Shahrukh Khan and Karan Johar faces International Competition!

Shah Rukh Khan's character Rizwan Khan in Karan Johar's My Name is Khan has Asperger's. But it's not the only film releasing this year where the lead character has the disorder. In Adam, an American film, the lead character also has Asperger's Syndrome.

A lot is known about MNIK, while the second film is relatively unknown. So who exactly is Adam? And besides that little coincidental detail, what else does this indie flick share in common with the Karan Johar biggie? Read on to find out.

We did a little digging around and here's what we found...

While Adam is essentially a romantic comedy / dramedy; My Name Is Khan is a drama.

Adam is played by Hugh Dancy (no A-Lister, but last seen in Confessions of a Shopaholic) while Rizwan is played by King Khan (no introductions needed).

Adam's closest confidante is Harlan, a friend of his father's (played by actor Frankie Faison), Rizwan's is his brother Bilal (played by actor Jimmy Sheirgill).

The film's title is the main protagonist's name in both films.

The female protagonist in Adam is Beth, a weak character who finds strength in Adam, a love interest played by Rose Bryne (Damages, Sunshine, Knowing, 28 Weeks Later); by some accounts, Kajol's character, Mandira Khan, is Rizwan's pillar of support.

Adam is directed by Max Mayer (who earlier directed only for TV), while Karan Johar, whose directorial debut had SRK, has only directed films with him in the lead roles.

Adam was one of the year's big purchases at the Sundance Festival 2009 by Fox Searchlight and it will have a limited release in the US (on July 29 this year) and internationally; meanwhile Karan's film is still under production and may only be released by this year-end on a massive scale (it is an SRK release after all).

Adam was widely appreciated by several critics who caught the film at Sundance and though it is still too early, is being tipped an Oscar underdog (another Slumdog, anyone?). Like with every other KJo film, expectations do run high and MNIK should do well at award ceremonies after its release (SRK, Kajol, KJo... still need more reasons why?)

Early set pics indicate Rizwan's dressing style as wearing suits and dark glasses, Adam's trailer shows Dancy quite often in his spacesuit.

Adam lives in Manhattan, Rizwan lives in New York too. The film was also shot in Los Angeles.
Adam stays alone after his father's death, Rizwan has a mother we know of (played by Zarina Wahab). Adam is essentially the story of two very different people impossibly falling in love, MNIK has its lead pair getting married.

Adam's troubles begin when Beth starts falling for him and her father objects, Rizwan's troubles begin post-9/11.

While Karan has been quoted as saying that the first half of MNIK is essentially based on a true love story; there is no indication as yet on Adam's origins.

Christopher Lennertz's score in Adam sounds awesome; Karan's choice of music directors is mostly fluent and relevant. Both films could bank on their respective soundtracks.