Shahrukh Khan refuses to be labelled as a marketing guru

Actor Shahrukh Khan has tied up with several brands for the promotion of his mega-budget movieRa.One, but he has refused to be labelled as a 'marketing guru'. He says that the term is completely nonsensical because every actor talks about his film and tries to be innovative to reach out to more people and keep them aware about his film.

Talking to PTI, Shahrukh Khan said, "These terms (like marketing guru) are all nonsensical. I think every actor talks about his films in some or the other way and like them I also do things when my film is about to release. I feel I am no marketing guru." He added, "But I do feel in order to reach out to more people one needs to be innovative so that more and more people can be made aware about your film." 
However, Shahrukh Khan has collaborated with Formula One races, as a part of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. He has also tied up with the brands like Nokia, Godrej Consumer Products, Coca-Cola, Cinthol, Gitanjali Group, Horlicks, McDonalds and others to promote the film Ra.One and its merchandise. On digital front, he has tied up with YouTube, UTV Indiagames, Sony playstation and others.

Shahrukh Khan smokes openly at Star Screen Awards!

Shahrukh Khan was spotted smoking in the front row at the 17th Annual Star Screen Awards.

King Khan can’t stay away from nicotine for long, it seems. For while sitting in the front row when the award function was underway at Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex on Thursday evening, the superstar lit up the cigarette and smoked, caring not a hoot for those sitting nearby and subjected to passive smoking.

Karan Johar, who sat next to SRK, did look a bit uptight when SRK lit up, but did not object.

SRK hosted the major segment of the show and also won an award for Best Actor Popular Choice (male) for his performance in My Name Is Khan.

Catch another pic of SRK smoking on the next page.

Shahrukh beats Salman in Best Actor of 2010 poll

So much has been talked and written about Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan’s rivalry though the actors have claimed more than once that all is well between them. Ironically, they fought for the Best Actor of 2010 title, though it was in a poll conducted by Oneindia.

At the end, Shahrukh beat Salman for the Best Actor of 2010 title by a whisker. Shahrukh got 45.54% vote while Salman got 43.25% vote. They are followed Hrithik Roshan (4.72%), Ajay Devgn (4.32%) and Ranbir Kapoor (2.17%).

Among the actresses, Kajol has been voted Best Actress of 2010 with 49.7% of vote, followed by Katrina Kaif (24.36%), Kangana Ranaut (9.55%), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (8.89%) and Priyanka Chopra (7.5%).

In the Best Film of the year 2010 category, Dabangg stood out with 62.67%, beating Once Upon A Time In Mumbai (13.55%), Raajneeti (9.62%), Guzaarish (8.53%) and Peepli Live (5.63%).

Abhinav Kashyap, the man behind Dabangg, is voted the best director of the year, beating Prakash Jha, Milan Luthria, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Anusha Rizvi. Sajid-Wajid and Lalit Pandit were voted the best music directors of the 2010 for their Dabangg music.

Shahrukh Khan – King of Romance

B-town Badshah Shahrukh Khan surely and truly deserves the tag of B-town’s romancer no.1. Look at this picture, doesn’t it say it all? The couple seems so much in love even after 19 years of marriage. SRK married the love of his life Gauri in 25 October 1991 and since then they have remain together in thick and thin.

The picture is perfect example for true believers in the spiritual course of love and every year they ensure that they are destined for each other.

The picture was taken during the marriage anniversary of Hrithik and Suzanne Khan recently.

Gauri and Suzanne are very close to each other and are best pals. Even SRK loves Hrithik a lot.

It was Hrithik Roshan who was the first to comment in support of Shahrukh during SRK’s spat with the Sena during the release of ‘My Name Is Khan’.

The couple had a lovely time together at Hrithik’s anniversary bash where the occasion became the heartwarming narrator of Shahrukh and Gauri’s love where the lovely couple enjoyed every moment of their company.

As we leave the King of Romance with his wife and must say that “We all love you Shahrukh… and we all are ‘touched’.”

"'Ra. One' is the best Indian action film ever" - Karan Johar

For someone who has never fell shy of acknowledging the films of his peers, contemporaries and even rivals, especially so in the last couple of years, Karan takes no time in gushing about buddy Shah Rukh Khan's superhero high adrenalin action thriller - 'Ra.One'.

"I have seen one hour of the film and mark my words, this is the best Indian action film ever made. Period," Karan is all praise for Anubhav Sinha, the man who has made action films like 'Cash' and 'Dus' in the past, "The film totally blows you away. Anubhav has done such a superb job and based on what I have seen of his work, he would certainly go a long way from here. In fact I have no qualms in admitting that after 'Ra.One', he would be hailed as the best ever action film director that Bollywood has today."

If Anubhav Sinha is reading this, it would be understandable if he feels flattered with the compliments. Also, he can afford to breathe easy with the turnaround of events, what with one of the biggest entertainers in the industry hailing his talent even as the film is close to a year away from the release.

Will Shahrukh and Salman make peace in Dubai?

In a remarkable coincidence, both Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan are in Dubai for the New Year celebrations.

Shahrukh has flown to the Emirates with his family and friends including Karan Johar, Hrithik Roshan and his wife Sussanne Roshan. Salman, on the other hand, is in Dubai with his family.

So what are the chances of SRK and Sallu meeting up and making peace?

“The chance is pretty bleak. But you never know. Remember, Hrithik bonded well with Salman at Sohail Khan’s birthday bash and he’s presently holidaying with SRK. May be he could initiate something to bring the two Khans together,” says a source from the industry.

Not to be ignored are the feelers that Shahrukh has been sending out to Salman lately, indirectly albeit.

On an upcoming episode of Koffee With Karan which has already been shot, Shahrukh went to the extent of admitting that it is his fault that Salman is not talking with him anymore.

“If Salman and Farah are upset with me it's 100 per cent my fault but I can't pick up the phone and say sorry.... I can't apologise because of ego but because I can't just get myself to ask people to come back to me,” Shahrukh is quoted to have said.

Moreover, SRK has been talking about making new beginnings in 2011. One of those could be a permanent burial of his rivalry with Salman.

How great that would be!

SRK, Hrithik in Dubai for New Year

Close friends Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan will ring in 2011 right here in Dubai with a starry celebration. SRK, of course, owns a luxurious home on The Palm and that's where the party is planned. Karan Johar will also be joining the Khans and Roshans for the bash.

The group also includes Chunky Pandey, Gauri's buddy Kajal Anand, and it seems Arjun Rampal and his family are also trying to make it to the UAE to join them.

And what did SRK have to say about the New Year? "To new beginnings. Have a healthy, happy & fulfilling new chapter. May all your troubles be as shortlived as your New Year resolutions. Love," the star posted on his Twitter page.

Meanwhile, before the New Years party begins, Hrithik will be busy teaching his kids Hridaan and Hrehaan snow-boarding at Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates. It seems the young Roshans had been wanting to learn snow-boarding for a while now, and their dad just had to give in to their wishes. Think SRK and Gauri's kids Aryan and Suhana will join them? Could be!

SRK gets emotional on 'Koffee With Karan'

Karan Johar's the coolest of cool TV hosts, but when his close friend Shah Rukh Khan gets emotional, so does KJo. We hear that Karan broke down after Shah Rukh showed off his vulnerable side and confessed on the 'Koffee With Karan' show that he didn't know how to make friends and keep them, and that he couldn't always tell people that he loved them.

It all started with Karan quizzing SRK about his tiffs with Salman Khan and Farah Khan. SRK said that if the two were upset with him, it was completely his own fault. He added that he couldn't just pick up the phone and say sorry because he couldn't ask people to come back to him, and not because of any ego issues.

Karan actually got teary when SRK admitted that he's not able to keep telling people that he loved them. He said that he felt he was understood when he said it once, and couldn't keep repeating it.

So will the episode that airs on January 2 lead to a truce between SRK and Salman as well as bring his friendship with Farah to the way it was? After all that soul-searching on SRK's part, we certainly hope so!

Shahrukh Khan wishes ‘Happy New Year’ on Twitter

He’s back after a two-month break

After keeping away from Twitter for about two months, Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan is back on the social networking site.

SRK had last tweeted on November 2, a day after his birthday, which he celebrated with his children and wife in Berlin.

On Wednesday, December 29, King Khan returned again with a sweet tweet about making new beginnings in the new year.

“To new beginnings. Have a healthy happy & fulfilling new chapter. Nay all your troubles be as shortlived as your new year resolutions. Love.” he tweeted.

Must say we missed his sense of humour all this while.

Shahrukh-Salman spat: SRK admits his fault, but won’t say sorry

Shahrukh Khan was in a mood to bare his heart while appearing on buddy Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan. SRK has been in confession mood lately. After confessing that he’s been depressed for a good part of this year, he’s spoken out frankly about his friends that have been falling out, namely Salman Khan and Farah Khan.

On Karan Johar’s show KWK, when SRK was asked about Farah and Salman, he is reported to have said: “I don't know how to make friends and if I do, I don't know how to keep them....If Salman and Farah are upset with me it's 100 per cent my fault but I can't pick up the phone and say sorry.... I can't apologise because of ego but because I can't just get myself to ask people to come back to me... I had asked my parents to come back and they didn't...”

In fact, SRK’s soul-baring so touched the host Karan Johar that he was moved to tears.

The SRK episode will be aired on January 2.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev meets Shahrukh Khan

The likes of a Russian president and a world famous magician were spotted hobnobbing with the stars on the sets of RA.One

Lately the unit of Shah Rukh Khan's much awaited next RA.One seems to have a lot of high profile visitors

On Wednesday evening, the Russian President, Dmitri Medvedev, who is in town on a political visit, dropped by on the sets of the film. Medvedev wanted to meet SRK and Kareena Kapoor, the grand daughter of the legendary actor Raj Kapoor.

It may be recalled that the legendary actor Raj Kapoor is the most popular Bollywood actor in Russia till date. Shree 420 and Awaara were big hits in Russia and songs from the films can still be heard in restaurants in and around Moscow.

A reliable source reveals, "The president was very keen to meet Shah Rukh Khan. Since he is a huge fan of Raj Kapoor, he also expressed his desire to meet the two grandchildren of Raj Kapoor Kareena and Ranbir. He couldn't meet Ranbir since the actor is shooting in Delhi for Rockstar, but he did catch up with Kareena and SRK while they were shooting a song sequence at the Yash Raj studios. The President saw one shot, chatted with the stars and left."

A while ago the world's best magician, Franz Harary, who made the Taj Mahal disappear years ago, was in B town. Since he was in Bombay he was very keen to see a Bollywood film shoot.

The huge Shah Rukh Khan fan dropped on the sets of RA.One to meet the star. The director of the film, Anubhav Sinha remained tight lipped about the president's visit. However he talked about his interesting encounter with the magician.

Anubhav recollects, "I was taken in by surprise to have the world's best magician on our film sets. He is a huge Shah Rukh fan. He hung around on the sets for an hour and entertained the unit. It was great fun."

SRK and Kareena remained unavailable for comments.

Shahrukh Khan, the highest paid host ever?

Looks like Shah Rukh Khan is proving that he is the 'Badshah' even of Tellyland. TOI has learned that King Khan is apparently charging Rs 2.5 crore per episode for his forthcoming reality show Zor Ka Jhatka on TV.

Top industry sources claim that with this astronomical amount, SRK certainly becomes the costliest B-town A-lister to be signed on for a reality show. Whenever Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have hosted TV shows, the industry debated whether they were the highest paid actors. However, this time it looks like the figures are on SRK's side. A source from the show reveals, "No one will speak openly about how much he is earning, but SRK charging Rs.2.5 crore certainly seems a believable figure.

As of now what can be revealed is that Shah Rukh is on for four weeks, Monday to Thursday, and if you calculate it, he is getting Rs 40 crore for 16 episodes. Bring on the superstar who can charge so much even after his last stint on TV (Kya Hum Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain) was panned and did not get the TRP that he got during Kaun Banega Crorepati."

Shahrukh Khan in Dubai for New Year’s Eve

As December 31 ticks closer, Bollywood stars are making plans for the New Year Eve. Shahrukh Khan won’t be in Mumbai this year.

Unlike last year when SRK celebrated the coming of 2010 in Mumbai, this year the superstar is headed to his swanky home at The Palm in Dubai. He, along with wife Gauri, kids and close friends will ring in 2011 together.

We hear that SRK will be joined by friends like Karan Johar, Hrithik Roshan, Sussanne Roshan and possibly Chunkey Pandey and his wife as well. Arjun Rampal, who’s a regular in the SRK camp, might not make it.

SRK and the gang will leave for Dubai on December 30.

Hrithik Wants SRK To Say NO SMOKING

After Aamir Khan, it’s Hrithik Roshan to join the list of perfectionism. Once he sets his mind on something, he strives hard to achieve it. Currently he has a new goal in his life. He wants Shahrukh to kick the butt and quit smoking completely.

Hrithik himself got addicted to this habit while doing the movie GUZAARISH. He smoked to give his character a realistic look. But he then promised to quit smoking on the last day of the shoot, thinking about its ill-effects on him and his family. He still has stuck to his promise. So now whenever someone offers him a stick, he crushes it and throws it away.

When asked how he managed to do this, he replied, "I started with the excuse of it being a part of the character two years ago with the idea that I'll stop after the film. I've always loved exploring with different experiences but a true adventurer needs courage and a will of iron. I love throwing challenges at myself and this was tough, but I've conquered it and grown stronger in the process. It's empowering."

Earlier Hrithik managed to persuade Arjun Rampal to quit smoking. So Arjun Rampal isn’t lighting up cigarettes anymore, courtesy Hrithik Roshan. Now he wants to achieve the impossible. He wants Shahrukh Khan to put off the cigarettes forever.

As everyone has seen, SRK is a chain-smoker. Since Hrithik has felt the change in his life after quitting the dangerous habit, he wants his friends to know the same. But it’s quite a difficult task, as Shahrukh is a compulsive smoker and smokes more than one packet a day. Hrithik still won’t give up. He is ready to offer all the company and support Shahrukh might need.

Hope Hrithik succeeds in his mission, so that Shahrukh won’t get any warnings from moral police for his smoking in public places.

Shahrukh Khan missing from Twitter – refuses to hit back

Shah Rukh Khan is known for being vocal and can think on his feet without flinching, but this time the tech-savvy actor has decided to stay away from Twitter. SRK has been quite an avid micro-blogger and people almost knew what he was about because of his tweets, but it has been over month that there has not been a single tweet from him.

The last tweet that can be seen on Shah Rukh’s account is dated Nov’ 2, in which SRK stated that he was celebrating his birthday with kids in Berlin while shooting for ‘Don 2’. While many speculates that the King Khan is keeping a low profile and staying out of micro-blogging to avoid questions being asked to him about Farah Khan and her next release ‘Tees Maar Khan’, it’s not so according to the sources.

A source revealed that the actor will talk about his MIA from Twitter in the upcoming episode of ‘Koffee with Karan’. SRK has withdrew from the blogging because there are people who give negative comments about him, his friends and family which are hurtful, though he can retort back but he just wants to stay away from the negativity. Also Shah Rukh is in such a frame of mind where he doesn’t want o part of the negative reaction as well as doesn’t believe in blocking people in the social networking sites.

To know what’s going on in SRK life and to watch an episode of ‘Kofee with Karan’ sans the controversy it would be worthwhile to see SRK’s episode which is said to be an emotional one, so watch out for it, as it will air on Jan’ 1, 2011.

Shahrukh Khan goes Golmaal: Is a comedy on cards?

Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan may soon sign a new film with director Rohit Shetty. If reports are to be believed then it would appear that SRK is keyed up to do a full-fledged comic caper and he is in discussions with Golmaal director Rohit Shetty for the same.

Shahrukh loved Golmaal 3 and approached director Rohit Shetty to direct some of his commercials for his production banner Red Chillies. Rohit and SRK have been gelling well these days and the Badshah Khan has professed his desire to do a film with Rohit.

Rohit has been requested to look for a good script. After doing a superhero flick in ‘Ra.One’ and a thriller in ‘Don 2’, Shahrukh is keen on doing a family comic flick. And apparently, Rohit has selected a 80s comedy film and is longing for its remake.

Rohit and SRK’s production house are, currently, seeking its remake rights after which the team shall sit down to pen the script and screenplay. But Rohit (who is a buddy of actor Ajay Devgn) didn’t want to antagonize him and met him on his sets to reveal his plans of making a film with Shahrukh.

Seemingly, Rohit didn’t want Ajay to hear the same from a third person as that may have created a rift between the two. Anyways, now that the King Khan has decided to do a comic caper, we can look forward to that in the coming future.

Shah Rukh Khan in the apologising mode during New Year’s Eve

Karan Johar’s ‘Koffee with Karan’ has become a hub of new brewing wars and formation of new camps. But here is an actor who is ready to make some amends with his “frenemies”. Its Karan’s best friend Shah Rukh Khan, he will be soon seen in the chat show and for the first time in the three seasons SRK will be alone with KJo.

The SRK episode will be aired on the New Year’s Eve and while talking with buddy Karan, Shah Rukh will take the responsibility of his two friends who’ve gone mad at him, Salman Khan and Farah Khan. Way back in 2008 Salman and SRK had a huge fight at Katrina Kaif’s birthday party and in 2010 Farah Khan went ahead and signed Akshay Kumar for her film ‘Tees Maar Khan’.

SRK in the hour long episode says that it must be his fault that Salman and Farah are no longer talking with him. It seems the King Khan of Bollywood is trying to mend his bridges with his once upon a time buddies and the guy is ready to forget the past and move on to a new friendly 2011.

SRK’s gesture surely shows that the man is honest and bold enough own up to any faults that he has made before and now it should be Salman and Farah’s turn to bury the hatchet and resume their friendship. If this episode does help in the bonding of the trio, it can prove that Karan’s show is not only about the fights like Kareena and Priyanka or Deepika ,Sonam and Karan versus Ranbir and his family.

I feel nice when I meet Shah Rukh: Madhuri Dixit

Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit left people mesmerised with her sensuous dance moves. The actress starred in many hit films with the three Khans - Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. She speaks to CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand about her co-stars and dances.

Rajeev Masand: Madhuri you did hit films with Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir. I know you get along with them nicely. Even today they are all friends. Even then who you are closest to?

Madhuri Dixit: See, even between Salman, Aamir and Shah Rukh, I worked more with Shah Rukh. I don't know, there is a kind of affection we have for each other, a kind of respect as actors, an affection because we worked on the sets. So it's always lovely to meet him.

Rajeev Masand: He dropped at the sets recently.

Madhuri Dixit: Yes! He did.

Rajeev Masand: What was that meeting like?

Madhuri Dixit: Wonderful! That's what I told Shah Rukh - 'Why do I feel happy when I meet you?' I just feel nice. He is someone you can talk to on different topics and is always well informed and so is Aamir. But maybe because I have worked more with him.

Rajeev Masand: Since there is a national debate going on this, I have to get your opinion on this. Which one is a better dance - 'Munni badnam hui' or 'Sheila ki jawani'?

Madhuri Dixit: It is very hard to say which one is better because I think both of them have their own charm. 'Sheila ki jawani' is more of a western combined with the Indian contemporary beat whereas Munni is absolutely folksy. It has a lot of folk in it. It is very, very Indian, I enjoy both of them. I love both of them. It is wonderful.

Rajeev Masand: Young girls and actresses really have continuously and till today danced to your hit songs. They try to emulate your dance steps. What's the last Hindi film song that you saw on TV or that you heard, that you danced to at home or made up your own steps?

Madhuri Dixit: The last song which I saw and I enjoyed watching was 'Munni badman hui'. I really enjoyed the beat, they very folk kind of ethnicity that the song has and I really enjoyed that.

SRK makes Madhuri blush

Last Wednesday Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit had a terrific reunion of sorts at Filmistan. The moment Khan saw her on the sets of a dance reality show, he walked up to her, hugged her tight and kissed her hand.

As Madhuri blushed and turned away, Mallaika Arora Khan, SRK's friend-turned-foe Salman Khan's sister-in-law, rushed to meet him too. Their 'intended' air-kiss however ended up looking rather odd.

It so happened that SRK was in Filmistan to shoot for RA.One. Notice his ear stud probably an accessory for the film? As he alighted from his car, he saw the name 'Madhuri Dixit' pasted on a vanity van.

He ran to the venue, where the dance diva was shooting. The cameras were in fact rolling when King Khan entered the sets and walked up to greet Madhuri, oblivious to the rest of the world, but then again, Dil toh pagal hai!

'I'm the Badshah of the Bedroom'

Look out, folks. Shah Rukh Khan is back.

The actor is making a comeback to the small screen with Zor Ka Jhatka, the Indian version of the internationally popular game show Wipe Out on Imagine TV.

Shah Rukh will take 30 television stars out of their comfort zone in an obstacle course set in Argentina. At stake is Rs 1.5 crore, including a mega cash prize of Rs 50 lakh for the winner of the finale.

The participants on the show include Akashdeep Saigal, Amit Sareen, Ashima Bhalla, Bhakhtiyaar Irani, Claudia Ciesla, Debina Bonnerjee, Dimpy Mahajan, Gaurav Chopraa, Gracious D' Costa, Hanif Hilal, Jennifer Winget, Karishma Tanna, Krushna Patil, Kushal Punjabi, Manas Katyal, Manoj Kumar, Mink Brar, Narayani Shastri, Natasha Suri, Payal Rohatgi, Priyadarshani Singh, Raja Chaudhary, Rohit Verma, Simran Kaur Mundi, Sonika Kaliraman, Annie, Vindu Dara Singh, Soumya Tandon and Vrajesh Hirjee.

Giving us a taste of what's to come, SRK charmed the gathering at a press conference last week with his wit. Asked about his own zor ka jhatka experiences, he replied, "I got a zor ka jhatka in my personal life when I became a father. It was a pleasant experience. Professional, I got it when I jumped with Sushmita Sen while shooting for her film. It was embarrassing and painful too."[Smiles]