Shah Rukh Khoobsurat Bola!!

Shah Rukh Khan, the bollywood Badshah who had decided not to make cameo appearances in films, recently made an exception for Makrand Deshpande’s upcoming caper ‘Shah Rukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu.’

King Khan not only shot for the sequence with a flower girl, but also allowed Makrand to shoot in his own palatial house ‘Mannat.’ Sources say that Shah Rukh had promised Makrand Deshpande during the shooting of his Ashutosh Gowarikar’s flick ‘Swades’ in year 2007 that he would be doing a cameo in his film, and kept his word even after almost two years. In fact, Shah Rukh Khan was scheduled to leave shortly for the outdoor spell of Karan Johar’s upcoming flick ‘My Name Is Khan’, but before leaving the country he called Makrand and fulfilled his commitment.

Sources say that the particular sequence required King Khan to tell a flower girl (played by Preetika) that she was very beautiful (Khoobsurat hai tu) as she had had a bad day. After this, Shah Rukh leaves in his car. It is only after that the flower girl realizes that it was Shah Rukh Khan, the biggest star of bollywood.

The flower girl is ecstatic about the meeting with the super star and grows in confidence, which changes her life forever. As Makrand Despande further elaborates about the Shah Rukh angle in the film, ‘this sequence was an integral part of my film. After the shoot, he met my whole team and Preetika and we had a long chat.’


Though Shah Rukh Khan made an exception in the case of Makrand Despande, his ban on special appearances continues. In fact, King Khan feels that people had been taking undue advantage from his friendly appearances.

A case in point was Viveck Vaswani’s upcoming flick ‘Dulha Mill Gaya’, wherein Sushmita Sen plays the lead. Shah Rukh Khan had agreed to play a cameo to oblige Viveck Vaswani and even allotted four days for the shoot.

However, when Shah Rukh Khan read the script about his character, he was in for a shock. His character in the film had been written in such a way that it would have required at least eighteen days of shooting, not four days, as was promised. It was at that point that Shah Rukh took a pledge never to play cameos in any film.

It may be recalled that Shah Rukh had even refused to oblige Salman Khan for doing a cameo in Sohail Khan’s film, as per Salman Khan’s wish. In fact, this was one of the root causes for their infamous rift at Katrina’s birthday party.

Shah Rukh Khan rules out cameo roles

For two men who are touted as sworn enemies and have made cautious efforts to avoid each other’s paths, Shah Rukh and Salman are often headed in the same direction.
Often met with the same fate, the two stars seem to have more in common than it may appear. After Salman resolved to keep away from cameo roles, King Khan has followed his league as he has now stated a firm ‘no’ to special appearances.

Known for going the extra mile for his chums, Shah Rukh has often done cameo roles as a goodwill gesture. But now according to the latest Bollywood grapevine the actor has decided to do away with this kind gesture as filmmakers have abused it.

As to what irked King Khan? It was producer Viveck Vaswani who tried to take advantage of King Khan’s itsy-bitsy role in his film ‘Dulha Mil Gaya’. Story goes that Vaswani has initially informed Khan that the cameo role would take only four days. But after SRK read the script he realised that his role was no where a special appearance and would take more than 18 days.

Miffed with Vaswani’s blatant act, the actor then decided to say no to cameos. However, keeping with his kingly trait, the actor has decided to make a few exceptions and has reserved the special cameo favour for close friends only.

The actor will be next seen in a special appearance for Makrand Deshpandelm’s ‘Shah Rukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu’.

Shahrukh aims for eight packs a la Aamir

His shoulder is yet to heal fully, but Shahrukh Khan aims to acquire eight pack abs for Farah Khan’s film Happy New Year .

The King Khan is set for an uphill task – to develop bulgy muscles and a brawny bod a la Aamir Khan in Ghajini . Farah Khan , who first made SRK get six packs and flaunt them in a shirtless song in Om Shanti Om , is penning a script in which SRK’s role is physically challenging to the limits the superstar hasn’t yet tested in his career so far.

“It is a very physically challenging film for which Shah Rukh will have to work out a lot and his body has to endure a lot…We will go for an eight pack this time around.” Farah is quoted as saying by a website.

However, given SRK’s yet-not-healed shoulder, the superstar won’t hit the gym before the end of this year.

Farah is certain that SRK would be physically fit to start pumping iron and make his muscles after 5-6 months. And that is when the script of ‘Happy New Year’ would also be complete.

The feisty director and mother of three kids says she’s become wackier after entering into motherhood and therefore the energy levels in ‘Happy New Year’ will be much higher than what we have seen in her previous films Main Hoon Na and ‘OSO’.

It would be a full-on masala film with SRK flaunting his eight packs.

Sequel to Don will only release 2011, five years after original!

Sequels are interesting only if there isn't a big gap between the two releases. They are usually made to cash in on the success of the film. Dostana released last year but the wheels to make Dostana 2 are in motion.

However Don which released in 2006, will have it's sequel in 2011!

Insiders say that the script of the film is ready and SRK had kept dates aside for the film but after the success of Rock On!!, Farhan is concentrating more on his acting and direction has taken a backseat.

A source reveals, "Shah Rukh Khan was keen to finish the film this year but it wasn't possible, as Farhan had other commitments. Now SRK will have no release in 2009, and he isn't happy about the fact. And next year, his dates are committed to Anubhav Sinha's Ra1 and Farah Khan's Happy New Year." Now he will make Farhan sweat it out for another year before he gives dates for the sequel.

Says producer Ritesh Sidhwani, "Don 2 starts in the summer next year and will be shot in Berlin and will release in 2011."

SRK joins Gauri & gals!

Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri flew to San Francisco to join Karan Johar’s unit of My Name is Khan.

The Khans and their children Aryan and Suhana will be away for almost 45 days. After the schedule, Gauri is likely to settle in her London home for a holiday. An insider says, As is the practice each year, Gauri’s gang of girls — Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey, Mehr Jessia and Nandita Mahtani may join her for a short stint with their families so they can have a joint holiday.” Like anywhere in the world, when the queen takes her vacation, her entourage follows.

SRK, tagged!

This is a brand new campaign by TAG Heuer. Pehle it was stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Tiger Woods.

But now, it is Shah Rukh Khan’s turn to join the league.

It will be King Khan who will be the face of the famous challenge of TAG Heuer, ‘What are you made of?’. This phrase is also the common thread linking the past campaign to this daring new one. TAG shot this ad campaign with Shah Rukh earlier this year. The campaign was shot by ace photographer Atul Kasbekar at Mehboob Studio in Mumbai.

This is the third ad campaign that TAG Heuer has shot with SRK — the first two being in 2003 and 2006. The brand ambassador and the watch will be seen in a very close connection highlighting the emotion and sophistication of the association. “This campaign is special and different. It’s very rich and intense in its look and appeal and makes me feel closer to the watch than ever before. The attitude has never been to sell more watches, but to bring to you a different lifestyle based on precision, perfection and passion,” says Shah Rukh.
Adds Jean-Christophe Babin, president and CEO, TAG Heuer, “This 2009-10 campaign is a major evolution of ‘What are you made of?’ It epitomises mental strength and human accomplishments through the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Maria Sharapova, Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo Di Caprio.” And Atul says, “I’ve worked with Shah Rukh for many years now, so

I know what kind of lighting works for his face. My challenge has been to adapt the international brief for India and Shah Rukh Khan.” Adds Anaita Shroff Adajania, who styled this shoot, “The campaign is extremely smart and elegant. We’ve used beautiful clothes to match the character of this campaign. There is a strong sensuality between Shah Rukh and the watch that he is wearing.”

My Name Is Khan is still awaiting a buyer

After severing ties with Yash Raj as sole distributors, Karan Johar's films are being distributed as per his whims. The director-producer has still not decided on the distributor for My Name is Khan (MNIK), a joint production between his Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chilles Entertainment.

Sources say KJo has narrowed his choices to Eros International and Fox Star Studios.

Reveals a trade source, "My Name Is Khan has been linked to various corporates after Karan moved out of Yash Raj earlier this year and inked a record deal with UTV Motion Pictures for his upcoming two films, (Wake Up Sid and Qurbaan) which are both being directed by first-time directors under his banner.

But speculation has never ended about which banner will distribute My Name Is Khan. Karan has already made it very clear to UTV that he is not willing to sell My Name is Khan to them."

The source further adds, "However Karan had a hush-hush meeting with the heads of Eros last weekend and discussed the prospect of selling the world-rights of the film to them.

Terms and money were talked about but it is still not clear if Eros has clinched the deal. Another strong possibility for the film is said to be the Fox Star Studios the Asian arm of Hollywood major 20th Century Fox with Star are among the top contenders to bag the film."

Karan has left for the US and starts shooting the last schedule of the film soon.

RAB NE BANA DI JODI Deleted Scenes - Video

Akki wants to renew friendship with SRK

Bollywood is in the mood to dump the old hatchet and build up a new relationship. After Shahrukh Khan befriended with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Karan Johar’s birthday bash, stunt hero Akshay Kumar is in the process of extending olive branch to his friend-turned-foe Shahrukh Khan.

By sending best wishes to Shahrukh’s team, Akshay Kumar has tried to bridge the gap between the two, he wrote, "I'd like to send my best regards to Shah Rukh and his team. You've put up a good fight, so don't worry boys you will always be loved!"

Knight Riders poor performance at the IPL2 has broken down Shahrukh and Akki used the very issue to patch up with Shahrukh. Professional rivalry sour Shahrukh and Akshay’s relationship.

Let’s see whether Akshay’s message will melt Shahrukh’s heart and he accepts his friendship invitation by dumping the past.

Shah Rukh to continue scripting Linc’s success

Kolkata-based Rs 190-crore Linc Pen and Plastics is set to renew its contract with Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador. Linc Pen, one of the branded players in the Rs 2,100 crore writing instrument industry, had signed up SRK for one year in December 2008. Linc is said to have already commissioned Mumbai-based creative agency, The Republic, to make a new set of television commercials with SRK, which is likely to be aired from November.

“The association with Shah Rukh Khan helped us increase brand awareness and tap new markets. ‘Trade confidence’ has also increased significantly. We, therefore, thought of leveraging the association and are renewing our contract with SRK,” Deepak Jalan, managing director, Linc Pens and Plastics, told Financial Chronicle.

Linc Pen is known for low-priced ball and gel pens. However, following the brand’s association with SRK, the company forayed into the Rs 40-50 price segment. Without divulging the contract value with SRK, Jalan said that to reach out to their core target group—youth and students — the company had decided to be an associate sponsor of this year’s IIFA (film) awards ceremony to be held in Macau.

The company, which hopes to notch up a turnover of Rs 300 crore in the next three years, is also betting high on exports. “The total value of exports from the Indian pen industry is estimated at 400-500 crore and is growing rapidly, with the Indian pens eating into Chinese ones in a big way,” Jalan said.

Last year, the company earned Rs 40 crore from exports and Jalan is confident that this figure will move up considerably. Interestingly, Linc has got its brand registered (in some cases applied for registration) in as many as 50 countries, while at present Linc Pens are present in only 20 countries. “We plan to make our brand available in all the 50 countries in next three-five years,” Jalan said.

Leading players who export pens from India include Linc, Cello, Lexi, Flair, Luxor and Montex.