King Khan 'humbled' on being IFFI chief guest

Panaji (PTI): Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan on Friday said he felt "humbled" for being invited here as the chief guest to inaugurate the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

Khan said he wanted to "learn something" from the works of various critically acclaimed filmmakers participating in the 10-day film extravaganza.

"I am very humbled to be here as chief guest. However, I don't think I have reached that high a position in my life to be eligible for such a huge honour. I would prefer to learn something from the distinguished guests who have come from various parts of the world to showcase their works," Khan told reporters before the inauguration of the IFFI.

The 40-year-old actor said there was a still long way to go in his career, which started in early 1990s, and wanted to work harder to get more success.

"My earlier successes are now behind me and even the recent ones like 'Chak De! India' and 'Om Shanti Om' (which has already crossed one million pound mark in UK and still drawing audiences).

I have lived with my characters like Kabir Khan in Chak De! and Om Prakash Makhija in Om Shanti Om and enjoyed them. But now time has come to work on a new character and portray it successfully," Khan said.

The Hindu

Shah Rukh Khan : The Lord of 2007

It will take more than the combined might of a Hollywood studio and one of India’s most successful directors of date to dislodge SRK from his throne.

So, who’s the king of the castle?

In Bollywood, there’s no formal crowing, no oohs of mock surprise, no clasping of hand-on-mouth for that perfect byte. Everyone knows that 2007 has been, unarguably, Shah Rukh Khan’s year.

This year’s double Diwali dhamaka has turned into almost-universal thumbs-up for SRK’s Om Shanti Om, and almost equal derision for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya. Post that crucial first weekend, trade figures have pegged the former, a 70’s joyride through Bollywood, a clear winner, both in India and overseas (Om Shanti Om is reported to have made more than £5 million pounds in the UK, while Saawariya has barely managed a little over £16,000; in the US too, the former is way ahead in the box-office stakes).

Though it will take another week or so to really get the figures down in India, the clash of the titans has made a couple of things clear. It will take more than the combined might of a Hollywood studio and one of India’s most successful directors of date (Sony Pix and SLB) to dislodge SRK from his throne. And that nothing succeeds like success: India is still going rah-rah after the splendid showing of Chak De: audiences are still in like-mode with the story of a dispossessed hockey coach who whips an unlikely team into a winning machine. SRK will have to do something seriously wrong to start sliding from here on.

In retrospect, it’s very easy to go on a blame-game round, but it was evident from the opening Friday that a light-hearted spoof on all things Bollywood, drawing an arc of 30 years, was a better festive offering, than a relentless black-and-blue-tinted ode to Bhansali’s favourite filmmakers, inspired by a Dostoevsky short story White Nights. Saawariya is more a series of still paintings than a film, gorgeous but which leave you unmoved. You admire the handiwork of the cinematographers and the set designers, but nothing about the plight of the young lovers engages you.

Fun and flashback

In comparison, Farah Khan’s revisiting the 70s’ era of polka-dotted shirts, big collars, bigger hair, and long sideburns is a lark. At least in the first half. So you can sit there, and be transported back to the high melodrama of that time, where filmy moms would feed aloo parathas and kheer to their beloved betas, and know in their dil that their sons will make it big. The second half is unexciting, but it is still possible to coast on some leftover fun-and-games. And like Saawariya’s brand-new lead pair, Ranbir Raj and Sonam, which has been appreciated, OSO’s debutant leading lady, Deepika, has gained huge mileage.

The part of the movie-making chain which will hurt from Saawariya’s performance will be some of its distributors (the producers, Sony Pix, have already made a table profit, before the movie hit the screens). The distributors of OSO, Eros International, who reportedly paid upwards of Rs 70 crore for the film, are crowing about how OSO will be the biggest movie for them this year, even better than Partner, the other comedy which viewers embraced with enthusiasm earlier this year.

So, SRK it is.

King Khan clearly lords it… as 2007’s Hero no.1

(Excerpts)
Shubhra Gupta, Business Line India

SRK is the 'Sexiest Asian' Man in the World

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has emerged as the Sexiest Asian man in the world in 2007, according to a list published by a weekly newspaper here.

Eastern Eye, a leading British-Asian paper, says last year's winner Abhishek Bachchan was relegated to the fourth position this year. Hrithik Roshan came second followed by John Abraham.

It is the first time the 42-year-old actor has topped the list in its three-year history. The first-ever winner was Abraham.

The top ten were: 1) Shah Rukh Khan, 2) Hrithik Roshan, 3) John Abraham, 4) Abhishek Bhachchan, 5) Upen Patel, 6) Aamir Khan, 7) Salman Khan, 8) Ali Zafar, 9) Jay Sean and 10) Saif Ali Khan.

British Asians on the list include Patel, Jay Sean, cricketer Mark Ramprakash (13) and footballer Michael Chopra (25).

On being named the sexiest man on the planet, Khan told Eastern eye, "Me, really? Thanks. I feel too sexy to talk to anyone now!

"I never thought I would be called a sexy guy or be put into that category. It's only because I carry myself the way I am comfortable - that is what is sexy, I think?"

Hamant Varma, editor of Eastern eye and founder of Sexiest Asian Men list and Sexiest Asian Women List said: "Shah Rukh Khan is the complete package, good actor, good dancer, good looking and a showman. He is a great ambassador for India."

DNAindia.com

"Shah Rukh most welcome," says BCCI Vice President

...who had threatened not to watch cricket matches after being accused of using the sport as a platform to promote his films, the BCCI today said the actor was "most welcome" to the stadiums.

"He (Shahrukh) can come to watch matches. He is most welcome. We have no objection to him being present at the cricket stadiums," BCCI Vice President Lalit Modi told reporters here today.


"If (former Pakistan captain-turned-commentator) Rameez Raja asked him a question about his movie what could Shahrukh do? He had to answer," Modi added.


Modi was reacting after Khan yesterday hit back at BCCI Chief Administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty's comments that cricket matches were being used by stars to promote films after the actor was seen talking to cricketers during Jaipur ODI.


Khan said he was sad and disappointed over the remarks by Shetty and "may be won't go to watch cricket matches in future if it has not gone well with the BCCI".


"It will be strange if film actors do not talk about films," he said. (Agencies)

ChennaiOnline.com

Boorish Cricket Control for India humiliate Shah Rukh

Shame on BCCI (Board of Cricket Control for India) for its reaction to SRK watching recent matches.

In chess, the king and the pawn go into the same box after the game. But in cricket, King Khan and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wouldn’t even watch a match sitting in the same box.

Why else should the Bollywood superstar find himself at the centre of a controversy after a senior board official reportedly accused him of attending matches merely to “promote” his films? Media reports speak of the BCCI’s Ratnakar Shetty taking offence to Mr Khan’s latest film Om Shanti Om being discussed during a chat with TV commentator Rameez Raja at the Jaipur ODI between India and Pakistan. Surely, Mr Khan couldn’t have been expected to refuse to answer questions just because it happened to be a ‘much bigger platform’ than a private TV station?

Starting with the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa early this year, Mr Khan has been a regular at several cricket matches involving Team India. He even celebrated on field with the men in blue after India’s famous victory against Australia. So much so that many commentators consider him India’s lucky mascot, as the team invariably wins every time he cheers it on. So it’s very unfortunate that the BCCI should have involved him in this needless flap.

The richest cricket board on the planet obviously takes itself too seriously, the way it is so finicky about who watches matches. There is no other plausible reason for such exaggerated jitters about someone — who also happens to be a celebrity — with a ticket sitting in the stands.

In any case, if the board is so allergic to famous personalities sitting in the gallery, why does it look the other way when infamous ones like, say, the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, watch India-Pakistan matches abroad?

Hindustan Times

Shah Rukh to inaugurate IFFI 2007

After much debate and discussion, SRK has also finally agreed to participate and be the chief guest for the inaugural function of the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which is to be held in Goa on November 23.

This decision was announced on Wednesday by the Information and Broadcast ministry. Actor Mamooty will be amongst those attending the inaugural function alongwith actresses Ramya Krishna, Mira Jasmine, and also Lenin Rajendran. Celebrated filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta will be chief guest of the closing ceremony.

4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days, a film by the Romanian film maker Cristian Mungiun, which had been awarded at the Cannes festival this year, will be the opening film at Goa. There are big speculations about Amitabh Bachchan’s film, The Last Lear to be premiered during the fest.

In all, 21 feature and 15 non-feature films have been short-listed for the Indian panorama by the jury.

IndiaFM

'Khan' or 'My Name Is Khan' ?

So what is Karan Johar’s next venture called? Is it KING KHAN? Or is it KHAN? Or has it been re-titled MY NAME IS KHAN? Reports in the media suggest it’s called MY NAME IS KHAN. In fact, Karan is breaking away from the ‘K’ factor this time [all his films start with the alphabet ‘K’].

“I haven’t zeroed on any title yet,” Karan confides, “It could be MY NAME IS KHAN or just KHAN. But it’s not KING KHAN. Where did that one come from?” Reportedly, the film is based on terrorism. “It’s not! That’s another rumour. There’s no terrorism angle in my film. Yes, there’s a mention of the 9/11 episode, but nothing beyond that,” he clears the air.

The film has been delayed slightly. It was expected to start before the year came to a close, but will now roll in second quarter of 2008 and will hit the screens in April 2009. And yes, the film teams the golden combo – SRK and Kajol – after a hiatus. “I can’t confirm on Kajol’s presence till I talk to her. I’ve shifted my film ahead and need to sit with her on the fresh dates,” Karan reveals.

Meanwhile, Karan has started work on the animation version of KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI, called KOOCHIE KOOCHIE HOTA HAI. Also, the Tarun Mansukhani-directed film, starring Abhishek, Priyanka and John, is expected to roll shortly.

Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM

Om Shanti Om is the biggest opening week grosser in history of Indian cinema

The film opened to rave reviews and advance bookings on the 9th November and has since grossed over US$19mn worldwide in its first week making it the most successful opening in Indian cinema history.

Eros International, the leading integrated company within the Indian media & entertainment sector announces an unprecedented opening of Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Farah Khan. The film opened to rave reviews and advance bookings on the 9th November and has since grossed over US$19mn worldwide in its first week making it the most successful opening in Indian cinema history.

Read More......

Shah Rukh in Catch - 22 over Film Festival

If the Federation of Western India Cine Employees has its way, Shah Rukh Khan may not be present at the inaugural function of the film festival in Goa on November 23.

The federation workers are smarting over what they refer to as the "insulting attitude" of the I&B ministry by not inviting its office bearers.

"We cannot tolerate this insult to our leaders and workers and have decided to boycott the event. We have written to Shah Rukh Khan requesting him to stay away from the function," said Dinesh Chaturvedi, general secretary of the federation.

Industry sources say this could put the actor in an awkward position. "If he backs out, he may invite the ministry's ire and if he ignores the federation's wishes, he is bound to face an industry boycott," said a senior film producer.

Shah Rukh was not available for comment but his secretary confirmed he had got the federation letter by fax.

DNAindia.com

"God has given me enough. I don't crave publicity," SRK

...after a senior Cricket Board official alluded that cricket matches were being used by stars to promote films but the superstar hit back saying he does not have to depend on other's platforms to push his films.

Khan said he was sad and disappointed over the remarks by Ratnakar Shetty that use of the platform of cricket for promoting films by stars is "slightly debatable" in the wake of his latest film Om Shanti Om coming up for discussion during a chat with TV commentator Rameez Raja at the recent Jaipur ODI cricket match between India and Pakistan.

Read More......