore during the first week of November for the Zee Carnival.

“I saw it in the papers at the airport and was so surprised. I asked my friend who picked me up and he told me it’s a prestigious award, akin to the British knighthood.

“I would have stayed back if I had known much earlier.

“Again, I apologise,” said Shah Rukh, who also had to reschedule the Nov 28 ceremony as he was not well.

“We were completely in communication with the Malacca government but because of my very tight schedule and me falling sick, there was no way I could have come earlier,” he said.

Shah Rukh said he was quite thrilled at the thought of donning the traditional official black baju Melayu, samping and songkok to receive the award.

“What made this honour so profound was that it was given by a country that does not even speak my language.

“I have so much love for Malaysia. I shoot my movies there, take my family for holidays and visit my friends.

“This special honour is such a humbling experience,” he said.

Asked about the controversy over the award, with some saying that he was not deserving of it, Shah Rukh said:

“I do not have to read about myself in the papers. I know who I am and what I deserve.

“Whatever people write about me, be it positive or negative, will not change anything.

“I am a bit self-centred in that sense. I am my own best friend,” he said.

He added: “I have got a Padmashree in India. I have been honoured in Malaysia and France. I’m at Madame Tussaud’s. I have a 2 billion rupee (RM150mil) turnover for the work I do.

“I’ve got a lovely house, beautiful children, lovely family.

“I’ve got beautiful friends in Malaysia. What more could I ask for. I thank God for all these blessings.”

Shah Rukh confirmed he will be receiving the award at 10am on Saturday at the Dewan Seri Negri, Ayer Keroh in Malacca.

The event will see some 1,000 invited guests attending.

“It would be a day trip and I will leave the next morning. I cannot stay longer as I have a movie launch and press conference to attend to in Mumbai.

“Otherwise, I would have loved to stay on,” he said.

He will be releasing his new movie Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi next week.