'My Name is Khan' a love story, not about terrorism - Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan says his upcoming film 'My Name is Khan', which pairs him with co-actor Kajol after an on-screen hiatus of eight years, does not have terrorism as its main theme and is mostly a love story.

"This film is first and foremost a love story. In fact this is one of the nicest love stories I have ever participated in – and I have participated in some of the best love stories that have been made here," Khan told reporters on Wednesday night after the first look of the film was released.

Directed by Karan Johar, 'My Name is Khan' tells the story of an autistic man Rizwan Khan (played by Shah Rukh Khan), who is caught in the aftermath of the September 11 militant attacks in the United States.

Khan, co-actor Kajol and Johar are teaming up after more than eight years, in what has been billed as one of the biggest releases to come out of Bollywood in a while.

The film is widely anticipated by fans of Khan and Kajol, whose great on-screen chemistry have helped deliver several hits in the past.

Fox Star Studios has signed a deal to finance and distribute the film, which unconfirmed media reports have pegged at 21 million USD.

However, both Johar and Fox have refused to confirm the figure, which, if true would be the highest ever for a Bollywood film.

"This film will be a step towards Indian cinema reaching worldwide," Khan said. India, home to the world's most prolific movie industry, has long tried to draw wider audiences, including by forging ventures with Hollywood studios looking to offset sluggish box-office sales with new markets and cheaper production costs.

My Name is Khan releases worldwide on February 12, 2010.

Kajol: My Name is Khan completes Shahrukh and Me

Kajol was last seen in hubby Ajay Devgn’s U, Me aur Hum. She is back, in what seems to be another award-winning performance, with her favourite co-star Shah Rukh Khan in the highly-awaited My Name is Khan.

Looking splendid in a black and red Manish Malhotra sari, the reclusive actress talks about the film and working with Karan and SRK.

“We worked very, very hard on this film and it has been an experience for all of us. It is the biggest film that Karan, Shah Rukh and I have made together. Everybody used to ask me if about completing Karan’s film but I would like to say, on a personal note, that Karan’s films complete us. I am speaking for Shah Rukh and myself. From KKHH to K3G and now MNIK, it has been a very long, fruitful and wonderful experience for all three of us,” said Kajol.

“What can I say about Shah Rukh except that he is fantastic and superb? I think he has grown taller over the years. Once you work with him, you are spoilt. We have come a long way since DDLJ but each film has been special,” said Kajol of her famous DDLJ, KKHH, K3G and MNIK co-star, adding, “A lot of people said that after they watched KKHH and DDLJ, they believed in us; they believed that we were the characters. I think MNIK, will set a different standard altogether and people will come out of it talking only about Rizwan and Mandira.”

Her next film will be the remake of Stepmom, also produced by Dharma. So is she only going to work with Dharma? “It is not a conscious decision on my part to work only with Dharma but they are the only ones who are offering me meaningful roles so I am left with no choice,” replied Kajol frankly.

Five reasons why we can't wait for My Name Is Khan

The air of excitement was palpable at the press conference to unveil the first promo of Karan Johar's film My Name Is Khan, on Wednesday in Mumbai.

The main attraction, of course, being the two stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, who will be seen together on screen after almost a decade in 2001's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Which makes it the number one reason why we can't wait to watch the movie.

Plus, Shah Rukh boasts that the film will have "three times more chemistry than Raj and Simran did in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge."

As for Kajol, who plays Mandira, a Hindu single mother in San Francisco, she says working with Shah Rukh has spoilt her. "Shah Rukh is like a bad habit," she grins.

SRK, Kajol unveil first look of My Name Is Khan - Watch the Video

Actor Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and director Karan Johar unveiled the first look of their forthcoming film My Name Is Khan in a star-studded function.

SRK, Kajol, KJo launch My Name Is Khan's promo

Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and filmmaker Karan Johar launched the first look of their much-awaited film My Name Is Khan on Wednesday in Mumbai.

Better known as the three 'Ks', the trio have continued to add magic to the silverscreen for almost a decade.

Shah Rukh plays the character of Rizwan Khan, a man who suffers from aspergers syndrome. The film's story is based on the backdrop of 9/11 terror attacks.

According to Shah Rukh My Name Is Khan is a different film altogether.

"It is very differemt from other KJO films" said Shah Rukh.

However, apart from being a Karan Johar film the biggest attraction is to see Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan dazzle the big screen with their chemistry once again after Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham in 2001.

"Shah Rukh is like a bad habit. Once you work with him you are spoilt," says Kajol.

As far as the director is concerned, Johar says working with Shah Rukh is like a family affair.

"It's like working with family. Two brothers start a company, two brothers build it up and maintain their family and working unit together," says Johar.

Shah Rukh Khan looked youthful at 'Avatar' premiere

Shah Rukh Khan added to the star power at the premiere of James Cameron's Hollwyood Sci-fi Avatar at Reliance Big Cinemas Wadala, Mumbai on December 15.

Shah Rukh, a special guest at the event, made a late entry but made up to the media by readily posing for photogs and giving extensive bytes.

The star wore pistachio corduroy jacket atop a dark grey tee with blue distressed jeans and suede shoes matching the jacket. His signature fringed hair framed his forehead.

Shah Rukh, a sci-fi aficionado was so excited to see the film that half way into it he came out to request the studio for a special screening of the film for his children.

The request was readily accepted, coming Saturday Shah Rukh, wife Gauri and children Aryan and Suhana will be treated to a special screening of the film.

Another reason for Shah Rukh's excitement was the release of the debut trailer of his upcoming film My Name Is Khan with the screening of Avatar.

Shah Rukh is poised to start filming his home production's first sci-fil film, Ra ,to be helmed by Anubhav Sinha.

Earlier this month Shah Rukh with family attended the premiere of Amitabh Bachchan's Paa.

'My Name Is Khan' first look promo is a goose pimple evoking sensation

My Name Is Khan and I am not a terrorist...this line from the First Look promo of Shahrukh-Kajol propelled 'My Name Is Khan' hits you with an incredible force that sends shivers of goose pimples within. Obviously the paramount question is that whether the SRK-Kajol chemistry works magic again. Yes, it does...Big Time. It seems the duo are meant to fall in love and transmit that love-electricity on celluloid to millions of people across the world.

MNIK promo successfully opens a window to what the basic story is, whips up an engaging drama and leaves you panting for more. Rizwan's (Shahrukh) disability is blanketed by Mandira's (Kajol) overwhelmingly deep affection. How 9/11 changes lives forever and for some strange innocent reason Rizwan wants to meet up with the President Of America. There's a strong resistance and guns blaze on the roads of suspicion.

There are two significant lines that stay with you when the promo is over. First one is: He believed that if you do good deeds...good things will happen to you. And the second is: We are stronger than our fears. It seems that the Writing will be the strong point of 'My Name Is Khan' and undoubtedly Karan Johar is treading a territory that in all probability will enrich the Indian film industry.

The production design looks top notch, cinematography is world class and the look of both Shahrukh and Kajol is different from what we've seen them in before. There's a small section of a song 'Noor-e-Khuda' which comes at the beginning of the promo and it seems Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have redeemed themselves after an average 'London Dreams'. The background score sounds very attractive too.

Kajol's breakdown scene sends chills down your spine. What a volcano of a talent she is. Shahrukh's intense sincerity binds your attention from the first frame of the promo till its last. This may be the turning point in the career of Shahrukh Khan, the fantastic actor, who amazed earlier with magnificence in 'Chak De India'.

It goes without saying that the First Look promo of 'My Name Is Khan' whets your appetite for the real thing. One of the finest First Look promos in recent times.

My Name is Khan is very impressive

The theatrical trailer for Karan Johar's upcoming film opens with shots of an autistic Tanay Chheda, the kid going from Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par to Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire to playing the young Shah Rukh Khan in this film.

His mother tells him that there are only two kinds of people in the world, the good and the bad.

Cut to rain and tears on the grown Khan's face, and his voiceover calling himself different but not mad, very intelligent.

As he taps his forehead and calls himself 'very smart', SRK looks to be in fine form. The narrative continues as we see an increasingly romantic montage of shots of him and Kajol.

Then one day... cut to dramatically scored serious montage. Images of death, mourning, 9/11. And then a rather painful shriek from Kajol.

Then Khan is being racially profiled and strip-searched in an American airport, and ask why he wants to go to Washington. His answer? He has something to say to the President.

The next montage -- each is bigger than the next -- shows him trying to meet the President, a move the voiceover tells us will help him win Kajol back. He gets an elbow to the face, and is clearly going through a lot.

The shots are all heavily designed frames, and Ravi K Chandran isn't skimping on the spectacular. The promo ends with Shah Rukh saying, 'My name is Khan, and I'm not a terrorist.'

It's a big, impressive trailer showing off an ambitious film of great scale.

Shah Rukh, as said, is looking sincere and committed, but it's an easy role to really flub up. As is the director's.

My Name Is Khan is clearly the kind of film that will either be groundbreaking or groanworthy, and it's the biggest risk of Karan Johar's career. We hope it's the former.