Shah Rukh Khan is back!

Ever since the release of OM SHANTI OM, Shah Rukh Khan is being seen all over. However, most of his appearances have been off the big screen. Either he is seen in commercials or cricket matches or music videos or small screen game shows.

Yes, there have been a couple of big screen appearances as well but they too have been restricted to barely 5 mins. While he only recited a poem for friend Samar Khan's SHAURYA (which came during the end titles), he had an item number in KRAZZY 4. Beyond this, his die hard fans have patiently waited to see him doing something worthwhile on the big screen.

The wait should now be over this weekend with the release of BHOOTHNATH. Though Amitabh Bachchan plays the central protagonist and Aman Siddiqui plays the kid around whom the film revolves, the film also stars Shah Rukh Khan.

As the kid's father and Juhi Chawla's husband, he features prominently in the film and though he is being billed as 'special appearance', he is present for a good 25 minutes in the film as per the makers of BHOOTHNATH.

Of course this is just a starter as the main course would begin with Priyadarshan's BILLO BARBER which arrives in next few months. And yes, the grand finale is very much in the pipeline, what with the release of Aditya Chopra's RAB NE BANA DI JODI which is all set to arrive on 12th December.

Joginder Tuteja

Why SRK-Shankar parted ways

Shah Rukh Khan had called off the sci-fi Robot with South director Shankar owing to creative differences. Afterwards, Shah Rukh had said “Yes, we have called it off. We were not happy with a few things; Shankar’s take on the film was completely different from mine. We had worked very hard on the film and it is sad that we had to call it off. Both Shankar and I decided that we won’t make it Apparently, Shah Rukh and Shankar parted ways because Shah Rukh wanted the special effects of the film to be done in his SFX studio in Khar, but Shankar wanted to do the same in Chennai. According to our well-placed source in the film industry, “Robot had a lot of special effects. For the whole exercise of special effects to be completed, Shankar would have had to stay in Mumbai for six months at least. Shankar didn’t want to stay so long in Mumbai. Shankar argued, but Shah Rukh was adamant.”

SRK had even given a signing amount of Rs 5 crore to Shankar. Our source further reveals, “Shankar’s fee for the film was going to be Rs 12 crore. When Shah Rukh gave him the signing amount, he deducted the TDS. Later, Shankar returned the entire signing amount but without deducting the TDS - Rs 5 crore.”

We sent a message to Shah Rukh, but he did not reply. Shah Rukh’s next project will be Yash Raj Films’ Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which will be directed by Aditya Chopra.

However, no one said what exactly the creative differences were. Shah Rukh had loved the script and was all set to produce the film under his banner Red Chillies Entertainment. So what went wrong?

Vickey Lalwani, Mumbai Mirror

SRK to perform in Kolkata

King Khan has promised to be in form at the Eden next Thursday; though it’s his team that needs it more.

Keen to repay loyal fans of the Kolkata Knight Riders with some Bollywood-style entertainment, Shah Rukh Khan has decided to perform on the evening of Ponchisey Boisakh, just before the beleaguered Knight Riders take on the Royal Challengers in their third match on home turf.

Shah Rukh has asked officials of his company, Red Chillies Entertainment, to arrange for a makeshift 30ftx20ft stage at an appropriate spot for him and his troupe to perform for 15-20 minutes before the match starts at 8pm.

“Shah Rukh wants to offer something to the KKR fans, who have stood by the team. He wants to do something for the crowd from the bottom of his heart,” said I.S. Bhandari of Red Chillies.

Nobody would confirm it but the buzz is that Saif Ali Khan and Kareena “Size 0” Kapoor will be a part of the show along with the Indian-origin wrestler who has found fame in America as The Great Khali.

Sources said the makeshift stage would be just outside the boundary. The choice is between F and J blocks.

“We have asked them (Red Chillies) to officially send us a detailed plan. We will grant them permission, provided it is not an issue with the cops,” CAB joint secretary Amitava Banerjee said.

“We have told the organisers that the stage should in no way affect the arrangements on the ground.”

Sports minister Subhash Chakraborty scoffed at the idea of holding such a show before the match. “May 8 is Rabindra Jayanti and such an event (Shah Rukh’s show) will not be in tune with it.”

On whether he would do anything to prevent the event, Chakraborty said: “Who am I to stop anything? Why should I interfere? They (the organisers) need to introspect and take a call on such things.”

The sports minister’s grouse against Red Chillies had as much to do with the number of tickets being offered by the organisers as with Shah Rukh's proposed show. The sports department had asked for 198 tickets for the match but was offered only half that number. Chakraborty's department felt “insulted” and refused them.

“Why should we take any? We had asked for 198 tickets and were offered only 101. It's not a joke,” Chakraborty said.

The Telegraph, India

Shah Rukh Khan's IPL - Nokia Commercial

Seems like the Bollywood stars are doing everything they can to promote their IPL Cricket teams... Take for example Shah Rukh Khan and this Nokia commercial which he did alongside his Knight Riders Cricket players! Check it out below!

The King vs The Boss

South superstar Rajnikanth and Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan are both remaking the Malayalam superhit Katha Parayumbol.

Rajnikanth is in Hyderabad’s Ramoji Filmcity with leading ladies Nayantara and Meena, protagonist Pashupati and director P Vasu, shooting non-stop for the Tamil version Kuselan which is scheduled for release on August 15; while Shah Rukh is working overtime on the Hindi version Billoo Barber, starring Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta and which is slated for release also in August, at Mumbai’s Film City. A trade source in Chennai said, “If Shah Rukh’s film releases on the same day as Rajnikanth’s, then the Hindi dubbed version of Kuselan will be affected.”

After Rajnikanth’s Sivaji — The Boss became a superhit in Maharashtra, Bollywood distributors sat up and took notice of the actor’s popularity outside Tamil Nadu for the first time.

On the face of it, Rajnikanth and Shah Rukh have never had an issue. The only discord between the two happened when Rajnikanth was named Entertainer of The Year by a television channel. Shah Rukh, who was present at the awards function of the channel, asked Rajni how he managed the title. Rajni, of course, took Shah Rukh’s jibe in good humour. But in his acceptance speech, the South biggie who is a big Amitabh Bachchan fan, hit back saying, “There will be many Badshahs but there is only one Shahenshah.” Now there is said to be a dignified coldness between Rajnikanth and Shah Rukh.

Theatre owner and leading Tamil distributor in Maharashtra, Nambi Rajan said, “Rajnikanth is a legend. There is so much excitement for Kuselan though its release is nearly three months away.” Rajan also feels that it is unfair to compare Billoo Barber with Kuselan because both films will cater to a different audience. P Vasu, Kuselan’s director, has made many changes in the screenplay and his film will not be a direct lift of the Malayalam movie. On the other hand, Priyadarshan’s Billoo Barber will bear a close resemblance to the Malayalam original.

No Holiday for Shahrukh This Year

No summer vacation for Shah Rukh Khan this year. He is up to his eyebrows with work and Gauri and kids will have to wait. His schedule is choc-a-bloc with his TV show Paanchvi Pass, films like Billoo Barber, IPL, etc.

Normally SRK makes it a point to take a month-and-a-half off during his kids' summer break and head to London where he spends quality time with Aryan and Suhana. When SRK is on holiday, there's no extraneous factor that can disturb him. He says, "At that time it's just my family and me. I don't take anyone's calls… I am not in touch with anyone at that time. It's only about my kids and me. But right now there is too much going on for me to take my break."

A source close to the superstar says that SRK won't be taking his annual 40-day break "There is so much going on. We have finished the bulk of Billoo Barber and now he is working on Paanchvi Pass. Then in a fortnight, Adi's film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi will begin. Also three days of shooting for Billoo Barber are left for which he will be going down South. After that he comes back to Paanchvi Pass. That wraps up by the end of May."

"Most of the filming for Rab ne Bana Di Jodi will happen in Mumbai and a few in the North, with IPL going on side-by-side. And therefore he is taking the kids with him for the different matches." What better way to spend quality time with kids!

Khan is known to be very close to his kids and allows them on his sets too, and it won't be any different during the summer break. Last year Khan spent a month in London where he took his kids to see his wax statue at Madame Tussauds. A friend who accompanied them last year says, "The two kids were so proud to see their daddy there. I think he actually enjoyed his statue once he saw that look in their eyes."

When Khan was invited to Warwick Castle to open its latest attraction, he lugged his family there too. So, from landing on the castle grounds in a helicopter to a sword slashing red carpet ribbon-cutting ceremony, flanked by fully armoured medieval bodyguard, the kids were in for a real treat. But that was just the start of the fun for SRK. After the inauguration Khan went for a private visit of the Castle with his family.

Harshita Kohli, Mumbai Mirror

Dance and dimples

This week’s Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? participants Priyanka Chaterjee and Neha Kalra took more than just the challenge on the show. Priyanka flirts with anchor Shah Rukh Khan, as she persuades SRK to dance with her on a romantic song from Om Shanti Om. While his fans go fidaa over SRK’s dimples, King Khan drools and recites a poetry over Neha Kalra whose dimples can be used as reservoirs in rains as Shah Rukh puts it!

How King Khan bagged Billoo Barber!

SRK’s claim that Priyan had initially offered this to Akshay Kumar who rejected it, only makes the rivalry between King Khan and Khiladi Kumar hotter! King Khan heard the script and immediately decided to produce the film and act in it too. Considering Akshay Kumar is Priyan’s favourite, Shah Rukh grabbed the opportunity with both hands when Priyan approached him. Says Shah Rukh, “Billoo Barber was offered to Akshay Kumar but he turned it down.

Priyan was doing another film with me. Then he spoke to me about Billoo Barber and asked if I would do a 10-day role in the film. I asked him to narrate the story. I told him that I would not only act in it but even produce it.”

The film is yet another Malayalam remake from Priyan’s kitty but SRK simply loved the script. “It’s a story based on Krishna and his friend Sudama. It’s a very sweet story. The thought is nice. But it’s not fair to call it a Shah Rukh Khan film. It is about Irrfan Khan, his wife and two kids. Billoo Barber is a remake of a Malayalam film called Kadha Parayaumbol and has been rewritten by the same writer. The Hindi rights are with us while the Tamil rights are with Rajnikant. In Malayalam it was made with Mammooty.”

The film stars Irrfan Khan, Lara Dutta, Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani and SRK. Kareena, Deepika and another top actress are slated to play guest appearances in the film. Well, who can say no to King Khan? Pritam will render the music for the film while the lyrics will be written by Gulzar.

Casting the lead actress was the toughest job for SRK. Ameesha Patel and Tabu had turned it down. “I have been reading about all the actresses refusing the project but I would never lie to an actor to get them to do the role. I told Priyan Sir to tell them that it is not the greatest role in the world; but it is not a role that will go unnoticed. I told this to Urmila, Manisha, Juhi. Amisha didn’t do the role because we thought she looked too young to play a mother opposite Irrfan. It wasn’t like she left it or we threw her out. Tabu refused because she didn’t like the role. Vidya (Balan) said no because she did not want to play a mother to two grown-up children. But the kids are 10 and 12-year-olds they are not my age!”

Finally it was Lara who accepted the role. “When I sat down with Lara, I told her that you do certain roles because of the film and she agreed. Juhi and Rani have often told me ‘I don’t have a great role in the film and I am just doing the film because it’s a very sweet film’. I believe in that. If a product is really good, everybody shines. I could be great in a film, but if it is not good, then it doesn’t work.”

SRK: Energy, Enthusiasm and Professionalism

Actor Shah Rukh Khan is extremely busy with his cricket matches, and as seen earlier his presence in the box does make a difference to his team. They land up winning a little more and losing a lttle less. But while he is backing his army in full force on the cricket field, SRK isn't shirking from his duties as an actor and producer.

We find him reporting to the sets of Priyadarshan's Billu Barber right on time. "Shah Rukh reports to the sets at sharp 9:30 a.m. And is never late for schedules," says Priyan.

The actor will also be seen in Vivek Sharma's Bhoothnath. Shah Rukh, we The very busy man, only recently, reported to a studio to dub for Bhoothnath at midnight. Director Vivek Sharma tells us, "I really needed Shah Rukh to dub for the film, and when I requested him to come for dubbing on a particular day, he was there at midnight and dubbed till early morning, only so that my mixing doesn't stop. He's my dost Khan!"

Kudos to Khan's 'dubble' energy, enthusiasm and professionalism.

I wish Preity the best: Shah Rukh Khan

Enough of cricket. Are you aware that Rakhi Sawant has challenged you in the item act?
In an item act? (Laughs) Well Rakhi did her first film with us, Main Hoon Na. I have a highest regard for her personality and I wish her all the best. At this stage, I think it would be really strange for Rakhi to challenge me and for me to accept it…I wish her success and am sure she will win the item act.

The sky seems to be the limit. A Shah Rukh Khan wax statue is to be installed in France's Grevin Wax Museum. You are the only Indian after Mahatma Gandhi to have a statue there…
I think it is a great honour. I have already been honoured with the highest civilian honour by the French government. It's an honour for the films I have done. It's the Indian economy and Indian films that are reaching out. I simply happen to be riding on that vehicle — sometimes the package starts looking nice because the content is good. I am lucky.

That's modesty, isn't it?
With all humility I truly believe that it is the essence of India and Indian cinema that is reaching further. I am very glad I was born in this time of acting and have made a kind of an impact. I have been to France for Veer-Zaara and saw how the people who came to watch were not just Indians. This is a really good sign.

Is there is no end to Shah Rukh Khan rediscovering himself?
I was always like this and I am like that. People say I have a great business mind but I say no. Some people say that I am an intelligent person but I say no. I always have great belief when I wake up in the morning. And that's where the energy comes from.

Preity Zinta wants Kolkata and Mohali to play in the IPL finals…
I wish her the best. She is confident that she will reach the finals but I will not make tall claims like that. Honestly, on behalf of my team, I would like to say that we hope to play cricket that everybody cherishes and in that process we reach the finals.

Tell us something about your love for Kolkata…
As a sporting city it is the best. People out here have a passion. The city has a history. When I start talking I end up with Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray.

I am acting with Rani Mukerji, Kajol and Abhijeet and Kumar Sanu are singing for me. So, Bengal is there but we tend to overlook it. When you understand it you realize there is a huge pool of talent somewhere in the water of Hooghly. And this works for me.

When was the first time you watched a cricket match?
I went to watch an India-Pakistan match at Ferozsha Kotla. I have seen some matches in Mumbai and then I watched the T20 finals in South Africa. I had promised my son I would take him to World Cup Soccer but he fell sick in France. Then I took him to the T20 finals.

What drives SRK?
To me, young people are an inspiration. I have reached a stage of comfort now. I am always getting offers to be in some social activity or the other but if there is anything socially relevant I want to do, I want to do it in the field of sports because it makes a lot of difference.

I had problems in childhood, lost my parents but succeeded because of the audience, God's wishes and because I follow certain simple tenets. I want every youngster in the country and around the globe to know that whatever you do you should try and be the best. You want to be an actor be Amitabh Bachchan, you want to be a sportsperson be Roger Federer.

Hindustan Times