When Shah Rukh became Abhinav

Shah Rukh Khan became Abhi... just for wife Gauri.

We recently learnt that when Gauri was to introduce Shah Rukh to her parents, she wasn’t so sure how they would react if they found out that he belonged to another community. So she conveniently changed Shah Rukh’s name and introduced him as Abhinav to her parents! Looking back, Gauri describes this as “silly and childish.” And as for SRK, he was ironically shooting for My Name is Khan while Gauri narrated this sweet little anecdote.

Shah Rukh beats Aamir in Poland

Shah Rukh Khan once again stole the hearts of the Polish fans with his performance in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi at the Second Bollywood Film Festival in Poland where Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par and Deepa Mehta's Water were also screened.

Shah Rukh, who is almost a household name in Poland, didn't leave much scope for others to replace him in the hearts of his fans at the weeklong festival entitled Experience the Taste of India.

"Shah Rukh is well-established in our psyche and we feel close to him with his performances. For us, it doesn't matter who are the other great stars in India these days - whether it is Amitabh (Bachchan) or his son Abhishek, Aamir Khan or Hrithik Roshan," said Anusia Sancewicz, a well-known media personality.

"Shah Rukh is really superb in most of his movies that have been shown in Poland in the past four years starting from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham which took Poland by surprise. In a sense, this film opened the floodgates for Bollywood films," added Anusia.

All the tickets of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi were sold much in advance though the film was screened on the last day. In Warsaw, two multiplexes screened the film to meet the heavy rush - despite that many had to face disappointment as they couldn't get a seat in any of the two halls.

"Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par is an excellent movie and it has been appreciated by educated people, but the craze for Shah Rukh remains unabated," observed Riki Rana, a successful businessman and son-in-law of legendary Bollwyood singer Talat Mahmood.

"The role of a commoner portrayed by Shah Rukh in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi created more ripples in the minds of the Polish audience as Raj Kapoor had done with his roles in Aawara and Shri 420 in 1950s and 1960s in the erstwhile Soviet Union," added Riki Rana.

JJ Singh, president of the Polish Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that to promote Aamir a separate festival of his films needs to be organised.

"To promote Aamir Khan we should organise an exclusive festival of his big films such as Ghajini, Rang De Basanti and Fanaa. The climax of Fanaa was filmed on the Tatra mountains of Poland, yet the film has not generated much curiosity in this country, which is surprising," said Singh who was also the main patron of the festival along with the Epelpol Entertainment.

Deepa Mehta's Water, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham starrer Dostana and Yash Raj Films' Tashan were also screened along with Outsourced and Hello.

"Since Poland produces very artistic movies with great directors like Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Zanussi and Roman Polanski, that is why Mehta's Water was highly appreciated by the artistic Polish fans," said Gabellia Krzyzowska, an eminent Indophile.

"There is scope for films of Shabana Azmi, Nasiruddin Shah and Om Puri," she added.

Shah Rukh’s pal hits out at tabloid journalism

Shah Rukh Khan’s biographer and close friend Mushtaq Sheikh, who has co-written films like “Om Shanti Om” and “Billu”, says he hates being used by those who have personal grievances against the superstar.

Furious at a media report that he and Shah Rukh had fallen apart, Mushtaq said the superstar was “very much family”.

“I hate it when my friends are attacked. I mean how can you demean names like Farah Khan, Priyadarshan and Shah Rukh Khan all in one article without an iota of truth and get away,” Mushtaq told IANS.

“This is tabloid journalism at its worst. I hate being used by somebody who has misused his pen to vent personal grievances against Shah Rukh.”

Mushtaq, whose friendship with the superstar dates back more than a decade, recently released a book on Shah Rukh titled “Still Reading Khan”.

“Malice? Desperation? You tell me what inspires muck-rakers and I will till you where this came from,” said Mushtaq when questioned if Shah Rukh and he had indeed fallen out.

Doesn’t he feel that in today’s desperate times when movies are not releasing and news is hard to find, this is just one way for a section of media to grab attention and increase viewership?

“See, movies are releasing, and there is enough news out there, but it does depend on what kind of media you are and what you think are ‘good stories’. Matter of fact, Shah Rukh is family and will continue to be one. People can imagine, say and write anything they want.”

Shahrukh Khan turns superstitious

Like many numerology conscious stars, Shahrukh Khan perhaps too is turning superstitious.

Reports have it that he is thinking of dropping Kolkata from his IPL Team name, ‘Kolkata Knight Riders’, as the team is using only ‘Knight Riders’ in its new logo.

The superstar is believed to be acting on the suggestion of the numerology expert Sanjay B Jumaani, who is a regular advisor to many Bollywood stars regarding astrology and numerology matters. He had suggested this last year also, when Shahrukh, along with Juhi Chawla and her husband Jai Mehta, bought Kolkata team and named it ‘Kolkata Knight Riders’.

Speculations can’t be ruled out as Knight Riders’ coach John Buchanan has just revealed the possibility of replacing Sourav Ganguly as captain by New Zealand player McCullum, who is very much in form nowadays. And Jumaani is also of the view that Sourav is not so lucky for SRK. Being born on 8/7/1972, Sourav’s numerology number is 8, which symbolizes Saturn, and the number 8 doesn’t go well with Shahrukh.

For Shahrukh who has turned 44 and is under the influence of number 8, as 4+4 sums up to ‘8’, this year isn’t so good. His shoulder surgery, poor run of Billu Barber and now IPL getting shifted to South Africa –may be all these reasons have caught up with Shahrukh.

Jumaani has even suggested that Knight Riders should change their black jersey colour, as the black hue is the colour of Saturn. Now what further changes SRK will do in his team will be known with time.

Sonam is a hardcore SRK fan!

So much so that she is ready to dump her priorities for choosing scripts to share screen space with Shah Rukh. The actress has revealed that she will sign up for a film without considering anything if she gets to act opposite King Khan.

Are you listening monsieur Shah Rukh?

The ‘Dilli-6’ girl who is quite picky when it comes to nodding a yes for the right script has her rules in the right place. She is just not interested in running around trees romancing the hero nor is she interested in shedding bucketful of tears and saying ‘nahi…..’ The Bollywood babes of today are quite sure about what they want, else with so many glamorous faces to pick from it is quite tough to make a mark in the industry.

Sonam who first surfaced as the lead lady in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film ‘Saawariya’ earned a spot in the hearts of film buffs even though the film bombed at the box office. Her second film ‘Dilli-6’, with the junior Bachchan was quite a success. Sonam is presently working in her papa’s production, where she gets to portray a very different character from the ones that she has done so far.

There are also talks doing the rounds that she might soon be seen in a film opposite Imran Khan.

Will SRK put Dada back in driver's seat

In what could lead to a new development in the ongoing saga at the Kolkata Knight riders camp, deposed captain, Sourav Ganguly reached Mumbai today (March 28). Ganguly is in the city to shoot for an ad film with the Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.

It is believed that Ganguly will meet SRK and get some clarity on the issue of 4 captains raised by the Kinght Riders Cricket Manager John Buchanan.

Contrasting versions have emerged from the KKR camp after Sourav Ganguly first revealed to TIMES NOW that he was not consulted before appointing rotating captains. "I read in the press. I talked with John yesterday. John thinks it should be the way T20 should be played. I read in the press first", Sourav said.

"John is trying to work this out in the form of warm-up games and practice games. Let's not go too far into this. John is also not part of a team which had this situation. I was told that he tried once with the Australian team but it didn't go forward. We will all do what is best for the team", Ganguly added.

"He is the coach of the team, he has his plans, which he feels is good for his team. It is completely new...I have never been a part of a team were there are 3-4 captains," he said on the reported differences with Buchanan", Ganguly said in an exclusive interview to Times Now.

A day later John Buchanan added a new twist to the tale saying that Ganguly was indeed consulted before he revealed his plans to the press. "I had discussed about the plans with Sourav after the first IPL season got over. Shahrukh Khan has given me a freehand in cricketing matters", Buchanan said.

Though Ganguly had earlier said that Shah Rukh will have a final say in the matter, he has however denied that he will raise the issue when he meets SRK later today.

Shah Rukh Khan to walk the ramp for Manish Malhotra

Shah Rukh Khan will be the show stopper for Manish Malhotra at the Lakme Fashion Week, which is being held in Mumbai, currently. Khan confirmed to Businessofcinema.com, “Yes, I will be walking the ramp for Manish as he is going to be showcasing yet another collection inspired by the uniform and styling of Kolkata Knight Riders. He did a collection for the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week in Delhi last week, but this one is different, but expanding on the original idea of using the KKR colours.”

Malhotra is over the moon with his latest catch. The designer has had the cream of Bollywood walk the ramp for his outfits, be it Kareena Kapoor, Kajol or Urmila Matondkar, but SRK being SRK, Manish is really excited. Revealing the inside story of his latest collection, the designer said, “SRK and I were shooting in Los Angeles for My Name is Khan and SRK came up with the idea of expanding the KKR collection into a line for women as that has always been my claim to fame. So using the theme of black and gold and the additional use of colours like grey and white, which is part of the new KKR uniform, we have styled the new clothing line.”

So if you are a Shah Rukh Khan fan and want to watch him strut on the ramp, make sure you have front row seats for this show which will be held in Mumbai on 30 March.

King Khan still on painkillers and shoots

Everybody knows that SRK had injured his shoulder and was taking rest and after taking rest for more then a month he is back to shoot for Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan and attending meetings for IPL.

We spoke to our source close to the film

“He has resumed the shooting of his best friend Karan Johar’s next venture, ‘My Name Is Khan’ opposite Kajol. Shahrukh Khan has undergone shoulder surgery and doctors have advised him rest for minimum for four months but against doctor’s advice, he has resumed shooting after a short gap. He has been warned by the doctors but yet he is urging to shoot”

But about the precautions SRK ensures that he will shoot only light scenes that will not put much stress on his shoulder. Since his shoulder is not properly healed, SRK takes painkillers before shooting and in between, does physical exercises for his shoulder, which are prescribed by his doctors.

About the healing of his shoulder his closed source told us,”his arm will take another four to five months to make well fully. He will stay away from any stunts for at least six months or may be more. Everything depends on how his shoulder heals.”

In spite of shoulder surgery, Shahrukh did not stay away from the limelight and made appearance in Filmfare events and even actively took part in the IPL meeting which happened last Sunday at office.

SRK, Ambanis discuss Varun

Yup, they are among the top 50 Indians in anybody’s power list and also owners of cricket teams for the forthcoming IPL that’s shifted bat, ball and pitch to South Africa.

But on Tuesday night at Nana Chudasama’s dinner at home, Mukesh Ambani and Shah Rukh Khan were not discussing the Twenty20 tournament only. There was politics, also — how could there not be, with the elections here and the IPL kicked out because of them — with young Varun Gandhi being a subject of hot debate!

And joining these two powerful men in conversation were Shaina NC, Gautam and Nawaz Singhania, Patang Rao Kadam, Shobhaa and Dilip De, and Rashmi Thackeray among several others. Glasses clinked and cigars were puffed. SRK recalled his intrigue over Nana’s Marine Drive banners when he first came to Mumbai. “He called to say he loved them,” said the former Sheriff of Mumbai. And Nana also recalled the young Ambani who came to visit him with Papa Dhirubhai. “It’s wonderful to see these guys leading India in their unique ways,” said Nana. And nobody knew whether he meant business, cricket, power, or what!

Buchanan is not Chappell: Shah Rukh Khan

Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan came out in the defence of his team's coach John Buchanan on Thursday, revealing that Sourav Ganguly won't be treated in the way Greg Chappell did that led to Ganguly's axing from the Indian team.

"John Buchanan is not Greg Chappell," Shah Rukh Khan told the Telegraph.

The Bollywood superstar has also urged fans not to overreact after it was announced that Sourav Ganguly will not be the permanent captain in the second season of the Indian Premier League, to be played in South Africa from April 18. There was a huge uproar in Kolkata when coach John Buchanan told a press conference: "There won't be a permanent captain."

Shah Rukh Khan said that there were no plans to sideline Ganguly and he was still integral part of the Kolkata team.

"Sourav is our main man. No idea or decision will be taken without Dada's consent and agreement. And the whole KKR respects and loves him no end. So, there is no reason to overreact by any of us right now," stated Shah Rukh Khan.

John Buchanan's theory of multiple captains which has hit the headlines in the last 24 hours is a new theory which Shah Rukh Khan seems to be keen about.

"Last year also, we had contemplated having matches with multiple captains and inputs from them. Twenty20 is a new format and new ideas should be tried," added Shah Rukh Khan.