SRK and Aamir’s Dostana!

Dostana
Shah Rukh Khan, minus his sling, tugs at Aamir Khan who is walking away from him at the Fair Rights for Friday Nights producers’ press conference.

Intellectual and hot SRK

Pensive
SRK listens intently to what Aamir has to say and then he puts on his spectacles (we must mention he looks intellectual and hot in them) and makes some notes.



I’m Ready
A bespectacled SRK takes a look at his notes, has a sip of water and is all set to make his speech.

SRK: We want fans to see our films!

Filmmaker-actor Shah Rukh Khan shares his views on the multiplex owners versus producers and distributors standoff. Speaking at a press conference, Khan said he agreed with Aamir Khan and why he felt equality is the best solution to the problem.

First of all, I would like to say that none of us, whether Aamir, Karan, Rakeshji (Rakesh Roshan), Ratanji (Ratan Jain), me or Yashji (Yash Chopra) or our seniors is the leader of this forum. We are here to share our collective thoughts for a clear perspective.

On calling for a gathering
We are not here to prevent our fans, supporters and well wishers from seeing films. We don’t want to do that at all. I speak very honestly for everyone here. We love films and making them. Our biggest wish is to die making films. The entire fraternity is here because we love to make films and show it to an audience. We are not here to stop showing the films to the audience. Filmmaking is what we do as we know how to do it. Films are being made as we speak.

The problem is, we know how to make films but we don’t know how to take it to the audience. That is why we have partners. There are distributors, theatres and the media for that. This partnership, bond, pipeline or marriage is now suffering. So we are here to repair the problem.

This is not a strike at all. It is a halt due to repairs that we are working towards and we apologise for this halt. This is not a strike and we need to repair the pipeline.

On why the profit sharing ratio must change
We are not doing for this greed or profits or for an extra one or two per cent. None of us are here for that. Some of us are very senior and legendary filmmakers. We are not here to loot anyone. The basic fight is for equality to create a platform for all sorts of films whether big or small, whether good or bad, whether made by an independent producer or by a studio. This fight is more for small films because somewhere along the line, they get left behind in negotiations. They don’t know anything about profit sharing so they just plead to the multiplexes to release the film. In the long run, the rightful path or our slogan, Fair Rights for Friday Nights, will benefit small films more than the big films.

On his take on the multiplexes
We are not here for a power show; (to show) that powerful people have come together on a platform. We will not use our ‘power’ to shake multiplexes. There is nothing like that at all. This is a marriage where we all are partners. The film federation has directors, producers, technicians, actors, studios, distributors, exhibitors and multiplexes as partners. We work together to show films to an audience. This is a show of coming together and of uniting.

A certain part of our family is not on the right path and we want to bring this issue to the forefront. We want a fair dialogue.

This is not a deadlock. We are not saying, “This is it. Take this or leave this. It is our way or the highway”. Not at all!

We have had discussions in good spirit with the multiplex owners for months, but we have not reached a final solution. That is why we have united to present our opinions and thoughts to them. We want to sit across with the multiplex and talk about getting fair rights for Friday nights for everyone.

I am saying this with a lot of humility. As Aamir rightly said, reasons such as bad films or bad content are cited for films not being played at multiplexes. I don’t think that is an issue multiplexes can discuss. No one tries to make a bad film. No matter how the film, it has the right to be seen by the audience that decides the verdict. By the second show on Friday, we know in very clear terms (whether) the film is good or not. I think all these little issues about creativity should be left to the creative people and the audience. The connecting pipeline should not have much say in it.

I would like to say that this issue is not confined to the studios, producers and distributors. It is going to impact everyone. For some time, we will see fewer films. Sadly, we are coming to a halt to repair the pipeline. The media and the audience need to unite.

On wanting fair rights for Friday nights
We are here to repair the problem. We stand by all films and we want equality for all films. We want Fair Rights for Friday Nights. This is not a deadlock; it is a panel that is available for discussion to the multiplex owners over coffee 24 x 7 throughout the year.

We don’t think the multiplex is the mafia. We aren’t badmouthing the multiplex owners at all. This is a temporary problem in our family and at the end of it, we will all be united. No one is a leader here and we are followers of what the audience wants and what they dictate.

We are living because the audience tells us what they want. Unfortunately, we are not listening or succumbing to the demands of the multiplexes. We are employees of the audience. We need to understand that this is a partnership and the issue needs to be sorted out quickly so we go back to making good or bad films that get released for audiences to see and judge.

Shahrukh & Aamir at producers media meet

SRK-Aamir: Our name is Khan

The United Producers and Distributors Association Forum show their strength and star power as Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan address a press conference on the multiplex issue

It doesnt get bigger or better than this.Last evening, when Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan walked in at the head of, what was finally, a unique gathering of the best creative talent the Indian film industry has today, media persons which covered the gamut of options available (radio, print, electronic, web), newbies and hardened professionals, collectively held their breath and gazed.

It has been many many moons since two of our most charismatic and successful actors have been seen on the same platform. In fact, one almost cant remember when was the last time.

Suddenly nothing mattered. Not the gross collections of their last films, not any power list, not the number game. If the occasion were not so serious and dignified one would be tempted to stand up and cheer. But since they were here representing the directors and producers collective forum, The United Producers and Distributors Association forum, to explain their stand in the face-off with multiplex owners, it seemed wiser to just listen as each presented a keynote address. Yash Chopra, Sandeep Bhargava of TV 18, Ronnie Screwvala of UTV, Mukesh Bhatt, distributor Ramesh Sippy and Jyoti Deshpande of Eros, shared the stage along with the two Khans. Even the federation and the

Mazdoor union representatives were present to show their solidarity to the forum.
Karan Johar was the host of the evening. Aamir went first and like with everything he does he was completely prepared, often referring to the many discussions he had had with the team, including SRK, often deferring to him in fact. Aamir said, We dont want to call it a strike but an inability of the two parties to come to a logical conclusion. We are extremely unhappy over the failure to deliver films at the moment and deprive the audience of the cine experience, but the only motive behind this is to ensure that everyone in the film industry make money. Aamir said that various unfair means were adopted by multiplexes to gather extra money like faulty DCR (daily collection report), pocketing of INR subsidies and even entertainment tax in many cases where films were tax free or in states where multiplexes had a tax holiday. Aamir also stressed that in the past, films have become blockbusters in single screens and if the situation does not improve, they will work towards a system where films will be released in single screens. However, the industry is firm that they would not budge from the fact that they want an equal 50:50 sharing for all the films.

Shah Rukh was more casual in his approach and made his points very clearly joking that all the meetings were held at midnight because that was when Aamir had time usually. SRK, at his charming best, stressed on some important points. He said, The only reason for all of us to get together should not be misconstrued as a power show and a move to threaten the multiplexes. We are one big family and are open to dialogue.

SRK also insisted that the multiplex owners were wrong in criticising their films as good or bad and should instead leave this job to the audience. The relation between the producers and the exhibitors is like a wedding and there is no divorce on the cards. This is like a blockage in the pipeline and once the repair work is done everything will be back on track, he added.

He emphasised that the fight was for equal terms for all films, big and small and if they were successful everyone would benefit from it.
When Aamir and Shah Rukh were together , the bonhomie and camaraderie was obvious , as they helped each other with answers, often scribbling notes to one another and whispering in each others ears when one was at a loss about some fact. Their body language loudly proclaimed friends . If this was an act, boy, these guys are thespians.
But the defining moment, and perhaps the one that everyone was waiting for, came when the duo were asked if they would have ever come together if it were not for the issue.

SRK quipped that there was no reason they could not be on the same dais, in the same car, on the same page or in the same film...

He brought the house down.

Shahrukh Khan caught with the election fever!

Shahrukh Khan caught with the election fever!With election fever high in the country, views from all corners are pouring into the great Indian election drama. But when Shah Rukh Khan says something on the issue, you just know people will lend the Badshah an ear.

At a recently-held promotional event for his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders, the King Khan was asked if he will return from South Africa to vote.

“I will definitely fly down from South Africa to cast my vote. It doesn’t matter if I have to take a flight and go back just to be here to exercise my electoral right.”

The forward-thinking Khan then elaborated on his idea to have a system of telephonic voting in the country.

Encouraging youngsters to come out and vote during the upcoming elections he said, “I think everybody should vote. Don’t you think that there should be a telephonic voting system in the country?”

SRK also expressed his disappointment at the fact that people are always complaining about the state of affairs in this country, when they have no right to do so if they don’t cast their vote.

“Nobody has the right to complain about the country until he or she votes. First cast your vote and if the elected people don’t work, then you can go ahead and complain,” he said.

“Selecting your candidate is not that hard. Just go around in your locality and ask people who have done work in the area. Then you assess and vote. It doesn’t take more than two days to assess the candidates in your area,” he added.

Shah Rukh also requested citizens to not go by what television channels keep flashing about candidates. “Don’t go by what the television shows project about candidates. It is a war-like situation shown on TV. Even if you don’t know candidates nationally, at least know the ones in your locality.”

Calling himself young at the age of 43, he urged all the youngsters in the country to wake up and use their right to vote. “I think that it is the youngsters who can take the country forward. And of what I have seen, the majority that doesn’t vote are the youngsters.”