SRK beats Aamir in distribution war!

Khan war is on! And SRK wins this time. While Aamir Khan's blockbuster Ghajini's global distribution rights were sold SRKfor Rs 90 crore, Shah Rukh Khan's My Name is Khan is getting a 100-crore deal from Fox Star Studios.

This is the highest price paid by a distributor for any Bollywood film ever.

In a way, My Name is Khan is already a hit even before hitting the theatres as the cost of the film is estimated to be around Rs 50 crore.

Datuk Shah Rukh makes RM50,000 donation to Malaysian sports foundation

Shah Rukh Khan has always been a sports enthusiast. Whether it's cricket or soccer, the actor has always supported all kinds of sports.

Recently the Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak invited SRK for his birthday celebrations. During his stay, Shah Rukh made a donation of RM50,000 to National Athletes Welfare Foundation of Malaysia.

Rani Mukerji accompanied SRK for the event where he handed over the cheque and spoke about his love for sports. He said that he hoped his donation would help fund programmes and schemes set up for athletes in the country.

The sports minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek briefed Rani and Shah Rukh about the 1 Ringgit, 1 Malaysia campaign which was set up to help collect donations for former athletes.

Shah Rukh was addressed as Datuk Shah Rukh at the event. He'd received the honorary title from the government last year.

SRK-Ash to star in film together

Seven-year cold war has indeed ended

Their seven-year-old cold war has finally ended and Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai will be seen together in SRK’s home production. Shooting for the film will start in 2010.

Years ago, Aishwarya’s sudden ouster from “Chalte Chalte” led to a professional breakup between the two. In fact, the subsequent cold war between Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh only made matters worse.

But now SRK and Ash have buried the hatchet and come together once again.

Shah Rukh's 'Fauji' sequel to air on Colors

We had first reported that Shah Rukh Khan is producing Fauji – the show that announced the arrival of King Khan himself in 1988.

Shah Rukh's 'Fauji' sequel to air on Colors

Contrary to earlier speculation where it was buzzed that the show will air on NDTV Imagine, Fauji is now all set to launch on Colors. Col.Kapoor, who had conceptualised, produced and acted in the original series, has handed over the production reigns to Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Idiot Box.

When contacted now, Col. Kapoor said, "I can't disclose anything to you now. All I can tell you now is that we've started working on 'Fauji'. You please contact Red Chillies for all details."

Sources though have it that Colors has liked the concept but have asked the producers to work more on the script.

EXCLUSIVE: Rajeev Masand spoke to BBC about SRK's 'My Name Is Khan'

Rajeev Masand spoke to BBC Asian Network about Shahrukh Khan’s upcoming film My Name Is Khan directed by Karan Johar.

Rajeev who has apparently watched a 3 minute long clip with Karan Johar, reveals quite a few details on the highly anticipated film.

The shooting for My Name Is Khan is almost complete and Karan along with the cast and crew of the film, returned to Mumbai after shooting for more than 40 days in San Francisco (US).

Have a look at the video:

UPDATE: My Name is Khan for Rs 100 crore

There's a reason why they call him King Khan even today and when he teams up with longtime friend and Bollywood's hottest producer-director Karan Johar it's a formula for blockbusters.

And that's reason enough for Fox Studio to put its money in what could arguably be the biggest Bollywood deal ever.

Fox is all set to acquire the worldwide rights of Karan Johar's Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol starrer My Name is Khan for a record Rs 100 crore. That's more than double the budget of the film.

"It will be a very big deal for Fox. It catapults them to the big league. It can't get bigger than KJo, SRK in Bollywood," said Komal Nahata, Film Trade Analyst.

Such a big buyout especially when many producers have failed to seal deals will certainly raise eyebrows and reiterate King Khan's saleability factor in the box office.

Till date Aamir Khan's Ghajini (Rs 90 crore0 has topped the buyout list, Om Shanti Om (Rs75 crore) stood second highest followed by Akshay Kumar's Singh is Kinng (Rs 60 crore) and Welcome (Rs 40 crore).

But for Fox Star Studio that's Fox's Joint Venture with STAR is a high stakes game. After the runaway success of Slumdog Millionaire, Fox clearly leads the pack compared to its global rivals Warner Bros and Sony whose Hindi productions Sawariya and Chandni Chowk To China have all bombed at the box office.

But experts say with SRK's global popularity, My Name is Khan will be one of the highest grossers for the overseas Box Office. No wonder Fox is betting on a 2010 project of SRK despite the rather lukewarm response of his Billu and Rab Ne Bana De Jodi.

Shahrukh Khan in Tamil film

Shahrukh Khan is busy shooting for Karan Johar's My Name is Khan. And we may soon get to see King Khan in a new avataar in a Tamil film.

Well, if reports are to be believed, it might soon happen. What reports? The makers of Ajith starrer Asal are making every effort possible to contact SRK and request his cameo appearance in Asal.

It may be noted that Ajith was earlier a part of SRK's Asoka as his younger brother. And now, King Khan may just decide to return the favour. No confirmation has been received from the SRK camp so far, but it could happen.

Asal has Ajith and Sameera Reddy in the lead and is produced by Sivaji Productions.

Shahrukh Khan: ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' sung at Malaysian PM's b'day bash

‘Badshah' of Bollywood was invited as the guest of honour at the birthday celebrations of Malaysia's Prime Minister Datukshri Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

According to sources, actor doing ‘My Name is Khan' said, “The Prime Minister and his wife Datinshri Rosamah were very kind to me when I shot Don here. As a friend, I was invited to spend an evening with them.''

Earlier in 2008, Shahrukh was awarded the Malaysian title of Datuk which is considered of equal honor of that of a British Knighthood. He is the first overseas artist to have been bestowed with this honour.

“It made me feel special and it also provided me an opportunity to carry on a relationship with a country that is culturally close to ours,'' added Khan.

According to the grapevine, celebration factor mounted over the actor as he sang ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' from one of his superhits for the PM as he was admired for his doings by fans at the gathering.

Fox Studios picks up rights of ‘My Name is Khan’ for Rs 100 cr: Report

Mumbai: No one sells like Shah Rukh Khan in Bollywood. Even before the release of ‘My Name is Khan’, his film is being seen as a hit considering the hype surrounding every little detail of the film.

Latest news has it that Fox Star Studio has reportedly bought the rights of the film for a whopping Rs 100 crores! Added to this, the film is said to be rich on music side as well with songs having chartbusting potential.
Critics, who have seen the rushes of MNIK, were overwhelmed by what they saw and heard. They were all praises for the trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the music composers and director Karan Johar.

‘My Name is Khan’ has been in news for all the right reasons. Super hit onscreen couple SRK and Kajol will be seen together after a long time. Written by Shibani Bathija, the film is about a Muslim (Shah Rukh) who suffers from the Asperger syndrome, a form of autism that impacts social interaction abilities, and he is arrested as a suspected terrorist in post-9/11 Los Angeles after authorities mistake his disability for suspicious behaviour.

After distributing ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in India, Fox Star Studio is hopeful about this much-awaited biggie which has all the potential to be a blockbuster.

Ganguly captain, Wright coach of SRK'S KKR in 2010: Sources

Sourav Ganguly is almost certain to be reinstated as the captain while John Wright is likely to take over as the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders in the third edition of the Indian Premier League in 2010, team sources said on Saturday.

Even as an official announcement is awaited, sources said that there could be a major reshuffle with former India coach Wright likely to replace John Buchanan as Knight Riders coach, while former Australian middle-order batsman Michael Bevan will be in the coaching panel.

Sources said Ganguly would be back at the helm in 2010 when his contract with the Kolkata team ends and the iconic Bengal cricketer had a one-on-one with prinicipal owner Shah Rukh Khan when the duo met in London to receive doctorates by the University of Central Lancashire last week.

"Ganguly and Shah Rukh Khan had a discussion about this when the left-hander was in London last week. They have agreed in priniciple that Ganguly will lead the side," the source said.

"There were also discussions about the possible coaches. Wright and Bevan are the front runners. It is up to Shah Rukh to take the final call."

Ganguly, meanwhile, said that nothing is final as yet and a proper announcement will be made in due time.

"I don't take the decision of KKR alone. There are a number of people involved in the process. But hopefully in due course of time we will get a person who will coach the team. The decision has not been made yet," Ganguly said.

The Knight Riders management was also tightlipped about the development. When contacted, Knight Riders CEO Joy Bhattacharya said, "At the moment, I don't deny this (Ganguly as captain and Wright as the chief coach). However, there has not been any official announcement as yet."

Asked whether he was aware of this development, he said, "I don't want to comment on this. When there is an official announcement, we will let you know." In the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa, Kolkata Knight Riders were plagued awith controversies especially after Ganguly was dethroned just two days before the start of the tournament.

Knight Riders coach John Buchanan, who later had to part ways with the side after their bottom place finish, had floated the idea of multiple captaincy but only to hand over the baton to New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

IPL III, which was pre-poned to accommodate the ICC World Twenty20, begins in March next year and will overlap with Australia's tour of New Zealand.