In Praise of ... Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan may be the most famous actor you have never heard of. He barely registers in Hollywood, but wherever Bollywood is big - the subcontinent and other places with a large south Asian community, from Slough to New Jersey - "King Khan" is huge. Om Shanti Om is his latest film and it has just had the biggest opening week in Indian history, with cinemas putting on showings as early as 7.45am. Khan is the most popular actor in Bollywood - and, since Hindi cinema's global audience is larger than Hollywood's, that must make him the biggest actor in the world. It is a tribute to the tolerance of the world's biggest Hindu population that it should crown a Muslim actor king.

India's Tom Cruise, he is called, although, since he hosts that country's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Khan could also be the Hindustani Chris Tarrant; as if the world needed another. His success is all the more remarkable for being so unlikely. For all its talk of being cinema for the ordinary man, Bollywood is a dynastic business. SRK was not born into it, but worked his way there. His very ordinariness has won over his audience, who see him almost like them, as has his on-screen cheekiness. It often seems as if he is winking at film goers, admitting his latest vehicle is no masterwork. That is certainly true of Om Shanti Om. No ordinary romance, it can best be described as boy-meets-girl-both-die-only-to-be-reincarnated-decades-later-and-get-together. Phew!

By: Guardian Unlimited | Guardian Newspapers

SRK, Farah visit Manoj Kumar

By now its general knowledge that Manoj Kumar aka Mr. Bharat raised an objection stating that he was very deeply hurt with his portrayal in the latest blockbuster Om Shanti Om. And rumors had it that he had demanded the said scene to be deleted from the film.

Needless to say that one cannot expect anything but the unexpected from the King Khan. The current status is that SRK and Farah Khan had called press conference to publicly apologize to Manoj Kumar. Meanwhile Mr. Bharat, it seems that, wanted SRK to call on him personally and lend his apology, which was not happening, all thanks to the King Khan’s choc-a-bloc schedules.

That’s when Yash ‘Mr Romance’ Chopra, himself decided to play the mediator between the two by calling Manoj Kumar on Tuesday night amidst his dinner and said that he wanted to drop by, without divulging any further details. Manoj Kumar’s joys knew no bounds when he saw SRK along with his better half, Gauri and Farah accompanying Yash Chopra! SRK soon played the ‘real-life’ Raj of DDLJ and in no time all of them were happy with the outcome of the family re-union!

In the meanwhile, Farah has gone on record to say that Manoj Kumar’s scenes won't be chopped off from Om Shanti Om.

As the dialogue from the film goes “Aakhir mein sab kuch thik hi ho jata hai…”

IndiaFM

It’s home, shanti, home!

All’s well that ends well. And there is no more hurt in veteran actor Manoj Kumar’s heart for the spoof on him in Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om.

Kumar, who had objected to these scenes, was unrelenting when Farah and Shah Rukh Khan himself apologised to him publicly in a press conference.

He reportedly wanted SRK to call on him and bury the hatchet. This was not happening because of Shah Rukh’s hectic schedule and string of commitments. And a bitter Kumar expressed his disappointment over the entire issue in the press once again. But, peace was made.

Kumar tells the story: “Yash Chopra played the mediator. I got a call from Yash on Tuesday night at dinner time asking for my address. He said he was in the neighbourhood and wanted to drop by. He didn’t say who was with him. So when my wife opened the door, we were pleasantly surprised to to see Gauri and Shah Rukh Khan, and Farah Khan, with Yash. It felt like a family reunion. We didn’t discuss anything that was bygone. Everybody makes mistakes, but when you realise them, more than half your mistake is pardoned. I don’t hold any grudges against anyone.”

According to the actor who has waved the Indian tricolour more than any politician in the country, the conversation revolved around Shah Rukh’s parents and Kumar’s mother-in-law who were all freedom fighters.

“His father worked closely with my mother-in-law. Even Shah Rukh’s mother was known to us,” said Kumar. The Bollywood Badshah then reminded Mr Bharat (as Manoj Kumar was known) that years ago he wanted to take some pictures with him. “It never happened, though,” said Kumar. “But in the hour they spent with us, Shah Rukh and Gauri clicked pictures with us. It was nice meeting him. He touched my feet. He may be my son’s age but I have a brotherly feeling towards him.”

Some sections of the press have unkindly said that the ageing actor used the Om Shanti Om issue to gain unnecessary publicity for himself.

An aggrieved Kumar retorted, “At this age, publicity this doesn’t matter. What matters is respect from people. We have earned it. And I am glad Shah Rukh belongs to that generation which respects elders. God bless him.” He had one regret, however. “Gauri and Farah, who is pregnant, came to our house and we couldn’t give them any shagun. Never mind, just as our doors are open for Shah Rukh and Gauri, the doors of Mannat will be open to us. My wife and I can go there anytime. And we will not forget to carry the shagun .”

Afsana Ahmed, TNN

Kareena loves to 'seduce' SRK

Kareena Kapoor's ultimate dream is to do a romantic movie with Shah Rukh Khan. The actress can't seem to stop gushing over her favourite actor.

"Very frankly I did the Yeh mera dil song in Don because of Shah Rukh. My ultimate wish is to do a full-on love story with him," said the actress whose latest movie Jab We Met is a box-office hit.

"When Farhan Akhtar offered me the song I wondered if making a guest appearance was right for me. However, the temptation of doing a song with Shah Rukh got the better of me."

Kareena says she is glad she did the song. "It got me tremendous notice. My niece Samaira has become my biggest fan. She dances to the song. And the minute she sees me she starts singing Yeh mera dil pyar ka deewana," said the young Kapoor.

The actress, who is listening to new scripts every day, has given the go-ahead to only two new projects.

"I've decided I can't do run of the mill films any more. I've done enough films without conviction. And it shows in my performances. Unlike my sister Karisma who could look convincing in any role, I've to be convinced about the role."

Talk about her movie Omkara and Kareena's face brightens up.

"It's one film I'm truly proud of. I'm looking forward to working with Vishal Bharadwaj again. He's one of those rare directors who know how to tap into my potential. I need directors like Vishal and Imtiaz Ali of Jab We Met to come forward and give me a chance. That's why I've taken a long break to get my act together. I don't want to look back on my career with any regrets," she said.

Subash K Jha, IANS

"I am Salman Khan not Shah Rukh Khan." - Salman Khan

While shooting for Subhash Ghai's Yuvraj in Austria , Salman Khan was mistaken for Shah Rukh Khan by the locals. Although Salman was far from pleased, he kept his cool but only until Katrina Kaif teased him.

We were shooting for Subhash Ghai's Yuvraj in Austria . People would often look at Sallu and scream out Shah Rukh's name! says an insider. It happened first when we were shooting a scene outdoors and a group of European locals present to watch the shoot, started chanting Shah Rukh..Shah Rukh Shah Rukh as soon as Salman came to the sets. An amused Salman simply smiled back at them, he adds.

Several similar incidents followed. Our source reveals, The next day, at another place in the same city, Salman faced a similar situation when another set of girls went crazy shouting King Khan's name as soon as they saw Salman shooting. They were standing slightly away and one of the unit members had told them the biggest star of Bollywood was shooting there, the source continues.

His girlfriend Katrina even made fun of Sallu once. He was deeply embarrassed when Katrina (who stars opposite him in the film) poked fun at him in good humour. A grumbling Sallu then decided to concentrate on the shoot. But when the crowds didn't stop chanting SRK's name, he finally turned around and said, 'I am Salman Khan not Shah Rukh Khan.' Then he burst out laughing, says the source.

A friend of Salman adds, It wasn't as if he was annoyed or felt jealous about SRK's name being recited instead of his own. He reacted just to let people know the difference between the two Khans. Hill Road Media.

Rajiv Dutta, Indiatarget

SRK's nightmare!

Shah Rukh Khan is a troubled man. He’s haunted by a recurring nightmare. It begins at a cricket stadium where Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh seem to be frantically waving out at him. Then they start blowing kisses! The Pakistani cricketers frown as the game is held up and BCCI officials rush to evict the Bollywood Baadshah. “It’s not me they are blowing kisses at,” protests SRK and points to Deepika Padukone beside him. “It’s her!” Even as Dhoni and Yuvraj start doing somersaults across the ground, Khan is bundled into a waiting car and driven to the airport.

But Shah Rukh soon finds himself in a midair crisis as the flight to Mumbai wobbles violently and passengers reach for their oxygen masks. The reason is not bad weather but the pilot who’s left the cockpit and hangs around the star for tips on building a six-pack! As the aircraft continues to drop altitude dramatically, the passengers open the emergency exit and request him to jump out!

Khan lands safely on the lawn of his villa in Bandra. But his troubles are far from over. For, even before he could ask Gauri what’s for lunch, she sends him to buy a kilo each of beans and ladyfingers. Thus, Shah Rukh steps out of Mannat with a shopping bag. As he walks the street looking for beans and ladyfingers, there are many fingers pointing at him and people frowning at him for stooping down to walking the streets to promote his film!

A vegetable vendor shrugs his shoulders when Shah Rukh asks him the price of beans. “Why do you need beans?” asks the vendor. “You’re full of beans! I see you on TV, newspaper, advertisements - promoting your film!” Shah Rukh tries to ignore him and asks the price of ladyfingers. “It’s gone up,” says the vendor. “But it’s cheaper than what I paid to see your film at a multiplex! And why do you want to eat ladyfingers? Does that make one the sexiest man in Asia?”

Finally, Shah Rukh Khan is so fed up that he covers his face with his hand and walks back home. But that’s when his cell phone rings. It’s Manoj Kumar! “You’re imitating me again,” screams Mr Bharat. “Wasn’t it enough you made fun of me in your movie? Now you’re doing it in real life!”

That’s when Shah Rukh wakes up and heaves a sigh of relief.

Shubha Shetty Saha, dnaindia.com

Manoj Kumar might sue SRK

In spite of a public apology, Manoj Kumar says he has been humiliated enough to still consider a legal action against Shah Rukh Khan.

Despite the fact that SRK along with Farah Khan had publicly apologised to Manoj Kumar for having spoofed him in ‘Om Shanti Om’, the veteran actor is still seething with anger.

Kumar was upset with the production team for having shown him in a bad light and not even having been informed about it. However, SRK quickly threw a press conference to apologise and also promised to visit the actor, but according to Manoj Kumar he has not kept his promise.

“Shah Rukh announced that he will be visiting my place. But over the weekend, no one has come home, except some police
personnel, who had stationed themselves outside my house in case he comes.”

Manoj Kumar says he is not demanding a personal apology, “I am not here to beg for anything. If he has committed a crime, he should realise that he has to personally apologise to me. In my 50 years of work, I have never held a press conference or hired a PR person. I have been extremely tolerant, but if someone hits me below the belt, it is unpardonable.” “They have shown in the movie that I have been lathi charged at my premiere. Could Bombay police hit a known star in such a public place? It is like saying that anybody can be Shah Rukh Khan’s imposter and the real SRK can be lathi charged for trying to enter the premiere of his own movie. How can I accept such humiliation?” he says.

“I am not a man of litigation. But if there is no response from that side, I might take some action according to my solicitor’s advice,” Kumar adds.

Shah Rukh Khan was unavailable for comment.

DNAindia.com

SRK To Inaugurate World AIDS Day In India

Smita Thackeray is all set for her show on December 1 for the World AIDS day. She has an impressive list of performers this year. While Shah Rukh Khan will inaugurate the show, Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan will also be part of the event.

Smita Thackeray says, “Shah Rukh Khan will be inaugurating the show and Saif, Salman, Lara Dutta and Dia Mirza will be performing with other celebrities from the music industry. The show will have a special opening act choreographed by Shiamak Davar. I am sure everyone will love it.”
Speaking about getting various celebrities for the cause, she says, “It feels great and I am thankful to God that I am in a position where they have complete faith in me and my organisation, Mukti Foundation. They all want to do whatever little they can for a good cause. It is a big responsibility.”

Shah Rukh had performed in Smita's first show when his song `Chaiya chaiya' was a huge hit. This time he had a very busy schedule as he had also committed for one of his endorsements deals.

“But he was sweet enough to be a part of the show despite a packed schedule. He has always been there for me since my first show,” adds Smita.

Mumbaimirror

Shah Rukh 'ads' up to Dhoni

Shah Rukh Khan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are not just superstars, but ‘shooting stars’ in their own rights. So, when both were shooting together for a commercial for Videocon at Yash Raj Studios on November 2, it was King Khan who guided Dhoni by providing acting tips to be at ease with the camera.

The ad shows both of these stars in role reversals, which means that SRK as a cricketer and Dhoni as an actor. During the start of the shoot, when Dhoni felt a bit uncomfortable before the camera, SRK waved his omnipresent magic wand and made him feel comfy and got through the shots with total perfection. In return, Dhoni shared some real great cricketing tips to SRK!

The ad has been conceptualized by Ogilvy and Mather, and is scheduled to go on air this week.

Image Courtesy: Mid-Day

Source: IndiaFM

The Making of Om Shanti Om : Book Review

I did so myself! The moment one flips through the pages and greedily tastes a sound byte here, a picture there and a quick read somewhere in the middle of the book, you know that it would be hard not to enjoy reading the book. The expectations level are at an all time high in these few minutes itself; something which is akin to watching a full length theatrical promo of a big Bollywood blockbuster film and anticipating it's arrival on the big screen soon!

Thankfully, all the high expectations are met in totality, hence making it truly a collector's delight which can be find a place in your book shelf at least for one lifetime. No pun intended!

Read More........