Why SRK chooses mediocre films, asks 'MNIK' editor

Noted film editor Deepa Bhatia, whose latest work includes 'My Name Is Khan', says Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan chooses to act in "mediocre" films despite being a gifted actor.

Deepa, who has been awarded for editing films like Aamir Khan's 'Tare Zameen Par' and 'Rock On!!', said it was a discovery for her to see the real actor in Shah Rukh while editing 'My Name Is Khan'.

"Honestly I am no SRK fan but then he was so sincere in 'MNIK' which was amazing to see. It was a discovery for me to find the actor in Shah Rukh Khan. I fail to understand why he chooses to act in mediocre film," Deepa said.

"I don't understand the reason behind it. Whether he is just not interested or there is something else because he has also given some spectacular performances in films 'Chak De! India' and 'Swades'," she added.

Deepa, wife of writer-actor Amol Gupte, said that the filmmakers today have finally started to wake up to the tool of editing which puts the heart of the film at the right place.

SRK tweets for women hockey

Bollywood megaster Shahrukh Khan, who played a non-nonsense women hockey coach in the film Chak De! India, is saddened by the plight of women players of the sport in real life.

"Films reflect reality and how it will be good in the end. But real life is so tough. Happy endings are a rarity," tweeted Khan in one of his latest posts reacting to the protest by thewomen hockey players.

The Bollywood actor, who earlier came out in support of the men's hockey team that boycotted practice session ahead of World Cup owing to non-payment of dues, spoke his mind in favour of the women's team that revolted on similar ground.

"Though Chak De will be good for revival of hockey. Reading the plight of women's team, should think on ways of survival of hockey. All of us, " he wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.

SRK said there is no respect for India's sporting heroes and went on to name Sunil Gavaskar, Aslam Sher Khan, Dhanraj Pillai, Sachin Tendulkar, Viswanathan Anand, PT Usha, Abhinav Bindra and Pargat Singh.

Will SRK bail out YRF this time too?

It is a known fact that Yash Raj Films have not been doing too well. In last two years hardly one or two films have clicked at the box office. To revive the banner and bring back the glorious day Head Honcho of Yash Raj Films Yash Chopra has now taken the charges of the affairs in his own hand. Sources within the Yash Raj camp inform us that Yashji is all set to direct a film and in the lead will be the blue-eyed boy of Yash Raj banner, Shah Rukh Khan.

It may be recalled that on more then one occasions Shah Rukh has bailed out the banner out of trouble with successful films like Chak De India and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. The latest we hear that after series of disastrous films, the banner needs a hit film desperately. As they have done it in the past, Aditya Chopra has asked Shah Rukh Khan to do a film with them. But this time directorial reins will be in the hands of senior Chopra.

Sources inform that the film has been in the pipeline for some time but the Chopra’s go busy with their Television channel (Which never materialized and they tied up with Sony Television to telecast their TV shows). Khan too has been busy with My Name Is Khan and his next Ra -1; both are his home production films. In the meantime, Khan allotted dates for Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2. SRK is neck deep in his commitments, but he will have to skillfully pull off a supreme juggling act for Yash Raj Films!

Shahrukh Khan worried about Indian hockey

Shahrukh Khan, an ardent lover of Indian national sport hockey, is worried about the snub given to hockey players by the sport’s federation.

As many of you would know by now, Indian hockey players are protesting over non-payment of dues and bonus. In fact, some reports suggest that the players didn’t show up for morning practice on Friday to express their protest over the humiliating treatment meted to them.

“I feel awful for the Indian hockey team who play for the country. It’s a national sport and players have to ask for salary. No doubt we complain that we don’t win gold,” SRK tweeted a few hours ago.

The superstar, who has been tweeting regularly ever since joining the social networking site recently, is best known for his stellar performance as a hockey coach in the superhit Yashraj film Chak De India.

The 44-year-old superstar used to play hockey in his school and college days but fell out of practice after he embarked on his acting career. He’s presently looking forward to the release of his film My Name Is Khan next month.

Sony MAX announces King Khan Film Festival

Mumbai: MAX, the Premium Movies and Special Events Channel brings the Baadshah of Bollywood to your living rooms this November. While SRK has celebrated his birthday earlier this month, MAX handpicks the best of King Khan titles for his fans. Starting 16 November, 8 PM block your seats to get absorbed into myriad shades of the actor's high octane performances! Get ready for the treat of the year, as MAX presents a festival of 10 hit films of the undisputed, the charismatic Shah Rukh Khan.

As part of this film festival MAX will showcase films like Chak De (a story that motivated a compulsive losing Hockey team to emerge as a winner on the world platform), Om Shanti Om (a Farah Khan Bollywood spoof that can only result in spleen aching laugher). The platter remains incomplete if Shah Rukh does not romance. To cater to fan demands, MAX dresses up the bouquet for the festival with some of SRK's cult romantic hits like Veer Zaara and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Schedule of SRK movies to be aired on Max:

Day Date Time Movie

Mon 16/11/09 8:00 PM Chak De India!

Tue 17/11/09 8:00 PM Dil To Pagal Hai

Wed 18/11/09 8:00 PM Karan Arjun

Thu 19/11/09 8:00 PM Koyla

Fri 20/11/09 8:00 PM Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Mon 23/11/09 8:00 PM Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Tue 24/11/09 8:00 PM Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Wed 25/11/09 8:00 PM Veer-Zaara

Thu 26/11/09 8:00 PM Om Shanti Om

Fri 27/11/09 8:00 PM Mohabbatein

Shah Rukh in face off with Prakash Raj for best actor award

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Tamil character actor Prakash Raj are front runners for the best actor award while Aamir Khan for the best director for his 'Taare Zameen Par' in national film awards for 2007 which are likely to be announced on Monday.

While Shah Rukh is in race for his role in "Chak de India" Prakash Raj is a strong contender for his performance in "Kanchivaram directed by Priyadarshan.

"Chak de India" is also a strong contender for the best film providing wholesome entertainment.

Shahrukh Khan Vs Aamir Khan

The two Khans from the industry vie to win the National Award for the Best Actor. Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan both have been nominated in the best actor category for the year 2007.

If SRK’s portrayal of a staunch coach trying to redeem and absolve himself in Chak De India impressed the jury members, so has Aamir Khan’s performance as a determined teacher inspiring a dyslexic child to realize his true potential in a critically-acclaimed movie Taare Zameen Par. Both the movies were blockbusters, and if any of the Khans wins, it would be their first National Award.

Aamir has an added reason to smile as his ‘Taare Zameen Par’ is nominated in the Best Film category. Whereas, Shahrukh’s Om Shanti Om will give tough competition to the movies like Jab We Met, as it is nominated in the category of Best Feature Film for wholesome entertainment (category especially meant for Bollywood films).

The awards for the year 2007 got delayed because of the documentary film-maker Anant Patwardhan who challenged the awards for the year 2005 in court.

Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni is likely to announce the awards by next week and President Pratibha Patil will give away the awards in Delhi in October.

Sattar Minute - Chak De India

Shah Rukh Khan's pep talk in 'Chak De India' revisited

Shah Rukh Khan fans, who don't own Chak De India VCD/DVD, can enjoy his 'sattar minute' pep talk to his team in the film in this video released by Yash Raj Films.

Shimit Amin directed Chak De India (2007) has Shah Rukh playing Kabir Khan, a former Indian national field hockey team captain who was ostracized for conceding a crucial goal to the Pakistani team in a men's hockey final. Khan regains his honor when he becomes coach to a rag-tag national women hockey team and leads them to world championship.

FLASH BACK 2008

As we gear up for the NOKIA 15th Annual STAR-Screen Awards, here’s a replay of who clinched the trophies in the year gone by.

The New Year heralds new beginnings and last year this time the industry was abuzz with the nominations of Nokia 14th STAR-Screen Awards. It was a rewarding box-office year as experimental, small-budget films worked as well as big-budget formula films. 2007 had seen diverse kind of films churned out by the industry and the Screen nominations aptly picked the different shades. From Chak De! India,which will go down in the history of Indian cinema as one of the finest sports films, to Life In A...Metro, one of the best films to bring out the ethos of an urban life and Taare Zameen Par that simply raised the bar for Indian films, the nominations netted a neat spread. Guru, inspired by the illustrious life of industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani, Om Shanti Om, a commercial blockbuster and Saawariya, a box-office dud got their fair share of nominations. In fact, OSO and Saawariya were running neck-to-neck in the list with nine and eight nominations respectively, which just shows that excellence is the sole benchmark for the Screen Awards.

It was King Khan who walked away with the Best Actor (Male) award amidst a thunderous applause for his understated but determined hockey coach act in Chak De!India. It was also adjudged the Best Film. However, it was Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par that bagged the maximum number of awards, eight in all, with Aamir himself bagging three trophies for Best Director, Most Promising Debut Director and Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Child artiste Darsheel Safary who wowed one and all with his outstanding performance as a dyslexic child, won the Best Child Artiste as well as the Special Jury Award for Best Actor. Amole Gupte, the writer and creative director of the film walked away with the Best Story and Best Dialogue awards. The heart-rending song Maa rightly fetched Prasoon Joshi the Best Lyrics award.

Chak De! became the nation’s catchphrase, thanks to Shah Rukh Khan and his all-girls’ hockey team of Chak De! India. On the awards night too, one could hear the war cry every time the film bagged an award and that was one too many. Even our hosts Sajid Khan and Shreyas Talpade did a spoof on the film, dressed as girls, which brought the house down.

SRK’s hockey team won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) award – the first time in the history of awards that so many girls were nominated and won together. Shimit Amin shared the Best Director award with Aamir Khan and Amitabh Shukla won the Best Editing award.

The other SRK film Om Shanti Om bagged three awards. In fact, Shah Rukh stole the thunder with his energetic performance on Dard-e-disco in the grand finale. He also won the STAR Jodi No.1 with his OSO co-star Deepika Padukone who won the Most Promising Newcomer (Female) award beating Sonam Kapoor nominated for Saawariya. However, co-star Ranbir Kapoor won the Most Promising Newcomer ( Male). In fact, Sajid did a hilarious take on Ranbir’s hit number Jab se tere naina, draped in a towel. Needless to say, that was the highlight of the show and had others aping it at their functions.

Life In A...Metro and Guru,which had 15 and 14 nominations respectively, bagged three awards each. Anurag Basu’s take on life in a metropolis earned for him the Best Screenplay, while Irrfan Khan’s subtle and dry humour won him the Best Actor in a Comic Role and Soham’s haunting melody Inn dinon was the winner for Best Playback Singer (Male). Mani Ratnam’s Guru dominated the music category winning three awards including Best Music, Best Background Score (both for A R Rahman) and Best Playback Singer (Female) - Shreya Ghoshal for the lively number Barso re megha.

The star-studded evening was memorable also for the scinitllating performances by Shahid Kapoor who danced to Mauja hi mauja, Katrina Kaif, who grooved to Soni de nakhre, Riteish Deshmukh who arrived atop a truck and gyrated to his hit song Dil mein baji guitar and Urmila Matondkar who did a medley of Lifetime Achievement awardee Manoj Kumar’s songs.

´Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi´ Yash Raj´s Only Hope Now!

Yash Raj Films' 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', due on 12th December, just two weeks before Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini', has Shah Rukh Khan and Aditya Chopra as its two biggest USPs. While Shah Rukh has acted in many films, 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' is only the third directorial project of Aditya Chopra. He had made 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' in 1995 and 'Mohabbatein' in 2000, both starring Shah Rukh Khan. Yet another interesting aspect of 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' is that Adi is introducing a new girl, Anushka Sharma, in the film as the female lead.

The Yash Raj banner has been delivering mostly duds in the last two years but the trade is prepared to overlook this point this one time.

There’s also a scientific reason why one need not be bothered about the line of flops or average grossers churned out by Yash Raj Films in the recent years. For, its only super-hit during this time has been its film with Shah Rukh Khan, viz. 'Chak De! India'. So that’s one more solid reason to hope that Aditya-SRK ne bana di super-hit!

"I am not king to my kids!" - Shah Rukh

Shah Rukh Khan is away, has been away — actually, post-IPL, from the public eye.

He laughed at the realisation, “You cannot miss me for too long. I will be back.” The Bollywood Badshah explained his absence. He was busy “with incessant shooting” for his home production Billoo Barber and Yashraj’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi which he hopes to complete before plunging into preparations for the next Twenty20 tournament.

During this time the ‘King’ tag which he wore for years came within grabbing distance of other Bollywood contenders. It is a situation that amuses him. “It’s better to be known as King Khan than Pauper Khan,” admitted SRK. “But this is just an image, a clever alliteration by the media. My kids don’t wake me up in the morning saying, ‘Get up, King’. They say, ‘Get up, Daddy’. That says it all. It’s far away from reality.”

However, he is handsome enough to admit that times are changing and these are the signs. “The territory of superstar doesn’t belong to one actor today. Actors who have consistently worked for around 20 years are all superstars. Akshay is rightfully a superstar today. So is Aamir Khan, and Ajay Devgan, Salman, even Hrithik, though he is from the younger lot. They have super energies and super luck.”

How come he is generous in his praise of Salman when, after their fallout, Salman was vocal about his feelings even though he, Shah Rukh, kept quiet? “I don’t like talking things private to me. I’m talked about because I’m emotionally not available to everyone and that disturbs them. They have the right to talk and I have no issues,” he said.

Throwing further light on the spat, he added, “I think like a father would whereas Salman thinks like a son. That’s okay. We are two different kind of people. We had nothing in common. We think differently.” But, in flashback mode, SRK revealed, “Salman and I had some really good times together. Strangely, these memories are fading away. So I’m sure even the bad memories will fade.”

Would they work at a reconciliation? He refused to be drawn into a commitment, but said, “We are both happy in our own worlds. If it happens — good; if it doesn’t happen, — very good. Not being friends doesn’t mean Salman and I are great enemies.”

SRK rides Knight Riders wave

Industry sources say, Khan’s popularity has soared after his association with Kolkata Knight Riders, with many Kolkata-based brands looking beyond Sourav Ganguly, tagged ‘maharaja’ of Bengal, and pursuing the ‘baadshah’ Khan’s endorsements instead.

Shahrukh Khan has emerged a brand that is selling not only through Bollywood movies but also through new endorsements.

Industry sources say, Khan’s popularity has soared after his association with Kolkata Knight Riders, with many Kolkata-based brands looking beyond Sourav Ganguly, tagged ‘maharaja’ of Bengal, and pursuing the ‘baadshah’ Khan’s endorsements instead.

Moreover, Shahrukh Khan, who gave two hit movies in the year - Om Shanti Om and Chak De India - reportedly earned more from the advertisements and endorsements.

Khan’s most recent endorsement after Indian Premier League (IPL) was with Linc Pen, one of the largest players in the branded pen industry, which appointed Shahrukh Khan as its brand ambassador.

This is also the first time that Linc Pen has opted for a celebrity brand ambassador to endorse its products.

According to Deepak Jalan, Managing Director, Linc Pen, “Shahrukh Khan is someone who personifies style, entertainment and popularity and these values resonate perfectly with our brand attributes. Moreover, Shahrukh cuts across age groups and demographics and appeals to a universal audience just like our products and was therefore a natural fit for the brand.”

In hand phones, Shahrukh Khan endorses Nokia.

According to Nokia India managing director D Shivakumar, “We are planning to bundle exclusive content featuring our brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan for handsets sold in India.”

Nokia recently bundled the full length ‘Om Shanti Om’ movie in Nokia N96. It will look at bundling video clips and music of Shah Rukh Khan movies in the handsets.

Shahrukh Khan, on his part, would extend collaboration with Nokia for such possibilities through his production house Red Chillies Entertainment.

Khan also has Kolkata-based Emami to add to his long list of endorsements.

Khan is reportedly paid Rs 5 crore every year for his association with Emami.

Emami is known for having the maximum number of celebrity endorsers including Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, Sunny Deol, cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and also Amitabh Bachchan.

Shahrukh’s ad campaigns for Emami include ads for Chyawanprash and few other herbal healthcare products of Emami. The Kolkata-based Emami gets more than half of its revenues from their personal healthcare range.

Emami’s prime catch, however, has been Amitabh Bachchan, who is its umbrella brand ambassador, though he was signed on for Emami Fast Relief and Emami Navrattan Oil. Bachchan reportedly is paid a remuneration of Rs 10 crore - Rs 12 crore per annum, for this endorsement.

This year, Shahrukh Khan, who gave two hit movies in the year - Om Shanti Om and Chak De India - reportedly earned more from the advertisements and endorsements.

Also, Shahrukh Khan gets Rs 1 crore for being present in a function arranged in India.

Shahrukh Khan currently endorses more than 30 brands, including Pepsi, Hyundai, Airtel, Videocon, Sun Feast, Tag Heuer, Dish TV and Mayur Suitings.

According to TAM Media Research, Shahrukh has logged 4.25 million TV seconds in 2007 and has endorsed 39 brands. He was followed closely by Amitabh Bachchan, who logged 3.16 million seconds, having endorsed 36 brands.

However in 2008, Aamir Khan has been the highest paid star-endorser having bagged a fee between Rs 12-Rs 15 crore per annum for his last three commercials, including Tata Sky, Samsung Mobiles and Parle Monaco biscuits. Khan’s competition?

Till a year ago, the gap between Shahrukh Khan, the No 1 player in Bollywood, and Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan was big.

However, now, Akshay is the highest-paid actor currently getting Rs 17 crore for a film, and Aamir having produced two super hits in Taare Zameen Par and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na which have grossed Rs 220 crore, has pushed up Aamir Khan’s market value in sync with Shahrukh Khan.

Chak De! India invited to Tokyo film festival

After receiving a spate of awards, critical acclaim and popularity at home, Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Chak De! India” has now been invited to the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).

"We are truly honoured. It is a wonderful pat on the back for everyone associated with this film," said Shimit Amin, the director of Yash Raj Films' production, who will travel to Tokyo for the screening.

“Chak De! India”, about a coach inspiring the Indian women's hockey team to victory, will be showcased in the Winds of Asia-Middle East section.

This section at the annual fest features some of the outstanding films from East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East.

This year, 790 films from 72 countries will be featured in the competitive section at TIFF, to be held October 18-26.

SRK the Best Actor Again!

Shah Rukh was adjudged the best actor for his performance in Chak De! India. The best actress award went to Kareena Kapoor for her performance in Jab We Met at a function organsied in Mumbai last night.

Shahrukh and Deepika Padukone were named as the Best Pair onscreen in Om Shanti Om.

Deepika was also adjudged the Best Newcomer (Female), while Ranbir Kapoor was adjudged the Best Newcomer (Male).

AR Rahman’s musical score for Guru earned him the award for the Best Music Director.

Aamir shared the best director award for the film with Shimit Amin for Chak De! India starring Shahrukh Khan. He additionally won awards as Best Supporting Actor and for Best Dialogues.

Lifetime Achievement Award went to Manoj Kumar. Chak De! girls shared the honour for Best Supporting Role (female).

Irfan Khan bagged the Best Comedian Award for Life…In a Metro while Anurag Basu won the Best Screenplay Award for the same film.

Lifetime Achievement Award went to Manoj Kumar. Chak De! girls shared the honour for Best Supporting Role (female).

Singer Soham won the Award for the Best Playback Singer (Male) for the film Life…In a Metro while Priya Ghosal was adjudged Best Playback Singer (female) for Mani Ratnam’s Guru.

Shah Rukh performed the Dard-e-Disco number from Om Shanti Om at the award function. Others who performed at the event included Shahid Kapur, Katrina Kaif, Urmila Matondkar, Riteish Deshmukh and Dia Mirza.

King Khan Unplugged!

Shah Rukh Khan's hurt his back again and as he sat at home, he spoke at length about his health problem, and his life and times in general. Excerpts…

You have hurt your back again?
Yes, I am not doing too well. I am currently bed ridden as you can see. I forget I am 43 and I tried to do a fight scene and got hurt very badly. I hurt my back and my neck. The doctor is coming every two hours to check my state and monitor me closely.

You are still going on and on… aren't you scared of a burnout?
I truly believe that even after so many years I feel like every film is my first and last film. I feel that if this doesn't work out then I won't get another film to work on. So I do it with that desperation, that intensity and that passion. I want to die doing a film.

I think I should not be working so hard. But then I have been made to do something which has been written in my destiny and hence I continue working.

A lot of my friends tell me, 'We've been telling you for the past 15 years that you'll burn out.' But I feel I will not burn out because I am still very excited to wear make-up. In my life I feel that picture abhi baki hai mere dost. I have not completed the most beautiful film of my life yet and I hope the last shot I give is the best.

You try and give a message through your films… like picture abhi baki hai mere dost…
Whenever I produce movies, I always try to give a message.

When I was in college I used to play cricket and football and wanted to represent India in the national team. When I injured my back it seemed like the end of my career. For two years I was depressed but that was the reason why I joined the film industry.

Once I joined the film industry my life changed for the better. Whatever I am today is only because of what happened then.

Like a few years ago both of us - you and me, were young. You wrote something negative about me and I got very angry with you. We fought as you printed something about me because maybe you didn't like me and after which I didn't like you. But now you're making a documentary on me and I feel you must have seen something good in me. In the end we're sitting together after 10 years since that happened. Hence "picture abhi baki hai mere dost".

You haven't been giving time to a lot of your friends who are now angry with you?
There are those who think that I only work and there are some friends who feel that I don't get the time to meet them.

I do 2-3 films and it takes 200 days. I also do around 15 endorsements with an average of 3 days per endorsement, which takes up 50 days.

I also manage to do some 20-25 live shows - whether it's the Filmfare awards or the rehearsals, which take about 40 days.

I also spend two months on my television shows and their promotions. I take about 1 and ½ months break from work to spend with my kids.

So I run short of 70 days in a year and hence I have to work a lot more. In the end, I don't get to meet a lot of people. There are a lot of friends, a lot of people whom I can't give time.

How has your journey been from Deewana to Dard-e-Disco?
Actually to tell you the truth, when I think about my journey from theatre to television to where I am today it doesn't seem so long.

I was watching ‘Chak De’ right now and it just doesn't feel like it's been two years since we shot the film in Australia. Sometimes the children also pull out old DVDs and tell me 'look at how you used to look before'!

Recently I was watching ‘Yes Boss’ because my son felt that I can't do somersaults in the air. So I showed the film to him to because I had done a somersault in it. In the film I had somersaulted into the car like Jackie Chan does in his films. So I showed him that I could do it when I was young. But when I was watching the film it didn't feel like it was a long time ago, it felt like it happened just yesterday or the day before.

A few days ago when Juhi (Chawla) had come over with her kids I was just telling her that it doesn't feel like it's been such a long time since we did this film together. I wanted to ask her also if she feels like that.

What is the feeling after so many years of work?
I'll be a 43-year-old man in few months and I still wear make-up in the morning, so how silly is that? I do a silly job, but well, that's the job I love doing. I adore it.

Do your children like your films?
My son's favourite film is ‘Baadshah’. When he watches it he tells me that 'the special effects are really bad, Papa'. So now I have to make a Baadshah that my son will like.

You have also acted in remakes of films like Devdas and Don… Trying to prove a point?
When I did ‘Devdas’, I wanted to say something to the people but everyone had a different take on it. Some said it was ostentatious while some said I was copying Dilip Kumar, etc. The film belonged to another generation but as an actor it's my duty to bring it to the notice of the people of today. They must know that ‘Devdas’ was a great film.

See my ‘Don’ and know what a great actor Amitabh Bachchan was.

A writer has alleged that you lifted his story idea to make Om Shanti Om. Comment.
Farah Khan narrated the script of ‘Om Shanti Om’ many years ago when I was shooting for Mani Rathnam's ‘Dil Se’. I did not do the film then. Farah and I then worked on the script of ‘Happy New Year’ with Amitabh Bachchan. But Amitji fell ill and was hospitalised and we knew that film could not be made because Amitji had a lot of scenes in the film.

I told Farah to bring over the script of ‘Om Shanti Om’ that she had narrated to me earlier and said that we can make it. So there was no way how we could have taken the script from anyone else as the said person has claimed.

Even the Manoj Kumar issue became big and you had to erase a few scenes.
Manojji is a veteran film person and we respect everyone from the industry. We will do what he wants as long as it makes him happy. There was no intention to hurt him in the first place.

SRK is the Highest Tax Payer again

Shah Rukh Khan will be the highest income-tax payer from Bollywood for the second year in a row.

He has paid advance taxes of Rs 27 crore till December 15, 2007, said sources, putting his income for 2007-08 at over Rs 100 crore. It is a glittering jump from the money he made the previous fiscal when he paid a modest Rs 18 crore in tax.

2007 has been a particularly prosperous year for Shah Rukh Khan, who has often called himself “priceless’’. He has not only had two mega hits under his belt - Chak De, India and Om Shanti Om , which he also produced - but also earned Rs 1 crore for every episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati .

In the income-tax stakes, SRK is far ahead of the competition. Hrithik Roshan, who paid Rs 15 crore last year, had no releases in 2007 though his endorsement list has grown longer. Aamir Khan, who paid Rs 6 crore last year, released only one film, Taare Zameen Par , and is known to have taken the distribution rights as part of his remuneration. He has paid advance taxes worth Rs 3 crore.

While Amitabh Bachchan paid Rs 8 crore in income tax last year, his advance tax payment until December 15, 2007 was only Rs 1.8 crore. Bachchan, who is said to have upped his fee in 2008, is no more among the highest paid actors but his endorsement roster is still a blue-chip one.

Among those who have paid a high advance tax this fiscal are Akshay Kumar (Rs 7 crore, although there have been media reports in the recent about the actor paying tax of Rs 26 crore) and Himesh Reshammiya (Rs 2.5 crore). The singer charges Rs 5.5 crore as a composer and actor. Abhishek Bachchan has paid Rs 3.7 crore (much higher than his returns the previous year) while his wife Aishwarya Rai has paid Rs 1.6 crore. Close behind Rai is actor Kareena Kapoor with Rs 1 crore in advance tax.

On the corporate entertainment front, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Pvt Ltd paid advance taxes worth Rs 70 crore. They have done the maximum buying of films in 2007 including hits like Om Shanti Om and Taare Zameen Par . Hindustan Thompson was next (Rs 6 crore) followed by Balaji Telefilms (Rs 4.5 crore), Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies (Rs 3 crore) and Amitabh Bachchan’s company AB Corporation (Rs 2.4 crore).

Eros Entertainment, which bought the worldwide distribution rights of Om Shanti Om for a whopping Rs 70 crore from Shah Rukh Khan, had deducted Rs 7 crore in tax deducted at source in this transaction alone.

Times Of India

Today I am competing with myself, says Shah Rukh

“People should learn how important studies are through this show,” Shah Rukh Khan states. His Indian television general knowledge quiz show, ‘Paanchvi Pass’ based on the US programme ‘Are you smarter than a Ten Year Old?’, was launched in London last Tuesday. The series kicks off on June 13 on the Star Plus Channel in the UK and Europe.

After taking over from Amitabh Bachchan in the Indian TV equivalent of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’, this is the second time the ‘King Khan’ is the quizmaster or ‘Head Boy’ as he is called in the show. Why is he doing it? “I love the show; it gives me pleasure to see kids studying in a fun way. My own children Suhana and Aryan like it a lot.” Does he know the answers himself? The honest Khan comes clean: “I don’t know most of the answers; it’s fun to learn through a quiz.” Was SRK a good student? “I used to come top in class as I was naughty and the teacher made me stand on top of the desk!” Khan jokes.

Following Shah Rukh onto the small screen will be Salman Khan with his reality show ‘10 Ka Dum’ and Akshay Kumar with the Indian version of ‘Fear Factor’. Has SRK started a trend for Bollywood A listers moving into television? “I don’t think I set a trend. It was Amitabh Bachchan who really set the trend. I wish Salman and Akki all the best!”

Shah Rukh Khan’s hockey film ‘Chak De! India’ won the Best Film, Best Director, Best Story and Best Actor awards at last weekend’s International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFAs) in Bangkok. The ‘King’ is in heaven: “I proved I could do a significant role without songs or heroines. The film consolidates my reputation as a good actor. Today I am competing with myself, not with any newcomer or other heroes.”

Anil Sinanan, Times Online UK

SRK, Chak De! India Steal Accolades at IIFA

It was a golden day for Shah Rukh and Chak De! India as the movie swept nine honours at the glittering ninth IIFA awards.

The Bollowood King Shah Rukh Khan received the best actor award for his inspiring role as a hockey coach in the film.

Khan, who gave a miss to Sunday's star-studded ceremony here, virtually ruled the awards function as his home production Om Shanti Om also won five trophies.

His award was collected by the film's producer Yash Chopra.

Chak De which was adjudged the best film of 2007. The movie is about a coach inspiring the Indian women's hockey team to victory.

The film's director Shimit Amin received the best director's award. Jaideep Sahani received the award for best story for the film.

The awards in the technical section won by the film were: cinematography, Sound recording and sound re-recording, editing.

On the other hand, Kareena Kapoor bagged the best actress award for "Jab We Met." Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma won for supporting roles in "Life in a... Metro".

Jaideep Sahani shared the screenplay award for the film with Anurag Basu (Life in a Metro).

SRK's home production Om Shanti Om bagged awards for art direction, costumes, special effects and make up. Javed Akhtar also won the best lyricist award for the song Main Agar Kahoon.

The awards ceremony was held at the Siam Niramit complex in the heart of Bangkok city. Ritesh Deshmukh and Boman Irani were the hosts of the awards ceremony.

Dia Mirza donned a black halter top for a racy performance to promote her upcoming action thriller "Acid Factory," only to be hit by a technical glitch that cut out the music and forced her to start again.

The stars of thriller Mission Istaanbul , about a terrorist plot centring on a Turkish TV station, shined in silver with Shriya Saran in a glitter top and a hip hop-styled Vivek Oberoi in a white plastic jacket and black trilby.

Akshay Kumar received a special achievement award. Kumar also told the audience that he had once waited tables in the host city Bangkok before setting out to become a movie star.

"I was just a young man when my adventure began here. I was naive, restless and eager to please. This city embraced me with such love and kindness," he said.

At least 500 of Bollywood's biggest names walked down a carpet, which was changed from red to green in a nod to the environmental themes the event is working to promote.

Sahara Samay

Shah Rukh to skip IIFA

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will not attend the prestigious International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards gala starting on Friday.

"He had been approached and invited. Unfortunately the period he spent with the Indian Premier League matches disrupted his entire schedule," said Sabbas Joseph, director Wizcraft.

"Shah Rukh has just begun his film with Aditya Chopra. So he is busy with that. But we would have been delighted if he could have come," Joseph said.

For the last two years Shah Rukh has not attended the IIFA awards, the brand ambassador of which is Amitabh Bachchan.

Is his rivalry with Bachchan the reason?

"I don't think there is any rivalry between Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Both have their unique space. Shah Rukh is a great entertainer in any scenario," said Joseph.

However, a bevy of Bollywood stars including Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Jayed Khan and Urmila Matondkar are set to keep the fans entertained.

Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai will make the event all the more exciting with their presence. Their much-awaited Sarkar Raj is premiering at the gala event. Their green carpet will also be attended by the Thai Princess.

Indo Asian News Service