Mohsin in SRK’s clothes!

Anyone would be thrilled if they got to wear a superstar’s clothes after the star’s worn them.

So imagine Mohsin Akhtar’s excitement when he got to wear none other than Shah Rukh Khan’s clothes, that too before SRK had worn them! What happened was that before Mohsin got his break in Bollywood with It’s a Man’s World , he had been a model with Manish Malhotra.

Manish had designed SRK’s clothes for the IPL matches but because of his busy schedule, King Khan couldn’t manage to try them on. So, Manish had Mohsin try the clothes, which Mohsin did with much pleasure.

Mohsin says excitedly, “I was so happy when Manish Sir asked me to give a trial. I was in seventh heaven thinking that even before Shah Rukh has worn the clothes, I got to try them on. SRK might not know this but I am happy and can say that I wore King Khan’s costume!” After the final trial, Mohsin requested SRK to have a pic clicked with him because Mohsin’s dad is a big fan of SRK.

The child in Shah Rukh Khan!

Well, we certainly do not mean that suddenly the serious and mature King Khan has turned kiddish and is doing things not befitting his age.

Of course, that may never happen, as we all know that he has a very mature head upon his shoulders!

According to Mushtaq Shiekh, Shah Rukh Khan’s dear friend cum author of his biography, Still Reading Khan, not many people know that when SRK gets a gift, its value is immaterial. Shiekh goes on to add that SRK’s real joy is in ripping apart the gift wrappers, very much like his son Aryan, to take a look at what lies within.

The updated version of Mushtaq Shiekh’s Still Reading Khan, titled Shah Rukh Can, has many other never heard before anecdotes from the global superstar’s personal life and it’s going to be a collector’s item for his countless fans and well wishers.

Billoo Barber moved to 2009

Ever since Billoo Barber was announced earlier this year, there have been speculations galore around the month of its release.

There were constant rumors floating around the release of the film and though there has been a constant pull and push around the final timeline, here is an exclusive bit of information which has just come in. As per reliable sources, 2008 is now out of question for Billoo Barber and ultimately it is going to be January 2009 when the film would eventually arrive.

Is it Shah Rukh Khan’s health problem which has resulted in the delay for the film? Or is it the December release of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi which is causing Shah Rukh Khan to space out the two films?

“Not really”, says a source on condition of anonymity, “Though the specific reason is yet to be nailed down, one of the major causes of worry is arrival of half a dozen biggies which are expected in the months of November and December. Golmaal Returns arrives in October end, November sees Dostana and Yuvaraj while December already has three biggies - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Chandni Chowk To China and Ghajani.”

But with Shah Rukh Khan heading the film’s cast, why the cause for worry?

“There isn’t really a cause for worry but it always helps to arrive when there isn’t too much of crowd”, reasons the source, “And then one major factor which needs to be considered is that though Billoo Barber is a Khan film but it is not Shah Rukh’s, it is Irrfan’s! Now it won’t be fair to pitch a film with Irrfan Khan in lead amidst all the mainstream biggies.”

With Dilli 6 being the only confirmed biggie in the month of January 2009, it pretty much seems like a wise move!

SRK's 'Temptation Reloaded' update

According to sources, the venues are yet to be finalised, but the dates are October 17, 18, 19 and 20 in Europe, and October 23 and 24 in the Gulf.

Putting to rest the recent speculation and controversy, Katrina Kaif will, finally, be part of the tour. The infamous spat at her birthday party between boyfriend Salman and SRK hasn’t affected their schedule, and it’s business as usual as far as Kat and SRK are concerned.

Apart from King Khan, Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Anusha Dandekar and Ganesh Hegde will feature on stage in the Europe leg of the tour. In the Gulf, the tour will feature Katrina, Rani Mukerji, Arjun, Anusha and Ganesh.

It isn’t confirmed if, at all, the tour will go to the US, where Amitabh Bachchan’s Unforgettables was staged. If it does, though, the comparisons will be inevitable. Keep watching this space for more.

Shah Rukh mania unleashed!

The star’s home production Billoo Barber will begin with a montage of videos that capture his fan frenzy

Shah Rukh Khan’s home production Billoo Barber will have a grand opening dance number in which director Priyadarshan will attempt to establish SRK’s phenomenal fan following through a montage of real life videos that capture’s his fan frenzy worldwide.
Directed by Priyadarshan, Billoo Barber also has Lara Dutta and Irrfan Khan in the cast. The team is currently in Mumbai after finishing their shooting schedule in Pollachi in Tamil Nadu.

“It is a grand dance number that is aimed at establishing how big SRK is not only in India but also abroad. It will show his Michael Jackson kind of appeal among his fans. There’s a montage of videos that show how his fans go berserk on seeing him. It will also include the star’s personal experiences with his fans as the backdrop,” reveals choreographer Pony Verma.

Pony adds, “We wish to begin the film with this sequence. It will establish Shah Rukh as the most sought after and followed actor in India.”

SRK plays himself in the movie and has an extended guest appearance in it. He is set to act for around 45 minutes and do a couple of ‘item’ numbers.

“We are currently busy shooting for this dance number. It will be a spectacle. Priyadarshan is not leaving any stone unturned to create a big hype around the movie,” she says.

“I will kill Gauri Khan” - Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan made a shocking statement quite recently. She declared her love for Shah Rukh Khan and even went on to state that for him, she would be even willing to kill Gauri Khan.

However, it is quite obvious that she said so in light humor as all this chit-chat happened on the ‘Sajid Superstars’ show!

On being asked about her crush, Vidya Balan didn’t bat an eyelid as she only mentioned one name - Shah Rukh Khan!

When warned by Sajid Khan that Gauri Khan could well be watching the show, she confessed that for getting the man of her dreams, she would even be willing to kill Gauri Khan!

Shahrukh Khan to play desi Indiana Jones

If things go as planned, we might see Shahrukh Khan digging into the past and hunting for treasure in a film inspired from the famous Indiana Jones series from Hollywood.

Acclaimed director Santosh Sivan is set to make a fantasy film on the lines of Indiana Jones. Earlier, in an interview, he mentioned his desire to make an adventure-cum-fantasy film.

In the movie, we will see SRK in hunt of treasures a la Indiana Jones through mystic lands and jungles. According to a source, this film is going to be a big-budget movie with a touch of romance and comedy. Moreover, it might also star John Abraham .

The movie details are not yet out, but Sivan has clearly said about his interest to direct a fantasy film. Locales are yet to be finalized.

This is the second time Shahrukh would team up with Sivan after a long gap of seven years. Previously, they worked together in Asoka . Sources said that Shahrukh will start shooting once he has finished working for other projects.

In the meantime, Sivan’s movie Tahaan is releasing next week which boasts of a bunch of talented actors like Sarika Rahul Bose and newcomer Purab.

SRK's Many looks

Recovering from a back injury, Shah Rukh Khan is back at work.
Spotted at Yash Raj studios trying to wrap up Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, sources close to the actor told us more about SRK’s role in the film and his choc-o-bloc schedule.

“In between he took off for about a week. As a result he is now working round the clock to get back on track. In the film SRK will be seen in a double role. In the first half he will play this complete simpleton… almost like a village bumpkin. And then to impress Anushka who plays the leading lady he turns into this slick city guy,” says the source.

In fact Khan has been donning wigs and changing his looks in the film to ensure that both characters look completely different.

We spotted him on the sets in Yash Raj studio wearing a wig and having put on some weight for the role he almost walked away without us realizing it was King Khan. In fact his look makes him unrecognizable and sources from YRF tell us that more often than not he gets away in the studio without being recognized at all because of his wig and clothes.

Playing a geek in the first half, SRK has donned various looks including that of Charlie Chaplin. “Shah Rukh has already shot with many get ups. There is one scene where he plays a geek and his hair is all plastered down. He also sports a small moustache ala Charlie Chaplin with half pants and everything,” says a source from the set, “Similarly for another look his clothes are all flashy and over the top. Then in another look he plays the NRI who is visiting India.”

The source tells us that the various looks of the actor are a part of the script. “It’s all been done very well. They aren’t taking the mickey out of anyone else in the industry like the current trend in other films. When Shah Rukh heard about it he was all game but he was quite clear he wanted it done tastefully as he didn’t want to rake any controversy.”

We also spotted the elusive director Aditya Chopra on the set floor as he waited for King Khan to get into his garb for the shot. But as soon as he saw other media who were present for some media interviews make their way towards the main building, Chopra quickly walked away into the studio shutting the door firmly behind him.

"I have tried to capture the magic of Shah Rukh Khan" - Mustaq Sheikh

Having started his career as a journalist, Mushtaq Shiekh has indeed come a long way. From writing exclusive columns in film magazines to writing scripts for popular K-serials to writing the story of one of the country's biggest blockbusters Om Shanti Om, Mushtaq has indeed done it all. However, Mushtaq is still best known as the author of Shah Rukh Khan's biography- 'Still Reading Khan'. His proximity with the country's biggest superstar is something that's known to one and all. He even wrote the coffee-table book on 'The Making of Asoka' and 'The Making of Om Shanti Om'. Now after having already penned a book on the life of SRK, Mushtaq is ready to release yet another book on the superstar and this time it's called 'Shah Rukh Can'. In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Hungama, this talented writer speaks about what readers can expect from his new book, his proximity with SRK and his future plans.

Is it true that you have written yet another book on SRK called 'Shah Rukh Can'?
Yes, the book will be released in a month's time. The exact date has yet not been finalized.

You had earlier penned his biography 'Still Reading Khan', what is different this time around?
'Shah Rukh Can' is the paperback version of 'Still Reading Khan'. This book is an updated version of my coffee table book. Shah Rukh is a non-stop machine, he does hundred things each day, to keep up, it's next to impossible but I am trying to do so in the form of my book. The other aspect was that many people had complained to me that reading my earlier biography in the form of a 4 kg coffee table book took a toll on their backbone so I decided to make things easy for many. So this book will be easy on your eyes, your back bone and your wallet (laughs). So in a nutshell, 'Shah Rukh Can' is all things good condensed into one compact book. I have tried to capture the magic of Shah Rukh Khan between the covers of my book. And I sincerely hope and pray to Allah that I have succeeded, because dealing with someone else's life story and telling it as honestly as possible is a huge task.

What made you come up with this idea?
Lots of my fans have been writing in to say that my coffee table book is too cumbersome to handle. In fact, I have complaints from women who say they could not even take my book to bed with them. (Laughs) So this idea came to me. There was a lot to add. A year has passed since I released the coffee table. It's already done exceptionally well and now I thought that I should push the envelope and make the book available to a larger chunk of people.

You are known to be very close to Shah Rukh Khan...How did you first get to know him?
I met Shah Rukh more than a decade ago when I was a journalist. I met him up for an interview and the rest is publishing history as they say.

How much has SRK cooperated during the making of this book?
The book would have been impossible without his cooperation. The only care I took was to curb my temptation and not ask too many questions and irritate him. The advantage you have when you know someone well is that you don't have to re-check many issues. You already know most things. What I had to be careful about is that I didn't take advantage of my friendship with the man. And that's always a tough one. It becomes unfair to harrow someone too much and more so if it's a man who's every second has been pre-booked for the next five years.

Is there a grand function for the release?
I have made a habit of releasing my book as if it's a film premiere. Every launch party seems to take a toll on me. They seem to tire me more than the whole process of writing and putting together a book. So this time I am going the more conventional route of having a book reading session, the details of which are not really planned as of now…

Heard this time over, you are targeting the cyber space in a big way?
Yes, I am because I have always realized the potential of the net and the way the world reaches out to you here on cyber space. The same process takes time in the brick and mortar land. But it happens in an instant on the web. My publisher, OM Books International, is going hammer and tongs on the net simply because the whole book loving clan seems to be surfing the net these days. The day my publisher www.om-books.com opened pre-orders on their site there has already been a thunderous response. Be it Russia, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong or Japan, I am getting pre-orders from everywhere. As an author I don't think I can ask for more. Can I?

How much is it priced at and who is it targeted at?
As I said earlier, this time I am keeping it very affordable and easy on your wallet. It's a modest 395 rupees. Shah Rukh's life has to be devoured by anyone who wants to make a difference. Who does not want to make it big? Who does not want to question destiny and demand more from it? We all do. Shah Rukh is one such exemplary example and anybody who aspires to get more from life should read this book. So my target audience is anyone who wants to be inspired.

And finally the last question…You also co-wrote the story /screenplay of OSO, what else are you working on now with regards to films?
I am currently working on Priyadarshan's next film Billo Barber starring Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh and I am having the blast of a life time. I am today working with people who I have always looked upto and admired. Could not ask for more from life...actually hold that thought; let's hope for the super success of Om Shanti Om for every film I write (laughs).

Shahrukh set for time off

Shah Rukh Khan is getting ready for some quiet time away from film sets so that he can spend some time with his family before he heads off to the US for three months to film for Karan Johar's Khan.

"Right now he is on the last schedule of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. We have a couple of days left in Mumbai after which we are going to Amritsar and that will wrap up the whole film. After that Shah Rukh will be doing promotional rounds for Billo Barber. He won't be filming for anything," informs a source.

Priyadarshan's Billo Barber is being produced by SRK's Red Chillies Entertainment and the actor is hoping to use his star power to push the film that also stars Irrfan Khan along with the King Khan.

"SRK has cleared his diary for all of September and October. Other than some promotion for the interviews, he has asked his manager to clear up his diary so he can be with his family. He is going to be away from the family for a long duration because Karan's film is going to be shot from start to finish in the US and in one non stop schedule," says the source.

"He plans to go away with Gauri and the kids for a week before he jets off to the US. He may not be home this year for Diwali so he wants to spend as much time before that at home. In fact he is hoping that Karan shuts shop in between around that time as Aryan and Suhana really enjoy Diwali. Lots of firecrackers are bought to the house by the Moranis for the kids to play with. So with Khan's schedule being planned for that time, SRK is making up for that before he takes off again," says the source.