King Khan joins the league of Celine Dion, Leonardo Di Caprio

What would you get when you combine the Brand Ambassador of Romance and the God's very own Kingdom of Love? The answer is 'Rendezvous'! This is exactly what had taken place at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, when the French Embassy, in collaboration with Unifrance inaugurated the 1st Rendez-vous with French Cinema.

The USP of the event was undoubtedly the 'Brand Ambassador of Romance' Shah Rukh Khan himself, who was conferred the prestigious 'Insignia of Officer in the Order of Arts & Letters'. With this, the King Khan joins the league of the previous awardees like Arundhati Roy, David Bowie, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert Redford to name a few. Also, present on the occasion were Verenioque Cayla, Managing Director-CNC, Jerome Seydoux-Chairman of Pathe.

Even though the event was nothing short of a visual treat, but what really took the cake was the Q & A round with the King Khan. Needless to say that SRK was in his elements and was ready with an answer (read 'repartee') to every question, even before the question would have popped up in the person's mind. When asked about his take on the French cinema, SRK said "It's just a beginning. I feel too humble for this huge honour. I feel that I am taking the Indian Cinema much beyond as a career." He also drove home a few examples to explain that cinema is cinema, irrespective of the language. Not only that, SRK also got nostalgic about his first ever visit to France (which was for Devdas) and the second time for Veer Zaara. When asked about his popularity in France and his acceptance, he resembled a personified version of humbleness and modesty, as he said that "It's not me who is popular in France. It's the Indian Cinema which is popular and I am just a part of the Indian Cinema!" He also did not rule out the possibility of a French film, but with a right script and at the right time!

Echoing SRK's sentiments and statements was His Excellency Jerome Bonnfont, the Ambassador of France in India, who said "We want to marry the Indian and the French cinema, which will take some time, but, will happen for sure!" He also added that this kind of 'Rendez-Vous' will happen every year.



Bollywood Hungama

Shah Rukh earns more from ads

Shah Rukh Khan, the Badshah of Bollywood, is an even bigger king of the advertising world, according to his tax figures.

The superstar has paid an advance tax of Rs.270 million ($6.8 million) on his estimated income during the current financial year of 2007-08, but a major share of it has gone into paying for his income from endorsing a slew of products and other sources.

Sources in the advertising agency for which the superstar has worked reveal that his income from endorsements fetches him Rs.1.5 billion ($38 million) a year, the highest for any Indian advertising "model".

In comparison, though Amitabh Bachchan endorses more products than Khan, earnings from his annual endorsements do not cross Rs.1.2 billion.

Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, two other Bollywood stars who source a good part of their incomes from endorsements, earn a little less than Rs.1 billion each from advertising assignments annually. The rest of the Bollywood "models" are all in the Rs.50- million income bracket.

Industry observers believe that apart from the top chair he occupies in Bollywood, Shah Rukh is going to maintain his prominent position in the advertising world as well for some more years as there is no one yet who can rival his charisma.

In the current fiscal, his earnings from this source may go a little above Rs.1.5 billion as he has been made brand ambassador of more products - and more are waiting, the sources added.

King Khan's earnings from endorsements stand at a notch much above the emoluments that he gets for starring in movies, which, according to his own admission, never goes beyond Rs.50-60 million per assignment.

A big chunk of his income from outside Bollywood in the current fiscal also came from hosting STAR Plus' Kaun Banega Crorepati quiz series for which he received Rs.10 million per episode.

Additionally, he also made a quick profit of Rs.400 million across the table by selling the world distribution rights of his home production Om Shanti Om to Eros International for Rs.750 million as against the production cost of Rs.350 million.

The profit that he earned from the deal was apart from the remuneration of Rs.50 million that he gave to himself for leading the cast in the movie.

Barring this, the actual figure of his earnings from starring in movies was only Rs.200 million, as he featured in four movies last year. Considering his current star-price, his income from movies in the current fiscal may not go beyond Rs.300 million, which is way below his average earnings from endorsements.

If Shah Rukh earns less from movies, it is because he is seen as the least greedy among the Bollywood stars. Any producer would vouch for it. While other stars generally hike their prices after each successful movie, Shah Rukh never increases his price as others do without thinking. Even after Om Shanti Om became a super-hit, he has decided against hiking his price.

"Shah Rukh chooses his movies carefully. First, the subject matter must appeal to him and, if it does, his opting to star in the movie would largely depend on the credibility and antecedents of the producer and the director," said an executive of the star's production banner, Red Chillies Production.

"But once he has agreed to a movie, he would devote himself to it wholeheartedly and ensure that the producer never faces any problem in successfully completing it," the executive, not wishing to be named, said.

It is therefore no wonder that Shah Rukh has been seen to be working only for certain known banners in the last decade. It may even be said if any lesser-known production house rather than Yash Raj Films had approached him for a film like Chak De! India, he would have perhaps refused it.

"I have not seen him throwing star tantrums ever, like nitpicking on small things as most stars do. He comes to the sets and gets involved in shooting right away. As a matter of fact, on the sets, he never behaves like a star," said a production controller, the professional who on behalf of the producer takes care of the needs of the stars during shoots.

In contrast, Shah Rukh behaves like a 'star' when he shoots for TV commercials. There he refuses to compromise on anything, particularly on his price.

Says he, "Why should I compromise? TV commercials are what they are - commercials. The companies that manufacture the brands pay the advertising agencies to make the commercials and the companies do so in order to boost their sales. The agencies, on their part, use me as a prop to meet the demands of the companies. So there! If you use me as a prop to climb up, pay me. Unlike my price for movies, I have no fixed price for my appearance in commercials."

But don't the producers sign him up essentially to boost box-office performance of their movies?

The superstar counters this question, saying he is beholden to Bollywood because it made him the superstar that he is today. He says his charging less for movie appearances is his little gesture of gratitude towards the industry.

"Had the industry not put me in a position where I am today, would the companies have chosen me to be their brand ambassadors?" he asks.

Is King Khan, then, robbing Peter to pay Paul? As one advertising agency executive put it: "He is, but he has made his 'larceny' seem like a social service."

Indo-Asian News Service

Guess who designed SRK's office at Mannat ?

Now here’s some more news about the King Khan, we all know that just some time back he built a new office in his mansion like house Mannat, well the story is about the designer for the office.

And guess who did that? Well, not many people know about this but the entire settings and the marvelous, state of the art office was designed by none other than, Hrithik's wife Suzzanne Khan.

"Suzzanne has also designed Priyanka Chopra's house and after that she took up SRK's office work. Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri are very happy with the design and that's when Rakesh Roshan approached him to do the item number in his home production, he did that without even thinking twice," says a friend of Shah Rukh Khan.

Ryan Lobo, Indiatimes Movies

King Khan's dig at BCCI

He's got the IPL's Kolkata team to himself - and a victorious Shahrukh Khan has now taken a dig at the BCCI.

The 'Badshah' says no one should have objections if he goes to watch a match now.

Vintage Shahrukh was at his best as he took a potshot at the Indian cricket board yesterday, when it became apparent that Khan was still smarting from his run-in with the BCCI a few months ago when the board had implied that Shahrukh's attendance at cricket matches including the T20 final was a rather clever attempt to promote his film 'Om Shanti Om'

A furious Shahrukh had at that time anounced that he knew where he wasn't welcome.

"I would like all those who play cricket or football or hockey to not watch my films. I do not like it. This is a spectator sport - I think I was invited by the BCCI itself and I was very happy I went - but now I am a little sad," SRK had reacted on November 21, 2007.

But now, the proud owner of the Kolkata IPL team seems to be getting his come uppance and is enjoying every second of it.

"The one thing I hope that does not happen is that people think I am watching a cricket match to promote my film. I will be supporting my team," said SRK on Thursday evening to the press.

The Badshah of Bollywood certainly has a way with words, and if he has his way cricket, is all set to get a lot more entertaining whether the BCCI likes it or not.

Timesnow.tv

SRK chucks Hockey, selects Cricket

Shah Rukh Khan surely hit a six straight out of the ground yesterday (Jan 24) when he bagged the ownership of the Kolkata team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a staggering $75.9 million (approx Rs. 296 crores).

King Khan who is an ardent sports lover, created a solid impact through his power-packed performance of a hockey-coach in the smash-hit Chak De India and brought our very own National sport hockey back into the reckoning. However, Shah Rukh soon shifted his loyalties towards the more popular sport cricket when he was seen cheering the 'Boys in Blue' as they created history winning the T20 World Cup in South Africa last September. He even made fleeting appearances at a few other One-day matches with his Om Shanti Om co-star, Deepika Padukone, and soon tongues started wagging that SRK is using cricket to promote his films. Before you could say SRK, he distanced himself from anything to do with cricket and even denied any intention of bidding for teams in IPL.

However, after much speculation and deliberation, Khan sprung a surprise when he was in the bidding process for cricket teams for the forthcoming IPL. What's more he along with friends Juhi Chawla and her husband Jai Mehta even bagged the ownership rights of Kolkata team for nearly Rs.300 crores yesterday.

Now with cricket back on King Khan's mind would hockey take a backseat? Your guess is as good as ours. In fact, as the artist of the above picture depicts, King Khan seems to be literally torn apart between Cricket and hockey even as he clearly makes his choice obvious.

Image Courtesy: Mid-Day
Source: Bollywood Hungama

"I am just out of work right now." - SRK

MUMBAI: Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan has given a candid interview while speaking to Sonia Singh at the NDTV Indian of the Year Award Function held in Delhi on 17 January.

"I would love to work but I think I have over exposed myself last year so most of the producer, directors are not signing me. Until Mr. Chidambaram lowers the taxes I guess none of the producers can afford me. So I am just out of work right now." This was Shah Rukh Khan's statement to NDTV 24x7 managing editor Sonia Singh on being asked what his plans were for 2008.

Khan also advised all politicians to be 'as honest as is realistically possible', on being asked by Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on what his advice to politicians would be.

He received the Indian of the Year award for the actor with the most impact on Hindi Cinema in the year 2007.

The interview will be aired on NDTV 24x7 on 26 January at 8 pm with a repeat on 27 January at 11 am and 10 pm.

Business Of Cinema

Ganguly finds supporter in Kolkata team's owner Shah Rukh Khan

MUMBAI, January 24: Discarded from India's One-day cricket team, Sourav Ganguly found a big fan in Shah Rukh Khan soon after the film star won his bid for the Kolkata side in the Indian Premier League. "He is one of the most stunning and wonderful players in the world. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are two players I am most impressed by. I love them for the human beings they are," said Shah Rukh.

"I am very impressed by their commitment and by the way they play their cricket," he said. "Even as everybody kept asking when they would retire, they keep playing so well."

On whether he and his kids wanted Mumbai, Shah Rukh said: "I am happy that Mukesh has Mumbai. His team is mine and my team is his. We will all play in a friendly way. Maybe we will end in a tie, even then it will be our win."

On what his Kolkata team and captain would like, Shah Rukh said: "I like Sourav, or for that matter all other players. As for the captain and the team, it will be up to the experts to decide on that. I will have a core team to do all and I will try and see as many matches as possible and encourage the sport more."

Talking about his love for the sport, he added: "I am a brand ambassador for my country. We are not here for money, we are here for the sport."

"I will support cricket and not promote cricket, otherwise people will say I am promoting my films," said Shah Rukh.

Last year Shah Rukh was accused of turning up with the Indian team for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in order to promote his films. That was the time the film "Om Shanti Om" - where he stars - was about to be released.

"If you come to my house, you will see all kind of sports equipment and we (his family) keep on playing all kinds of sport," Shah Rukh added.

IANS

King Khan, Preity Zinta bag teams in IPL bidding

After months of speculation, the verdict is finally out. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who had expressed a keen interest in acquiring a team in BCCI's much awaited Indian Premiere League (IPL), has emerged as one of the successful bidders thereby getting hold of the Kolkata team.

Mukesh Ambani emerged as the highest bidder bagging the Mumbai team while liquor baron Dr.Vijay Mallya was not far behind when he won the bid for Bangalore. However, a surprising name among the winners of the bid was none other than Preity Zinta who has bagged the Mohali team.

One thing's for certain with such big names from entertainment and business world now associated with this event, apart from top cricketers, it will indeed be a spectacle when the season kicks of somewhere in the middle of this year.

Bollywood Hungama

Nobody actually knows Shah Rukh

“Shah Rukh's persona and the films that he does, speak to an audience that transcends all boundaries,” says well known journalist-author Anupama Chopra whose bestseller King of Bollywood Shahrukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema has been translated in German and will be launched on January 30 and a few days later SRK will be having a special screening of his blockbuster Om Shanti Om at the Berlin Film Festival.

“The translation has been undertaken by Rapid Eye Movies who are pioneers in disseminating Bollywood in Germany. They were the ones to promote Hindi films in Germany with Karan's Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. King of Bollywood…happens to be their first venture in publishing,” an excited Anupama informs.

Adding another feather to his blooming cap, Shah Rukh Khan will be honored with the honourable distinction of Officer dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) on January 27 in Mumbai either by French President Nicolas Sarkozy or the French Ambassador to India Jerome Boonafont. Arundhati Roy is the other famous recipient of this award.

Anupama, you've interacted with Shah Rukh Khan over a period of several years while writing this book. How would you evaluate Shah Rukh Khan's persona, considering he rules the Hindi Film Industry (many would say the Indian Film Industry), wins whatever possible awards that have been invented, has a great sense of humour, is supremely competitive but he also happens to have lost his parents early in life, has withstood gangster threats and a lot more? “He has had his share of ups and downs and has seen such extremes in life that he is so grounded. Gauri (Khan) once said, nobody actually knows Shah Rukh.”

Faridoon Shahryar, Bollywood Hungama

Bindass to air SRK concert on 26 January

MUMBAI: This Republic Day get ready to watch some fun performances by Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Dia Mirza, Rakhi Sawant and others on Bindass that will telecast the Airtel Bindass India Concert. The show will be aired on 26 January from 6.30 pm onwards.

The three-hour concert by Cineyug organized to celebrate the power of youth will begin with the red carpet at 6.30 pm followed by the main concert at 7 pm.

King Khan will perform with his fans on chartbusters like Mein Hoon Don, Aankhon Mein Teri, Pretty Woman along with Priyanka Chopra on Aaj Ki Raat from Don, Rakhi Sawant with Beedi from Omkara, Dino Morea showing a jhalak of his moves on Jhalak Dikhalaja , Kunal Ganjawala humming along with performances by Mauli Dave and Niti Mohan choreographed by Ganesh Hegde. And Sajid Khan has tickled funny bones here.

Also watch winners of the Dance with SRK Contest – 12 years old Viddhi from Mumbai, Andrew from Kolkata and Richa from Delhi as they shake a leg with Shah Rukh Khan.

Business Of Cinema