If Akon can sing for me, why should I?: Shah Rukh

Rap star Akon arrives in Mumbai today on a whirlwind tour and will be Shah Rukh Khan's special guest during his stay. The singer is here to record songs for SRK's film Ra. One, including one in Hindi. Says Shah Rukh, “Yes, Akon arrives on Monday for a rushed three-day visit. He will perform at the launch of a new product of a company whose energy drink I endorse, and then on Tuesday and Wednesday, he will record a song with Vishal Shekhar for Ra.One. There are two versions of the song, one in English and the other in Hindi, and Akon wants to sing in Hindi. Though he’s Senegalese by birth, he sings in different languages. I don’t see why he can’t manage Hindi. Akon will be adding his own bit to Vishal Shekhar’s composition. He is very participative - I love his songs.”

Shah Rukh hums one of Akon’s recent chartbusters and you wonder why he doesn’t sing for himself. SRK laughs, “No, I can’t sing. I did some lines for myself in Josh, but that was not real singing. If Akon can sing for me, why should I?”

Recalling his meeting with Akon, the actor says, “When I met him recently in New York for the first time, I was floored by his niceness. Such a big international star but so down-to-earth. I asked him if he would sing for me and he said, ‘anytime’. Everyone including Kareena Kapoor who has heard the song has loved it.”

Apart from the recording, there’s enough to keep Akon busy. “I will have him home for dinner and also arrange a quick press meet. I don’t want to put too much pressure on his time. After all, the man’s got to sleep too. However, it is just a three-day visit and I guess he will have a lot to do.”

The actor also wants to show My Name Is Khan to him. “Akon was in Cairo when MNIK released there. He saw the hoardings and has shown interest in watching it. Insha Allah, I’ll screen my film for him.”

Arjun Rampal to play villain opposite SRK in Ra.1

By now its common knowledge that Shah Rukh Khan and Arjun Rampal are close friends. The duo have starred together in super-hit films like Don and Om Shanti Om. Shah Rukh even made a fleeting appearance in Arjun's home production I See You that released a few years ago. Now SRK and Arjun Rampal will once again be seen together in Shah Rukh's home production Ra.1 to be directed by Anubhav Sinha.

While Shah Rukh plays a super-hero kind of a character in the film, the buzz is that Arjun will be playing his nemesis. The sci-fi film which is expected to go on floors very soon features Kareena Kapoor as the female lead.

Shahrukh changes Kolkata Knight Riders colour

Kolkata Knight Riders have asked Manish Malhotra to design outfits for 96 cheerleaders.

Shahrukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders will stride into the Indian Premier League not wearing black and gold - as worn for the last two years, but dark purple and gold. His cheerleaders too will be a mix of foreigners and Indians and will sport the team's colours of dark purple and gold with a dash of lilac in it.

"Yes the colours of the KKR team and cheerleaders have changed," Shah Rukh told MiD Day last night.

Manish Malhotra who has designed the KKR cheerleaders' outfits (and the new KKR team jersey as he has been doing for the last couple of years) said, "There will be 12 cheerleaders in each match and I have been asked to design 96 cheerleader outfits as all cheerleaders might not be repeated in all the matches."

He added, "This year the cheerleaders' outfits will be according to the team's colours - brinjal purple with a hint of lilac and gold. There are no accessories except gold tassels hanging from the drawstrings of the shorts. The girls will be wearing special dull gold shoes. The jersey will be a long sleeveless sporty top with fitted long shorts below. The shorts will be above the knee.”

In 2009, NDTV Imagine and Red Chillies extended their partnership with a reality show, Knights and Angels where auditions for cheerleaders were conducted across the country with six girls being selected for the cheerleading squad. This year, Shahrukh along with KKR members handpicked girls from all over India and abroad. The girls wore black and gold jerseys with short skirts.

SMS to 9664555555 and give suggestions to Shahrukh Khan

Last two years, Shahrukh’s Kolkata Knight Riders performed very badly. But this time shahrukh has devised a novel way to combat this problem.

During the programe’Main Bhi Coach’ which was in association with Nokia India, held in Mumbai, the star announced that he was keeping an open invitation to the public which can give suggestions on how to coach his IPL team.

Shahrukh is filled with positive vibes and is only supporting his team so that they can play hard and be successful this time.

So this time SMS it to 9664555555 and give suggestions to Shahrukh’s team.