Yash Chopra gets a grand tour of Shahrukh's vanity van

Ever since Shah Rukh Khan purchased the costliest and biggest vanity van which has all the modern amenities, his favourite filmmaker Yash Chopra has been very keen to see it. Tickled by curiosity, he had expressed his wish to Shah Rukh. After all, it’s a swanky, fully loaded van fit for a superstar.

For quite some time, Yash Chopra has wanted to see Shah Rukh’s fancy van. Yesterday, Shah Rukh was scheduled to shoot for YRF’s TV show (hosted by Karan Johar) at their Andheri studio. Shah Rukh seized this opportunity to show it to Yash Chopra and traveled to the shoot in his vanity van.

Normally, no actor is allowed to take his vanity van inside, but yesterday Shah Rukh was given a special concession. As soon as Shah Rukh drove in at 4.30pm, Yash Chopra came out. Shah Rukh emerged from the van, held Yash Chopra’s hand and took him inside. “Yash considers Shah Rukh as his son. Shah Rukh also has very high regard for Yash Chopra,” said our source.

Yash Raj’s head honcho spent a full 30 minutes inside the van where Shah Rukh showed him all the amenities very respectfully. “He loved the van. It’s like a one-bedroom house,” our source added.

Priyanka: SRK, Sir?

Priyanka Chopra is on cloud nine. Certainly not because she exchanged pleasantries with Akshay Kumar at some awards night, but because the Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan praised her to the press at the media showcase of My Name Is Khan. No wonder the actress can't stop gushing.

At the event talking about Priyanka, Shah Rukh said, "Priyanka is one of the finest actresses of this generation. Five years down the line, Priyanka will still be on top. She has tremendous appeal as an actress and her voice and diction is terrific."

SRK, who has worked with PC in Don and will be seen with her in the sequel — Don 2, says, "Priyanka is disciplined, talented and a very professional girl. I'm fond of her."

The superstar recalls how PC embarrassed him on their first meeting by telling him that she was barely 12 when she saw Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. "I felt old," he jokes.

What is more SRK, said PC has never taken his name all these years despite having worked with him. PC on her part says, "I'm Shah Rukh's most ardent fan. When I was younger, my parents would have to put on Chamatkar for me, if they wanted me to eat my food. I have seen the film at least 35 times."

PC adds, "I can't address SRK by his name, and I don't want to call him 'Sir' because I think that is too formal. Also the truth is, when SRK is around, I'm normally speechless. Seeing my icon in flesh has that effect on me."
The Kaminey actress says, "I'm truly happy that SRK and his wife Gauri are my well-wishers."

Shah Rukh mentors Vivek Oberoi

Shah Rukh Khan is playing mentor to none other than Vivek Oberoi who was secluded by almost everyone in the industry. The young actor is currently staging a big comeback that started off with Kurbaan and he is following it up with Prince and Paritala Ravi. Vivek says he is thankful to SRK for being there when people had rubbished him.

Industry gossip has it that it is Shah Rukh who had advised him to patch up with his foes post which he had buried the hatchet with Ram Gopal Varma and is trying his level best to come in the good books of the Bachchan family despite he had a fall out with them when Aishwarya Rai became the Bachchan bahu.

An industry source says: "Vivek has been really trying hard to mend the things that he has done to stage a great comeback. He needs the support of all his industry colleagues and since he has been close to Karan Johar, automatically he has come close to SRK. Shah Rukh has sat with him and made him understand the importance of having friends and has
advised him to patch up with as many people as possible. From the Bachchans to Sanjay Dutt to Salman Khan to Ekta Kapoor and even Aditya Chopra, Vivek is on the bad books of many influential industrywallas."

The informer adds: "During a recent premiere of a Hollywood movie, Vivek was one of the invitees at the event that also saw SRK and the entire Bachchan family drop in. Vivek exchanged pleasantries with the family. He had also been to Teji Bachchan's funeral, the first sign of him trying to come close to the family. He has managed to soften the family's approach for sure as when they meet him, there is no sign of animosity between them. All this has happened thanks to SRK's advice."

Vivek says: "Shah Rukh Khan has been very kind. He has been with me when I was really going through a rough phase. Without him I couldn't have bounced back. His words of wisdom will always be treasured by me."

My Name is Khan carries the essence of love

Finally the much awaited film made its first public appearance yesterday. ‘My Name Is Khan’ was unveiled by its maker and leading couple who were visibly excited to present the film to the media.

The shutterbugs were even more excited to snap this exclusive event which was juicer than the film. B-town’s favourite pair Shahrukh-Kajol looked all love-dovey on stage, posing like a real-life couple, arm-in-arm. Maybe they are promoting the film right away when they have a live opportunity. And yeah, thanks to KJo who brought back the two actors together after a gap of eight years. As Shahrukh stated the essence of ‘My Name Is Khan’ is love, with a little Karan Joharish touch. “It deals with the fact that the greatest tool on this earth is love. You can conquer anything with it,” said SRK.

But the scribes wanted more from the team and asked about the promotional plans. Now, known for his tongue-in-cheek smartness, King Khan said that he hasn’t vanished and very much here; making a jibe at Aamir’s 3 Idiots game. So there’re definite plans for marketing the film and they will certainly come up with something, revealed the actor.

So let’s wait to see more from this one…

'My Name Is Khan' is nicest love story of my career: SRK

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, may have two decades of experience playing the romantic hero but the actor says that 'My Name is Khan', where he plays an autistic man mistaken for a terrorist, is the nicest love story of his career.

"'My Name is Khan' is the nicest love story I have ever worked in. It is the physical and emotional journey, that the two characters Rizwan and Mandira go through to find love.

The story is about hope, love and positivity," SRK told reporters last night after unveiling the first look of the film which releases in February 2010.

'My Name is Khan' explores the sudden change in the life of the two protagonists, Rizwan and Mandira, played by Bollywood's favourite on-screen couple Shah Rukh and Kajol, but the actor said the film dealt with love not terrorism.