Shah Rukh should be the Hockey Ambassador, not me: Suniel Shetty

Suniel is currently confused about being appointed the brand ambassador for hockey. "It was an awesome experience to be given the responsibility to revive the game. I may be a right choice. But after seeing Chak De I think Shah Rukh Khan is a much better choice for representing hockey for the country. I saw the film twice. And I'm completely bowled over by Shah Rukh's performance. He could play anything. But he chooses to play this serious troubled hockey coach. I think Shah Rukh has his stardom for a good 50 years more. Chak De proves it."

Suniel feels he's the wrong choice to endorse hockey. "I seriously want them to reconsider my appointment. I mean, there I was being appointed brand ambassador for the game while Shah Rukh is bringing hockey back into favour like nobody's business."

Source: IndiaFM

I hope one day I’ll be cast as SRk's heroine: Vidhya Malvade

VM candidly shares her dream...

...of playing the quintessential heroine to Shah Rukh Khan. In the film, her character is linked to Khan’s Kabir Khan, still she doesn’t appear to be his heroine. “I had more sequences with him in the film; I wish they were retained. I hope one day I’ll be cast as his heroine,” says Malvade.

Two of Khan’s biggest fans (she and me) are soon ebulliently discussing his stubble. “One of us told him he looked hot with the stubble; it left him blushing,” she laughs.

Source: FinancialExpress

SRK Animated

You'll soon see SRK's youthful antics and Helen's sinuous moves in an entirely different format. When the animated versions of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Howrah Bridge hit the screens it'll be another take on these popular movies. But will they recapture the magic of the originals ?

"If the film has been a big hit, there's a charm in seeing it 're-imagined' ," says director Subhash Ghai. "That's why a well-made animated remake will work." Ghai believes the results will depend on the choice of story. "It has to be one that can be re-told differently," adds the director, who also runs an animation school.

"Animation is reaching new heights," says Anil Nagrath, secretary, Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association. "The technology is there, but the formula has to be right for a film to work in this format," he says.

Corporate communications head for a multiplex chain Shunali Shroff also believes treatment will be the key. "The idea is good, but the success of the film will depend on how well it's produced." She adds that movie-goers today demand high quality. "Remaking a black 'n ' white classic like Howrah Bridge with new technology will certainly give it zing. Also, it'll be interesting to see what an animated Helen looks like," she says.

As far as quality is concerned, we still have a long way to go, says Deepak Bhanusali, who was part of the production team of My Friend Ganesha. "We're yet to meet international animation standards. Hollywood is three steps ahead of us," he says.

Technology apart, content is important, says Ghai. "It's the most important thing," he says. "Eventually, it depends on the filmmaker's imagination . Making an animated version of a film allows a filmmaker to exploit areas that wouldn't have been possible in live action," he adds.

Movie-goers agree they'd like a fresh perspective if an old favourite were to be rereleased in an animated version . "If it's a film I've already seen, I'd like it to have a new element," says actress Chaya Singh, who wants to see an animated version of Sholay. TV anchor Mini Mathur is not too fascinated by the idea of recycling old movies. "If it's like Spider-Man where there's a lot of difference between the comic strip and the movie, then I'd like to see that. Otherwise, I'd prefer watching Shah Rukh live any day."

COMING SOON... ANIMATED

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Howrah Bridge

Barsaat Ki Ek Raat

Amar Prem

WANNA SEE IT?

Krrish

Hum Tum

Devdas

Harry Potter

Lord Of The Rings

Ace Ventura

Source: TNN

Akshay Kumar may replace SRK in Shirish Kunder’s "Joker"

Shahrukh Khan is known to go all out for his friends, he has recently completed good friend Farah Khan directed film Om Shanti Om which is also being produced under his home production banner. SRK and Farah have also worked together in her first debut direction Main Hoon Na which was a hit and they both go back a long way.

Naturally now when Farah’s husband Shirish has entered films as a director, he has received the strong support of SRK.
Shirish recently approached Shahrukh for his second film Joker, a sci-fi futuristic film. Shahrukh had earlier agreed to do the film as Shirish was Farah’s husband, but now after he recently read the final script of the film, SRK was unsure.

Shirish had made his grand directorial debut in style last year with the Salman-Akshay-Preity starrer Jaanemann. Unfortunately the film didn’t do too well at the box-office; nonetheless the filmmaker is still being given a chance by many production houses with his next film. When Shirish approached SRK with the idea of doing a sci-fi futuristic film, the actor was extremely excited with the concept.

However recently when SRK saw the final draft of the film, he was not too happy with it. However as he no doubt did not want to let his friend Farah down, he requested Shirish to re-work the script. But Shirish already has a reputation for being extremely headstrong, and was upset with the request made by SRK. Shirish did not want to change the script and he supposedly had a showdown with Shahrukh over the issue.

Shirish has now approached other actors for the role; Akshay may replace SRK in the film Joker as he has agreed to work on the film. He has also earlier starred in Shirish’s debut film. During the making of Shirish’s first film too, there were talks of disagreements between the producer of the film Sajid Nadiadwala and him.

So is Shirish making foes in the film industry already? However SRK and Farah’s film Om Shanti Om will be soon releasing and to avoid any bad publicity, SRK recently claimed that he had not declined to do Shirish’s film, but as he took pretty long to revert back to Shirish, things were being misconstrued by the media. However he did not confirm that he was doing the film either.

Incidentally SRK has made a special appearance in Akshay Kumar’s film Heyy Babyy. So whether this will this affect SRK and Farah’s friendship remains to be seen.

I know him very well: Gauri Khan

It was an evening that left everyone asking for more. But then, that is the effect that Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh Khan usually has on people. As King Khan sat on the podium, enthralling the packed room of guests with his unique wit and captivating them by reading excerpts from his book, everyone listened, in rapt attention.

The occasion was the star-studded launch of Anupama Chopra’s book on the superstar — King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema , presented by Radio Mirchi — and all of SRK’s buddies and well-wishers, and many industry bigwigs showed up to be witness to this ‘Khan’tastic evening.

Shah Rukh read out bits on his father, a handsome pathan by the name of Mir, who wanted to become an actor. Ironical that the same man’s son is ruling the hearts of millions worldwide today! And in quintessential SRK style, he regaled the crowd by telling them how, when he was a child, his father had him believe that yesteryears actress Madhubala had thought he was good-looking.

Good friend Karan Johar then took over, reading out excerpts on Shah Rukh the husband and Shah Rukh the superstar, while Rajkumar Hirani spoke about the making of the legend. Wife Gauri Khan, looking absolutely stunning, was seated next to good friend Kajal Anand.

When asked whether she would read the book, Gauri smiled that although she heard the book is very good, she wouldn’t need to read it since she knows her husband well enough!

Nita Ambani also made her gracious presence felt, and stayed on almost till the end. Anupama’s husband, filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, cheered his wife on as she narrated how she had hounded SRK and finally convinced him to be her subject.

Political heavyweight Dr Farooq Abdullah shone out amongst the throngs of guests, as he came to congratulate the writer. Having a fun time with the kids was John Abraham.

Others present at the occasion were Shah Rukh's sister Shehnaz, Anil Thadani, Subhash Ghai, Tanuja Chandra, Rohan Sippy, Juhi Chawla, Anu Malik, Kelly Dorji, Riya Sen, Prahlad Kakar, Jackie Shroff and Jimmy Sheirgill. Bacardi was the official liquor sponsor for the evening.

Source: TimesOfIndia

I do not think I am was a legend: SRK

Talking to reporters at the launch party of his biography ''King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the seductive world of Indian cinema'' here last night, the actor said the manner in which his character in the film reacts after the team wins the final match to lift the World Cup trophy was his favourite scene. ''This has given me inner peace,'' he remarked.

The superstar rejected the theory that the film's success will lead to a trend of sports movies. ''It is incorrect to state that a film's success or failure determines any trend. It only shows that the audience wants to watch a good story,'' Khan said.

He revealed he was in the midst of writing his autobiography when Anupama Chopra came up with the idea of her book. ''The book does not revolve just around me but the journey of Hindi cinema since the 1990s,''he pointed out.

''I may complete it after some years,'' King Khan said when asked if his book will see the light of the day. He said he had named his autobiography 'Twenty Years of a Decade'.

The actor said he was touched and humbled that books were written on him. ''It looks odd and makes me feel old,'' he said adding that ''books are selective memories. I think I should do something important in future to justify the good things being written about me in the books.

''I do not think I am was a legend. I am just doing a basic job. People have been good to me and I have not been mean to anybody,'' the actor said.

To a question on what he felt was his USP, ''my sense of humour,'' the actor replied.

When asked how he would like to be remembered, the actor said, ''When you meet my children after many years, they will tell you that I was a good father.''

Speaking about Sanjay Dutt's interim bail, Khan said he was relieved and happy. ''We all hope that his personal trials and tribulations end soon. He has already paid heavily for his mistake,'' he said.

The author of the book Anupama Chopra thanked King Khan for his co-operation adding that book was the success of her work started four years ago.

The launch party saw the presence of prominent personalities like Shah Rukh's sister Shehnaz Lala Rukh,his wife Gauri,Neeta Ambani, Juhi Chawla, former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdulah, Raj Kumar Hirani, Karan Johar, Anu Malik, John Abraham, Dia Mirza, Subhash Ghai, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Director Tanuja Chandra, who is the author's sister.

Source: ZeeNewsBureau

SRK's skin-cream ad irritates some people

Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood’s biggest star and corporate India’s most ubiquitous brand ambassador, is coming under pressure to abandon his controversial endorsement of a men’s skin-lightening cream.

Television commercials for Fair and Handsome, airing in August, show Mr Khan (or “SRK”) lauding a product that many see as entrenching discrimination based on skin colour by encouraging people to bleach themselves a lighter hue.

“To have a product based on a stigma is bad enough, but then to get a leading Bollywood actor to endorse it is a very silly decision,” said Suhel Seth, managing partner of Counselage, a strategic image management firm. “It’s not as if SRK needs the money. He should align himself with useful causes.”

Mr Khan, India’s Tom Cruise, is the first Bollywood superstar to lend his image to a skin-lightening product. Civil rights groups say the creams reinforce prejudice and undermine efforts to eradicate racial and ethnic discrimination.

“When the reigning star of Hindi cinema publicly endorses a cream that openly advocates fairness, lightness of skin, as desirable, nay necessary, it is a damn bad show. How could he do it?” wrote Shailaja Bajpai, a columnist in the Indian Express.

In the commercial, circulating on YouTube, Mr Khan urges a dark-complexioned and depressed-looking young man, struggling to attract female attention, to stop using skin-lightening products designed for women.

“Why are you secretly using a cream for girls?” Mr Khan asks. “Their skin is soft. Yours is rough and tough.” Several shades whiter and visibly more self-confident by the end of the 40-second commercial, the young man duly snares the girl of his dreams.

The adverts are the result of a two-year deal, reportedly worth $1.25m, (€930,000, £630,000), which the actor signed in June with Fair and Handsome’s makers, the Kolkata-based Emami Group.

The row over his endorsement, which has coincided with India’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of its liberation from colonialism, threatens to damage his status as the country’s default advertising vehicle. His office said yesterday that he was shooting and unavailable for comment.

Emami executives have admitted it took “seven to eight meetings” to persuade Mr Khan to endorse Fair and Handsome. In June, the actor said the endorsement was “yet another step in strengthening my faith in Emami and their products”.

Mr Khan, one of India’s most visible Muslims, sponsors everything from Hyundai cars to Pepsi. He first illustrated his appeal to “metrosexual” consumers in 2005 with a sensuous, semi-naked appearance in a Lux soap advert. Skin-lightening products are growing in popularity in India, enjoying about $320m in annual sales.

Source: FinancialTimesUK

Chopra's "king of Bollywood" formally released in India

Anupama Chopra's third book titled King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema hit stores across the world. The book was formally released in United States of America and India on 9 and 20 August respectively.

As the book formally released in India, its first 10,000 copies had already been sold out and the book is now in its second round of printing.

Shah Rukh Khan was present at the launch and even read excerpts from the book, about his father's brush with the film industry and how his parents first met and thereafter got married. Also present on the dais to read excerpts from the book, was Khan's close friend and director producer Karan Johar and writer director Rajkumar Hirani.

Speaking on the occasion Anupama Chopra said, "Work on this book started four years ago, as a vague idea about post liberalisation India and Shah Rukh Khan. I am glad that through these years SRK has been patient with my emails and SMSes even as he traveled all around the globe."

Khan added, "This book is not just on me, it is also about the Hindi film industry and also how the country was going through a change in the 1990s. Anupama's research is extensive."

Khan autographed a copy of the book, which will be put up for auction on eBay.com and the amount will be donated to Khan's favourite charity informed Chopra.

SRK modestly went on to say, that he felt awkward when people write books on him. "I haven't done anything that books are written on me. But if people write books on me, then I think, I must be someone important and I want to prove my importance in the coming years with my hard work."

Additionally, it's been some years since Khan started penning his autobiography. "I also started work on my autobiography, but when someone as good as Anupama started writing about me, I let go of my book. My book was titled Twenty Years of a Decade because when I worked in the film industry for 10 years, it felt as if I had put in the work of about 20 years into it. Now it's been seven years since I have been writing the book, so it's been a total of 17 years in the film industry. So I guess when it's a whole of 'twenty years of two decades,' I should hopefully be ready with it. Actually, I wanted to end my book with my son's birth, but now I even have a daughter, so she too has to be a part of the book. Anupama's book was completed in 2006, so if by 2010 I release my book it will have newer chapters and will be more relevant at that time," Khan concluded.

Also present at the launch were Gauri Khan, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Tanuja Chandra, Shahnaz Lala Rukh (SRK's sister), Neeta Ambani, Amit Khanna, Manmohan Shetty, Subhash Ghai, Vivek Vaswani, Anu Malik, Juhi Chawla, Prasoon Joshi, Rohan Sippy, Dia Mirza and John Abraham.

Source: BusinessofCinema

SRK is a football lover

Shah Rukh Khan sure loves to kick a mean ball. The actor, who plays a hockey coach in Chak De! India , is actually a football lover. Not only does he follow the sport keenly, he also goes to the American School of Bombay ground at Bandra-Kurla complex every Sunday to indulge in a good game of football.

The line-up includes, apart from SRK, Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Chunky Pandey, Dino Morea and Dino's brother Santino amongst others.

Every Sunday, from 5 pm to 7 pm, SRK and his squad meet up for a testosterone-soaked two hours. After coming back from London, Shah Rukh has not even missed a single session of the game.

What's more he takes his son Aryan along as he wants him to toughen up playing the game with big boys. "SRK gets along his son Aryan to play. Apparently, he wants Aryan to play with them. He is also getting him trained in the sport from a professional trainer," reveals our source.

Reportedly, Dino encouraged him to join the gang that anyway used to meet regularly. For those who don't know, Shah Rukh was a University level football player.
In Melbourne, while shooting for Chak De! India , he used to play football during breaks with his 16-strong all-girls team as well. When contacted Dino Morea confirmed, "Shah Rukh has been playing football with us at the school grounds regularly of late. He is very passionate about the sport and there isn't a day that he is not willing to be present on the ground for the game."

Ritesh Sidhwani adds, "Farhan and I are also a part of the team. There are a lot of friends from the industry who play with us but I'd rather not disclose any other details."

Chunky Pandey is part of the team too, although he's upset that he couldnt make to yesterday's game, "I have been playing with the team but yesterday I couldn't make it as I had a shoot."

Source: TimesOfIndia

Shah Rukh Khan’s turn to play A Superhero

After Hrithik Roshan, it’s Shah Rukh Khan’s turn to play superhero.

The only difference is that King Khan is doing it only to win his lady love over in Farah Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’. “It’s a scene where Shah Rukh is trying to impress Deepika Padukone. He’s all dressed up as a superhero to woo her with some crazy stunts,” revealed a witness present on the sets during the shooting of the sequence.

Like most SRK romances where he does something to impress the heroine — right from ‘DDLJ’ to ‘Pardes’ to ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’ — this scene is a comic one. While Superman goes ‘Up, up and away’ before taking off, our desi superhero prefers ‘Oodi Baba’.

Apparently SRK so liked playing a goofy superhero that he did retake after retake just to repeat the experience. “Farah okayed the shot but Shah Rukh was enjoying the whole thing. He kept on doing retakes,” the witness added.

We all know film cans are expensive, but Farah let Shah Rukh have his way because he is producing the film. SRK’s other director Shimit Amin used up 1500 cans for ‘Chak De India’.

Given King Khan’s enthusiasm for playing a superhero, don’t be surprised if ‘Krrish 2’ stars him instead of Hrithik.

Oodi baba, now that’s a thought!

Source: DNA