IPL flop gives SRK two weeks off

Shah Rukh Khan is huddled with his family trying to figure out where to go on holiday.

IT is an unplanned break for the Khan family. SRK had booked himself out of Bollywood for the month of May, but the collapse of his team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, in the ongoing Indian Premier League tournament, has meant he has an extra fortnight to kill.

The shooting for Khan’s next film, My Name is Khan, a co-production with Karan Johar which marks the star’s comeback with Kajol, begins only on June 27 and will go on till July. "Itis not as if he wouldn't have gone on holiday, if the IPL thing hadn't happened," said a source close to the star, "but this has given him a couple of more weeks."

London, where Shah Rukh, wife Gauri and children Aryan and Suhana holiday every year, could be on the list of places to visit this year as well, the source said. "(In London) SRK plays football with Aryan in the park and walks down to the coffee-shop down the road from their house, while Gauri does more touristy stuff," said the source. SRK also “catches up on his reading”, the source said.

Meanwhile, is Khan twiddling his thumbs at home? "No, he can't stay inactive," the source added, "he's looking at the Red Chillies stuff." Red Chillies is Khan’s production company which makes films and television serials, among other production ventures.

"He also has a day's shoot left for Dulha Mil Gaya," said the source, confirming that the film has not been been fully shot yet. SRK had injured his shoulder on the sets of director Mudassar Aziz’s Dulha Mil Gaya last year. He had also reportedly professed his irritation to costar Sushmita Sen, at being asked to do lengthy roles under the guise of a 'special appearance'.

The Khans usually holiday every May or June, ostensibly to escape the worst of the Indian summer. But also, foes whisper, since it coincides with the IIFA awards. The brand ambassador of the awards, Amitabh Bachchan invites Shah Rukh every year, but the younger man has cited family holiday for his absence each time.