Russian President Dmitri Medvedev meets Shahrukh Khan

The likes of a Russian president and a world famous magician were spotted hobnobbing with the stars on the sets of RA.One

Lately the unit of Shah Rukh Khan's much awaited next RA.One seems to have a lot of high profile visitors

On Wednesday evening, the Russian President, Dmitri Medvedev, who is in town on a political visit, dropped by on the sets of the film. Medvedev wanted to meet SRK and Kareena Kapoor, the grand daughter of the legendary actor Raj Kapoor.

It may be recalled that the legendary actor Raj Kapoor is the most popular Bollywood actor in Russia till date. Shree 420 and Awaara were big hits in Russia and songs from the films can still be heard in restaurants in and around Moscow.

A reliable source reveals, "The president was very keen to meet Shah Rukh Khan. Since he is a huge fan of Raj Kapoor, he also expressed his desire to meet the two grandchildren of Raj Kapoor Kareena and Ranbir. He couldn't meet Ranbir since the actor is shooting in Delhi for Rockstar, but he did catch up with Kareena and SRK while they were shooting a song sequence at the Yash Raj studios. The President saw one shot, chatted with the stars and left."

A while ago the world's best magician, Franz Harary, who made the Taj Mahal disappear years ago, was in B town. Since he was in Bombay he was very keen to see a Bollywood film shoot.

The huge Shah Rukh Khan fan dropped on the sets of RA.One to meet the star. The director of the film, Anubhav Sinha remained tight lipped about the president's visit. However he talked about his interesting encounter with the magician.

Anubhav recollects, "I was taken in by surprise to have the world's best magician on our film sets. He is a huge Shah Rukh fan. He hung around on the sets for an hour and entertained the unit. It was great fun."

SRK and Kareena remained unavailable for comments.

Shahrukh Khan, the highest paid host ever?

Looks like Shah Rukh Khan is proving that he is the 'Badshah' even of Tellyland. TOI has learned that King Khan is apparently charging Rs 2.5 crore per episode for his forthcoming reality show Zor Ka Jhatka on TV.

Top industry sources claim that with this astronomical amount, SRK certainly becomes the costliest B-town A-lister to be signed on for a reality show. Whenever Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have hosted TV shows, the industry debated whether they were the highest paid actors. However, this time it looks like the figures are on SRK's side. A source from the show reveals, "No one will speak openly about how much he is earning, but SRK charging Rs.2.5 crore certainly seems a believable figure.

As of now what can be revealed is that Shah Rukh is on for four weeks, Monday to Thursday, and if you calculate it, he is getting Rs 40 crore for 16 episodes. Bring on the superstar who can charge so much even after his last stint on TV (Kya Hum Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain) was panned and did not get the TRP that he got during Kaun Banega Crorepati."

Shahrukh Khan in Dubai for New Year’s Eve

As December 31 ticks closer, Bollywood stars are making plans for the New Year Eve. Shahrukh Khan won’t be in Mumbai this year.

Unlike last year when SRK celebrated the coming of 2010 in Mumbai, this year the superstar is headed to his swanky home at The Palm in Dubai. He, along with wife Gauri, kids and close friends will ring in 2011 together.

We hear that SRK will be joined by friends like Karan Johar, Hrithik Roshan, Sussanne Roshan and possibly Chunkey Pandey and his wife as well. Arjun Rampal, who’s a regular in the SRK camp, might not make it.

SRK and the gang will leave for Dubai on December 30.

Hrithik Wants SRK To Say NO SMOKING

After Aamir Khan, it’s Hrithik Roshan to join the list of perfectionism. Once he sets his mind on something, he strives hard to achieve it. Currently he has a new goal in his life. He wants Shahrukh to kick the butt and quit smoking completely.

Hrithik himself got addicted to this habit while doing the movie GUZAARISH. He smoked to give his character a realistic look. But he then promised to quit smoking on the last day of the shoot, thinking about its ill-effects on him and his family. He still has stuck to his promise. So now whenever someone offers him a stick, he crushes it and throws it away.

When asked how he managed to do this, he replied, "I started with the excuse of it being a part of the character two years ago with the idea that I'll stop after the film. I've always loved exploring with different experiences but a true adventurer needs courage and a will of iron. I love throwing challenges at myself and this was tough, but I've conquered it and grown stronger in the process. It's empowering."

Earlier Hrithik managed to persuade Arjun Rampal to quit smoking. So Arjun Rampal isn’t lighting up cigarettes anymore, courtesy Hrithik Roshan. Now he wants to achieve the impossible. He wants Shahrukh Khan to put off the cigarettes forever.

As everyone has seen, SRK is a chain-smoker. Since Hrithik has felt the change in his life after quitting the dangerous habit, he wants his friends to know the same. But it’s quite a difficult task, as Shahrukh is a compulsive smoker and smokes more than one packet a day. Hrithik still won’t give up. He is ready to offer all the company and support Shahrukh might need.

Hope Hrithik succeeds in his mission, so that Shahrukh won’t get any warnings from moral police for his smoking in public places.

Shahrukh Khan missing from Twitter – refuses to hit back

Shah Rukh Khan is known for being vocal and can think on his feet without flinching, but this time the tech-savvy actor has decided to stay away from Twitter. SRK has been quite an avid micro-blogger and people almost knew what he was about because of his tweets, but it has been over month that there has not been a single tweet from him.

The last tweet that can be seen on Shah Rukh’s account is dated Nov’ 2, in which SRK stated that he was celebrating his birthday with kids in Berlin while shooting for ‘Don 2’. While many speculates that the King Khan is keeping a low profile and staying out of micro-blogging to avoid questions being asked to him about Farah Khan and her next release ‘Tees Maar Khan’, it’s not so according to the sources.

A source revealed that the actor will talk about his MIA from Twitter in the upcoming episode of ‘Koffee with Karan’. SRK has withdrew from the blogging because there are people who give negative comments about him, his friends and family which are hurtful, though he can retort back but he just wants to stay away from the negativity. Also Shah Rukh is in such a frame of mind where he doesn’t want o part of the negative reaction as well as doesn’t believe in blocking people in the social networking sites.

To know what’s going on in SRK life and to watch an episode of ‘Kofee with Karan’ sans the controversy it would be worthwhile to see SRK’s episode which is said to be an emotional one, so watch out for it, as it will air on Jan’ 1, 2011.

Shahrukh Khan goes Golmaal: Is a comedy on cards?

Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan may soon sign a new film with director Rohit Shetty. If reports are to be believed then it would appear that SRK is keyed up to do a full-fledged comic caper and he is in discussions with Golmaal director Rohit Shetty for the same.

Shahrukh loved Golmaal 3 and approached director Rohit Shetty to direct some of his commercials for his production banner Red Chillies. Rohit and SRK have been gelling well these days and the Badshah Khan has professed his desire to do a film with Rohit.

Rohit has been requested to look for a good script. After doing a superhero flick in ‘Ra.One’ and a thriller in ‘Don 2’, Shahrukh is keen on doing a family comic flick. And apparently, Rohit has selected a 80s comedy film and is longing for its remake.

Rohit and SRK’s production house are, currently, seeking its remake rights after which the team shall sit down to pen the script and screenplay. But Rohit (who is a buddy of actor Ajay Devgn) didn’t want to antagonize him and met him on his sets to reveal his plans of making a film with Shahrukh.

Seemingly, Rohit didn’t want Ajay to hear the same from a third person as that may have created a rift between the two. Anyways, now that the King Khan has decided to do a comic caper, we can look forward to that in the coming future.

Shah Rukh Khan in the apologising mode during New Year’s Eve

Karan Johar’s ‘Koffee with Karan’ has become a hub of new brewing wars and formation of new camps. But here is an actor who is ready to make some amends with his “frenemies”. Its Karan’s best friend Shah Rukh Khan, he will be soon seen in the chat show and for the first time in the three seasons SRK will be alone with KJo.

The SRK episode will be aired on the New Year’s Eve and while talking with buddy Karan, Shah Rukh will take the responsibility of his two friends who’ve gone mad at him, Salman Khan and Farah Khan. Way back in 2008 Salman and SRK had a huge fight at Katrina Kaif’s birthday party and in 2010 Farah Khan went ahead and signed Akshay Kumar for her film ‘Tees Maar Khan’.

SRK in the hour long episode says that it must be his fault that Salman and Farah are no longer talking with him. It seems the King Khan of Bollywood is trying to mend his bridges with his once upon a time buddies and the guy is ready to forget the past and move on to a new friendly 2011.

SRK’s gesture surely shows that the man is honest and bold enough own up to any faults that he has made before and now it should be Salman and Farah’s turn to bury the hatchet and resume their friendship. If this episode does help in the bonding of the trio, it can prove that Karan’s show is not only about the fights like Kareena and Priyanka or Deepika ,Sonam and Karan versus Ranbir and his family.

I feel nice when I meet Shah Rukh: Madhuri Dixit

Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit left people mesmerised with her sensuous dance moves. The actress starred in many hit films with the three Khans - Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. She speaks to CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand about her co-stars and dances.

Rajeev Masand: Madhuri you did hit films with Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir. I know you get along with them nicely. Even today they are all friends. Even then who you are closest to?

Madhuri Dixit: See, even between Salman, Aamir and Shah Rukh, I worked more with Shah Rukh. I don't know, there is a kind of affection we have for each other, a kind of respect as actors, an affection because we worked on the sets. So it's always lovely to meet him.

Rajeev Masand: He dropped at the sets recently.

Madhuri Dixit: Yes! He did.

Rajeev Masand: What was that meeting like?

Madhuri Dixit: Wonderful! That's what I told Shah Rukh - 'Why do I feel happy when I meet you?' I just feel nice. He is someone you can talk to on different topics and is always well informed and so is Aamir. But maybe because I have worked more with him.

Rajeev Masand: Since there is a national debate going on this, I have to get your opinion on this. Which one is a better dance - 'Munni badnam hui' or 'Sheila ki jawani'?

Madhuri Dixit: It is very hard to say which one is better because I think both of them have their own charm. 'Sheila ki jawani' is more of a western combined with the Indian contemporary beat whereas Munni is absolutely folksy. It has a lot of folk in it. It is very, very Indian, I enjoy both of them. I love both of them. It is wonderful.

Rajeev Masand: Young girls and actresses really have continuously and till today danced to your hit songs. They try to emulate your dance steps. What's the last Hindi film song that you saw on TV or that you heard, that you danced to at home or made up your own steps?

Madhuri Dixit: The last song which I saw and I enjoyed watching was 'Munni badman hui'. I really enjoyed the beat, they very folk kind of ethnicity that the song has and I really enjoyed that.

SRK makes Madhuri blush

Last Wednesday Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit had a terrific reunion of sorts at Filmistan. The moment Khan saw her on the sets of a dance reality show, he walked up to her, hugged her tight and kissed her hand.

As Madhuri blushed and turned away, Mallaika Arora Khan, SRK's friend-turned-foe Salman Khan's sister-in-law, rushed to meet him too. Their 'intended' air-kiss however ended up looking rather odd.

It so happened that SRK was in Filmistan to shoot for RA.One. Notice his ear stud probably an accessory for the film? As he alighted from his car, he saw the name 'Madhuri Dixit' pasted on a vanity van.

He ran to the venue, where the dance diva was shooting. The cameras were in fact rolling when King Khan entered the sets and walked up to greet Madhuri, oblivious to the rest of the world, but then again, Dil toh pagal hai!

Shahrukh Khan signs ‘Two States’ adaptation

Chetan Bhagat’s another celebrated book is going to be made into a film. His recent novel Two States will be adapted for a romantic film to be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj with Shahrukh Khan in the main lead.

Yes, you are reading it right. SRK and Vishal together for the first time and guess who is producing it, SRK’s friend-turned-foe Salman Khan’s good buddy Sajid Nadiadwala. SRK has not been seen in a romantic film after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and his female fans across the world were waiting for news like this.

To adapt Two States was always in the pipeline for Sajid Nadiadwala; earlier it was planned that the movie will have Priyanka Chopra and Saif Ali Khan and will be directed by Siddharth Anand. May be the producer was in two minds as Siddharth’s last release Anjaana Anjaani was a dud at the box office.

For those who haven’t read the novel: it is about a boy and a girl studying in an elite MBA college. The guy is from Punjab and falls in love with the girl who belongs to Tamil Nadu. Naturally, the two have problems getting married as they belong to two extreme different cultures. It’s Chetan’s own love story; his wife Anushka is a South Indian.

Sajid has bought the rights for its adaptation. SRK has heard the script and he has ‘loved’ it. Who will be cast opposite SRK? There will be a new girl.