Shahrukh dumps Shirish Kunder

Honeymoon Travels director Reema Kagti, and not Shirish Kunder, is now developing Zoya Factor. The film, produced by Shahrukh Khan's production company Red Chillies, is an adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name penned by Anuja Chauhan. Says a source, "Differences arose between SRK and Farah Khan's hubby over the screenplay and script. They had severe creative issues. Both were looking at the script with a different vision." At this point, SRK decided to change his director.

SRK offered the film to Reema as she seemed to understand what he wanted to do with the film. But he forgot to tell Shirish that he was giving the project to someone else to work on. Shirish found out by accident that the film no longer had his name on it. When Farah heard this, she was hurt and upset at the manner in which her hubby has been ousted. Adds the source, "Shirish had started work on the film and was looking for an actor who would play a cricketer. The film was supposed to go on the floors early next year."

Reema maintains, "I am writing the screenplay of the film, not directing it. Vishal Punjabi is directing Zoya Factor." Vishal was the visual effects producer for the SRK starrer Paheli which he had also produced. Meanwhile, Shirish says, "I was never supposed to direct Zoya Factor, only Joker." SRK remained unavailable for comment.

What is Zoya Factor?
It is about a girl called Zoya who was born exactly at the moment when India won the World Cup in 1983. Strangely, Zoya proves to be a girl of incredible luck for cricket matches. Whenever she watches a match, India ends up winning.

SRK-Farah's 'Happy New Year' in 2009

Farah Khan just can’t seem to get enough of leading a busy life. After directing Om Shanti Om and delivering triplets, she is ready to make her next film, Happy New Year. When she had made Om Shanti Om, the buzz was that she had only changed the film’s title from Happy New Year to Om Shanti Om.

But those were just rumours, as Farah is now ready to finally make Happy New Year. The film is likely to go on the floors in 2009 and will be produced by Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. Red Chillies recently re-registered the title, Happy New Year.

Farah confirmed and said, “Yes, I am finally going ahead with Happy New Year. We have made some changes in the earlier script. The truth is, I wanted to make Happy New Year before Om Shanti Om, but I wasn’t ready with the script then. Om Shanti Om’s script fell into place and things started to roll. So we made Om Shanti Om first.”

Needless to say, Shah Rukh will play the central character in the film. However, Farah did not reveal any more names for the film’s star cast. “I plan to have an interesting cast along with Shah Rukh. But, I still haven’t decided how many of the actors will be established and how many will be newcomers,” said Farah.

Farah added, “The first half of the script for Happy New Year is ready. Shirish (her husband) has helped me a lot with the film’s script.”

So what is Happy New Year about? “Oh well, I can’t say much about the film at this point of time. But yes, it will be my kind of cinema. I don’t want to prove a point to anybody. Happy New Year will be a commercial entertainer,” she said.

Farah is currently busy completing the script in her sprawling house at Seven Bungalows, Versova. “I am not going to exotic places to write the story. And while I am busy with the script, I am concentrating on my babies too,” Farah laughed and added.

Talking about her routine after she gave birth to triplets - Anya, Diva, Czar- six months ago, Farah says that she has not alienated herself from friends and relatives.

“I catch up with Shah Rukh and Karan (Johar) often. Recently, Shah Rukh was shooting at Yash Raj Studios and I dropped by to visit him with Anya, Diva and Czar in tow. Of course, I had also taken three of my maids, who I have for my kids. It was good fun,” said Farah.

Later this week, Farah will choreograph a dance number featuring Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham for Karan Johar’s upcoming film, Dostana. She said, “Karan wanted me to do a song in Dostana. Moreover, I had promised Tarun Mansukhani (Dostana’s director) that I will choreograph a song in the first film which he will direct.”

The shoot will last for five-six days. “In fact, Karan made a very sweet offer to have a huge vanity van for me, with all the facilities, so that I can take my babies along with me. But they’ll remain at home. I’ll reach the sets by 10.30 am and leave by 6 pm every day,” added Farah.

Vickey Lalwani, Mumbai Mirror

Farah Khan's Shanti Om Shanti Are Here!

We at SRKTHEDON would like to congratulate Farah on this auspicious occasion.

Bollywood director and choreographer Farah Khan gave birth to two bonny girls and one baby boy late Sunday night at Mumbai’s Jaslok hospital.

Farah’s husband Shirish Kunder and her brother Sajid Khan were beside her at the time of the delivery. Sajid Khan told Zee News that both Farah and the babies were in the pink of health and doing well.

The ace director’s close friends which include Shahrukh Khan, Gauri Khan, Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala are expected to arrive at the hospital soon.

Earlier last month, producer-director Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan`s wife Gauri Khan had organized a baby shower for Farah with a lavish function held at SRK`s palatial Bandra bungalow `Mannat` in Mumbai. The function was attended by stars like Rani Mukherjee, Priyanka Chopra, Karisma Kapoor, Tabu and wives of Farhan Akhtar, Suneil Shetty, Atul Agnihotri and many others.

Hope these bundles of joy will multiply Farah’s happiness!

Zee News

Red Chillies and Eros enjoy a special relationship going back many years : SRK

Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, Om Shanti Om stars Shah Rukh Khan and newcomer Deepika Padukone. The film's score and soundtrack has been composed by the musical duo, Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Cinematography for the movie is by V Manikandan whilst editing is handled by Shirish Kunder.

Om Shanti Om is a story of love, dreams, betrayal and destiny revolving around a film actor 'Om' (Shah Rukh Khan) and his love interest 'Shanti' (Deepika Padukone). The film also has over 30 Bollywood stars including Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan amongst others in a guest appearance.

Eros International chairman and CEO Kishore Lulla said, "Eros has always enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Shah Rukh Khan and we are looking forward to releasing Om Shanti Om during the festive season of Diwali. It is one of the most awaited films of the year and we are excited to be leveraging Eros' global distribution in promoting the film."

Eros had distributed Main Hoon Na as well as Paheli, which are both Red Chillies Productions.

Adds Shah Rukh Khan, "Red Chillies and Eros enjoy a special relationship going back many years. Eros undisputedly has the best global marketing and distribution infrastructure. Om Shanti Om is a fun film and with the wide distribution strategy we hope to reach out to record number of audiences worldwide."

Source: BusinessOfCinema.com

No bad vibes here, says Kunder

Farah Khan's husband Shrish Kunder denied the reported spat between him and Shah Rukh.

Excerpt from the interview :

SRK is not doing Joker. You had a fall-out with him?

Shah Rukh and I have had no fall-out. No showdown. Shah Rukh has already clarified on this and I second it.

What is your gut feeling about Farah's upcoming film Om Shanti Om?

OSO is a sure-shot winner. Blockbuster!

Source: SantaBanta.com

Joker will now no longer have SRK in the superhero avatar

Enough trouble is brewing on the home front to keep Farah Khan busy before the release of her film, Om Shanti Om.

First, her husband Shirish Kunder parted ways with her best friend Shah Rukh Khan because of irrevocable creative differences, and the ambitious film, Joker will now no longer have SRK in the superhero avatar.

Later, her brother Sajid Khan’s film, Heyy Babyy didn’t showcase trailers of Om Shanti Om at the special screenings organised for the high-profile industrywallahs across the city.

Farah is yet to break her silence over tabloid reports of Shirish and Shah Rukh’s showdown at Mannat, but she is making efforts to get her husband and SRK back on talking terms. With SRK opting out of the film, his production company Red Chillies Productions will no longer produce the big-budget film.

Clearly, Shirish may not be at an advantageous position; but he claims that he has a bunch of financiers ready to back his project.

A source close to Farah reveals, She is in a tight spot, as the two people closest to her are at loggerheads. Neither Shah Rukh nor Shirish are talking about it. Despite all differences, Shirish is still editing the film and there are no fights in the edit room yet.

In circles where it really matters, the buzz is that she is extremely upset with brother Sajid Khan now, over the trailers getting snipped off. Given the extreme closeness of the siblings, this leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

A source close to Farah informs, She feels that Sajid could have avoided that ugly episode. Shah Rukh wanted the trailers to be aired so that he could get instant feedback from actors, film-makers and producers. It wasn’t an unreasonable demand.

Besides, it was because of her that SRK agreed to do a cameo in Heyy Babyy.
Sajid feigning ignorance about the ugly episode to certain sections of the media only worsened the situation. Farah has been quiet as it’s her brother’s film. But she felt betrayed when Sajid told some media persons that everything is hunky dory and that Om Shanti Om trailers were aired at all trial shows, says another source.

Source: TimesOfIndia

Om Shanti Om in a Nutshell

Music Release : September 18
Film Release : November 9

Language: Hindi

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Director: Farah Khan

Producer: Red Chillies Entertainment

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Kirron Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Bindu

Music: Vishal-Shekhar

Cinematography: V.Manikandan

Editing: Shirish Kunder

Story/Writer: Farah Khan, Abbas Tyrewala

Synopsis:

This is a story of Om and Shanti.

Om's film started in 1977 and ended in 2007. He was a junior artist in the 70's.

Shanti was a superstar of the 70's.

He was her biggest fan.

She was his biggest inspiration.

He was madly in love.

She was ready to give up everything she had for love.

He felt betrayed in life.

She felt betrayed in love.

... And then ... started the saga of 'Om Shanti Om'.


For some love stories...

...one lifetime is not enough...

Source: NowRunning.com

Shah Rukh to finalize his new assignments for next year

After the stupendous commercial and critical success of CHAK DE! INDIA, Shah Rukh Khan is now busy with the initial promotion of his next release, the 35-crore OM SHANTI OM.

Not only that, the patchwork shooting of the film is also being done simultaneously. The next project that King Khan will shoot for is Rajkumar Hirani's film, which may commence in December. But what after that?

As per media reports, early next year, Shah Rukh Khan is likely to finalize his next project with close family friend, Karan Johar. The film in question is obviously the realistic, KHAN (working title).

The superstar is also expected to make a final decision regarding Farhan Akhtar's
DON 2.

But thats not all because contrary to the buzz, Shah Rukh Khan has not turned down Shirish Kunder's JOKER as yet.

Abid, BollywoodTradeNewsNetwork