Shah Rukh keen for some Khichdi

The team, which like the actor, started out with a TV serial, was keen on getting his blessings for their film Khichdi–the movie.

The team of the upcoming film Khichdi, based on the popular TV show of the same name, is thrilled that Shah Rukh Khan has finally responded to their numerous requests to meet.

The Khichdi team, which like King Khan began tis journey with TV, has been chasing the superstar to get his blessings. They wrote a letter to the superstar to grace them with his blessings. Even the first look of the film was launched in front of Shah Rukh's mansion, Mannat.

A source informs, "The team of Khichdi is excited that they will be meeting SRK. The meeting is happening at Kamalistan and the whole team of the film will be present including the producer JD Majethia and the cast Anang Desai, Rajeev Mehta and Supriya Pathak."

The elated producer Majethia confirms, "Oh yes, we are meeting Mr Khan at Kamalistan. We had written him a letter.

We have been sending him messages through various channels that we would really like to meet him and get his blessings and we are glad that he has agreed to meet us despite his busy schedule." JD adds, "Shah Rukh's heart is very big. We are glad that he is fulfilling our wish. And his timing is perfect."

The producer informs that the whole team of Khichdi will be meeting Shah Rukh. When asked about Farah Khan, who is supposedly not on good terms with Khan and has done a cameo in the film, JD quips, "We don't know about Farah. We will ask her." Convenient.

Talking about his expectation from the meeting, JD adds, "We are hoping to get his blessings. We are inviting him to watch the film with a promise that he will be in splits for two hours."

Don’t question my intelligence: to (TOI) SRK

"SRK ke affair ki story mein ek byte communal harmony ka bhi chala do" is how stars' perspectives on national issues are treated, says SRK, which is why he doesn't always say what he thinks. Except, of course, to TOI

Last week, the Mumbai police asked cine stars to appeal to people to maintain communal harmony as the Babri verdict approaches. You've spoken earlier – after Emraan Hashmi's press conference on not getting a house in Mumbai – and you'd said that you have a point of view, but you're defensive about expressing it because a) it's always misinterpreted, and b) the media doesn't take a stand. Today, if approached for bytes on communal harmony, are you willing to go beyond the one-liners?
Perhaps we should not be taken very seriously because we are film stars. You don't go to every engineer or doctor to take his viewpoint on communal harmony. The contrary argument to this is – oh, but you guys are public figures! My contrary argument is, we are public figures to the extent that we are entertainers. Beyond that, if there is an issue that I want to talk about, it may be personal, it may be women's education, I'll say it. You don't have to take it seriously, but if I felt it, I said it. If somebody takes it seriously, wonderful.

But I do feel that the line between how seriously we can take movie stars is rather fuzzy; we ask every movie star to talk about a national issue – whether it's the games, a cricket match, communal harmony, using contraceptives, polio vaccines... And on the same hand, we ask them some really silly things too. By virtue of subjecting a profession to two diverse thoughts – arre, bataiye, aap ne toh wahaan badi badtameezi ki thi, aap to sharab pi kar danga karte hain, humne suna hai ki aap ne toh... – you get a little schizophrenic. Am I someone who should talk about a larger issue in the overall interest, or am I someone who is just meant to be doing tomfoolery?

Yeah, the last time you spoke on this, you said, I'm just a dumb, vulgar star, why should I have an opinion?
Yeah, so why do I have to answer all this... so you are always in two minds when something like this is said. There are days when you feel, I'm not gonna speak, yaar. Because with the stage and the time of the work that you are doing, you reach a point when you cross just personal satisfaction. Then you think, I'll do this because cinema will look better. Of course you want your films to do well, but at some point you also begin doing it with a thought beyond just the BO returns.

But people only weigh it like that – that you can't think beyond your next film's future. That makes me go back to a thought – films and filmmakers and actors are part of a strange art form, which is only measured by the yardstick of commerce. So it's a dichotomy; it'll always be so. Ki hum artists hain, lekin jab tak woh painting biki nahi ek crore ki, tab tak hum bade artist nahin hain. It's a strange thing, that you are weighed purely by commerce, while you are artistic by thought and belief. So sometimes, the question is put to you as an artistic person, about national interest. And you're like, haan, main artist hoon, main aapse is baare mein bolta hoon. Suddenly, it's a commercial question – and you go, arre, yeh kahan se aaya... It's a fait accompli, an occupational hazard, and I'll never be able to resolve it.

So when someone says to me, speak about communal harmony, I will say – yeah, I believe in communal harmony, in my house there's communal harmony. I believe my nation is truly secular, I truly believe that. So I will talk about it. And on the same platform, like you were just pointing out the contradiction, someone will ask me – toh aapka six pack aa gaya? So you're like... how do I answer something on communal harmony and on six packs in the same breath? So you're, like I said, schizophrenic. You know you're playing two parts simultaneously, and so on days, you try to avoid playing at least one of them.


I don't know if people understand, from the outside, the dichotomy of questions that we are subjected to, ki bhai, kya poochh rahe ho same breath mein? You don't ask the other part to national leaders, you never ask them a frivolous question. And just because we entertain, by jumping and doing fight scenes and dancing, it does not make us... it takes a lot of intellect to do the silly things that we do on screen to convince a billion people that this is true. It takes a lot of intellect to be able to convince people to believe in fantasy – but people don't seem to be able to recognize that.

Like, Walt Disney wasn't a cartoon...
Absolutely. Walt Disney is not a cartoon. He is genuinely, internationally, the longest lasting phenomenon. You don't laugh at him when you see his face and say, he's Mickey Mouse. He's not Mickey Mouse – he's the creator of dreams. And some dreams are funny, some are silly, some are sweet – that does not make the creator any of those things, it just makes him very imaginative. It makes him versatile.

I like talking when people ask me sensible questions. Ask me senseless questions also, but in a context, and I can have fun, I can make you laugh at my answers. But it should not be that you are just doing it for a purpose which is so transparent, and you are questioning my intelligence by asking me a question like that; ask me a question, but don't question my intelligence. That's what it comes down to, many times. Come with a question, but don't come with a motive behind a question. But... you live with it. You do get irritated also, at times... maybe that is why people are taking to more social networking stuff. They are actually moving away. That is why you may find in the long run that the fastest information, the most important information, finally, all celebrities will end up giving through their own channel – be it a book, a blog, Twitter, XYZ. If I'm not talking about a topic on my channel, it means I don't want to talk about it. I'm very clear now, for example, I don't talk about religion. If somebody asks me a question, I usually won't answer, because what I say hurts people. So, it's like, sorry, now you can't have my views on religion, publicly, because you don't know how to appreciate it, because it causes too much strife.

Transmission losses?
Ya, ya, it all gets... in fact, in some time, I'm gonna take a position that I will not answer questions about co-actors. Ask me about my film, my work, my job, my stuff – good. Bas.

So if it is about your suit in " Ra.One", or the six packs, the pop answers, you will answer anyone, but if it is about something that you actually think about, like religion, you won't take a public platform, won't share it?
No, I won't share it. Not with the popular media. I don't think they're even interested in knowing. I doubt if there is any real interest. It is like – aap bol dijiye na, thoda sa bol dijiye communal harmony pe... matlab? It's like advertising. They just want me like someone who is selling that thing right now. Thoda sa bol do na... Shah Rukh ka affair ka story chala denge, toh uske andar ek yeh bit bhi aa jayega communal harmony appeal ka. I think a lot of actors and right thinking people will be perplexed by that, won't they?

You've stuck to that line, of not commenting on issues of social relevance?
Yeah, I don't think movie stars are nationally relevant – it's as simple as that. Or, are thought to be not relevant enough to speak in the national interest, on national issues, without it turning out to be a full blown controversy. We are not supposed to have an opinion. If we have an opinion, it has to be controversial – that is how we are always projected. It is difficult. I do have my opinions, in a private room, and I like to share them, and I do like to figure out if they are correct or wrong; I am an open, 'discussive' kind of person, but it is so unfortunate that today, I am so worried about saying anything – can't even say anything nice about the city (Delhi) ki bhai kisi aur city ko bura na lag jaaye! I may say things with the right intention, but more often than not, people will misconstrue it.

I couldn't help overhearing you talking to friends about the question of money-making in projects of national relevance, before we began this interaction...
If anyone is working on something in the national interest – even if there is this human nature, that I would like to earn because I am working the hardest in this activity, or whatever, if you feel you are not being paid enough for it as per your efforts, say so, make a clear-cut demarcation about these things. But be clear, whatever I am doing in the national interest, for a public activity, at least 51 per cent should go to the nation, I can look to make 49 per cent from it. It cannot be that 99 per cent I make and give 1 per cent to the nation! You need to give back. And when I say give back, I am not being idealistic, I'm a material guy, I'm a businessman, I'm a f****** rock star! Okay, maybe I shouldn't be talking like that, but the point I'm making is that, if I'm ever asked to do something in the national interest, do a project of national relevance, it's not as if I will not charge for it, but I will ensure that what I give back is not just worth that money, but is a little more than that. It should not be just value for money, it should be a little more than value for money. If you are in a business, your personal venture, take 100 per cent profit, take 500 per cent profit by all means, but if you are working on a national project, the objective cannot be to take back a 500 per cent profit. If somebody is working very hard, or deserves a lot of money, pay him upfront, say he is going to be working for so much time, he deserves it – and then put the rest of the money where it should go. But unfortunately, that sort of transparency is rarely there.

In that context – Rahman being paid 5 crore for the games song, which is widely seen to be a fiasco. Do you think this is an instance of delivering more than a little value for money, as you say, or is it that when politicians and bureaucrats commission something, even a Rahman ends up delivering a sarkari output?
Uh... you see, yaar, creativity has this problem, sometimes it'll be liked, sometimes it won't. It's unfortunate that perhaps we expected something more popular from this music, and it isn't that. See, this is very subjective. You will find enough people who like that also, I think. But perhaps one has decide at some level to take the Commonwealth Games and say, everything is wrong. Ek predisposed idea ho gaya hai – Commonwealth hai, sab kuch kharab hai. Paani aa gaya, dengue aa gaya, traffic aa gaya, yeh ho gaya, woh ho gaya... sab kuch galat hai. Ek wrong footing par aa gaya hai games, and the song is also caught up in that.

Also, I think the whole spectacle is a reflection of how little we appreciate sporting events in our country. We as it is are quick to demean it, and of course all these recent controversies in cricket etc are not helping it either. It's a slightly grey area for us.

A Bollywood superstar, brand ambassador for a state, a little later is brand ambassador for another state with a completely different political ideology...?
You can see it one way, I see it the other way, like I am affiliated to, say, Pepsi. If I leave Pepsi, and later Coke tells me to do something for them, I'd do it. I have no issues, whether Coke and Pepsi have different ideologies or not. See, I'm called for a job, I'd do it. I used to endorse a computer company; they don't use me any more, for the last one and half years. There's another computer company that just called me, and I said of course I'll do it. Of course I believe both the companies are good at their job. And I believe it is my job to tell people about what the good points of either company are. I'm not lying in either case.

If I'm called to launch the Delhi Eye, I'll say okay, I'll come, I was excited by the London Eye, so if there's something like that opening here, and I'm called, I'll come. Tomorrow if I'm called to launch the Chennai Eye, I'll go and do it, or the Bhopal Eye, or the Lucknow Eye. There's no political line, as far as I see it.

Shahrukh Khan's Dhaka Show's Date Fixed on 10th Dec

Shahrukh Night in Dhaka will be held in 10'th December at Dhaka Army Stadium. Date was confirmed by chairman of Antor Showbiz Mr. Sapan Chowdhary few day's ago.

Preety Zinta, Rani Mukharjy, Arjun Rampal, Malaika Arora and the musician Niraj Sridhor will also come with Shahrukh.

Sapan Chowdhary said "We are trying to bring SRK in Dhaka from long time. And now the dream come true. Already all kind of arrangement is done and all kind of permission is taken. Now we are talking with the sponsor companies."

He also said "Ticket price will be around 5 thousand and show time will be 6 hour. Ticket will be found from the middle of October. Almost 20,000 people can watch the show in Army Stadium".

Shahrukh Khan will come to Dhaka at 9'th December and he will leave 11'th December morning.

Shahrukh Khan is wanted by the police of 132 countries

'Don ke peeche to 11 mulko ki police lagi hai, magar Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi namumkin hai.' That's the dialogue we all remember from Farhan Akhtar's film Don, starring Shahrukh Khan. But for Don 2 this dialogue will change to Don ke peeche to 132 mulko ki police lagi hai because the film which brings back SRK as the sly and clever don is going to be more dangerous and stylish.

Ask Shahrukh why this big leap in the sequel of Don, he quips, "Times have changed so now I have police from many more countries behind me." Ironically, the star himself is scared of policemen.

To be directed by Farhan Akhtar, the sequel will retain its original cast of Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, and will include some new names like Lara Dutta, Sameera Reddy and Kunal Kapoor. The film will go on floors in October and will be shot extensively in Berlin.

It's learnt that SRK will also beef up for his role in the film. Shirtless Shahrukh, anytime!

SRK in Bigg Boss!

In a move that is clearly aimed at cashing in on the bitter fallout and rivalry between Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, the channel that will see Salman host Bigg Boss this season is looking to plant a SRK lookalike in the house.

The channel believes that this move will only add to the interest level of the masses for the show and set the TRP meters zooming.

A source says, "It will be interesting to see how Salman handles him and negotiates his reactions and sharp dialogues intending at getting a reaction against the original SRK."

However, the source says that the channel is also wary that this move might sour their relationship with SRK. "He won't be amused that a lookalike is inside Salman's den. The channel always looks to take big stars for their shows and this move might mean that they might never get SRK on board again."

SRK back in Yash’s Raaj Productions, The film will floors on 2011

Given their recent records, Yash Raj Films (YRF) is now trying to salvage its reputation of being one of the most successful and prestigious production houses in Bollywood. A lot of their recent projects bombed at the box office but they haven't let that dampen their spirits.

After offering Dhoom 3 to Aamir Khan (he will start reading the script around October 15), YRF has now got another box-office winner, Shah Rukh Khan to work on one of its forthcoming films.

The last YRF film with King Khan, which Yash Chopra directed himself, was Veer Zaara (2004), a box office success. The production house is counting a lot on the success of its forthcoming project with the actor. This film will either be directed by YRF head honcho Yash Chopra or his son Aditya.

A source says, "YRF is yet to decide who will direct the Shah Rukh starrer. SRK has very good relations with both, Yashji and Aditya. He has equal faith in both of them. They are like family to him."

And interestingly, it may seem as though SRK has proved lucky for the production house, as most of the films the actor has done with them have been successful at the box office, with the exception of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008).

While the lead actor has been finalised, the position of the heroine opposite Shah Rukh still remains open.

Apparently, the SRK starrer for YRF will go on floors in 2011. So, next year, Shah Rukh, who will start shooting for Farhan Akhtar's Don 2, will thus be shooting for at least two films. This will obviously be quite a change from his usual habit of shooting for only one film a year.

When contacted, the YRF spokesperson said, "We are still working on our slate for the coming year and will make our announcements at the appropriate time on the finalisation.

SRK a symbol of religious unity: Vienna

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is seen as an icon of religious unity by many the world over and experts will deliberate upon the topic at a three-day conference from Thursday at Vienna University.

Titled Shah Rukh Khan and Global Bollywood, the meet will not be attended by the superstar himself, but he has said he feels humbled by the endeavour. Some 40 speakers from universities around the world will discuss a wide range of topics revolving around Shah Rukh who is seen as a global cultural phenomenon.

The actor is lauded for playing both Hindu and Muslim characters on screen.

Shah Rukh, who is shooting round the clock for Ra.One, said in an e-mail forwarded by Karuna Badwal, executive assistant at his company Red Chillies Entertainment, that he has prior commitments but sends his very best wishes.

Adelheid Hermann-Pfandt, professor of Religious Studies at Germany's University of Marburg, told IANS: "One of the most remarkable features of Indian cinema is its inter-religious character."

Like many other Europeans, Hermann-Pfandt first experienced the inter-religious oneness of god through a Shah Rukh film.

Titled And I Love Hinduism Also, Shah Rukh Khan: A Muslim Voice for Inter-religious Peace in India, Hermann-Pfandt's talk will look at the importance of a public role model like Shah Rukh in the promotion of ideas of unity among human beings within India and abroad.

Jaspreet Gill from Canada's York University finds My Name Is Khan remarkable for its positive portrayal of practising Muslims.

Bollywood is in the habit of portraying Muslims mostly as stock characters and famous for the cinematic othering of muslims either by demonising them, showing them as exotic or marginalised. In My Name Is Khan, Shah Rukh's character speaks refreshingly of the global relevance of tolerance and understanding of the other, points out Gill.

"This positive imaging has led to the film playing to packed theatres in Pakistan which bodes well for an emerging solidarity between India and Pakistan," adds Gill who will elaborate on Shah Rukh's reinvention of the Muslim hero in My Name Is Khan.

Huma Dar from Berkeley's University of California sees the film, which was directed by Karan Johar, as a sincere effort to show the plight of those deemed dispensable, less grievable, more precarious, inherently threatening in an era of both permanent wars and undeclared wars on other people, practices, faiths, traditions and languages.

Just because Muslim artists in Mumbai no longer take on Hindu names, it might be tempting to conclude that the playing field is level. But the kerfuffle around the film My Name Is Khan is ample evidence that the Muslim name carries a bonus as well as an onus and the two are intimately intertwined, Dar declares.

In Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (K3G), Arno Krimmer sees many traits of Lord Rama or the ideal man. This similarity between K3G and the epic Ramayana deserves notice by critics, scholars and audiences alike, argues Krimmer, an Austrian filmmaker who is the first foreign Resident Faculty at Pune's Film and Television Institute of India where he taught screenplay writing.

London-based filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabir will kick-start the conference with a paper on The Worlds of Shah Rukh Khan at the 19th century building of Vienna's Museum of Ethnology, near the imperial palace. Kabir produced the documentary The Inner and the Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan in 2004.

Participants include Rajinder Dudrah, head of the Department of Drama, University of Manchester and author of The Bollywood Reader, and Ashish Rajadhyaksha from Bangalore's Centre for Studies in Culture and Society.

To the question why Shah Rukh, Professor Elke Mader, Dean Cultural and Social Anthropology Institute of Vienna University, said: "In German-speaking countries his films have developed a cult media and a very active fan culture. Khan's capacity to negotiate and to integrate opposites and extremes and to connect with diverse audiences worldwide as well as his art of expressing emotions make him not only a superstar but a very significant figure in times of global mediascapes and cultural flows."

Anna Mandel, a German sculpture and painter, will exhibit from her work titled Sentiment-SRK, an on-going project that includes the painting of 108 faces of the superstar.

Yet another exhibition will display the rich memorabilia collected over time particularly by ardent Shah Rukh fans like Maria-Stella Hinterndorfer.

The conference will include two screenings - Kesariya Balam, Austria's first Bollywood style film directed by Sandeep Kumar and Mr Khan Vienna Loves You, a documentary on hardcore Shah Rukh fans in Vienna by Ali Hasnain, a 24-year-old graduate of Vienna's School for Audio Engineering.

SRK not performing at CWG opening ceremony,

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will not be performing at the Oct 3 opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (CWG), organisers said Tuesday.

"Shah Rukh is definitely not performing at the opening ceremony. However, I don't know if he is planning to attend the event or if he has received any invite from the organising committee. But he is not performing," Viraf Sarkari, director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

The opening ceremony of the Oct 3-14 mega sports event will be a mélange of Indian dances and songs, said Sarkari. Wizcraft is behind the cultural evening at the event.

Oscar winning composer AR Rahman will be performing a few songs, apart from the latest version of the CWG anthem. But the Bollywood quotient will take a back seat as India's cultural heritage will rule the stage on D-day, added Sarkari.

The opening ceremony will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

"Delhi Eye" Unruly crowd forces cancellation of SRK event

Modeled on the London Eye and Singapore Flyer, Delhi too has been gifted with a high wheel 'Delhi Eye' that offers a city ride at the cost of Rs. 250 without any traffic snarls. The giant wheel has been set up at an Amusement Park in Kalindi Kunj locality on the banks of Yamuna along the Delhi-Noida border.

The 'Delhi Eye' will see its inauguration on September 27 by Bollwood's King Khan, Shah Rukh and Malaika Arora Khan. The wheel stands tall at about 5 metres above the ground, with a 50 metre diameter. There are 36 air-conditioned viewer cabins that provide a snapshot of various landmarks such as Connaught Place, Nehru Place, and Lotus Temple.

Tahir Rana, Director, Delhi Ride said Noida too will be visible to the riders. He projects the ride as their USP to attract curious travelers. He also elaborated on the other attractions provided at the amusement cum Water Park. He hoped the 12 levels of slides will add to the entertainment quotient and the giant wheel ride. Rana added that the entry fees are comparatively low as it costs just Rs. 100 on weekdays and Rs. 150 on weekends.

The Park also boasts of a Kid Zone, where the entry fee is kept at just Rs. 25 for all the activities in the zone. Spread across about 3.6 hectares, the land was given on lease by the UP Irrigation Department.

''Indian sci-fi needs to get better'' SRK

When Shah Rukh Khan has said that he wants his forthcoming superhero film Ra.One to set a trend for better special effects in Indian sci-fi.

The actor wants to attract a younger audience to the cinema to watch science-fiction, the Hindustan Times has reported.

In an interview with the paper, he said: "I can afford to spend on technology in my films at this point of time, and I feel that those who can, should bring technical advancement.

"Otherwise, we will lose a younger audience. I am attempting that with Ra.One."

Ra.One will see Khan being a flying superhero, who must defeat ten villains in succession.

SRK, Salman to join hands

Akshay Kumar, who is the brand ambassador of Special Olympics Bharat, has embarked upon a novel and ambitious project that might see him achieve a coup of sorts in Tinseltown.

Akki is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that the cause and the games for the differently-abled people is a huge success, and for this he is approaching all the big guns of the film fraternity to join hands with him to spread the word. It is in this context that the Khiladi is slated to bring the two warring Khans — Shah Rukh and Salman — under the same roof for the first time after their industry dividing rift.

Akshay has also managed to get Amitabh Bachchan on board who will be voicing his concerns about disability among the children of the country.

A source close to the development says, "Akshay has been very close to Salman for a long time now and very recently he buried differences with Shah Rukh. Akki has walked for Salman for his Being Human initiative and it is unlikely that Salman won't help his friend. Akki and SRK has been bonding big time recently and their wives are also very thick. SRK has also silently supported many causes and he is expected to give his nod to this too."

The informer adds, "With them giving a confirmation to Akki, it would mean that for the first time after their quarrel and fall-out they would be involved in a project together. That itself is a big achievement for Akshay as it looks unlikely that SRK and Salman would ever share silver screen space again." When contacted, Akshay confirms, "It is too early to give out who all have confirmed for the cause. I will be approaching everyone to join me. I'm hoping they won't say no to participate in a cause that is helping some really needy people so that they can shape their own future by excelling with the skills that they have."

God resides in our heart: Shahrukh Khan

Ahead of the Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid verdict, a host of Bollywood celebrities have come together to appeal people to maintain peace and harmony and not be swayed by aggressive sentiments or elements if not happy with the verdict.

Superstar Shahrukh Khan too has stepped in by saying that God doesn’t reside in manmade monuments.

“Allah, God, Bhagwan in whichever name we pray to the supreme power, resides in man's heart, not in man-made houses for Him,” SRK wrote on microblogging site Twitter.

The actor said any belief should first take root in the heart.

“I mean first our beliefs should take seed and grow in our hearts and then only we should manifest that in places of prayer and God,” the actor tweeted.

In the light of the Commonwealth Games he added that it’s easier to demolish than to build.

“I hope we Indians realise how difficult it is to build stadiums and respect and so easy to break monuments and disrespect each others’ beliefs,” he wrote.

The Ayodhya land dispute verdict was supposed to come out on September 24 but has been deferred with Supreme Court deciding to hear the plea for postponement on September 28.

SRK's "Ra.One" goes international!!!!!

Shah Rukh Khan has apparently roped in Hans Zimmer of The Dark Knight and The Lion King fame, to compose music for his home production.

Though known to be a perfectionist even otherwise, King Khan it seems wants to put all his energies in making his production RA.One, an international success.

Not too long ago, Shah Rukh Khan signed the pop icon Akon to sing one of the songs in the film. And now, the grapevine has it that SRK has signed German composer Hans Zimmer to work on the background score of the film. And if all goes well, this will be the first time Hans will be composing music for a Bollywood movie.

Hans Zimmer is recognised as one of Hollywood's most innovative musical talents for having worked on super hits like The Lion King, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, Pirates of The Caribbean series, The Da Vinci Code, The Dark Knight, Sherlock Holmes and even the much-talked-abut Inception.

A source from the unit reveals, "Shah Rukh has roped in a lot of foreign technicians for his sci-fi flick.

He wants the film to be of international standards. It was his director Anubhav Sinha who suggested Hans Zimmer's name for the background score.

Anubhav took the help of his contacts to arrange for a meeting between Hans and SRK. With time, Hans agreed to come on board."

Apparently, Hans has refused several Bollywood offers in the past and this time, he has agreed to make an exception for Shah Rukh's film RA.One.

You wonder if King Khan's charms won the day.

Well surely, but the buzz is that Hans has been paid a whopping 2 crore just to compose the background music for the film.

Big-B puts SRK on the hot seat

Shah Rukh Khan has reportedly been approached by Kaun Banega Crorepati to sit on the hot seat and be quizzed by Amitabh Bachchan.

The show, which goes on air on the Big B's 68th birthday (October 11), had SRK as its host in the third edition. It was widely reported that though the edition was a success, it could not emulate the massive fan frenzy that Amitabh had managed to garner in the first two seasons. After this, the show went off air and then Big B was taken back to be the face of KBC again.

"The channel is very keen to have an episode that would have the two hosts of KBC face to face. They have approached SRK to be a celebrity contestant who will be quizzed by Amitabh. The channel knows that this is what will give them a huge buzz. SRK is undecided. He has good relations with the channel as well as the makers of the show, so it is hugely being anticipated that he might give a nod for this special episode. Everyone has their fingers crossed," says a highly placed source close to the developments of the show.

The informer adds, "Big B's recent conversation about the show with SRK on a social networking site has also garnered interest level in the industry. It was widely said that SRK and Amitabh became close friends a couple of years back thereby rubbishing rumours of their ego clashes that had made headlines for years. So, this cordial relation with Bachchan might as well be the lubricant for SRK to also say a yes to the format. It will get the channel the TRP that it cannot imagine."

Officials of the channel, on conditions of anonymity, confirmed that SRK has indeed been approached for KBC and that they are awaiting a response from him soon.

Shazahn shoots with Shah Rukh Khan

Not many are aware that before making her big screen debut with ROCKET SINGH - SALESMAN OF THE YEAR, Shazahn Padamsee was an established face in the advertisement circuits. Though she has rubbed shoulders with many big names in that world and is now working with Ajay Devgn and Madhur Bhandarkar in DIL TOH BACHCHA HAI JI, Shazahn hasn't left behind her passion of being a model. She is still pretty much active in this circuit and recently shot a commercial with none other than Shah Rukh Khan.

"Well, I am just 21 and all I can say is 'Thank You God'," smiles Shazahn, "I am happy to be working with some of the best folks in business."

In a way, she has been lucky enough to get some of the best co-stars in business, whether it comes to Hindi films, her commercials or the projects down South. From Ranbir to Ajay, she has touched both age groups while in South, she recently did a film with heart throb Ram Charan Teja as well.

While Shah Rukh is a screen icon and Ram Charan pretty much belongs to her age group, one wonders what is so special about her role in the romcom DIL TOH BACHCHA HAI JI? After all she is half the age of her co-star Ajay Devgn and still plays his love interest.
"Well, I am not commenting on that," winks Shazahn who is still not so willing to talk about her role and the obvious age difference, "You see the film and you would know for yourself the relevance behind such casting."

"Having said that, the role of June Pinto, a Catholic girl that I play in the film, is amazing," she goes on to add, "I play an intern in Ajay's company and what happens next is pure magic due to the kind of on-screen bonding that happens between the two of us. The script is just awesome and so is Ajay. It is very important to have a good rapport on sets and know each other well. Ajay is so much down to earth and I think he just goes out of his way to make you feel comfortable."

Shah Rukh, Rahman and Big B nominated for 'People's Choice Award' at UK The Asian Awards

Some of the biggest stars from the Hindi film industry along with many other celebrities from the music industry, business and sports will be honored at London's 2010 The Asian Awards on October 26th. The Asian Awards, in partnership with Lebara, recognise outstanding achievements from within the Asian community. The Asian Awards celebrate truly inspirational members of the global Asian community and honor individuals in eleven categories who have made a big impact. Caroline Jackson Levy, Managing Director, The Asian Awards, says, "The Asian Awards will be one of the most important gatherings of powerful and influential Asians ever, including CEO's of some of the world's biggest companies, Bollywood legends and sporting stars. It really will be an evening to remember." Yoganathan Ratheesan, founder and CEO of Lebara spoke about the awards saying: "We're delighted to be the headline sponsor of The Asian Awards which recognise what can be achieved with hard work, commitment and determination. At Lebara we share and promote these important values."

Awards will be given out in eleven categories including: Outstanding Achievement in Cinema, Outstanding Achievement in Music, Outstanding Achievement in Arts, Outstanding Achievement in Television, Outstanding Achievement in Sports, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business Leader of the Year, Philanthropist of the Year, Public Service Award, Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

There is also a special Lifetime Achievement Award and this year's recipient is Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Mr. Bachchan will be there to receive this honor who says it will be, "the greatest gathering of Asian excellence...ever."

Another highlight is the announcement of the winner of the Lebara People's Choice Award. Nominated in that category are AR Rahman, Amitabh Bachchan, Jay Sean, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar and Shah Rukh Khan. Fans can go to http://www.lebaramobile.com/peoplechoiceaward to vote for their favorite star and might just win 2 tickets to attend the event! So go vote now!

Along with all the awards the evening also will have a special performance by Sonu Niigaam, in a rare UK appearance. The singer said, "It is wonderful to be part of the Asian Awards." The ceremony, in aid of the charity Save the Children, will be held at the Grosvenor House on London's Park Lane. Check out http://www.theasianawards.com to find out more.

Dad's honesty killed him: SRK

My dad's honesty killed him as he was too gentle to handle the world – but I'm not; I'm honest but I'm not defensive about winning and living well, says SRK, as he looks back at life 30 years after his dad died of cancer in Delhi

You've been posting messages about your dad today (Sep 19) ... nostalgia?
Haan yaar... I just suddenly realized today, I woke up and I'd forgotten what date it was, I just looked at the newspaper and then realized it... Actually, before that, at night, strangely, my son came to me – my wife is at the hospital, she's staying there – and he came to me and said, 'papa, I want to give a hug.' So I asked, 'why?' And he said, 'just like that, papa... I think, I love you'. I found it very touching.

And then I woke up and realized that it was my dad's death anniversary when I saw the newspapers. And I'm glad I'm in Delhi today. I'll go and pray in a while. When good things happen in my life – and I think every day a good thing happens in my life – I feel, I wish, that my parents were here, as my kids are growing up. For example, we had to bring the kids here, we couldn't leave the kids in Mumbai; sometimes you suddenly feel, arre, if I had my parents, you could always leave the kids with their grandparents, but that's not to be. We don't have any elder at home. I miss that, I miss them...

It's been a long, long time since my father died. I calculated it in the morning itself; its been 30 years. I feel happy to be in the town where he lived and died today. Ek ajeeb sa... isme kuch supernatural nahin hai, but I feel nice to be in the vicinity of where your family has lived and breathed.

Do you ever manage to go the house where he lived, relive memories?
The Gautam Nagar one? You see, my father died when we were in Green Park. My mother expired in the house we lived in, in Gautam Nagar. Yeah, I go in the night sometimes... I take the kids for a drive, go past the area, but I haven't specifically gone into the house, no.

You don't have the luxury of walking into the house where your father lived his last days without cameras and people around, do you?
No, I'm sure I can walk in and they won't say anything! I remember when my sister was joining university – I must have been 14 and she must have been 18 or 19 – my father took us to Delhi University. He took us into Miranda College. He had lived in a room there. I think perhaps it wasn't an all-girls college in those years; anyways, the principal had allowed him to stay in a room there. So he took us to the room, and he opened the door, and there were some girls there, and he said to them, 'beta, bura mat manna, main yahan pe rehta thaa.'

So I'm sure I can also walk into somebody's house and say, listen, I stayed here, and they won't mind. But no, I've never tried, I've just seen them from outside. I normally do take the kids out for a drive at night, tell them this is where I used to stay, this is my old house... they kind of feel nice. But yes, I've never gone inside.

You don't miss not stepping in and taking a look and saying, this is where his chair used to be, this is where he lived, this is where you had those childhood memories...?
Na... nahin, I feel I don't think I'd like to do that. I'd feel too sad. I've seen it from the outside at night but I probably wouldn't want to go in. I don't know. Maybe I don't want to go inside, which is why I never have. I haven't thought about it. Now that you're telling me, is when I'm thinking about it.

Maybe you wouldn't want to go with anyone around.
Yes, if I do, it'll be by myself, because there are things I don't share with the world, and I'm very clear about that... But I don't think it'll be right for the people who are living there for me to knock and walk in and say, 'hi, I'm here because my dad's memories are here for me.' They must be having a happy life in that house and they should just have their own memories in that house, not mine. My memories should move with me. So, no, I don't wish to go inside either of the houses where my parents died. If it was my house still, then of course I would go – but it's not. And I don't think I associate the space with my father and mother. A material space isn't something that I need to go to think of them... of course I'll go to my father's grave and pray at night sometimes.

That's a luxury you have?
Yes, yes... I'll go quietly and at night. It'll be scary, but I'll go (laughs)! If I can't go there, I'll go to the vicinity and pray.

And the kids?
I've taken them, yes, I've taken my kids to my parents' graves a few years back. Not my daughter, she was too small, but my son, yes. I like to take them sometimes. My wife gets a little worried sometimes, she says, 'don't. Take them in the daytime if you must.' So maybe I'll send them in the daytime with the family, and I'll go later at night.

When they are a little grown up, maybe, I'll take them along. You need to know your roots... like I, unfortunately – my father's family, I have hardly met. I've known them, and known of them, they're in Peshawar, but not much.

Sometimes I think – arre, what did my father's father look like? I'd like my son to know more than I do – to know how his father's father looked like, to pray a little for all the goodness that has come his way in life...

How unreal does all this look today? When you lost him, you were a fatherless 14-year-old in a small house in Delhi. Today, all of Delhi would line up to spend a few minutes with you.
I was speaking to my brother-in-law on this a little while back... I come here, even if I go to the hospital, the Escorts people, Dr Seth and all the other doctors are very kind... People stand in lines to see me, wave out to me. There's so much riding on me all the time...

This is as much a distance someone could have covered in 30 years, isn't it?
Yes, I just realized, if somebody were to ask me what I did to become successful in this distance – people do ask me that – and I swear I don't know. I think about fathers telling their kids what they should try and be. I never knew what I will be. I just studied, went from one place to another, went to Mumbai and acted a little – and before I have realized it, I have a son who is 12 years old, a daughter who is 10 years old, I am sort of famous, I am respected a lot, I am loved a lot.

And I find love in all the writings on how successful I am and on how unsuccessful I am going to be. He's the biggest star. He's not the biggest star. All the discussions I read about myself, I find love in all of them, they're concerned, that's why they talk about me.

And I just remember roaming about the streets here, as a nobody... I've come here (Gurgaon) when this was a desolated space, once, twice maybe.

I just don't know how all this happened. And I don't know – absolutely from the bottom of my heart I don't know how I became successful. There are better looking people than me, more talented than me, as hard working as me – or maybe more. But why did it all come to me? Why has it sustained for so long?

I've thought about this. And I came to the conclusion that it has happened because I never doubted what I am doing. I never doubted the fact that there wouldn't be somebody to look after me after my parents died – even though there was no one. I never doubted that I would be able to make ends meet for myself. I never doubted whether the work that I do would be a failure. And in fact I feel that as we have it all, we begin doubting – so I need to go back to that basic.

I was just telling a lady here that I have the heart of an entertainer. From the food I serve at my home to the cold drink I serve you, I want you to smile. The heart that I have – the heart of an entertainer – a part of it has always been sensible enough to do the business part of it. But a large part of it, a large part of my heart, still believes in magic. Because I believe in magic, magic happens to me

Also it happens, I believe, because my parents have given me that prayer – that listen, don't worry, you are magic. I don't have any other reason to believe in my success. I can't duplicate it. I can't tell my kids to become the same. There's no way – and I know it. But I think I am surrounded by the magic of my parents' soul. I believe that. I truly believe that. And I don't do anything special – I think of them, I pray to them, I pray to Allah and say, keep them nicely. But I am surrounded by the magic of their souls. So if God takes away from you something – if Allah takes away from you the most important aspect of your life, he fulfills other aspects. And today with my kids, I feel even the vacancy of my parents is fulfilled. I have got a son and a daughter – and I always think of them like my father and my mother, in the sense that chalo yaar, woh they, agar woh hote to main hota, biwi hoti, behen hoti – abhi bhi wohi team hai.

I am alone in what I do – I have a very small family – but I am never lonely. I don't need so much. I just need these 3-4 people to keep me away from loneliness, and I think that's the gift my parents have given me. I'm all alone, I am an outsider in Mumbai, but I do things with a lot of belief. I screw up also, I go wrong, I take pangaas, but I've always stuck to – agar isne galat bola hai, toh take a stand; agar yeh sahi bol raha hai, support; abhi yeh ulta bol raha hai, toh chup ho jao yaar, keep dignity.

It's my belief that so long as I am doing that, I will never be lonely. I will be alone, but I am happy – that's what life has given me, that I will walk alone. My loneliness has always been fulfilled by 3-4 people; earlier, my parents and my sister, now, my sister, my wife and kids. So it's a great gift. On good days, especially in Delhi, I miss my parents, and I do today, because it's a coincidence that I'm here today.

Coincidences happen... two, three years ago, on this day, somebody called me to release some medicines for them in Bangalore. Kiran Shaw. I didn't know her. I said, mujhe Bangalore nahi jaana yaar... and again, I looked at the papers, and realized it was 19th September, dad's death anniversary. So I asked my EA, what medicine? He said, cancer medicine. I said, listen, just fix up a plane quickly, I'm going. They'd even changed their programme in the meantime, and asked why I was coming now – and I was like, I don't know you, but somehow this is connecting – this is about a cancer medicine, and my dad died of cancer, and today is the day he died – so here I am. You have to believe in these things – whether faith, love, magic. The 'non-existent' things for human beings. We have to believe in them. I do.

I had a choice of costumes today; I chose to wear a sherwani, I said to myself, my dad would like it.

You often speak about your dad as a reference point – waqt ki chhoti, dad's eyeglasses...
Also my mom. My dad was very gentle, very honest – and his honesty killed him. My mom was also very honest, but she was a woman of the world. She knew how to fight the world, while retaining her integrity.

Why do you say his honesty killed him?
I think he was, you know... he was very successful, then became unsuccessful... he was a lawyer, he did not practice... he had a lot of options to take favours from people, which he did not. He went to Peshawar with a lot of dreams, took me also there... but I think somewhere he felt let down, he worried a lot, and I think worries cause cancer. And today it's proven also, in some ways, worries cause ulcers, and other things, and cancers. I think those worries just took his life – otherwise he was very strong, was just 51, no heart disease, never drank, nothing... I think just sticking to impractical honesty and beliefs took him away early.

My mother, on the other hand – though she also died at 50 – she was a go-getter. The training I got from the both of them was – from my dad, be gentle, be religious, be kind, be honest. He taught me shayari, poems.

What I learnt from my mom was – let me put it this way. There are three development stages of a kid – I've been giving lectures so I remember this. The first development should be of the heart – love, art, music, nature, all good things. The second part is development of the head – how to use it, how to develop the intellect. And the third part is, development of the hand – how to put that intellect to use. These three – but in that order. I truly believe that my father taught me the heart, and my mother taught me the intellect.

That's why when I meet people, youngsters, I tell them – please go out, and win your material goals as much as you want – honestly. Don't be like, how a lot of people think, yeh nahi hona chahiye, woh nahi hona chahiye, chhoro, aur bhi gham hai zamane mein. You should fulfill your material desires. Fulfill them honestly, straightforwardly, without owing it to anyone. Don't ask. Go and work for it.

The mixture that I got from them – I think that is the person I am. And so I miss both of them, perhaps differently. When I'm going wrong at work, I'm thinking of my mom, that I need to go out and DO IT, even if it all looks to be going wrong, go and give it my best shot. And when I'm going wrong in life, in my thoughts, that's when I think of dad. Then I'm like, isko maaf kar do yaar. Galti ho gayi toh chhoro na yaar. Yeh ulta bol raha hai, lekin jaane do... You have to overcome a lot of latent and spontaneous anger and disturbance. My dad was like that. Mom would have slapped. So I learnt how to slap from my mom, and how to hold it back from my dad (laughs).

I don't know if I can teach it all to my children, you know, because I'm a watered down version of their goodness.

When you're 50 yourself, you'll tend to do that comparison more frequently, perhaps?
I don't know, but my sister has been telling me that I have begun to look more and more like my dad – and I take that as a compliment. Because he was a gentle soul. I don't think I can ever be like my dad. I am a little too material, and a little too worldly intellectual. I wish I could say it right now, but I'd be lying if I said that I can be as simple as my dad. That's an inner calling. If it happens, well and good, because then I'd be a well-off honest man. I'd like that, yes! If at the age of 50, if I can pass on the education that my dad gave me, it would be great, but I honestly don't think I'd be able to reach that calibre. I think I am always going to be a mix of what my parents taught me.

Is that a bad thing?
It's a fantastic thing. I think my mix is the best mix. You're straightforward, honest, and you're living well – I think that's the best way. I tell my kids what I tell all youngsters –work hard, play harder, and don't forget to pray. To that I've now added – pay your taxes also. Don't owe anything to anybody. Always a giver be, if you can afford to. And just lead your life in the way that, at the end, it shouldn't be, arre yaar, mujhe aise nahi karna thaa – no regrets at the end of your life.

It's time to dream more: SRK

There are thousands who are crazy about Shah Rukh Khan, but it's easy to figure out what King Khan is crazy about – entertainment.

In Gurgaon recently, Shah Rukh told us, "All we need, for entertainment to be international, is the use of technology. We could be at par with other countries in films, theatre, even sports. You hear of individuals winning gold because the technology was given to them by their families."

The people who he thinks have technology to make live entertainment world class are those at Kingdom of Dreams (KOD) in Gurgaon. He was announced as their brand ambassador for India's first live entertainment destination, and SRK said, "It's right up my alley. I'm a big believer that entertainment isn't only for the well-to-do. It's a form of release from tension and stress for everybody. Also, it's nice for kids to be educated in an entertaining way.

I had seen Culture Gully (KOD's food court) being made. A few weeks ago, I was teaching my son about the various states in the country, and which cuisine is from where. Of course, I don't know all of it, but we surfed the net and saw the pictures online. Here, if I were to get a kid and make him walk around Culture Gully, apart from the fact that the food will be very nice, it could be that he'll pick up a couple of... 'understandings', instead of having to read from a book or the net."

The scale and the resources, said SRK, can really give a fillip to forms of live performing arts. "I love the fact that it encourages new platforms of entertainment. I started with TV, and I used to do theatre. They have this outstanding auditorium, the kind that I've been telling my friends about for years. It has to be seen to be believed. If you go and watch Phantom Of The Opera or Mary Poppins, you couldn't replicate it here because you don't have the technology. This one does. It would open up avenues for international theatre to come here. Plus, Indian theatre, which is very beautiful, will get these facilities."

He added, "I'd love to perform here. You can make it look as great as any international show. And it's so outstandingly seeped in Indian culture. There's a musical called Zangoora – The Gypsy Prince! Very Bollywood, too! Yes, and it has to be. They're using popular formats, reviving traditional formats, and mixing the two. It's a great step forward."

Double Dabangg for SRK & family

There was a double screening of Salman's Dabangg at Mannat.

The first time a letter was sent by SRK to Ashtavinayak; the second time Mrs Gauri Khan called Malaika Arora to organise a special screening for her kids.

Arbaaz confirms, "On the day of the premiere or a day before that, SRK sent a mail to Ashtavinayak to organise a Dabangg screening. It was to be done through a UFO screening and required the producer's consent. So I sent a mail back confirming and happily organised a screening for them.

A few days later, Gauri called up Malaika asking her to have one more screening for the kids. So I spoke to the UFO people once again and got a screening organised for the kids this time."

Shahrukh Bola Khoobsoorat Hai Tu (2010) Hindi film with Ritika-Afzaal Khan

Bollywood comedy-drama movie Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu (2010) Makrand Deshpande and produced by Amarjeet Singh. Music is by Vasuda Sharma.

The film has fresh faces Ritika and Afzal Khan in the star-cast, along with Bollywood king Shahrukh Khan appearing for a full 20 mins and two songs. Others in the cast include Makrand Deshpande and Kay Kay Menon.

The film is expected to have a release date of October 22, 2010 under the banner of Music Factory.

Depicting the collision of superstars and poor nobodies, the film explores how superstar Shahrukh Khan, playing himself, changes the life of a poor girl in an instant when he tells her she is pretty. Unable to convince her friends SRK himself complimented her, Ritika goes to Bollywood to meet King Khan himself, unleashing a series of incidents. Afzal Khan plays Ritika's romantic interest, Kay Kay her brother, and Makrand a car mechanic in the locality.

SRK at CWG opening ceremony

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on October 3.

The actor, who is a sports enthusiast, would sure lend some positive energy to the mega event, which has received plenty of bad press.

Sources in the Games organising committee say that Shah Rukh Khan will be in attendance.

When asked about Shah Rukh's participation, Viraf Sarkari, the director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games, told, "I am sure the organising committee will invite Shah Rukh Khan and he can decide according to his schedule, whether he will be able to make it or not. It will be great to have him though."

About participation from other Bollywood stars, Sarkari said, "At the moment the opening ceremony is completely cultural and the focus is not on Bollywood. It will showcase Indian cultural heritage in a big way and we are slogging hard to make it a grand affair."

Oscar-winning musician A R Rahman had launched the CWG theme song ' India bula liya' at Sarkari's entertainment hub, 'Kingdom of Dreams'.

Interestingly Shah Rukh was recently roped in as the global ambassador of the extravagant hub.

I would love to go back to theatre: SRK

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who started his career as a theatre artist, reminisces about the days he acted in plays in Delhi and says he would love to go back to the stage and perform live.

"I started my career from theatre and later went on to acting in television and then films. We used to perform plays at Kamani Auditorium, which was at that time considered to be one of the biggest theatres. If given a chance I would love to go back to the stage and perform in front of a live audience. I love to interact with people," he told reporters at the launch of Nautanki Mahal in the Kingdom of Dreams here Sunday evening.

The actor has been named the global brand ambassador of Kingdom of Dreams, situated in Gurgaon adjacent to the national capital.

He added: "I would just like to say that whatever we do in theatre, it should not be considered secondary or taken lightly. We need to give at least six to seven months and produce a quality product. In the West, films actors completely dedicate themselves to theatre whenever they get a chance to perform. We need to have the same dedication here also."

Kingdom of Dreams is a 5.66-acre entertainment and leisure hotspot that will showcase Bollywood musicals and boasts of an elaborate arts and food boulevard.

SRK's "Ra.One" is a tribute to fatherhood!!

Shah Rukh Khan starrer upcoming big- budget flick ‘Ra.One’ which presents him in superhero character for the first time, is a tribute to fatherhood in the world and King Khan hopes that after the release of the flick he would have become more respected and revered in the eyes of his own son, Aryan.

The flick is about the relationship between a father and a son and Shah Rukh Khan wants the status of all fathers of the world to be raised through his flick. He laments the fact that while motherhood gets exalted status in our movies, fatherhood has been constantly neglected.

It’s an effort on the part of King Khan to remove that anomaly and correct the balance in the world. Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan was named as the ambassador of Gurgaon based ‘Kingdom of Dreams’, which truly enhances his image of being the Badshah of bollywood.

The buzz doing the rounds in the industry is that it was Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan liking for superhero movies and characters that had initially inspired King Khan to go for a project like ‘Ra.one’.

The movie is being directed by Anubhav Sinha and produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s own production house ‘Red Chillies Entertainment’.

‘Ra.One’ has Shah Rukh Khan playing the character of a superhero, who does impossible stunts and other things in the caper.

Basically, Shah Rukh Khan is a London- based scientist who wants to make a ‘Robot’ for human help.

He even succeeds in his endeavor, but Robot turns hostile and starts killing human beings.

Then the scientist is forced to kill his own creation to safeguard the humanity. Kareena Kapoor, the sizzling hot bollywood babe, plays the part of SRK’s better half.

However, Kareena’s character is that of a yummy mummy and not that of a seedhi saadhi bharatiya nari. She also has an eight –year- old son in the flick.

Shah Rukh Khan named Kingdom of Dream's global ambassador

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan was on Sunday evening named the global ambassador of live entertainment destination Kingdom of Dreams - Bollywood's very own Broadway - in Gurgaon.

"I feel honoured I have been chosen as the global brand ambassador of Kingdom of Dreams," Shah Rukh told reporters.

"It was essential to have a platform like this in our country which puts India at par with the international standards and promotes our cultural diversity globally," he added.

Clad in a black suit, shirt and tie, the star dazzled in his newly-acquired leaner look.

SRK missing his Dad

30 yrs ago this day my dad died. never said wot i should be.i want to be a gentle & funny father more than any other title. miss him lots.

on days when issues surround me that need strength..i wish he was here to beat up all.my dad was the strongest...& the handsomest.

i don't remember my dads skin...his touch or his voice anymore. only his eyes...& his smile..full of promise that he will always be there.

one last thing before i miss my dad even more. all of you go & give a hug to ur dads once a week, without reason. fathers like that. i know.

SRK beats Akshay Kumar as Bollywood's top tax payer

Bollywood badshah Shahrukh Khan has done it yet again as he replaces the Khiladi Akshay Kumar as the number one tax payer from Bollywood for the second quarter of financial year 2011. Shahrukh Khan has coughed up Rs 5 crore to the IT department as against the Rs 3.5 crore paid in the same quarter last year, reports CNBC-TV18's Ashwin Mohan quoting sources.

Akshay has managed to come a close second having paid Rs 4.5 crore in Q2 of FY11 with Aamir Khan following by shelling out Rs 4 crore as tax versus Rs 3.5 crore paid in the same quarter of the previous year.

Excerpts from India Business Hour on CNBC-TV18 Watch the full show »

The fourth spot was shared by the Chote Nawab Saif Ali Khan and chocolate hero Ranbir Kapoor who paid Rs 2.5 crore each as tax during the same period.

However, the very Dabangg Salman Khan paid only Rs 2 crore compared to the Rs 2.5 crore in the same quarter last year.

Hindi film actresses followed suit with the Barbie doll of the Bolly brigade Katrina Kaif shelling out Rs 1.3 crore versus Rs 1 crore paid in Q2FY10 and tough competitor Kareena Kapoor adding Rs 1 crore to the tax kitty as against Rs 80 lakh paid same quarter last year.

And the rest is history… Where Hritik Roshan paid a meager Rs 50 lakh as against the Rs 3 crore paid in second quarter of FY10 and Arbaaz Khan spent Rs 10 lakh as against Rs 50 lakh last year. While director Sanjay Leela Bansali spent Rs 50 lakh on tax in the second quarter as against Rs 25 lakh paid last year, Vishal Bharadwaj gave Rs 25 lakh versus Rs 15 lakh to the IT department.

SRK to do a musical!

Shah Rukh Khan is set to do a Broadway-style, big budget Indian musical, the second to be attempted here after the City of Dreams.

Plans to make SRK's musical global are also being contemplated. However, the Bollywood Badshah will only do a cameo which will have a crucial impact on the plot. The event management company that is making this musical said a full-fledged publicity plan is being devised cashing in on SRK's presence in the show as this is now its USP.

Getting Shah Rukh on board wasn't easy. Help of the Morani brothers, with whom the actor has worked for many years, was taken; a meeting set up, and SRK got into the nitty-gritty of the show. He took time to get convinced because he wanted to be sure that the project is actually big. Anticipations on his role are high. But as of now, everything is hush-hush.

SRK’s on a mission

Shah Rukh Khan is trying to make up for the lost weight and muscles thanks to prosthetics for his film Ra.1.

With intense gossip that SRK might have lost his fab six-pack with him losing at least five-eight kilos due to the superhero body suit that he is donning for the movie. SRK is now under some gruelling training to beef up for Farhan Akhtar's Don 2. What's more interesting? Gossip is that SRK might show his six-pack in the film too or even better it for Farhan.

Only time will tell if SRK does a shirtless wonder again after Om Shanti Om. A highly-placed source close to the star discloses, "Prosthetics is something that looks fabulous on screen, but it is really tiring for the actors, who have to wear it. SRK's weight loss is evident and people have also asked him about it even at press conferences or events. First he can't eat or drink with the bodysuit on and then it is so warm inside the bodysuit that SRK is losing a lot of weight due to perspiration.

Now that he is at home, he has returned to his regular diet chart as well as training. He is pushing himself really hard to get his weight back so that he can tone his body and his abs." Shah Rukh says, "You can see that I have lost weight, but I have begun full-fledged training and eating a lot... and on time now. I should be able to get back my weight and my muscles soon enough."

"Ra.One" is the best action film, Arjun Rampal,

Arjun Rampal is one happy man He has finished shooting for RA 1 where he plays the lead antagonist and is now waiting with bated breath for the film's release Even as he just saw the release of WE ARE FAMILY where he played the sole male lead, he fondly talks about RA 1 where he reunites with Shah Rukh Khan after OM SHANTI OM and DON - THE CHASE BEGINS AGAIN.

'The kind of energy that Shah Rukh has brought into RA 1 is amazing Just looking at him work brings so much spirit into you to go and perform well out there Also, (director) Anubhav Sinha's way of working is infectious too Along with the two of them, we had some great time filming RA 1,' says Arjun who had to go through a fitness program to get into the kind of shape that his character requires in the film.

Though not much is known about the plotline of the film, RA 1 is said to be a futuristic film belonging to sci-fi genre Along with Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor plays an important role in RA 1 where Arjun would be seen in an altogether new look.

Those who have had a dekko at the film swear that RA 1 has turned out to be Indian cinema's biggest ever action film Doesn't that sound like too tall a claim?

'I have worked in the film and also see the rushes so I can confirm that for you,' smiles Arjun, 'Yes, it is the best action film ever made and is also the most ambitious and expensive of them all RA 1 is definitely going to be a special film when it comes out We are looking at a Summer 2011 release.'

RK, Aryan share dress code

Shah Rukh Khan celebrated Eid with his family and very close friends.

And sources say, that the Bollywood superstar and his son Aryan who offered Eid prayers together, were dressed in similar clothes. Yes, the father and son had decided to get absolutely the same kind of kurta-pyjama and those who saw them, say that they looked awesome.

SRK often tells friends that Aryan has features like Gauri and he is definitely more handsome than his father. You can actually sense his paternal pride when he talks about his son, who is turning out to be a very good-looking youngster.

Cape-ital concern for "G.One" in Film "Ra.One".

Shah Rukh ponders over adding a cape to his "RA-One" superhero costume

To cape Shah Rukh Khan or not, seems to be of more importance than saving the world for the RA.One unit for now.

SRK plays a superhero called G.One fighting Arjun Rampal who plays the villain in the film.

Inspired
The world's most popular superheroes sport capes (read: Superman and Batman). Khan realises this and is toying with the idea of adding one to his costume.

Reveals a source, "He will wear a blue suit. It's a shade that's a little different than the blue Superman wears.

However, Shah Rukh hasn't decided if the suit should have a cape, just yet. In all probability, that decision will be taken at the last minute."

If the superstar does decide to go with the cape, it will be added digitally. Adds our source, "The cape will be fixed on by the VFX team at a later stage.

The body suit will enhance SRK's muscles and his lean torso. It's made to fit to his frame."

Why Capes?
While a vast majority of superheroes do not wear capes, the garment is still closely associated with them, likely because two of the most widely-recognised superheroes, Batman and Superman, wear capes. In fact, police officers in Batman's home of Gotham City have used the word 'cape' as a shorthand for all superheroes and costumed crimefighters.

Mere superhero, SRK

SRK tells Sarita Tanwar who the superheroes he looks up to, are. And why kids should follow them, too

He's playing a superhero in his next film. But those who have known Shah Rukh Khan for years now, already think he is a superhero! Anyway, the superstar reveals who his inspirations are and what kind of traits children should take away from these super lives.

Batman
Batman is the coolest. And what a costume! He has all the coolest gadgets on his belt and has a cave under his mansion. He even has a Batmobile and a Batbike. He has an ever-trustworthy friend, confidant and butler in Alfred Pennyworth. He doesn't have superpowers but is a highly trained fighter and a supremely talented detective.
Listen up, kids: Batman's alter-ego Bruce Wayne lost his parents in a random murder and this created the Batman. His ultimate weapon is driving fear into the minds of criminals. Even so, it isn't revenge that fuels his mission, it's bringing crooks to justice that does.

Superman
Superman was the first globally loved and imitated superhero. The classical idea is of a messiah, who comes from another planet as an orphan but protects his adopted planet as he grows older. The concept is very American but you see it in Sholay too. Jai and Veeru solve Ramgarh’s problems even though they are outsiders. Superman lives in Metropolis under the alias Clark Kent and is married to award-winning journalist Lois Lane. His only weakness is kryptonite.
Listen up, kids: The ultimate boy scout, he wants to help everyone out and if the world needs saving, he is always at hand. Reliability is his key trait.

Spiderman
The best thing about Spiderman is that he sports a mask. The actor playing his alter ego, Peter Parker can breathe easy because someone else can do the stunts wearing the mask. He is a weird superhero. I find his love story very boring. In comics, half the time he is simply talking to himself. Like a confused teenager discovering his spider-like powers, he debates with himself about how much of his personal life he should make public. I like his web-slinging. I also like the story of his origin. How a socially awkward kid became a reluctant superhero and embraced his powers.
Listen up, kids: This guy can crack a joke at the most trying of times. And you can’t go wrong with a guy who lives by the dictum: With great power comes great responsibility.

Wonder Woman
My favourite female superhero. I’m not a fan of Catwoman and that’s probably because I don’t like cats. Wonder Woman is a goddess (quite literally) come down to earth. She uses her tiara and arm bands during combat, she can fly and even has a lasso that can make people tell the truth if they touch it. Under all that, though, she’s quite human. She has dreams, pains and aspirations like any other girl. I like her costumes, which undergo changes quite often. Quite unlike an almost superhuman-like Lara Croft, played by Angelina Jolie.
Listen up, kids: Though she was born into a warrior clan as a goddess, Wonder Woman fights for peace and justice and to protect her adopted home, Earth, with perfect humility.

Wolverine
His skeleton is laced with a metal called adamantium. His powers include invulnerability (he cannot be harmed), super-strength and claws that come out and retract at will. He comes across as a tortured soul but is a natural born leader. His powers are the result of an experiment by an evil scientist.
Listen up, kids: While Wolverine is not the most follow-worthy of heroes, he’s the perfect example of a loyal friend and a strong leader.

Neo
I wonder if he can be called a superhero. His powers exist in a world called the Matrix where programmes and supercomputers are masters of the game He exists in a world constructed by computers and programmes. I like his fight moves. And he can fly! I
didn’t like the glare and grind of the machines but loved the way he fights with his arch nemesis, Mr Smith. I think he is the closest one can come to the superhero of tomorrow.

Listen up, kids: Neo gives hope to a human race that has lost all faith in ever achieving freedom. Very few superheroes have that heavy a burden to carry. But he carries it well.

Salman to make peace with SRK through KJo?

Salman Khan seems to be in a mood to repair his strained equation with contemporaries in Bollywood. With his film Dabangg due for release, he extended an olive branch by arranging a special show for Karan Johar on Wednesday night at Ketnav in Bandra. Karan Johar had gracefully accepted the invitation and saw the film with his mother, Hiroo Johar.

Our source said, “Salman seems to be in a different mood these days. The actor, known to be the best of friends and the worst of enemies, invited Karan for a special screening of Dabangg which the latter attended. Earlier, Salman had said in a press conference that he was sure Shah Rukh Khan would also watch the film as his brother Arbaaz is a good friend of his. Salman had also praised the promos of Karan’s film I Hate Luv Storys to Imran Khan and even tweeted about it. It comes as a surprise as Karan is known to be his arch rival, and Shah Rukh Khan’s close friend. The show was also attended by Vidya Balan, Salman’s sister Alvira and her husband Atul Agnihotri.”

So is Salman trying to mend his relationship with his arch rival after winning over Karan? Can Karan be counted as Salman’s friend? It will be interesting to see what unfolds in the future.

Gauri Khan attempts Eid Biryani for hubby SRK

Shah Rukh Khan has revealed several times that wife Gauri does not cook, doesn’t know how to cook, nor enjoys cooking! “She barely even makes tea” said SRK once.

Wife Gauri however seems to have taken liking to cooking of late. She is planning to do the impossible! Gauri is going to attempt making a Biryani for the first time today on the occasion of Eid.

“I hope I am able to cook biryani today. I am going to give it a shot this time around and hopefully make my family happy” revealed Gauri to us.

Shah Rukh added, “Have gotten made Sherwani for Aryan & myself...selling him the concept of Sherwani as the garb of neo from Matrix. Hope he buys it & wears it today.

The superstar also wished Eid Mubarak to his fans.