"Today, every superstar is removing his shirt" - Farah Khan

It's not even a week since the first look of 'Dard-E-Disco' was out and the song, especially due to 'perfect-six-abs' of Shahrukh Khan, is already the talk of the town. Composed by Vishal-Shekhar and written by Javed Akhtar, 'Dard E Disco' is a 'jump-on-the-dance-floor' number which has a Persian touch to it even as overall feel of the song stays on to be Western.

"I am thrilled with the kind of reactions the song is fetching. As the teaser suggests, this is my way of re-introducing Shahrukh Khan", quips Farah Khan, director of this year's most awaited film Om Shanti Om.

Re-introduction it certainly is, considering the fact that after 'Kaal Dhamaal' [Kaal] where he danced in designer sleeveless vests with Malaika Arora, Shahrukh Khan has shed his inhibitions further and gone the Monty route, even if it is only half the way!

"Well, full credit to Shahrukh for attempting something like this which showcases him in an altogether different 'avtaar'", talks Farah fondly for her superstar friend, "The idea was to give him a much leaner look, while refraining from making it all look artificial."

"Shahrukh has a good physique but when you are required to remove shirt for the camera and the entire world is expected to watch you, extra care has to be taken", explains Farah about the effort which went behind the makeover of 40 years plus King Khan.

She adds, "We never wanted a beefy look for him, that wouldn't have worked. Instead, what you see is a body which befits that of a swimmer. Also, it was not just the physique part on which we concentrated. Even his hair has been done differently to give him a real makeover."

A contemporary track with Sukhwinder Singh in his full elements and Marianne, Nisha and Caralisa coming together for backup vocals, 'Dard-E-Disco' is a true-blue dance number, as expected from Vishal-Shekhar. Still, one can't help but ask Farah whether a situation like this was absolutely required in the film?

Justifies Farah, who is dabbling between paying visits to doctors and supervising media campaigns for her November 9 release, "As we all know, the film has Shahrukh Khan as junior artist in the 70s followed by being a superstar of 21st century. These are the times when every superstar is removing his shirt with a physique to die for. It is imperative for the character played by Shahrukh Khan also to dabble in something similar", she smiles.

Meanwhile first promo of the film has reportedly settled down with the audience too. "It was always expected that it would be very well received across multiplexes. People were clapping and cheering aloud while it was played first. You have to be there to witness the noise level when the promo was on; one could barely hear what was being played on screen", informs Farah about the crowd reaction.

"What further thrilled me was the response from theaters across UP and Bihar. After being elated with the tremendous response, distributors have not stopped calling ever since", cheers Farah.

Source: IndiaFM

Shah Rukh Khan's Chak De Motivates a Big Win for India

Shah Rukh Khan may deny it but Chak De India motivated our players to perform well. Coming after the miserable performance of our cricketers at Lords the pre-vious day, the sweet taste of victory was welcome.

So, Chak De India has worked and we saw the influence of the movie on the Indian team in the recent Asia Cup hockey tournament. Indian fans, disappointed with its cricket team’s loss at Lord’s on Saturday, were overwhelmed by the victory of the Indian hockey team in the Asia Cup, on Sunday. The Indian hockey team lifted the men’s Asia Cup hockey title with a huge 7-2 win over South Korea in Chennai. In fact, the Indian hockey team had won the Asia Cup only once before – way back in 2003, when the team played some excellent hockey against some tough opponents.

Soon after the game ended, television news channels also came out with special reports on the Asia Cup Final and most of the channels appreciated the movie Chak De India too, in the process.

NDTV interacted with Shahrukh Khan, who played the hockey coach, Kabir Khan in the movie Chak De India. Shahrukh Khan was also pleased with the team’s victory, but he gave all the credit to the team and opined that Chak De India had played no role in India’s victory in the final. He said the Indian players had in fact played an exceptional game and they were the real heroes.

Yes, Chak De India was just a movie and there is a huge difference between reel life and real life. But viewed from across the spectrum, the film had really motivated our players and the fighting spirit really stood out in all the matches. What the Indian players achieved on Sunday is really commendable and they have set a benchmark for the upcoming hockey tournaments including the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the next Hockey World Cup. Moreover, the victory in the Asia Cup is just the beginning of a better tomorrow. We expect much more from the Indian hockey team. Lastly, we hope that the players will restore India’s supremacy in the national game by winning the gold in the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Source: MeriNews

OSO cinematographer V Manikanandan amazed by SRK

He made the sober Sushmita Sen sizzle in MAIN HOON NA, Shilpa Shetty wow the audience in MR. ROMEO.

And now his eyes are trained on the stunning Deepika Padukone, who makes her dream debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the upcoming 35-crore venture, OM SHANTI OM.

Who are we talking about? Well, let us not test your patience further. We are referring to Shah Rukh's in-house cinematographer, Manikanandan, for two of his biggest home productions, MAIN HOON NA and the forthcoming OM SHANTI OM.

A fan of veteran P C Sreeram, Manikanandan's admiration for King Khan (which started with MAIN HOON NA) has only increased. He finds the superstar fantastic. He is specially amazed by the way Shah Rukh Khan has developed his 6-pack abs in a matter of two months, for the much talked about (on-air) 'Dard-E-Disco'.

Abid, BollywoodTradeNewsNetwork

Sanjay Dutt is extremely impressed by Shah Rukh Khan's 6-pack abs!

Sanjay Dutt is mighty impressed with Shah Rukh Khan's 6-pack abs . The actor, who was addressing a press conference for his film Dhamaal said," I am really happy to see that Shah Rukh has worked on his body. It is important for one to remain fit; I will also work out more from now on."

Dutt has done a song in Shah Rukh Khan's film Om Shanti Om.

Source: IndiaTarget

"The recipe for such a success was most wonderfully conveyed by Shah Rukh Khan"

The other day, my wife and I were perhaps among the very few post-50 people in the mostly-20ish crowd watching the film Chak De in Bangalore. You had to be there to believe the shouts of joy that accompanied every goal India scored in the imaginary tournament in the movie.

The mood at the end was as if India had actually won the women's World Cup in hockey. I can appreciate this mood since I too felt similar joy and pride when hundreds of cameras clicked at me holding our national flag, on India and my being declared the winners of the E and Y world entrepreneur award among the 40-odd competing nations at Monaco in 2003.

As I exited the theatre after watching Chak De that day, several youngsters asked me for my reaction to the movie. My answer was simple. I said I wanted to see the movie become a reality, not just in hockey, but in every sphere.

The recipe for such a success was most wonderfully conveyed by Shah Rukh Khan and those wonderful women hockey players in the movie. Let me recount them here. We have to identify as Indians first and rise above our affiliations with our states, religions and castes. We must accept meritocracy and enthusiastically play the role we are best suited to. We must embrace discipline to strictly follow every step required for success. We have to put the interest of our nation ahead of our personal interests, subordinating our egos and biases. Finally, we have to put in tremendous hard work and make short-term sacrifices for long-term glory.

I have immense faith and optimism in the youth of this country. But, will we get our leaders to set examples for hundreds of millions of Indian youth? I wish more and more of our leaders see Chak De and learn these precious lessons.

Narayan Murthy - As Guest Editor TimesofIndia

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

When SRK and Farah Khan had a big fight

The bad news is that Farah Khan and Shah Rukh Khan got into a terrible fight during the shooting on the film's sets. The good news is that this was strictly for the camera!

This was for a scene which required Farah Khan to be making an appearance in her second directorial venture which releases all over on 9th November.

So what's the news in that? After all the entire Hindi film industry ranging from Amitabh Bachchan to Amrita Arora would be seen in a special appearance in this Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal and Shreyas Talpade starrer!

Well, the difference here is that she won't be seen playing herself or would be restricting her appearance in the end title rolls of this mega movie. Instead she would be there right at the beginning of the film enacting the role of a junior artist.

What? Did we just hear Farah Khan as a junior artist? Laughs Farah, "Well, this is the entire irony that we wanted to bring about. Imagine me playing a junior artist in the film? In fact I am seen along with Shah Rukh Khan in the opening sequence of the film itself."

And how exactly does it go? Says Farah with an uncontrollable laughter, "I and Shah Rukh are shown to be pulling each other's hair madly. It's a mad-mad scene as we both me and Shah Rukh, who also plays a junior artist for the 70s part of the film, are involved in a terrible fight."

Two real life super-celebrities and thick friends fighting with each other; well it can't be more ironic than this. "That's true. The scene has turned out to be really hilarious as Shahrukh's character even asks me if I thought of myself to be the director of the film. On this I reply that if I was one, I would have already thrown him out of the film by now", Farah explains the scene.

Farah throwing Shah Rukh out of her film? Well, that would have indeed made for some news if it would have indeed happened in real life. Touchwood. Nevertheless, one can breath easy as long as it happened strictly for screen.

Talking more about the other artists making an appearance in Om Shanti Om, Farah says, "The special/guest appearances are not just restricted to the living legends or other celebrities. In fact right from the cameraman to the assistant directors to those who have worked behind the scenes to make Om Shanti Om - everyone would be seen in Om Shanti Om."

Coming back to Farah's appearance in Om Shanti Om, this is not the first time that she has faced the camera.

Earlier in Main Hoon Naa (2004), she was seen playing herself during the end credit title rolls of the film. Prior to that, she also made a blink-and-you-would-miss appearance in Shah Rukh's Kal Ho Na Ho (2003). Nevertheless, this would be the first time ever that she would also be seen enacting a character in Om Shanti Om.

"Well, don't expect an extended appearance, ok", warns Farah, "It is fun, yes, but alas, it lasts for just 10-20 seconds!"

Source: IndiaFM / ExpressIndia

Om Shanti Om : Track List

Music releasing on the 18th September, 2007

1. AANKHON MEIN TERI — 4:01
K.K
Lyrics: Vishal

2. DARD-E-DISCO — 4:30
SUKHWINDER SINGH, MARIANNE, NISHA, CARALISA 4.30

3. DEEWANGI DEEWANGI — 5:53
SHAAN, UDIT NARAYAN, SHREYA GHOSHAL, SUNIDHI CHAUHAN, RAHUL SAXENA

4. MAIN AGAR KAHOON — 5:08
SONU NIGAM, SHREYA GHOSHAL

5. JAG SOONA SOONA LAGE — 5:29
RAHAT FATEH ALI KHAN, RICHA SHARMA
Punjabi Lyrics; Kumaar

6. DHOOM TAANA — 6:13
SHREYA GHOSHAL, ABHIJEET

7. DASTAAN-E-OM-SHANTI OM — 7:07
SHAAN

8. DARD-E-DISCO - REMIX — 4:36
REMIXED BY DJ AQEEL

9. DEEWANGI [ Rainbow Mix ] — 4:48
REMIXED BY DJ KIRAN & DJ G

10. OM SHANTI OM MEDLEY MIX — 6:06
REMIXED BY JACKIE V

11. DASTAAN [The Dark Side Mix] — 6:18
REMIXED BY ZOHEB,DJ NIKHIL CHINAPPA, DJ NAWED

12. OM SHANTI OM THEME MUSIC — 0:58

Pop singer Shakira may be seen in Farah khan's Om Shanti Om

Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan met pop star Shakira during the rehearsal for a show of the MTV Video Music Awards held at Radio City in New York. Choreographer cum director Farah khan is getting very impressed by the performance of this Colombian-Lebanese singer and dancer.

Farah says about her that she has a great skill to grasp the dancing steps quickly even they are difficult enough. Now it may be this belley dancer would be seen in the bollywood upcoming movie Om Shanti Om. The film is the next directorial venture of Farah Khan after ‘Main Hoon Na’starring by Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.
Farah told that it would be too early to say about the matter but she had requested to Shakira to do an item number in her next film Om Shanti Om.

Shakira doesn’t much acquainted with Hindi films, but she knows that Shahrukh Kham is a big star in India and she has also visualized the dancing songs like Chhaiya Chhaiya and the Qawalli song from ‘Main Hoon Na’and liked very much.

Shakira is a two time Grammy Award winner and eight time Latin Grammy Award winner artist and the highest selling Colombian artist of all time. She is well known for having an IQ of 140. In the United World Chart Shakira is most famous and successful artist from the year 2000 to 2007.

Being bare-chested is not my USP : Shah Rukh Khan

The promos of Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om just released, and it’s hard to miss the actor in his bare-chested glory six-pack abs and a lean, mean and toned body.

Here, the actor talks about his abs, being compared to Salman Khan and why he won’t kiss his leading ladies.

*Now that you’ve gone bare-chested, will you ever do a full monty?

No. I will not do anything I’m not comfortable doing. I know I’d be uncomfortable doing certain things so I don’t do them.
I feel the same way about lovemaking and kissing scenes. I have never done a kissing scene before and I wouldn’t do it even today.

*How open were you with the idea of going bare-chested?

Farah (Khan) and I discussed my look in the song Dard-E-Disco but I told her I’d shoot for it only if I managed to build a presentable body.That was the understanding.
Om Shanti Om is a film is about stars in 2007-08, where everybody has a good body so it’s a part of the character.

*No reservations about going bare-chested?

No. The idea was to have the body looking good and everybody took a decision on that.
They said it looked pleasant and nice, added to the film and I got into my character.
We all agreed it was fine.

*So how did you do it?

I took a couple of months off, worked out every day,controlled my diet, had lots of aminos (proteins) and got the six-pack abs. Aminos are purer form of proteins which help in building muscles faster.

*Did you feel awkward while shooting the song?

Though it’s Farah’s film and my home production, I have never done this kind of thing before, so initially I felt a bit odd.
I was shy at first but then people joked about it.
I had shown Hrithik some pictures and he was very encouraging, so I was fine. I am shy of dancing too.

*How long did it take you to build your body?

It took me two and a half to three months. I have been working out for the last three years. My body didn’t need to look round and muscular. It just needed to look lean. I worked on my abs in London quite a bit and controlled my food. It’s very important to control your diet and fortunately for me, I am not a foodie. I have always eaten simple from childhood. I eat grilled food with minimum oil or roti, some rice and tandoori
food.

*Will you hold on to your abs now?

Yes. I would like to retain this buffed up body and abs. I am too old to be trying to build up muscle.
During the shooting of Chak De, I played
hockey. Now I have started playing soccer. Games are the best way to keep a body like this.

*With your new body do you consider yourself hot?

I have never thought of myself like that. I am not vain. Many people thought I looked sexy in Chak De but that doesn’t mean I will sport the look forever. If a look works for a film it’s fine. I won’t do photo-sessions or ads without my clothes because those are not roles I am playing.
Being bare-chested is not a part of my USP.

*How did Gauri and your children like your new body?

They like it. My son (Aryan) likes it a lot. In fact, he has a body like that – well-built and lean as he’s into sports.

*There will be comparisons with Salman.

I went and showed my body to Salman. He’s encouraged and helped me a lot. Initially, when I started exercising, I would ask Prashant to take tips from Salman. He tells me what to do.
Sanju and Hrithik have also given me lots of tips. There can be no comparison with Salman. He’s the godfather of bodybuilding — rather, the Dadasaheb Phalke of body builders in India, as he made the country aware of body- building. I am not as good as he is. Salman’s got a fantastic physique.

*Which actors ‘bare’ well?

Salman, Hrithik, John Abraham and Arjun Rampal. They have been doing it for years and comfortably.

Upala KBR, MidDayMumbai