Shah Rukh Khan breaks Rajnikant's record!

Shah Rukh Khan is often referred to as ‘King Khan’. He is easily the superstar of cinema, not only in Bollywood but in the entire country. He has not only held his own but has surpassed the legendary Amitabh Bachchan in popularity as well as remuneration. He proved this once again when he hosted the popular game show KBC on Star TV after Amitabh Bachchan took ill and could not continue.

Shah Rukh Khan or simply SRK has now gone ahead and broken another record. Till recently superstar Rajnikanth was the highest paid actor in India. No other actor came anywhere close to him. But the honor now goes to SRK. He is now charging 30 crore per film against Rajnikanth’s 25 crore. This steep hike is due to the entry of corporate companies into film making. SRK is rated as hero who can be given Rs 30 Cr keeping the target market in consideration.

Action hero Jackie Chan is easily the highest paid actor in Asia. He commands a whopping 50 crore per film. Looking at the way SRK is going, it may not be too difficult for him to break this record too.

South Superstar Helps North Superstar

Rajinikanth, the superstar that he is, recently showed all his generosity for none other than the King Khan, who has been obliged by Rajini.

Rajnikant, who’s latest flick ‘Kuselan’ is all set to release worldwide on August 15, was reportedly being dubbed in Hindi, alongside Telugu.

SRK got a setback on learning this, as both ‘Kuselan’ and ‘Billoo Barber’ (an SRK production) are remakes of the Malayalam hit ‘Katha Parayumbol’. Since, the story lines of both the flicks are identical, SRK feared that if ‘Kuselan’ releases in Hindi first, then his home production will be left in lurch, as there won’t be any novelty left for ‘Billoo Barber’, which might affect its fate of the BO.

In an effort to save his home production, SRK called Rajini and requested him to postpone the release of his Hindi version. Rajni obliged and now the film shall only release in Tamil and Telugu all over the world. The Hindi dubbed version of ‘Kuselan’ will, perhaps, release but post Diwali, giving SRK a sigh of relief.

It seems that SRK has found a new friend in Rajini, as they say- A friend in need is a friend indeed, what say SRK?

Zee News

When Shah Rukh Khan interviewed Rajnikanth

Superstar Rajnikanth was responding to questions at the NDTV Indian of the Year Awards in New Delhi on January 17 2008. Shah Rukh Khan posted some questions to Superstar.

NDTV: There is another Badshah in the audience. Shah Rukh wants to ask Rajni a question.

Shah Rukh: What does one do to become Shahenshah, sir?

Rajni: I am telling you, Shah Rukh, you will one day become Shahenshah.

NDTV: Do you want to ask Shah Rukh a question, or say something to him?

Rajni: He is an excellent actor. One thing I like about him is his integrity. He is very serious to promote our Indian sports, like hockey. Hats off to you. I saw that picture, Chak De. I will try to do that kind of a role, Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh: Thank you sir. But I notice that you are just talking about my sports and not my acting. Anyway, God bless you and it is an honour and a wonderful thing to have you here in our midst.

Rediff

Rajinikanth replaces Shah Rukh Khan in India's costliest movie

CHENNAI: Digging for gold appears to have become superstar Rajinikanth’s favourite pastime. As if the Rs 80-crore blockbuster Sivaji, The Boss was not enough, filmdom’s money spinning hero has now signed up for India’s costliest movie.

Pegged at Rs 100 crore, director Shankar’s Robot, a science fiction film, will see Rajni replace King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan as hero. London-based Ayngaran International, in which Kishore Lulla-owned Eros International picked up a controlling stake last July, is to produce the film.

Robot will be released in five languages for a global audience. This dream project of Shankar was also to be produced by SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment. In fact, last year, the film had been planned featuring filmdom’s other cash king Shah Rukh Khan.

However, owing to differences between Shankar and SRK on the creative front, as acknowledged by the latter in recent statements, the film was dropped about two months ago. Observers say, given Shankar’s penchant for large canvas presentations the cost of production of Robot could even cross the Rs 100-crore mark, setting a new Indian record.

“Ayngaran and Eros Multimedia will be jointly producing Robot featuring Rajinikanth and directed by Shankar. The formal agreements will be signed soon,” Ayngaran International CEO Rohan Manickavasagar told ET on Friday from London.

Eros and Ayngaran had together distributed Sivaji globally, which is said to have grossed between Rs 150 crore to Rs 170 crore from both the domestic and overseas markets. "Robot will be a joint production. The film will take anywhere between 18 to 24 months for completion and will be produced at a cost in excess of Rs 100 crore," Mr Manickavasagar said.

The film will be made in Tamil, but will be released in five languages, including Hindi and Telugu, besides a couple of other regional languages. “It will also have stars from Bollywood. But these finer details will be finalised in due course,” he added.

Shankar had originally wanted to do Robot with Kamal Hassan over five years ago for Media Dreams, the now defunct film arm of Chennai-based Pentamedia Graphics. Somewhere down the line, even Hritik Roshan’s name came up for serious consideration. But Rajini appears to have swung it yet again.

With Rajinikanth becoming a national phenomenon after Sivaji, which also generated interests in international markets, Robot is expected to be marketed in a big way overseas too. Tamil films have a huge market in the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and the Middle-East.

D. Gowardan, TNN

Rajnikant to play Shah Rukh Khan!

The Hindi version of Sivaji will see Rajnikant pay homage to current Bollywood screen icon Shah Rukh Khan in a specially added song.

The film, which will release after Diwali, will see Rajnikanth in the guise of the Rukhster as well as enacting like yesteryear actor Shammi Kapoor. Rajnikant was also asked to parody Amitabh Bachchan, but he refused due to the immense respect he has for the legend.

A.R. Rahman is to compose this song which Rajnikanth and the film's actress Shriya will begin shooting in the next month.

RajivDutta, IndiaTargetNY

SRK the Boss

Post Rang de Basanti's selction as India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars, the makers of Lage Raho Munnabhai are now routing for the film at the Oscars as an independent entry.

Going by the global appeal of the film as it deals with non-violence, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra has decided to send Lage Raho Munnabhai to the Oscars as an independent entry in the US.

Ken Naz of Eros International, US, is in the process of preparing the relevant documents to apply for the film's entry at the Oscars.

"The record number of fan mails that we have received worldwide have supported our belief and inspired us to go ahead and send the film to the Academy as an independent entry," Chopra said.

Source: Rediff India