SRK turns content provider

Shah Rukh Khan started his acting career in television before moving on to Bollywood. He came a full circle to the medium that first gave him recognition by anchoring game shows Kaun Banega Crororepati and Aap Panchvi Pass Se Teez Hai on Star Plus.

Now, the King of Bollywood is all set to take his association with television one step further, by producing entertainment and lifestyle programmes.

SPICING IT UP

# Shah Rukh Khan launched Red Chillies Entertainment in 2004 after the venture Dreamz Unlimited with actor Juhi Chawla did not churn successful films

# Red Chillies Entertainment is all set to produce content for lifestyle channel E24

# E24 is owned by BAG Films & Media, whose chief is Anuradha Prasad, the wife of vice-president of the Indian cricket board, Rajiv Shukla

# Red Chillies Entertainment produced the mega hit 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Main Hoon Na', while its 'Kaal' and 'Paheli' were flop

Khan's company Red Chillies Entertainment, is tying up with lifestyle channel E24 to provide them content. Sources say that Khan's company is close to finalizing concepts for some of the shows. E24 is owned by BAG Films & Media, a listed media house, whose chief is Anuradha Prasad, the wife of vice-president of the Indian cricket board, Rajiv Shukla.

However, when contacted, Prasad, chairman and managing director of BAG Films & Media declined to comment on the association. Bag Films & Media runs its non-news channels such as E24 under a separate company BAG Glamour, while the news channel is run through BAG Newsline. Last year, Khan and his wife Gauri bought 10 per cent stake in BAG Glamour in their personal capacity.

The other investors in BAG Glamour are IndiaBulls' promoter Sameer Gehlaut (15 per cent), Kolkata-based private investor High Growth (15 per cent), and the remaining 60 per cent is held by the parent company and promoters.

The actor has made some tentative moves to build a footprint in the entertainment and media business but with limited success. He launched Red Chillies Entertainment in 2004 after the venture Dreamz Unlimited with actor Juhi Chawla did not churn successful films.

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and the big budget periodic film Asoka released under Dreamz Unlimited flopped at the box-office. While Red Chillies Entertainment produced the mega hit Main Hoon Na, the company's next two films 'Kaal' and 'Paheli' in 2005 were non-drawers.

Khan's production house hit jackpot with 'Om Shanti Om' in 2007, when he managed to sell the worldwide distribution rights of the movie for over Rs 74 crore to Eros International.

Shah Rukh Khan's dreamz unlimited

Actor Shah Rukh Khan wants to build an underground parking lot and a swimming pool behind his Bandra residence. He has applied to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seeking permission to construct a 20,000-sq-ft underground parking lot and a swimming pool measuring only slightly less, on the ground floor of the six-storey building he has built behind his sea-facing heritage bungalow Mannat at Bandra (West).

Civic officials said the proposal has been forwarded to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority.

As Khan’s bungalow and building fall under the Coastal Regulation Zone — an ecologically sensitive area near the sea — permission from the Authority is needed to undertake any construction there.

The plan, said civic sources, is related to changes in Khan’s building, which houses the actor’s extra living room, guest room, gym and some offices.

Ashok Shintre, chief engineer (Development Plan, BMC), said: “The plan came to us through Khan’s architect and we have sent it for a No-Objection Certificate to the state coastal zone authority as the changes to be made are for a plot under 2 hectares in area (approximately 2 lakh sq ft). If it were more than that, we would have sent it to the Central Authority,” Shintre said.

Confirming that the coastal zone authority has received the proposal from the civic body, an official said no decision had been taken.

“It will be brought before the Authority in one of its meetings, when such proposals are tabled for clearance,” he added, refusing to divulge when the proposal would be discussed.

Chairman of the Authority Shyamlal Goyal was not available for comment.

Khan’s building is already entangled in a legal suit following a petition filed by non-governmental organisation Bhrashtachar Nirmulan Sanghatana last year, alleging that it encroached on the proposed road in the city development plan and the balconies jutted out of the plot boundary.

Hindustan Times

SRK's 'Dreamz Unlimited' wants Advertisement Oasis

In the year 2007, Bollywood's global superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, gave the film industry its two biggest hits, the 86 crore OM SHANTI OM, and the 65 crore CHAK DE! INDIA.

Apart from film production, one of Shah Rukh's company, 'Red Chillies Entertainment' has been actively involved in animation and SFX/VFX, and a good account of that was seen in OM SHANTI OM. King Khan's other venture, 'Dreamz Unlimited', is now attempting to venture into other areas as well.

As per DMC (Delhi Municipal Corporation) sources, SRK's 'Dreamz Unlimited' has envisaged a keen interest in being a part of the corporation's extravagant 500-crore project, Advertisement Oasis. The officials concerned have confirmed that they have received a proposal in this regard from Shah Rukh Khan's company.

While the offer is still being evaluated, Delhi Municipal Corporation is looking for 3.5 acres of prime location for its ambitious advertisement hub project.

Well, we feel that DMC should grab the offer with both the hands because anything that SRK touches these days, turns to gold!

Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network