Farhan's Don 2 to go on floors in October
22 Feb 2010
Audiences can get ready for Bollywood villain Don's next chase, with director-actor Farhan Akhtar all ready to start shooting the sequel to his hit film "Don" from October this year.
"The next Don is coming up really well. At the moment, we are into heavy pre-production for that. We would start shooting on Oct 1 or Oct 2... that's the scheduled date to start shooting for now. So we are getting there... slowly but surely. (I am) very excited about it. And I am quite certain that I'll have a great time making it and that the audience will surely enjoy it," Farhan told reporters here.
Don - The Chase Begins was a remake of 1978 movie Don that had megastar Amitabh Bachchan as the gangster. The film received a cult status and is still etched in the minds of many movie buffs.
In 2007, Farhan came out with the Don - The Chase Begins with Shah Rukh Khan in the title role. Now the director is set to make part two of the movie and says he will retain most of the star cast from the first instalment.
"There will be a lot of people from my previous Don itself. So there will be Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Arjun Rampal and Om Puri. There are also new characters added to the script this time but they are currently being cast," he said.
Source: http://movies.ibnlive.in
"I take advice from SRK..... whom I feel like an elder brother"
Farhan 23 Feb 2010
For Don you had a blueprint of sorts to follow. How does Don 2 take the character forward?
For me, Don's character hinges on his cunning and smartness and the fact that he is playing all the characters in the film and at the same time, he also plays the audience. So, to me, the challenge is to do that again. Of course, you can do great action sequences, you can have great songs, a wonderful looking and talented cast who everybody wants to watch. But this time round, there is now no format to follow. To me that was exciting and what I am focusing again on is how to take Don to almost level two. This film is more of a caper to me than an emotional journey.
And how many 'mulk ki police' will be looking for him in Don 2?
Now I think it's the whole world. Only Antarctica aur Arctic ki police uske peeche nahi padi hai.(laughs)
Could you ever do a mush film? A romcom?
Very honestly I must say that the romcom is one of my least favourite genres, even to watch. There are some of course, which I do thoroughly enjoy but they are very few and far between. Personally, I prefer drama, action and thrillers. If it's a romance I would much prefer a classic romance like a Romeo and Juliet which has drama in it.
You work with actors as a director and compete with them as an actor. How do you differentiate between the two?
The people that I have worked with are the ones that I am good friends with and I do spend a lot of time with. One is obviously Hrithik and the other is Shah Rukh. Hrithik and I have known each other for really really long. We have been friends from way before I decided I wanted to be in films (he kind of always knew he wanted to be in films). So my friendship with him is beyond actor-director, whatever.
With Shah Rukh, I really started hanging out with him post Dil Chahta Hai. I feel a certain kinship with him. We have similar joys in terms of technology, we jam on many things. And many a times he has been someone I have turned to for advice. He is someone I have almost started feeling over time, again without sounding cheesy, like an elder brother. I know for a fact, not that he has told me so, that he is someone I can really count on, if the need arises. Even if we choose in the future to not work together, we will still hang out, we will still be friends.
Today's actors pay a lot of attention to body and hair, the externals basically. Yesteryear actors looked almost the same in every film but it didn't affect the strength of their performance. Comment.
I completely agree and I think it should go back to being how it was. Because I think, we are slowly but surely working towards this perfect world that everybody should exist in, which is not true. If there is someone on screen who is even relatively chubbier, immediately reviewers say he needs to lose a couple of pounds. Why? Doesn't someone who is chubbier have a right to fall in love with someone? I find it disturbing that we are trying to make a Utopian world where great looking people and great bodies fall in love and nobody else has a right to.
Anyone who is skinny or bald or has a stammer or is fat is relegated to being a comedian, a character who needs help. I find this really disturbing. Did anyone stop to question why people fell in love with Sanjeev Kumar? It's a dangerous obsession because it's going to start limiting talent that's coming in.
OFF THE CUFF
Rate Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan and yourself on a scale of one to ten on the following parameters
Communication skills
SRK - 15
Aamir - 10
Hrithik - 8 or 9
Myself - 5
Life of a party
It is difficult to rate this in numbers. SRK and Hrithik are very funny. Both of them love dancing so once the party kicks off, they are always dancing. Aamir is a lot more reserved. In all honesty, I haven't partied with Aamir since Dil Chahta Hai
SRK - 10
Aamir - 5
Hrithik - 10
Myself - 8 or 9
Easy to direct
Honestly, they were all very easy to direct.
ALL - 10
Willing to admit to mistakes
Again, I think, I would give all of them 10 and that's what makes them good at what they do. I know for a fact that I can be stubborn about certain things.
Emotionally giving
I spend a lot more time with Hrithik and Shah Rukh than I do with Aamir. So it will be really difficult for me to say anything about Aamir on this front.
Extempore speakers
SRK- 10
Aamir - 5
Hrithik - 8
Myself - 5
Aware of the world
All of us are pretty aware of what's happening in the world around us, so I would probably rate them just up there. Even if we want to detach ourselves from what's happening around us you media people don't let it happen. There is no escape. So 10 on 10 for everyone
Be a 3am friend
My friendship is more with Hrithik and Shah Rukh than it is with Aamir. My relationship with Aamir is a lot more professional than personal so to put him into this equation feels very weird as it's unfair to him.
SRK-10
Hrithik-10
Myself - 0
I switch off my phone when I sleep, I love my sleep. I think I don't qualify for this.
Politically correct
SRK-3 or 4, mostly he says what he feels
Hrithik- 10
Myself- 7 or 8, I have the knack of saying wrong things as well
Spontaneous
SRK- 10
Hrithik- 8, He has changed a lot from what he was to what he is now
Animal Charm
SRK-10
Hrithik -10
Both of them are very attractive people.
Myself - I don't know about myself (laughs) how do I rate myself on animal charm?
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
saturday
SRK SCRAPS AD DEAL WITH TODIS, FOR RIZWANUR
SRK SCRAPS LUX COZI AD DEAL WITH TODIS
22 Feb 2010
Shahrukh Khan did a real life Rizwan Khan, the good soul he plays in his new film My Name is Khan, as the actor suspended the sponsorship of his team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by the Lux Cozi innerwear, owned by a businessman accused of instigating the suicide of his Muslim son-in-law, Rizwanur Rahman.
Lux Cozi is owned by Ashok Todi, the father of Priyanka Todi whose marriage with Muslim youth Rizwanur Rahman against the wishes of family led to the death of the latter under mysterious circumstances. Rizwanur, a computer graphics designer, was found dead by a railway track in Sep 2007, a little more than a month after he married Priyanka Todi, the daughter of Ashok Todi. The incident caused a public outcry in Kolkata and a CBI inquiry was instituted.
Lux Cozi is owned by Ashok Todi, the father of Priyanka Todi whose marriage with Muslim youth Rizwanur Rahman against the wishes of family led to the death of the latter under mysterious circumstances. Rizwanur, a computer graphics designer, was found dead by a railway track in Sep 2007, a little more than a month after he married Priyanka Todi, the daughter of Ashok Todi. The incident caused a public outcry in Kolkata and a CBI inquiry was instituted.
SRK seen here with his team Kolkata Knight Riders, KKR
Khan was a brand ambassador of Lux Cozi and his Indian Premier League team, Kolkata Knight Riders, (KKR), was to promote the brand too in the coming season. However, Khan's support for the brand was criticized by Muslim groups and civil societies in Kolkata.
Rizwanur's mother had written to SRK to dissociate himself with the company owned by a family responsible for her son's death.
Probably due to the criticism and a grieving mother's plea, SRK has cancelled his endorsement contract with Lux Cozi. Lux Cozi would not be allowed to take part in any kind of advertising during the IPL matches of KKR, an official said here. SRK would keep the contract with Lux Cozi on hold till the Todis were proved innocent by the legal system, sources said.
Source: http://www.indiablooms.com/
SRK'S LATEST PRODUCTION VENTURE - RA 1
SRK'S LATEST FILM / PRODUCTION VENTURE - RA 1
24 Feb 2010
Shah Rukh Khan, the badshah of bollywood is not sitting idle after the success of 'My Name Is Khan' and preparing to start superhero flick 'Ra1'( opposite sexy siren Kareena Kapoor), which will cost around hundred crore rupees.
Due to its huge cost, Shah Rukh Khan has decided to produce the film through his own production house Red Chillies for director Anubhav Sinha. However, King Khan's superhero flick will not be made in English as he wants it to be made only for Indian audiences in Hindi. Earlier, there was some talk of the film being made in English but Shah Rukh Khan shot down the idea as he was not convinced about the viability of making a film in English when they already have their own 'spider man' and 'superman' etc.
Sources close to Shah Rukh Khan's production house say that 'Ra1' will have breathtaking stunts from King Khan, which will be for the first time not only for him but also for bollywood. The special effects team is being hired from Hollywood to get everything perfect for the gutsy Khan. Shah Rukh Khan has already started working out to prepare himself to be able to perform the daring stunts for the film.
STORYLINE OF RA 1 - A SCIENCE FICTION FILM:
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the story is that Shahrukh is a computer games freak who falls in love with Kareena Kapoor, who is playing the female lead.
Shahrukh said, "I wanted to make it, and I want to start it. Prashant (Shah, line producer for My Name Is Khan) is the producer here, and I've been troubling him for months now. Part of it is to be shot here. It's a special film for me. I want to put on my tights and my kids blanket on my back. I want to do this film for my children. I've always wanted to make a superhero film, but I never had six-pack abs. Now that I have them, I want to do this. It's not an animation film, as many people believe; I would like to clarify that. It's a live action film."
SRK IS INTRODUCING HIP-HOP STAR, AKON IN RA 1:
Sources close to the movie's pre-production said that Shahrukh wanted an international superstar to be cast. Shahrukh has signed the Senegalese-American, Hip-Hop star Akon, for an undisclosed price, to sing a song in his forthcoming home production RA. 1 (or RA. One). This 'Locked Up' singer was approached by SRK during his recent visit to US.
Source: http://www.totalfilmy.com/It seems like SRK is also following the trend of introducing Hollywood actors in Bollywood. Reportedly, Akshay Kumar roped in Snoop Dogg in Singhh Is King and Kylie Minogue in Blue.
RA 1 CAN WAIT, GIVE PRIORITY TO FARAH KHAN, SAYS SRK:
25 Feb 2010
Shah Rukh and Farah might have fallen out professionally, after he opted to do Anubhav Sinha's superhero, fantasy film over Farah Khan's film, "Happy New Year", but they are still friends. Both have projects that are going on the floor shortly. While SRK is getting ready to roll his fantasy action Ra1, Farah begins shooting for Tees Maar Khan in less than a week.
Both SRK and Farah have composer duo Vishal-Shekhar scoring music for their films. And it could've been an awkward situation for the duo. Ultimately, it worked out well. When Shah Rukh heard that Farah's film was going on floors first, he told the music directors to give her the dates they had blocked for Ra1. He didn't want Tees Maar Khan to get delayed because of the music score. However, the music directors couldn't delay SRK's film either, as Ra1 director Anubhav Sinha is eager to begin shooting. So the composers decided to work on both the films simultaneously.
Vishal confirms, "Both Farah and SRK allow comfort and space for each other's recordings. So, both are being recorded simultaneously. Our dates and schedules are mapped out and pretty soild, so no issues there. Luckily, the styles for both films are so different that we get to try new and different things for both."
While Ra1 will have a more futuristic score, Tees Maar Khan will have a popular mainstream sound for the masses.
Source: http://www.mid-day.com/
friday
MNIK CROSSES RS 150 CRORE WORLDWIDE
MNIK HAS CROSSED THE RS 1.50 BILLION MARK IN 10 DAYS
Feb 23, 2010
My Name is Khan has done a gross business of Rs 1.50 billion (Rs 150 crore) at the worldwide box office in ten days and has become the third film in Bollywood history to bag 150 crores worldwide,. Trade sources are already hailing it as the biggest Shah Rukh Khan film, ever.
The movie starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol is directed by Karan Johar and distributed by Fox Star Studios.
The film is already the biggest Bollywood film of all time within 10 days in the UAE, South Africa, Holland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, East and West Africa, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Mauritius.
In the Middle East, the film has not only smashed all existing Bollywood records within 10 days, but even beaten the Fox Searchlight's previous highest grosser Slumdog Millionaire in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and Egypt.
Empire International Middle East head Mario Haddad said, "The film has incredible legs. The drop in the second week is less than 10%. We expect it to have a long run here. Due to the demand, we are opening in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria on March 10."
In the UK, the film has become the fastest film to cross GBP 2 million, managing the feat within just 11 days. The strong run in UK continues even in the second week, and is on its way to breaking the all-time record K3G in the UK within the coming week.
In the US and Canada, MNIK is the highest grossing SRK film of all time.
Fox Star Studios India CEO Vijay Singh said, "We are delighted to be entering this elite group with our first major Bollywood venture. The film was created for a global audience and continues to break records worldwide. It is truly proving to be India's first global Bollywood film."
MNIK CROSSES RS 150 CRORE WORLDWIDE
February 24, 2010
Indian Express: Despite less than average theatre occupancy in the weekdays and its share of controversy with Shiv Sena before the release, the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer and Karan Johar-directed Bollywood film My Name Is Khan (MNIK) has managed to rake in Rs 150 crore from its first week of release in India and abroad, say film trade analysts.
This has happened despite the fact that MNIK saw the average theatre occupancy slip to below 40% during the weekdays, especially in single-screen theatres. Initially released with over 1,300 prints, MNIK grossed Rs 90 crore in the first weekend, riding on the controversy surrounding the protest by Shiv Sena over remarks made by Shah Rukh Khan supporting the inclusion of cricketers from Pakistan in IPL-3.
However, the recently released Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots, which is still doing well at the box office, had managed to rake in over Rs 240 crore within 10 days of its release.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com
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SRK FAILS TO BEAT AAMIR KHAN AT THE BOX OFFICE
Read the post on:
SRK FAILS TO BEAT AAMIR KHAN AT THE BOX OFFICE
NDTV AWARDS: AMITABH, SRK, ASH ARE ICONS OF INDIAN ENTERTAINMENT
NDTV AWARDS: AMITABH, SRK, ASH ARE ICONS OF INDIAN ENTERTAINMENT
25 Feb 2010
Megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan were among those honoured with the NDTV's Indian of the Year 2009 awards at a glittering function.ICON OF 21 YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT AWARD:
Bachchan, who first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the angry young man of Bollywood cinema and has since become one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema, was presented with the Icon of 21 years of Entertainment award.
Khan, who had recently got embroiled into a controversy over his comment on non-inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL, also got the Icon of 21 years of Entertainment award along with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who established herself as one of the leading contemporary actresses in the Indian film industry.
Presenting the award to Khan, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "I would love to watch SRK-starrer My Name is Khan...I am waiting for the English subtitles...It was great the way Khan brought out Mumbai's solidarity...The attack on the movie (by Shiv Sena) was not an attack on the film, it was an attack on the idea of India."
Legendary musician A R Rahman received the Global Indian Entertainer award. The 'Mozart of Madras' began his film scoring career in the early 1990s. He has won 13 Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, two Grammy Awards and two Academy Awards.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR AWARD:
Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who has successfully achieved the tag of being one of the most bankable young stars with two consecutive hits Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, got the Male Entertainer of the Year award.
Priyanka Chopra, who bagged her first National Award for her performance in Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion (2008), received the Female Entertainer of the Year Award.
SPECIAL JURY AWARD:
Director Anurag Kashyap got the Special Jury Award for his critically acclaimed films. Considered as one of the most versatile and prolific filmmakers in contemporary Hindi cinema, Kashyap had hogged limelight and courted controversy for his film on 1993 Bombay bombings Black Friday. He has also directed critically acclaimed movies -- No Smoking, Dev D and Gulaal.
Director Karan Johar got Social Networking Icon of the Year award for introducing Bollywood to tweeter. Johar, who made his directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai starring Sharukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukherjee in 1998, had given a slew of romantic hits like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehana. His latest flick My Name Is Khan has raked in Rs 150 crore during the first week of its release.
Source: http://movies.ndtv.com
SRK BACK AS FILMFARE HOST THIS YEAR
24 Feb 2010
Shahrukh Khan as Filmfare host along with Saif Khan
The 55th Filmfare Awards are round the corner and Shah Rukh Khan along with Saif Khan will once again step into the shoes of host on Saturday night. Last year, Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan had hosted the gala after several folks thought that King Khan and the Chote Nawab had gone overboard with their Na-Real awards in 2008.
The duo had upset some sections of the film fraternity fuming with their mean, mean digs. Watch the video shown here.This time, we wonder who will be the bakra of their jibes. Last heard, SRK was busy getting his script ready along with his writers.
"He has been so busy that he hasn't had any time to prepare for the award night. Normally by now his sessions with the writers is done and he is well on his way to memorizing his monologue and stuff. But he only had the first session with his writers last night," says our source.
And like every year this year too we can be ready for a whole lot of laughs in true King Khan style. "Shah Rukh is very clear that he will poke fun at people present there. But it is never nasty or personal. And this year too, he is adding his own gags and one liners to the act," adds the source.
The person behind the script this year is Vir Das. The standup comedian has worked with Khan earlier too and is aware of his likes and dislikes. "The two sat together last evening to go through what Vir had come up with so far. Vir had been working on the script for over a fortnight now. SRK was satisfied with most of what was there. However, knowing SRK he will make some additions as he goes along," adds the source.
The Filmfare Awards are this weekend at the Yash Raj studios. Expected to perform on the night are Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor
The duo had upset some sections of the film fraternity fuming with their mean, mean digs. Watch the video shown here.This time, we wonder who will be the bakra of their jibes. Last heard, SRK was busy getting his script ready along with his writers.
"He has been so busy that he hasn't had any time to prepare for the award night. Normally by now his sessions with the writers is done and he is well on his way to memorizing his monologue and stuff. But he only had the first session with his writers last night," says our source.
And like every year this year too we can be ready for a whole lot of laughs in true King Khan style. "Shah Rukh is very clear that he will poke fun at people present there. But it is never nasty or personal. And this year too, he is adding his own gags and one liners to the act," adds the source.
The person behind the script this year is Vir Das. The standup comedian has worked with Khan earlier too and is aware of his likes and dislikes. "The two sat together last evening to go through what Vir had come up with so far. Vir had been working on the script for over a fortnight now. SRK was satisfied with most of what was there. However, knowing SRK he will make some additions as he goes along," adds the source.
The Filmfare Awards are this weekend at the Yash Raj studios. Expected to perform on the night are Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor
3 Idiots and Paa are expected to walk away with most of the honours.
Source: http://www.starboxoffice.com
Source: http://www.starboxoffice.com
BOLLYWOOD FACTS:
Last year SRK did not host the filmfare awards and the excuse was that he had a shoulder surgery. But we wonder if that was the real reason. We think it must have been the fact that he had no notable movie released last year except for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. However, he did attend it and spoke a few but quite sarcastic words. Watch the Video here:
Last year SRK did not host the filmfare awards and the excuse was that he had a shoulder surgery. But we wonder if that was the real reason. We think it must have been the fact that he had no notable movie released last year except for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. However, he did attend it and spoke a few but quite sarcastic words. Watch the Video here:
On the other hand, this year he is in high spirits after the success of MNIK and so must be eager to mix with the film fraternity to gauge their reaction to him and have fun at their expense too, with his wicked but charming humour!
sunday
SRK ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL
Discovery Channel showcases a new documentary on King Khan starting 26 Feb 2010, and airing every Friday at 9pm IST.
This week Discovery Travel & Living is releasing "Living with a Superstar: Shah Rukh Khan" a 10-part prime time reality television series on the unseen life of one of India's most influential contemporary icons.
Promotional clip of Living with a superstar - SRK talking about girlfriends. Video courtesy You Tube
"Living with a Superstar: Shah Rukh Khan" a 10-part prime time reality television series on the unseen life of one of India's most influential contemporary icons. To do this the producers shadowed Shah Rukh accross four continents to film episodes that cover vacationing with him in London, one of his favorite cities; a personal tour of Mannat, his Mumbai castle and meeting the people who form the backbone of his day-to-day life; access to his home in Dubai; private time spent with his family; first-hand disclosures on the controversies, decisions and game plan for his Indian Premier League cricket team the Kolkata Knight Riders; an exclusive acting master class, where Khan deconstructs the art and technique of performance, as he sees it, and a whole lot of extra 'Shahrukhisms' that cover the actor's views on "living, loving, creating and letting go."
On the eve of the televison premier, Raj K Gopalakrishnan of Blue Mango films (the boutique film production house which co-produced the series with Red Chillies Idiot Box) shares his personal and professional experience filming one of the most important Bollywood documentaries that's ever been made.
CNNGo: Following Shah Rukh Khan for a year is a job for producers with marathon stamina. Truth or dare?
Raj K Gopalakrishnan: This is a reality series, and true to the spirit of reality, we did not pre script or stage scenarios so the important thing was not to miss a moment. This meant long hours of shooting. No breaks. No rest. With SRK, it becomes exponential as he packs what feels like 36 hours into one day. We had to always be ready, alert and at peak performance levels. No matter how much we planned, six out of 10 times the plan would change with 10 minutes to two minutes notice. Like one time when we were shooting in London SRK was walking around and suddenly decided to hop on to a rickshaw. We had to quickly find another one for the camera (and pay a ridiculous amount to the driver) as the rest of the crew ran through busy London traffic without any prior intimation…but it was such a wonderful moment. Nothing was staged and there was this super duper star just roaming about in a rickshaw without a care in the world.
Promotional clip of Living with a superstar- SRK. Video Courtesy, You Tube.
CNNGo: 'Living with a Superstar' was an ambitious project to conceptualize. How have you structured the episodes to cover this many aspects of SRK's life?
Gopalakrishnan: He gave us unlimited access, like nobody has ever been given before. So we decided to follow him across four continents and literally let the story tell itself. We shot with him in South Africa, Europe, America, UAE and India. We were with him, recording the trials and tribulations of the IPL. We were with him during the shooting of "My Name is Khan". We were also with him when he was vacationing in London with his family. We were in Mumbai. In his home. At his office. On his Birthday. We were everywhere he was. Literally living with the superstar… and that's why we named the series that.
As for structuring the episodes a lot of the crafting happened during the post shoot brainstorming, on the edit table. Footage was brought to the table as soon as it was shot and this way we could keep a tight control over the quality and content as well as start iterations. It's here that we decided to make the series structure thematic, instead of chronological, so that even if you see just one episode it would be one complete chapter from SRK's life. Some of the themes are 'private vacation' from his time in London or 'Shah Rukh 24X7' the total workaholic and through these themes viewers will, for the first time, get an insider's look at every facet of SRK -- actor, father, husband, friend, businessman and more.
Promotional clip of Living with a superstar- SRK with his kids.Video courtesy You Tube
CNNGo: How did your perception of your subject change during the making of this show?
Gopalakrishnan: SRK is such a good human being --- he has admirable integrity, is honest, straightforward, witty, very, very intelligent, professional, a thorough gentleman and a real family man. He's been a revelation. He is also a workaholic, has an unflinching commitment to his work and does not see failure as an option. His charm and eloquence add to his persona. Contrary to popular belief, he is not pompous. I have seen him on the sets of movies and shoots. He immediately puts everyone at ease, and is a complete team player. I have never seen him lose his cool, but he does call a spade a spade. He is very quick to adapt to his surroundings and changes in the world at large. That is one of the reasons for his longevity as an economically viable investment for any producer.
But then you suddenly realise that his attitude towards life and work define him as a super-achiever not just a superstar. So, instead of being an actor, if he was in finance or sports or software I believe he would be at the zenith and that is my biggest perception change.
CNNGo: Tell us what happened behind-the-scenes.
Gopalakrishnan: Some of the craziest moments involved fans. No matter which part of the world we were in, fans managed to track down all our crew's so called "secret spots". Once a bunch of 10 odd teenagers had travelled from another city to meet SRK. They surrounded our crew and refused to let us go. We had to keep talking to security and devise almost 10 exits from where we could get him out. It was like a cat and mouse game. Finally, we split the team in half and made a dummy team with an empty camera seem like they were the right crew. While we managed to get the shot and SRK out safely, the other crew actually came back with a few scratches and buttons ripped from their clothing trying to escape the fans.
Another time, we had fans reaching places with fake IDs, claiming that they were perimeter security assigned by fictitious local authorities and stating that they would have to confiscate the cameras or be with the crew to ensure SRK's safety! There were such incidents almost on a daily basis throughout the shoot.
CNNGo: What is your understanding of what it's like to be Shah Rukh Khan?
Gopalakrishnan: It's got to be tough. High pressure. Very demanding. Everybody has something to say about you. Even people who don't know you have an opinion about you. And those who want to know you, perhaps have an ulterior motive or are simply star struck. Life is forever under the scanner and in a territory so fertile for rumours and slandering, there is a reputation to protect. More importantly, there is a family to protect. And given all this, I think he manages beautifully.
I think his family keeps him really balanced (he carries their pictures with him everywhere and they are the first things to inhabit his hotel room). He also has very acute business acumen. He has razor sharp intellect. Great oratory skills. He has charisma. He is savvy. He has vision. I think other than being a great entertainer, SRK would make a great leader for our country. That's one role I would love to see him in…in real not reel life!
Promotional clip of Living with a superstar - SRK talking about money. Video courtesy You Tube
PREVIEW OF LIVING WITH A SUPERSTAR - SRK
On the face of it, an image of a man selling samosas on the streets of Mumbai is anything but rivetting. In Living With A Superstar-Shah Rukh Khan, a 10-part series (it premieres on Travel and Living on February 26, every Friday at 9 pm), however, the same shot captures a telling moment. As crowds throng in front of Mannat, superstar Shah Rukh Khan's home in Mumbai, to catch a glimpse of their "god", a young samosa wallah senses a business opportunity and sets up "shop". The city of dreams comes to life in this one image, which at once encompasses both the King Khan brand name as well as the survival skills of the young roadside hawker.
In these small details lie the success of this documentary, one which promises a rare glimpse into the life of superstar Khan. From a tour of his home Mannat, to the people with whom he works on a day-to-day basis (his bodyguard, his Man Friday, other staff members in his home), time spent with his family members, his children Aryan and Suhana, on the the sets of his films, the series plans to show it all.
Living With A Superstar, says Discovery Channel, will get audiences even closer to Khan. The first, which will be aired on February 26, 2010, takes us on a tour of London with Khan on a holiday with a group of his friends and family. For any fan, it would be thrilling to see Khan order coffee for himself, take a stroll in Hyde Park, play soccer with his children, enjoy a lunch out with a group of his close friends while letting Gauri (his wife) fuss over what he should eat and which wine he should drink. It's almost like looking through a personal photo album, or travelling with Khan on a journey. It helps that Khan himself is the narrator, talking passionately about his children, imagining himself as a "72-year-old when Suhana will take me to bookstores", and sharing some of his very personal thoughts with the audience.
While forthcoming episodes should reveal more interesting aspects of Khan's life, the first one, which we previewed, was interesting in parts, but didn't have a lasting impact. Thanks to PR machinery and numerous news supplements, Shahrukh-isms are always, and invariably, in constant supply. And while we may not be able to predict his next move in films (My Name is Khan is a challenging, out-of-the-box attempt even for the actor) Twitter and other social networking sites ensure that we get a constant update on the actor's thoughts. Also, Nasreen Munni Kabir's documentary on the star (Inner/Outer World of Shahrukh Khan, Rs 2,000, available at leading DVD stores), in a way, had the first mover advantage and gave us a fair sense of his lifestyle.
However, it's hard to give Discovery's documentary a miss. Like it or not, everyone wants a piece of the superstar. Everyone wants to inch closer to him, get a sense of how he lives, what he drives, what he wears and what he thinks. In that sense, Revealed: Shah Rukh Khan, another one-hour offering from Discovery (it premiered last Friday and repeats tonight at 8 pm),works very well. The show had admakers, film critics, film scholars and anthropologists discuss the rise of Khan in the context of changing India, taking into cognisance his different roles against the backdrop of a young India that believes in chasing dreams. After all, that's what has made Shah Rukh Khan the brand name that he is today.
SRK'S STANCE ON OMISSION OF PAKISTANI PLAYERS IN IPL MAKES HIM AN ICON IN PAKISTAN
SRK'S STANCE ON OMISSION OF PAKISTANI PLAYERS IN IPL AND HIS PRO-ISLAM CHARACTER IN MNIK, MAKES HIM AN ICON IN PAKISTAN
Inside Nishat theatre, one of Karachi's very oldest, on the first-day-first-show of My Name is Khan, the atmosphere is electric. Ten minutes into the film, as soon as Shahrukh Khan speaks those now-famous lines, "My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist", the clapping and cheering begins. And it doesn't stop. Every gesture by Shahrukh's character, Rizwan, unselfconsciously affirming his Muslim identity on American soil, whether it's his habit of always saying salaam, rather than the more neutral "hi" or "hello", praying in public or reciting verses from the Quran identifying Islam as a religion of peace, gets them cheering. The scene where he pelts an Islamic jehadi with stones for misleading the public—an echo of a Haj ritual, in which pilgrims throw stones at the "shaitan"—gets a standing ovation. And when he declares, towards the end of the film, that Khans never go back on their word, applause rings out again. It is pretty safe to conclude there are many here, among them bearded Pathans and veiled women, whose name is Khan!
MNIK, easily the biggest Indian film to release here, has taken the Pakistani obsession with Bollywood to a new level. While the elite may throng the swank Lahore multiplexes for the whole experience of the film, including the Shahrukh-Kajol dream team, and a soundtrack that boasts three Pakistani vocalists, for the masses, a protagonist unapologetic about being a Muslim, and the positive portrayal of Islam as a religion of peace are easily the main attractions. Most Pakistanis have received MNIK as they did the Pakistani-made Khuda Kay Liye—a film that stands up for Muslims when they are being victimised across the world, in the aftermath of 9/11.
Their approval is registering at the box office. Released here on February 13, the film raked in 13.6 million Pakistani rupees in the opening weekend alone, beating the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar and 3 Idiots. Cinema owners, who feared going out of business until Pervez Musharraf agreed to allow Bollywood films to be released here, could not be more delighted. "There is only one way to describe the response to MNIK in Pakistan," says Nadeem Mandviwalla, the beaming Nishat Cinema owner, "Unprecedented!" His company, Mandviwalla Entertainment, has bought 25 prints of the film, which are busy making money across the country. (MNIK's box-office success will not be long-lived however, since cable operators and DVD stores are already putting out pirated copies.)
For most viewers, Shahrukh, whose popularity has soared here after he spoke up in favour of Pakistani cricketers, is the be-all and end-all of the film, and with some, his Pathan ancestry clearly helps. "I would not have expected anything less than this from Shahrukh," said Sher Afzal Khan, a burly, bearded member of the audience, exactly the sort of man who tends to be socially ostracised in the West, and even at times in Pakistan, for looking like somebody on the FBI's most wanted list. "Shahrukh toh original Khan hai," he added.
Mention the fact that Shahrukh's character in the film marries Mandira (Kajol), a Hindu and one who has clearly not been converted to Islam, something the faith disallows, and he reacts as if he has not heard. With no mention of sindoor, pheras or even a court marriage, the Muslim-Hindu marriage seems to have been dismissed as mere trivia, and has not stopped many from being deeply affected by the tale MNIK spins. "It was such a superb film," said a middle-aged woman at the theatre, in between sniffs. Since she was veiled from head to toe, one could only see her eyes, and those red, wet eyes said it all.
Taking no chances, however, the Pakistani censor board has used its scissors on the film. Nishat's management confirms that three scenes were snipped. One showed a caricature of Osama bin Laden falling out of a locker—apparently put there to taunt Sam (Mandira's son) for having Khan as a surname. Mandira's emotional outburst after the death of her son, on the price she has paid for marrying a Muslim, has been censored in parts, and finally, there's a beep in place of the word Islam when Sam's class teacher talks about Islam being a religion that spreads violence and terrorism. "It's ironic," laughs Mandviwalla, "that a film like New York that portrayed a Muslim as a terrorist was passed uncut while this one was snipped here and there. But that is Pakistan for you: completely unpredictable". But one thing is predictable, nothing elicits more of a response from the Pakistani public than a religious theme, and with this definitive portrayal of the moderate Muslim, Shahrukh has not just washed away the sins of all of those Bollywood films that portrayed Muslims as thugs or underworld dons, but won himself a permanent place in Pakistani hearts. Being an Indian is no impediment.
Source: www.outlookindia.com
For most viewers, Shahrukh, whose popularity has soared here after he spoke up in favour of Pakistani cricketers, is the be-all and end-all of the film, and with some, his Pathan ancestry clearly helps. "I would not have expected anything less than this from Shahrukh," said Sher Afzal Khan, a burly, bearded member of the audience, exactly the sort of man who tends to be socially ostracised in the West, and even at times in Pakistan, for looking like somebody on the FBI's most wanted list. "Shahrukh toh original Khan hai," he added.
Mention the fact that Shahrukh's character in the film marries Mandira (Kajol), a Hindu and one who has clearly not been converted to Islam, something the faith disallows, and he reacts as if he has not heard. With no mention of sindoor, pheras or even a court marriage, the Muslim-Hindu marriage seems to have been dismissed as mere trivia, and has not stopped many from being deeply affected by the tale MNIK spins. "It was such a superb film," said a middle-aged woman at the theatre, in between sniffs. Since she was veiled from head to toe, one could only see her eyes, and those red, wet eyes said it all.
Taking no chances, however, the Pakistani censor board has used its scissors on the film. Nishat's management confirms that three scenes were snipped. One showed a caricature of Osama bin Laden falling out of a locker—apparently put there to taunt Sam (Mandira's son) for having Khan as a surname. Mandira's emotional outburst after the death of her son, on the price she has paid for marrying a Muslim, has been censored in parts, and finally, there's a beep in place of the word Islam when Sam's class teacher talks about Islam being a religion that spreads violence and terrorism. "It's ironic," laughs Mandviwalla, "that a film like New York that portrayed a Muslim as a terrorist was passed uncut while this one was snipped here and there. But that is Pakistan for you: completely unpredictable". But one thing is predictable, nothing elicits more of a response from the Pakistani public than a religious theme, and with this definitive portrayal of the moderate Muslim, Shahrukh has not just washed away the sins of all of those Bollywood films that portrayed Muslims as thugs or underworld dons, but won himself a permanent place in Pakistani hearts. Being an Indian is no impediment.
Source: www.outlookindia.com
BOLLYWOOD FACTS:
Predicatbly Shahrukh Khan's comments about the omission of the Pakistani players from the IPL, just before the release of MNIK has worked in his favour in Pakistan. It is quite obvious now, that his comments were a very cleverly planned move by him. His intention was to kill two birds with one shot. Firstly create some interest in the film by this controversy and secondly, to please his big fan base in Pakistan. And both, he managed to achieve.
He had earlier, made an attempt to rouse people's interest in MNIK (as it was nearing completion,) when he made a big fuss about being questioned in the US, because his 'name is Khan'!. But when that controversy, fizzled out, he kept mum and bided his time. And he came up with this masterstroke. He should thank the Shiv Sena for biting his bait and kicking in some interest for the movie which is sympathetic to muslims. Or probably all of them must be hand in glove. And when I say 'all of them', I include the newspaper critics like Nikhat Khazmi of TOI who gave 5 stars out of 5.
For SRK, it was essential that his home production make money but more than that, he needed it to outbeat his biggest rival, 'Aamir Khan's 3 idiots' both at the box office and in popularity. Whether MNIK will beat 3 idiots at the box-office in India is to be seen but I believe 3 idiots will be more popular of the two.
wednesday
SRK, KARAN JOHAR AND KAJOL PROMOTING MNIK
SRK FUNNY MOMENT IN LONDON DURING PROMOTION FOR MNIK
SHAHRUKH KHAN INTERVIEW WITH NDTV ABOUT MNIK - 20 JAN 2010
KAJOL INTERVIEW WITH NDTV ABOUT MNIK - 27 JAN 2010
SRK AND KAJOL IN THE BACKSEAT OF A NY CAB WITH MTV IGGY
SRK FAILS TO BEAT AAMIR KHAN AT THE BOX OFFICE
SHAHRUKH KHAN FAILS TO BEAT AAMIR KHAN AT THE BOX OFFICE
16 Feb 2010
It was not expected but the late release of My Name Is Khan in Maharashtra, Mumbai particularly, caused the movie a loss of approximately Rs 2.75 to 3 crore. And thus the movie failed to beat last year's super hit 3 Idiots, starring Aamir Khan.
As reported, the first weekend business of the Shahrukh Khan-starrer is estimated to be Rs 29.50 crore approx in India while the movie collected Rs 25 crore from the overseas market resulting in the grand total of Rs 54.50 crore. Whereas the overall first weekend collection of '3 Idiots' was about Rs 56 crore. It grossed around Rs 37.50 crore approx in India and Rs 18.50 crore from overseas.
As reported, the first weekend business of the Shahrukh Khan-starrer is estimated to be Rs 29.50 crore approx in India while the movie collected Rs 25 crore from the overseas market resulting in the grand total of Rs 54.50 crore. Whereas the overall first weekend collection of '3 Idiots' was about Rs 56 crore. It grossed around Rs 37.50 crore approx in India and Rs 18.50 crore from overseas.
The mammoth figures establish the two movies as top runners in the box office race. Though 'My Name Is Khan' is creating ripples at overseas BO, on the home front the audience response is not as overwhelming as it was during the time of '3 Idiots'. In fact, the collection of 'My Name Is Khan' has started showing a drip on single screens.
Source: www.apunkachoice.com
BOLLYWOOD FACTS:
SRK being very competitiive, must be tense about the BO figures, because almost always, Aamir's films have outshone his films at the BO, whenever their movies were released in the same time frame. Aamir Khan's 'Taare Zameen Par' blew away everything else in it's sight including SRK's 'Om Shanti Om'. Then Aamir's 'Ghajini' was the talking point over SRK's 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'.
Source: www.apunkachoice.com
BOLLYWOOD FACTS:
SRK being very competitiive, must be tense about the BO figures, because almost always, Aamir's films have outshone his films at the BO, whenever their movies were released in the same time frame. Aamir Khan's 'Taare Zameen Par' blew away everything else in it's sight including SRK's 'Om Shanti Om'. Then Aamir's 'Ghajini' was the talking point over SRK's 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'.
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