RNBDJ: SRK's third consecutive blockbuster!

With the fourth week collections being out, it's now obvious that the Aditya Chopra directed Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Vinay Pathak starrer, RAB NE BANA DI JODI, has netted more than 81 crores from just its Indian run.

In the Overseas, the film has already grossed in excess of $2 million each from both UK and US. In addition to this there are good grosses from smaller markets like Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Africa and the rapidly expanding Middle East.

Reputed film trade experts have estimated a staggering 50 crores (total) profit for Yash Raj Films, its world wide distributors. In fact it's the banner's biggest profit raking venture till date. And that, without even releasing in Pakistan!

As for its lead actor, Shah Rukh Khan, presently in Los Angeles for Karan Johar's MY NAME IS KHAN, this will be his third consecutive blockbuster. His last three films, Yash Raj's CHAK DE INDIA, his home banner venture, OM SHANTI OM and now once again Yash Raj's RAB NE BANA DI JODI, all have been blockbuster hits. A rare feat indeed!

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi features in iTunes Top 10 Charts

The music of Yash Raj Films' Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has created a benchmark in the digital entertainment by featuring in the list of top 10 album sales for iTunes, the world's most popular online music store. This is the first time the music album of a Bollywood film has made it to the album download charts of iTunes.

Commenting on this achievement Neeraj Roy, MD & CEO, Hungama Mobile, said, "This is yet another example of Indian content transcending boundaries and making a significant mark in the digital music space, worldwide. Hungama would like to congratulate Yash Raj films, the music directors Salim- Sulaiman and all those associated with the film."

"While single song downloads are common, an entire album being downloaded on digital download services is rare and this showcases the great music that's been composed for the film," he added. Hungama, which owns the digital rights to Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, is the exclusive distributor of Indian content to iTunes. iTunes is available in 22 countries around the world, including USA, the UK, and the European Union. The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 10 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including over 600 in stunning high definition video.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi featuring in iTunes Top 10 charts once again proves that SRK mania is far from over.

I hope you are dog, Shah Rukh says to Karan

Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar are more like a family. Shahrukh starred in almost all his films and Karan too writes scripts keeping Shah Rukh as an actor in mind. As they have spent so many years together and have been associated with so many hits, a strong bond has formed between them.

They do not hesitate to throw tantrums on one another and whenever they shoot any film, they set the house on fire. Recently, they have been associated with another funny game. SRK, who is shooting for Karan’s upcoming project ‘My Name Is Khan’ sent a message to him saying, “I hope you are dog.” Karan received the SMS three times.

How can Karan resist such abusive words? He countered back saying that Shah Rukh had made a mistake while typing the message as the correct text should be, “I hope you are dng (doing) good.” He further clarifies blaming his cell phone, “My phone has started behaving strangely. It does the exact opposite of what I want. It types whatever it wants to type and it has been incessantly calling Aamir Khan’s number.”

Karan and Shah Rukh are best buddies and never miss an opportunity to make fun of one another. They always have fun while working.

Failures and not successes keep me going: SRK

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has said that it is failures and not his successes that keep him going.

According to him, a genuinely happy person is someone who lives life on his or her own terms and takes responsibility for it; someone who knows how to get up and start all over again, even if he or she fails the first time around.

“I am ready to fail. I know I am not invincible,” he said.

The actor who has been chosen the role model for happiness from the media and entertainment industry by ‘Complete Wellbeing’, said in an interview to the magazine that there have been a lot of times when he has gone through a low phase.

“Today, what you see outside is the public image of my successes. If I had to weigh the good times in my life against the bad ones, the latter would clearly outweigh the former. I have had a million bad experiences. I have done a million wrong things,” SRK said.

He said the goodness in his life has completely wiped out those memories. “It’s my failures that keep me going, not my successes,” he added.

SRK said he did not feel that happiness could be measured. “It’s perhaps the most important thing in life. If you aren’t happy, you won’t even be able to enjoy your success,” he said.

He said success couldn’t be at the cost of honesty and hard work.

The actor said one can cultivate happiness by being positive, thinking positive and by being adventurous and curious.

´My Name Is Khan´:Jimmy Shergill Replaces Aamir & Joins Shah Rukh!

As is known, some cast and crew members of Karan Johar's upcoming venture with Shah Rukh Khan, 'My Name Is Khan, were denied US visa. One of the cast member was Aamir Bashir. As per sources he has now been replaced in film by actor Jimmy Shergill.

The actor is all set to leave for US on January 20 and join the ongoing shooting in Los Angeles.

Incidentally, this will be Jimmy's second film with King Khan after Aditya Chopra's 'Mohabbatein'.

Exclusive: SRK and KJo on the sets of My Name Is Khan

Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Karan Johar have given us some of the biggest blockbusters of Hindi cinema such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Hence, when the trio is coming back with a film after a hiatus of nearly 8 years, then expectations are bound to be gargantuan.

Shooting for Dharma Productions' My Name Is Khan starring SRK and Kajol in lead roles is currently underway in and around Los Angeles. The buzz is that SRK plays a person suffering from Asperser's Syndrome (an autism related disorder) who gets into trouble with cops abroad especially because of his surname 'Khan'. Kajol plays SRK's better-half in the film. Even though the film has a serious undertone, with best buddies SRK, KJo and Kajol coming together, the atmosphere on the sets is one of fun and frolic.

SRK's witty one-liners combined with KJo's wacky sense of humor is sure to keep the unit members entertained. As for the film, all eyes are curious to see if these three best buddies can translate their real life Dostana onto reel-life one more time.

Billu Barber - Music Review

EXPECTATIONS
A Shah Rukh Khan film is always special. But what does he do when the film is centered on Irrfan Khan, as also conveyed by the title of the film, with him being only in a special appearance? Well, he only goes full-on to make it as commercial as possible by appearing in number of song and dance appearances. Not just that, he also ropes in some of the top heroines in the industry and makes them dance along with him. If in Om Shanti Om, he had opted for Vishal-Shekhar as the composers, for Billu Barber he gives Pritam the responsibility of creating a hardcore commercial score. While 2008 was superb for the composer with number of back to back successful albums (Jannat, Singh Is Kinng, Race, Kismat Konnection, Golmaal Returns), 2009 also promises to follow suit with Billu Barber beginning the year!

MUSIC
Item song no.1 - that's 'Marjaani' for you! From the very first beat, you know that there is no way this song won't succeed in reaching the top of the charts. A fast paced track that remains Indian at heart even with all the Western beats surrounding it, 'Marjaani' has Pritam giving his all to ensure that his 'jodi' with Kareena Kapoor continues to be a big hit. Remember 'It's Rocking' (Kya Love Story Hai) and 'Yeh Ishq Hai' (Jab We Met)? The fun continues with 'Balkan Mix' and 'Electro House'

He goes on to create 'Love Mera Hit Hit' which he could have composed in his sleep, considering the 'template' feel to it. Item song no.2, it is just a follow up to many a dance floor chartbusters that he has created in movies like Race ('Khwaab Dekhe Jhoothe Moothe') and Kismat Konnection ('Ae Pappi'). 'The House Mix' and 'Remix' version ensure that the song remains with you much after you have heard it first.

Another 'template' song in the album is 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling' which has a beginning akin to that of 'Zara Zara Touch Me' [Race]. However, soon after it moves to being much more childlike and innocent with the advent of lyrics that go as 'Khudaya Khair'. In fact based on the same tune with just the words 'Khudaya Khair', there is another namesake song that follows later in the album. While the former has a slight Western twang to it, the latter comes with a full-on Indian feel. These two are yet another very good additions to this album that seems to have one chartbuster packed after another in the album.

There is a speed breaker though in the form of 'Ae Aa O' which is the first rock track of the album and doesn't really make you jump with joy in the very first listening. In fact the very sound of 'Ae Aa O' (also appearing later in the remix version) that remains persistent throughout the track is ordinary and straight out of a commercial.

It's a different Pritam that one hears in 'Jaoon Kahan' which is a sad song expected to play in the background at multiple junctures. Though there isn't anything extraordinary about the compositions due to the heard-before factor, 'Jaoon Kahan' is still a soothing number enough to keep your interest in the song to follow. Later, one can sense a clear Priyadarshan influence to the proceedings with 'Billoo Bhayankar' bringing the album to a close. With a rustic folk flavor to it while keeping the fun quotient intact, 'Billoo Bhayankar' is a song that hails the central protagonist of the film played by Irrfan Khan.

LYRICS
'Marjaani' boasts of lyrics that have a characteristic Gulzar touch to them. In fact with the kind of flavor that Pritam brings to his lyrics, one wonders whether we are looking at another Pancham da-Gulzar 'jodi' in the offering since the composer makes it all sound so commercial that one ends up remembering many a chartbuster hits that Pancham da and Gulzar had delivered three decades back! On the other hand, don't bother about lyrics like 'Khit Pit', 'Hit Hit', 'Kudi Tu Sexy' etc. - it's the catchy feel and rhythm that matters most for 'Love Mera Hit Hit' and lyricist Ashish Pandit does well on those grounds! Neeraj Shridhar also turns lyricist for 'Ae Aa O' but the words here aren't anything above ordinary.

Sayeed Quadri and Gulzar write a version each for 'Khudaya Khair' that also arrives as 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling'. Both the numbers bring in a different flavor though the element of pure and innocent love remains intact in each of the instances. Sayeed Quadri also writes 'Jaoon Kahan' that narrates the state of the protagonist who has lost a lot in his life while Gulzar gets his own take on the protagonist's popularity with 'Billoo Bhayankar'.

VOCALS
Sukhwinder Singh, the voice of Shah Rukh Khan opens 'Marjaani' and allows Sunidhi Chauhan to arrive on the scene who shines in a big way. She is truly in form in her only number in Billu Barber and ensures that her hit record with Kareena Kapoor stays intact. Later K.K. too arrives for the 'Balkan Mix' of the song and adds on to the options available for the final song placement in the film.

Neeraj Shridhar, the voice that never fails Pritam, is in full form again for 'Love Mera Hit Hit' though it is Tulsi Kumar who surprises most with her altogether different style of rendition for Deepika Padukone. Neeraj also sings the solo 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling' which later arrives as 'Khudaya Khair' with Soham, Akriti Kakar and Monali bringing a certain Indian-ness to the proceedings. With Abhijeet coming back on scene with the 'reprise version' of the same song, one knows what to expect considering the fact that the singer has sung many a hits for Shah Rukh Khan during last 15 odd years!

K.K., who is otherwise so dependable, doesn't really make 'Ae Aa O' rise above ordinary. Most of the times he is capable of turning the most average compositions good due to his sheer prowess behind the mike but in case of 'Ae Aa O', he isn't able to do much even in company of Rana Mazumder and Suraj. On the other hand, Raahat Fateh Ali Khan's voice manages to bring in some 'thehrav' in the proceedings that were being dominated by beats and rhythm all this while. Ajay Jhingaran, Raghuveer and Kalpana come together for a rustic 'Billoo Bhayankar' and though the song is not the next chartbuster in the making, it should help the narrative of Billu Barber.

OVERALL
Billu Barber has a rocking start to it with songs like 'Marjaani' and 'Love Mera Hit Hit' that are guaranteed chartbusters in the making. Though 'Ae Aa O' is the only number that doesn't quite make a mark, 'Khudaya Khair' brings in a nice feel-good touch to it which keeps the flag high for Billu Barber. On the other hand, 'Jaoon Kahan' and 'Billoo Bhayankar' add on to the situational flavor. While the soundtrack should work well for the film, we are not looking at a Race or a Jannat or a Singh Is Kinng that are being played even till date. Still, from the popularity perspective, Billu Barber should go the Kismat Konnection and Golmaal Returns way by being reasonably successful.

Yash Raj Films tells about the actual collections of ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’

Ever since the release of the film ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, different figures of collections are coming out of the film. The movie has been the biggest ever success for Yash Raj Films. Aditya Chopra and Shahrukh Khan again gave a super hit film to Bollywood Film Industry. rab-ne23-121-300x300 Yash Raj Films tells about the actual collections of ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’

According to an official person, “Fourth weekend is in progress and till 4th January, the film has earned 78 crores net at the Indian box office. The film ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ has received good collections at the box office in spite of the movie ‘Ghajini’.”

He further added, “When ‘Ghajini’ was released and breaking all previous records of advance bookings, at that time Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi was doing bumper business and got 9 crores in the first week when ‘Ghajini’ hit the theatres. ‘Chandni Chowk To China’ will be released soon, still few days are left and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi can cross 80 crore.’

Shahrukh Khan’s film ‘Om Shanti Om’ collected 86 crore.

Shahrukh Khan To Present Golden Globe Award

News is that Slumdog Millionaire, if it wins any of the awards for which it has received four Golden Globe nominations, will receive the honour on Sunday from Shah Rukh Khan himself.

The Bollywood Badshah, who is the first Indian actor to be invited to the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards, is among other bigwig cinema presenters including Simon Baker, Drew Barrymore, Glenn Close, Sasha Baron Cohen, Cameron Diaz, Aaron Eckhart, Laurence Fishburne, Ricky Gervais, Jake Gyllenhall, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez, Hayden Panettiere, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Seth Rogen, Martin Scorsese, and The Jonas Brothers. SRK, who will be accompanied by Karan Johar, will be introducing the Drama Category Award for which Slumdog has also been nominated. It is expected to handsomely win this award. Be ready, SRK, and don’t drop the Golden Globe please!

The red carpet ceremony for the prestigious awards ceremony will be held at the Beverly Hilton in California and will be attended by Slumdog director Danny Boyle and music composer A R Rahman, both of whom have been nominated for awards. Shah Rukh has been asked to bring wife Gauri along with him. The actor told BT from LA, “It’s a great honour for Indian cinema. I am just a means.

I have always wanted to come here with my own film someday.” He was magnanimous enough to say that contemporaries like Aamir Khan had contributed greatly towards Indian cinema being accepted at such prestigious award functions. Shah Rukh, who went to Cannes a few years back with Devdas, and whose films overseas are a big craze, has created a ripple in the West by being included in the Golden Globe’s powerlist. “When I had come here a few years ago, nobody really recognised us as they do today. Things have changed so much. Films like Aamir’s Taare Zameen Par are highly talked about, which is a great thing for Indian cinema. Awards like the Golden Globe and Oscars help the film, the producer and actors to get an international market. The process has begun for all of us. It’s a nice feeling,” he said.

The Kareena - Priyanka - Deepika battle royale

Now that Shah Rukh Khan has roped in three screen sizzlers for three different item songs in Billu Barber, a battle royale seems to be brewing among them as tbillobarbero who jives and sizzles the best with Shah Rukh Khan.

At the moment Kareena has the edge. Or so she seems to think. "My song with Shah Rukh is awesome. That's why it's the first song to go on air on television. Shah Rukh and I have done an item song before. So we share the required vibes," says Kareena whose 'Yeh Mera Dil' track with SRK in Don was talked-about for months.

Kareena has a point to prove. In 'Yeh Mera Dil' she was criticized for her dress, weight and even the remixed song which many (including the singer Sunidhi Chauhan) thought lacked verve.

This time says Kareena, she wanted every component in the item song to be perfect. Farah Khan who had choreographed the 'Yeh Mera Dil Number' in Don was this time assigned Deepika Padukone's item song in Billu Barber.

Kareena got herself a brand new choreographer. "He's Prasanna, a choreographer from the South. And what innovative movements he has given to Pritam's song which just rocks. I think I've always been lucky with my item songs .Whether it was 'Yeh Mera Dil' or 'It's Rocking', they've always rocked. The fact that mine is the first song to be in the promos does say something."

Though Kareena won't talk about the money she says, "Saif and I both love Shah Rukh and his wife Gauri. They're like family."


Priyanka, on the other hand, describes herself as an unabashed fan of Shah Rukh Khan. "I'm his biggest fan. There's no way I'd say no to him for anything. All he had to do was ask and I was on. In fact people ask me why I wasn't there in the song featuring all the heroines with Shah Rukh in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Actually, I wasn't asked. If I was, do you think I wouldn't be in the song?"

Since Deepika, the third item queen in Billu Barber has bagged Farah Khan as her choreographer, it puts an end to the talks of a fall-out between the director-choreographer during the making of Om Shanti Om. "I don't know why there's all this talk of fall-out. I'm very fond of Farah and she of me. We can never fall out", says Deepika.

With all three Bollywood hotties vying to be in Shah Rukh's good books, the item songs in Billu Barber are bound to be the film's USP.