SRK-Farah-Deepika Come Together, Again...

The Om Shanti Om team - Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Farah Khan - will work together in a song for Priyadarshan’s forthcoming film Billoo Barber. Only this time, Farah will adorn the choreographer’s hat.

The idea was instigated by none other but Priyadarshan himself. “Although Farah started her career choreographing for me I never worked with her after Virasat. And now I want to bring her back from maternity leave and choreograph the SRK-Deepika number. Call it a lucky charm.

The Deepika-SRK song is special on many counts. It’s first song that Gulzarsaab has written for my cinema. I’ve been a lifelong fan of his work. My films are deeply influenced by him. To have him write one of my songs is a big honour for me,” said Priyan.

The song that Farah choreographed for Virasat (‘Dhol bajane laga’) has a strange history. As the lyrics for the song were not ready, Farah choreographed the number to another song from the same film. “This time, the lyrics and the tune are ready for Farah,” says Priyan.

If Farah’s smashing debut was courtesy Priyan, Deepika too was supposed to start her career with him in a film on music piracy. “But that never materialised. I’m glad Deepika debuted with Shah Rukh. Now I can use the hit pair to create some magic in Billoo Barbar.” The item song will be shot on September 14.

The race between Rajnikant and Shah Rukh Khan to reach the theatres first has been won by Rajnikant. Now the Bollywood trade circles fear that Rajnikant’s Tamil film Kuselan will be dubbed in Hindi and be released before Billoo Barber, which features Shah Rukh Khan.

But director Priyadarshan is quite confident about his film’s success and says, “We’re not in competition with anyone. Kuselan filmmakers are bound by contract and hence can’t dub the film into any other language.”

But will the Kuselan filmmakers not find loopholes in the contract to dub the film in Hindi? According to a source a dubbed Hindi version of Kuselan is being released during Diwali too.

The presence of a poisonous snake and heavy showers disrupted the shoot of Billoo Barber in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu recently. A snake entered Lara Dutta's room late in the night, but she managed to handle the situation and is safe.

Recounts her co-star Irrfan Khan, "Had the snake bitten Lara, it would've been disastrous. But Lara was sensible and brave enough to come out unharmed."

Apart from this episode, heavy showers have disrupted the shooting schedule too. Recalling the shoot, Irrfan says, "Shah Rukh simply had to leave for Mumbai and the rains just wouldn't stop.

And since Priyadarshan had to wrap up the shoot, we had no choice but to shoot in the rain, which was quite harrowing."

Subhash. K. Jha, Mumbai Mirror

Shah Rukh injures himself

Shah Rukh has hurt his neck on the sets of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, while doing a stunt scene. He’s taking a break now and isn’t sure when he will get back to work.

He has sent messages to Adi Chopra and Priyadrashan that he will get back to work when his health is okay.

When Mumbai Mirror contacted SRK regarding his smoking issues, he said, “Someone from the press asked me if I plan to quit smoking and I said ‘I want to’, like most people do. But, it’s not national news! It’s something that I have been intending to do for a very long time. My wife (Gauri) and children have always been against my smoking and I too want to quit. But it’s not that easy after all.

It’s definitely not like I have given up smoking yet, but I am certainly trying. Now if people see me smoking they will only think that I have gone back to smoking after giving it up, which is not the case at all.”

“I hope I quit smoking soon as I’d love to see myself acting with my grandchildren,” added SRK.
Earlier, when Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss asked SRK to learn from Aamir Khan and quit smoking, the actor had defended on-screen smoking saying it was a creative liberty.

SRK’s decision is bound to make Ramadoss happy. “The fact that one more person is going to be happy because of my decision to quit smoking makes me more happy,’’ added SRK in the interview.

SRK, who is in Pollachi for the shooting of Billoo Barber, being directed by Priyadarshan said he had taken the decision to quit smoking during a recent foreign trip. He said that he did not feel like smoking during the 17 hours he spent in the flight, nor did he feel restless without a cigarette.

SRK had started smoking when he was 22 years old. He has been smoking for almost 20 years now. Although old habits die hard, SRK hopes that he will soon quit smoking even though it’s difficult.

Ashwini Deshmukh & Gladwin Emmanuel, Mumbai Mirror

SRK to appear on Rakhi Sawant's show

Rakhi has managed to get a verbal commitment from Shah Rukh to appear on her chat show.

A source reveals that Rakhi bumped into Shah Rukh at Yash Raj studios where she was shooting for her film with Rani Mukerji and approached him.

It is believed that Khan immediately said yes to the actress. Rakhi knows the actor as she worked in SRK's home production Main Hoon Naa.

A insider says, "Shah was on Rakhi's wishlist from the very beginning and she sent him several text messages asking him to be a guest on her show but the actor ignored all her SMSes. But when Sawant pinned SRK at the studio, he agreed to be on her show. Rakhi confirms, "Yes Shah Rukh has agreed to shoot for me.

I am thrilled because I always wanted him to be a guest on The Rakhi Sawant Showz. Since he has been so busy with his films and other work, I wasn't sure if he would agree. But he did, and I am very excited that he finally said yes!"

Rakhi reveals that Shah Rukh later confirmed his presence on her show via SMS. "Shah Rukh even sent me a message accepting my invitation. I don't know the exact date, but I will shoot with him whenever he tells me he's free."

Now that she's got both Aamir and Shah Rukh on the show, will she also get Salman? "Definitely, why not? I would love to have all the three big Khans on my show. It's an honour to have them on the show."

Tushar Joshi, Mid-Day

King Khan Decides to Quit Smoking

Health minister Anbumani Ramdadoss might have failed to inspire Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan to quit smoking, but his children have certainly done that.

Talking to the Malayalam daily from his latest location in Pollachi in Tamil Nadu, where he is shooting for a new film directed by Priyadarshan, the Bollywood superstar has said, that he is all set to completely quit smoking in the next two-months for the sake of his children.

“I am going to quit smoking for the sake of my children,” a Malayalam daily quoted him as saying.

He added, “They hate me smoking. I find that as a blessing in disguise. If they had no problems, I would have continued smoking.”

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had earlier appealed to Shah Rukh Khan and other actors to quit smoking onscreen.

However, King Khan chose creative liberty to 'no smoking'.

“I agree with what Mr Ramadoss said. Having said that as filmmakers we should have creative liberties because cinema is all about make believe,” Shah Rukh Khan said.

Ramadoss had also said, that Shah Rukh should not have smoked in the stands while watching a cricket match in Mumbai.

“I think minister Anbumani Ramadoss will also be happy to hear that I am going to quit smoking. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see one more person happy because of my actions,” Shah Rukh said.

IBN Live

Shah Rukh Khan is the Best

Shah Rukh Khan wasn't joking when he sang 'I am the best'. Take the recent case which happened on the sets of his home production, Billoo Barber.

A source present on the sets said, "The film's director Priyadarshan was chatting with SRK when he casually mentioned about the dedication and discipline of some lead actors like Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Salman Khan.

Priyan also cited some examples about their professionalism and how they always report early to the sets. That's when SRK took up the challenge to follow suit."

When contacted, Priyadarshan, who is currently shooting in Pollachi, laughed and said, "I was casually telling SRK that Akshay, Govinda and Salman always come earlier than the scheduled reporting time to the sets.

At times they are on the sets even before me. That's when SRK took up the challenge of reaching the sets earlier than me."

And guess what! The very next morning, SRK who used to generally report to the sets by 9 am, was there at 7 am. Priyadarshan added, "I was on my way to the location when I saw Shah Rukh's car speed past mine. He reported to the sets even before 7 am."

Billoo Barber also stars Lara Dutta, Om Puri and Irrfan Khan.

Sallu reacts to his spat with SRK

The new concept of connecting to the audience through blog is becoming extremely popular amongst our Bollywood celebrities.

And the latest star to join the Bollywood bloggers is none other than Salman Khan. He started with writing about his show Dus Ka Dum and now he has once again resorted to blogging to express his feelings on his fallout with Baadshah Khan.

Post the fight, Salman had clearly told his fans not to believe in reports that will keep flowing in about him. Salman is one candid actor and so is his girl friend Katrina who is no more part of Shah Rukh’s Temptation Reloaded Tour. Needless to say, the decision to opt out of the show comes after the Khan war on her 24th birthday bash.

Apparently, Salman’s new blog explains that these things don’t matter to him. He laughs, “Ha ha ha... I told you...didn’t I? Ki Farak Painda Hai (How does it matter)...You keep whacking a stick in water, what will happen to the water? Nothing. If the person doing this does not know that, then what does one do? Laugh because it’s funny or feel sad because it’s sad?” He signs off.

Needless to say that Salman, who is a King of entertainment by himself, doesn’t care about SRK’s King Khan Status and is not bothered about all that’s being said and written about him. That’s what we call Salman’s Just Chill attitude!

India Times Movies

Shah Rukh's new Mannat

A few months ago, all the Delhiites were only talking about the palatial bungalow which Shah Rukh was planning to build at No 1, Jor Bagh.

Once the construction began in earnest, and the Mannat board came up, crowds were constantly milling around the bungalow. But SRK's spokesperson denied that he was building the house and around two months back the Mannat board was taken off and replaced with a new nameplate that says 'Sarins'. Goes without saying that the crowds dissipated in no time.

But the Delhi grapevine insists Shah Rukh has not abandoned his plans for a dream home in the city. Apparently, SRK has bought a huge plot of land in Panscheel Park adjacent to the plot where his in-laws, the Chibbs reside. It's not on a main road, so Shah Rukh feels it should be easier to keep the crowds at bay unlike the scene at Mannat in Mumbai.

I can't help feeling SRK is being a wee bit optimistic. Wherever in the world he builds a home, people are going to gape at it. Guess, there is a huge price to be paid for fame. Right, SRK?

Buzz18

SRK is the Highest Tax Payer again

Shah Rukh Khan will be the highest income-tax payer from Bollywood for the second year in a row.

He has paid advance taxes of Rs 27 crore till December 15, 2007, said sources, putting his income for 2007-08 at over Rs 100 crore. It is a glittering jump from the money he made the previous fiscal when he paid a modest Rs 18 crore in tax.

2007 has been a particularly prosperous year for Shah Rukh Khan, who has often called himself “priceless’’. He has not only had two mega hits under his belt - Chak De, India and Om Shanti Om , which he also produced - but also earned Rs 1 crore for every episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati .

In the income-tax stakes, SRK is far ahead of the competition. Hrithik Roshan, who paid Rs 15 crore last year, had no releases in 2007 though his endorsement list has grown longer. Aamir Khan, who paid Rs 6 crore last year, released only one film, Taare Zameen Par , and is known to have taken the distribution rights as part of his remuneration. He has paid advance taxes worth Rs 3 crore.

While Amitabh Bachchan paid Rs 8 crore in income tax last year, his advance tax payment until December 15, 2007 was only Rs 1.8 crore. Bachchan, who is said to have upped his fee in 2008, is no more among the highest paid actors but his endorsement roster is still a blue-chip one.

Among those who have paid a high advance tax this fiscal are Akshay Kumar (Rs 7 crore, although there have been media reports in the recent about the actor paying tax of Rs 26 crore) and Himesh Reshammiya (Rs 2.5 crore). The singer charges Rs 5.5 crore as a composer and actor. Abhishek Bachchan has paid Rs 3.7 crore (much higher than his returns the previous year) while his wife Aishwarya Rai has paid Rs 1.6 crore. Close behind Rai is actor Kareena Kapoor with Rs 1 crore in advance tax.

On the corporate entertainment front, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Pvt Ltd paid advance taxes worth Rs 70 crore. They have done the maximum buying of films in 2007 including hits like Om Shanti Om and Taare Zameen Par . Hindustan Thompson was next (Rs 6 crore) followed by Balaji Telefilms (Rs 4.5 crore), Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies (Rs 3 crore) and Amitabh Bachchan’s company AB Corporation (Rs 2.4 crore).

Eros Entertainment, which bought the worldwide distribution rights of Om Shanti Om for a whopping Rs 70 crore from Shah Rukh Khan, had deducted Rs 7 crore in tax deducted at source in this transaction alone.

Times Of India

Shah Rukh takes KKR higher

Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat has signed up with Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders for the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to held in April next year.

Arafat, who plays for Kent in the English county, confirmed that he was approached by the Kolkata team and had accepted the offer after getting clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"They (Knight Riders) approached me and I was keen to join because it was owned by Shah Rukh Khan. The team has got many exciting players in it," said Arafat, who is having a successful season with Kent in Twenty20 form of the game.

Arafat hails from Rawalpindi, the same city from where pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanvir belong.

Hindustan Times

A surprise treat from SRK!

Another treat for Shah Rukh Khan fans is on its way — his biography titled 'Shah Rukh Can' will hit the stands next month.

Priced at the Rs 395, it’s an account of SRK’s life, from his childhood in Delhi to the sets of Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain (this was being added to the book at the time this story went to press).

The book’s author Mushtaq Sheikh, who had earlier authored Still Reading Khan and The Making of Om Shanti Om, said, “It’s an introspective study about SRK the human being, the actor and film personality. He’s openly talked about his life, his idols, and also about how exciting his journey from television to cinema has been. He has spoken about his seniors, contemporaries and has not made any controversial statements about anyone”.

Asked about his experience of working with King Khan, Sheikh said, “For me, the most exciting experience was to see the child in him, as he would go down memory lane during each of the sittings.” The book highlights SRK’s achievements in his career as well as his future plans. Ajay Mago of Om Books, the publisher, said, “Each chapter starts with a quote from Shah Rukh. There are so many facets of his life. He personifies the best that a mother would want in her son, a girlfriend would dream of in her lover, a wife would want in her husband, and a child would want in his father”.

The book has 24 coloured pages with pictures from Shah Rukh’s childhood and growing up years as well. Asked why another book on SRK, Mago explained, “We received a tremendous response for Still Reading Khan, but priced at Rs 3,000 it was beyond the reach of an SRK admirer from among the masses. This book is specially developed and designed keeping both the masses and classes in mind.”

The book is an extension of the coffee table pictorial biography Still Reading Khan, according to him. As distributors, selling 20,000 copies of King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the seductive World of Indian Cinema, a biography written by Anupama Chopra, encouraged them to come up with the next book, said Suresh Kohli, Chief Editor, Om Books. Plans to have the book translated in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and German are in the pipeline.

Pricy Jain, Hindustan Times