Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh at Aby-baby’s ‘Drona’ premiere

So, it was not only Abhishek’s lady love Aishwarya who hurried her way to ‘Drona’s premiere, Bollywood’s ‘Baadshah’ Shah Rukh Khan along with wife Gauri also graced the red carpet at the sparkling venue.

World’s most beautiful woman Aishwarya Rai Bachchan dazzled in black, sporting her ever so contagious smile and clinging on to hubby and the star of the flick, Abhishek.

‘Drona’ features Abhishek Bachchan in a super-hero character and the movie could be his second solo hit after the 2007 release ‘Guru’. Alongside Abhishek, the movie features Priyanka Chopra as Drona’s love bird and bodyguard, Sonia; Kay Kay Menon in a devilish role of Riz Raizada and Jaya Bachchan as Queen Jayati, the mother of ‘Drona’.

Talking to Spicezee Abhishek said, “ ‘Drona’ is no super hero movie, you have to watch it to like it. And yes I am very happy my entire family is here, Ash is here, and a lot of my friends are here too. So, just wishing that ‘Drona’ does well with the audiences.”

Here’s what wifey Aishwarya had to say about ‘Drona’, “ I saw it loved it and like Abhishek said it’s no super hero flick. It’s a fantasy movie, children are going to love it, it’s like childhood revisited. Honestly, I cannot recall a movie like this in a long time.” It’s no super I am excited and waiting to watch him in his super hero avatar.”

However, Daddy amitabh had nothing much to add, “ The movie was certainly enjoyable, the visual effects were good.” About the success of the movie, “I really cannot predict anything right now. You will have to watch it and find out for yourself.”

The charming Shah Rukh wished for the movie’s success and hoped it to be as exciting as it promised to be.

In an exclusive chit-chat with Spicezee Shah Rukh spoke of his association with the Bachchans, “Abhishek and I are good friends, I am certainly looking forward for ‘Drona’, that’s what brings me here.”

In a quick quizzical about Salman, Shah Rukh snapped saying that there was nothing in particular he wanted to talk about and adhered to answering questions about the Bachchans and ‘Drona’.

King Khan will go on strike!

Film and television shoots in Mumbai and other parts of western India will be hit hard as one and a half lakh members of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday.

The federation members include actors, technicians, cameramen, spot boys and others.

Sources in the federation say several actors including Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan have agreed not to shoot from Wednesday.

In fact there are reports that schedules abroad could also be affected. Already about 40 shoots have been cancelled in the city.

Members of this federation that’s heading the strike, which includes actors, spot boys and other technicians, are protesting against producers.

Their demands are that, wages should increase every year and should be paid regularly, daily workers like dancers, junior artists, spot boys, light handlers should be paid daily and people who are not members of the federation should not be employed.

About 22 different associations are a part of this federation.

A friend like Shah Rukh…

Who says that top movie stars don’t attend events without charging a bomb! At least Shah Rukh Khan goes against the belief and walks an extra mile for a friend or a cause that he really cares for.

Recently, high-profile politician Kripa Shankar Singh invited SRK to join him at an Iftaar party.

Shah Rukh not only said yes, he surprised everyone by arriving at the venue at around 3.30 am in the morning and spent quite sometime there.

“In fact Shah Rukh had called me to check if we can meet for tea. When I extended this invitation he accepted it. He’s so busy with his work, still he found time to come. That is his humility,” said Singh. But then SRK always does what he feels right and that’s probably why he is called King Khan.

SRK's ‘OSO’ nominated for Asia Pacific awards

Om Shanti Om will compete with Men Jeuk (Sparrow, Hong Kong), Tulpan (Kazakhstan, Russia, Switzerland/Poland/Germany), Hong Se Kang Bai Yin (The Red Awn,People’s Republic of China) and Uc maymun (Three Monkeys, Turkey/France/Italy) for the Best Feature Film Award.

“Om Shanti Om”, “Jodhaa Akbar” and “Taare Zameen Par” are amongst five Indian films nominated Wednesday for the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), the highest accolade for film in the region.

The smash hit “Om Shanti Om” has been nominated for Best Feature Film, Ashutosh Gowariker’s blockbuster “Jodhaa Akbar” for Achievement in Cinematography, Aamir Khan’s critically acclaimed “Taare Zameen Par” and K Kanade’s “Mahek” for Best Children’s Feature and Rajat Kapoor has been nominated for Best Performance by an Actor for “The Prisoner” by Pryas Gupta.

The awards for the nine out of the 12 APSA categories will be announced at the popular tourist destination of Gold Coast on November 11.

Om Shanti Om will compete with Men Jeuk (Sparrow, Hong Kong), Tulpan (Kazakhstan, Russia, Switzerland/Poland/Germany), Hong Se Kang Bai Yin (The Red Awn,People’s Republic of China) and Uc maymun (Three Monkeys, Turkey/France/Italy) for the Best Feature Film Award.

The Awards have attracted more than 180 films from 43 countries, showcasing the talent and cinematic diversity of a region covering one-third of the earth’s surface and 60 per cent of its total population.

A total of 33 films from 17 countries are vying for the nine award categories. “We are greatly encouraged by the response from filmmakers from Asia-Pacific in our mission to acclaim their work and promote it to an international audience,” said APSA chairman Des Power.

Two additional awards will be presented for outstanding achievement: The International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) Award for outstanding achievement in film in the Asia-Pacific region; and the UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film.

APSA is an initiative of the Queensland Government in collaboration with CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF (The International Federation of Film Producers Associations) to acclaim films that best reflect their cultural origins and cinematic excellence.

There’s no place like home: SRK

Superstar and family man.. here are some facts on Bollywood badshaah Shah Rukh Khan which even he doesn’t know about. SRK spills the beans on everything you always wanted to know about his very personal life but didn’t know who to ask. Enjoy…

I organise these treasure hunts around the house for Aryan and Suhana. I hide the answers with leading questions. Which is the tallest mountain in the world which has snow on it? Where would you find snow in the house? And they go to the refrigerator, where they find the next clue leading to the next answer.

Actually the treasure hunts aren’t as simple any more. They have become quite difficult.. my son’s friends turn up saying,

“Uncle, can we please have a treasure hunt?” Once they have gone through all the questions, I run out of clues and places in my house.

Time with the kids, I long for that. And if you long for some thing, you’ll always find time for it. What’s the big deal? We get 24 hours out of which we get 19 hours to use as the way want to. And 19 hours is helluva lot of time. At various points, I have to do my time management.. and it happens by itself.. I don’t have to plan it. For instance, in a day I’ve worked nearly 10 hours for a film shoot.. three to four hours for television and five to six hours for IPL. And there was still enough time to play with the kids.. which is a must.. couldn’t live without it.

(As told to Vajir Singh)

So did you know this about SRK?

Can eat chicken (preferably grilled) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Will finish everything handed to him on a plate but doesn’t accept a second helping.

Can spend three-four hours at a stretch in the bathroom.

Contrary to the belief that he likes to party hard and hang out at night clubs, he would prefer to stay at home.. for an entire week.. and not miss the rest of the world.

Loves opening presents, be it a book (he’s a voracious reader), plants or portraits. A hoarder, doesn’t like to junk any of his belongings.

Very particular about the comfortable fit of his pair of jeans. Not brand-fussy, the jeans must fit right.. or he’ll be in a grrrr mood.

Teaches his kids their school subjects.. at times ‘overteaching’ them, taking them to a different level.

His first car was a Range Rover.

Mannat, his house, is equipped with the high-end Crestron, an automated system which is largely used in Hollywood, to control various systems like lights, video, the curtains and music system.

Has got himself the new-fangled Mespresso machine which serves instant bean coffee.

Doesn’t listen to much music nowadays, doesn’t see most movies too unless he’s dragged to the screenings.

And did you know this about Gauri Khan?

She doesn’t like getting presents.. would rather get shoes, bags, whatever for herself.

Contrary to popular perception that she’s shy and aloof, she is a people’s person.. very loyal to her friends.. and vice versa.

Can’t cook. Could rustle up two special ice creams — including a scoop of chocolate with crushed biscuit.. but has stopped even that now.

Is a tea person.

Has inculcated the values of secular faith in the kids.

Was 14 when she first met SRK at a party, he was 17.

Not crazy about chicken, is a sea food person.

Has an eye for art.. bought the works of Chitrabhanu Mazumdar before he became hugely coveted.

SRK loves visiting London, she likes any destination in Europe, particularly Rome for its architecture.

Her man Friday is Parvez, his is Yasin who one day in Hyderabad decided that he would work for SRK, hung around for days and months in Mumbai and finally became his Man Friday.

She’s into all genres of music: classical, trance, pop and rock. Cherishes the memory of a rocking George Michael concert.

Shah Rukh or Salman

While director Goldie Behl insists on inviting Salman for the premiere of Drona, co-producers Eros have professed allegiance to SRK

Looks like the ugly spat between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan is creating a ripple effect, which is splitting the film fraternity in a way. Sources reveal that industrywallahs are finding themselves in a tight spot as they don’t know which party to show their allegiance to.

The after effects of the SRK-Salman showdown at Katrina Kaif’s birthday party was visible recently when the Eros Pictures’ team (co-producers of Drona) and director
Goldie Behl sat down to list the invitees for the film’s premiere (starring Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra). “There was a heated argument between Goldie and delegates from Eros Pictures when they were discussing whom to invite for the special screening of the film,” reveals a source.

The insider adds, “Eros had SRK on top priority since their relationship goes back a long way. Eros is also distributing SRK’s home production Billoo Barber. Goldie, on the other hand, had Salman on his priority list, which made the Eros team very apprehensive. They did not want the two stars to collide again, specially during the premiere.”

“Goldie wanted to invite everyone including Salman since he is very close to him and also because Abhishek and Salman have bonded well recently. But, Eros was little sceptical about how things would turn out. Obviously, they did not want to rub SRK the wrong way. They had a long heated discussion post which it was decided that no one would be dropped from the guest list. So, Eros is inviting SRK and Goldie is taking care about sending an invitation to Salman.”

However, when contacted, both Eros and Goldie denied this debate. A spokesperson from Eros said, “These rumours are completely baseless. There was no such argument between the two concerning invitees for the Drona premiere.”

Goldie’s answer to our query was short. “I’m not aware of any such an incident that you say has happened between us.”

Don't tread the terror route, SRK tells youth

MUMBAI: Actor Shah Rukh Khan has voiced his concerns about the recent blasts that struck Delhi.

The actor seemed visibly upset when asked to react to the issue at MRCC chief Kripashankar Singh's Dawat-E-Sehari in the wee hours of Sunday. He has appealed to the youth not to take the route of terror.

The actor said, "I am not only hurt but ashamed of what has happened and hope this stops." He also appealed to people to keep communal harmony.

Khan has always maintained that his duty as an Indian Muslim has been to spread the message of peace as Islam is not a religion that preaches violence.

Khan has also reportedly said that the terrorists may be Muslims but all Muslims are not terrorists.

Khan will act in a film that deals with terrorism post-9/11. He plays a peace activist, who is kidnapped by Islamic terrorists and has to negotiate his way out.

Shah Rukh Khan at the Ramzan Sehri

Shah Rukh is cameo king

Shah Rukh Khan recently shot for Jackie Bhagnani’s debut film titled Kal Kisne Dekha. The actor makes a special appearance in the film, his latest among several others.

Directed by Vivek Sharma (Bhootnath director), the film is a romantic drama and is tentatively scheduled for a Valentine Day release next year. Sources reveal that Shah Rukh agreed to do the cameo because of his close friendship with Sharma.

Confirming this Sharma says, “Yes we shot with Shah Rukh recently. Actually, I hold both Shah Rukh and Amit ji (Bachchan) very close to my heart. I told both of them that I won’t do any project without them doing a scene for me. I have managed to get Shah Rukh and will also try to rope in Amit ji.”

Talking about the film he adds, “It will have six songs by Sajid Wajid. I can promise you that the music of the film will be a major highlight.” Jackie who is the son of producer Vashu Bhagnani has impressed Sharma with his acting. “He’s a newcomer but is very confident and dedicated. One of his biggest strengths is his dialogue delivery. He stars opposite Vaishali Desai who is related to Manmohan Desai. Both of them are looking good in the film.”

Rani not part of Shah Rukh's Dubai show

The new poster for Temptation Reloaded in Dubai, with Kareena's image replacing Rani's

All doesn’t seem well on the Shah Rukh Khan-Rani Mukerji front. Great friends once upon a time, it seems the relationship is now turning sour.

A few days back Shah Rukh signed Priyanka Chopra for a special appearance dance number in his home production “Billoo Barber” while Rani had been expected to do the same.

Now, Rani is suddenly out of Shah Rukh’s Temptation Reloaded stage show in Dubai, scheduled for October 25, 2008 at Dubai Festival City arena.

Kareena Kapoor has been signed in her place. She will be performing along with Katrina Kaif, Arjun Rampal, Anushka Dandekar and Ganesh Hegde.

Though the good old “date problems” has been given as the reason for Rani’s disappearance from the show, one wonders if it has to do with her closeness to Salman Khan, with whom she happily bonded during the grand finale of his TV show “10 Ka Dum”.

Meanwhile, tickets for Shah Rukh’s show are on sale on www.timeouttickets.com.

The prices are: VVIP Seating - Dhs1000, VIP Seating - Dhs500, Family Seating - Dhs250, General Standing - Dhs100.

From October 5 onwards, tickets will also be available at all Choithram outlets, Virgin Megastore, Bombay Chowpatty, Pak Ghazi Restaurant and Karachi Darbar Restaurant.

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