SRK The King Khan gets into the act

Shahrukh’s live campaign for the Sunderbans,

Today Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan will perform live at Army Stadium in Dhaka. This time the performance goes side by side with a campaign for the Sundarbans to become one of the Seven Wonders of the World on December 10.

He will vote for the largest mangrove forest on stage. Local private television channel Boishakhi TV will telecast the megastar's voting and stage performance. The organiser of the event is Antor Showbiz.

“Indian silver screen stars Rani Mukharjee, Arjun Rampal, Isha Kopikar, singer Niraj Sreedhar and choreographer Ganesh Hedge are to perform with Shahrukh Khan,” said Swapan Chowdhury.

"This event promises to be a milestone in the realm of entertainment in Bangladesh and we are very excited as well as delighted to be a part of this," said Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, CEO and editor-in-chief of Boishakhi TV.

Dhakaiites are eagerly waiting to see Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan at close quarters. The actor has been busy on many fronts over the last decade. Since 2000, Shahrukh, has branched out into film production and television presenting as well. He is the founder/owner of two production companies, Dreamz Unlimited and Red Chillies Entertainment. Khan is today considered to be the world's most successful movie star with a fan following numbering in the billions and a net worth estimated at over Rs 2500 crore (US$ 540 million). In 2008, Newsweek named him one of the 50 most powerful people in the world.

Khan began his career appearing in several television serials in the late 1980s. He made his film debut in “Deewana” (1992). Since then, he has been part of numerous commercially successful films and has earned critical acclaim for many of his performances. Khan has won 13 Filmfare Awards for his work in Indian films, seven of which are in the Best Actor category, thus establishing himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi Cinema. In 2005, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri for his contributions towards Indian Cinema.

"K-K-Krazy about Khan" by Sonali Ghosh Sen

Sonali Ghosh Sen’s debut novel ‘K-K-Krazy about Khan’ is all set to launch in Bangalore at Landmark (Forum Mall) on December 14. We caught up with author ahead of the book launch.

Kolkata-based author Sonali Ghosh Sen is a freelance writer, who in her other avatars has been a copywriter, teacher, creative director for a web-portal and a film critic. Her debut novel K-K-Krazy about Khan tells the tale of Kriti, a young urban girl, who is enamoured by Shah Rukh Khan. She is so deeply fascinated by his dimpled-lover boy image that worshipping her hero becomes her parallel profession. Her best friends, Amrita and Rhea, find it too far-fetched when Kriti invariably ends up likening every situation in her life to the twists and turns of a Shah Rukh movie. Adding to this saga of obsession, are her hilarious misadventures that constantly leave her in waters way above her head.

There’s also this handsome stranger who keeps walking in unscripted into her life, and makes her wish for well, things that even she can’t define. Will Kriti be able to survive this confusion? Will her friends and the city of Delhi be able to survive Kriti’s antics? Will Shah Rukh be able survive the onslaught on his No. 1 position? In an interview with MyBangalore.com, Sonali talks about the book, provides insight into the world of publishing and more.

MyBangalore.com: What is the novel ‘K.k.krazy about Khan’ about?
It is a witty, quirky, coming of age tale of a girl obsessed with Shah Rukh Khan. It takes us through a year in her life where she moves from one hilarious misadventure to another, until she learns some home truths about, love, life and Shah Rukh. This romantic comedy of errors reflects the mood and feel of a young, urban, modern India. With a mix of films, popular culture and a breezy narrative, this novel can be positioned as the first ever ‘fan fiction’ about a Bollywood icon.

What inspired you to write the book?
My love for the movies. I love the grammar of commercial Hindi cinema- the suspension of disbelief, the exaggerated situations, the almost amplified emotions of love, honour and duty. All this led me to the novel. Plus, I love humour and romance, so basically like all writers I was writing about “something I knew about.” Moreover, everyone in India is obsessed with the movies, and Bollywood stars. And when you are writing about a girl who’s in love with a movie star, you can’t get bigger than the king of Romance, Shah Rukh Khan. This was the starting point of the book.

Seeing real life fans of SRK up close and reading about fans, like the lady who buys him land on Mars every year, or the one who hasn’t opened a biscuit packet for 5 years because it has SRK’s face on it, or even the fact that DDLJ has been running at Maratha Mandir for the last 15 years were the trigger to create my completely over-the-top, Fan No. 1-Kriti Kapoor.

Is there something common between you and the lead character of the book?
Love for Hindi movies and a job in an advertising agency (though not the way it’s portrayed in the book) is what I share with Kriti. Otherwise, she is NOT AT ALL LIKE me in real life. I guess this is also the reason why I was able to complete the novel. Since Kriti really is just a figment of my imagination I didn’t have to deal with all that emotional baggage that comes with a character when it’s autobiographical. The final product was a great relief to my colleagues, friends and family, when they didn’t see themselves in any of the characters!

Would you like to see your book on celluloid? If so, who would you like to play the role of Kriti?
My intention was to write a book that was ‘filmi’, so it wasn’t written consciously as something that could be adapted to celluloid – thereby creating a Catch 22 situation. But, if at some stage it is turned into a movie script, I won’t be complaining either. To play the role of Kriti, well it would perhaps be someone like Lisa Kudrow - the way she played ‘Phoebe’ in the TV serial Friends.

What has been the reaction of your friends and family to your book?
From “funniest since Wodehouse” (my cousin who was being kind) to “I’d read it on a long train journey” to “oh my God! You actually finished the novel!” I have heard it all. Seriously, they are all very proud of me, which of course just goes to show I have the best family and friends in the world.

When did you switch your career, from a journalist to a novelist?
I really haven’t. I still write articles and film reviews and still take up the occasional advertising assignment.

You are one of the younger generation of Indian writers who has no qualms about marketing their books. What is your take on it?
Well, there are about 40 books being released every week and your novel has to compete with hundreds of other books on the bookshelf, so in such a scenario, marketing is very important, if for nothing else, then just to get your book noticed.

Was it a struggle to get published? Do you think publishers’ attitude towards Indian authors has changed over the years?
Well, I got rejected by a few publishers, but an equal number of publishers were interested in it. So, it wasn’t too much of a struggle to get published. Publisher’s attitudes have definitely changed over the years. Now Indian writing is no longer about “the NRI experience”, it doesn’t have a colonial hangover, or is even about “exotica”. There are writers who write about urban Indian experiences - the campus novel describing the growing up experience, the MBA novel about corporate skulduggery, the ‘being single’ in the city novel, or even novels dealing with Indian mythology or history. There is this wide range of subjects that practically every reader can identify with and this is certainly being encouraged by the Publishers.

What kind of books do you like to read?
Anything and everything – fiction, biographies, travelogues, Comics…everything other than cook books. I am a terrible cook.

What other genres would you like to explore?
Fiction Noir.

What are your plans for the future? Is another book in the works?
No plans for the future. I live for the momentJ. I do have a lot of ideas for a new book, but nothing concrete yet.

Quick Q’s
Who are your favourite authors?
Some of my favourites: J.R.R Tolkien, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, John Le Carre’, P.G.Wodehouse, Sue Townsend, Graham Greene, Sukumar Ray, Ruskin Bond, Goscinny and Uderzo.

Give us a list of your must-reads
My list changes every 6 months, so here are a few of my must-reads for this year: Notes from a small Island, Hitchcock /Truffaut, Smiley’s People, Red , The Uncommon Reader.

What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Paris, Berlin and Florence in Europe; Hong Kong in Asia and anywhere in Rajasthan in India.

What do you do to relax and chill out?
Travel.

SRK returns to TV

After a gap of three years, Shah Rukh Khan will return to television. But this time on a different channel with a different show. SRK will be hosting the Indian version of Wipeout, an American show.

According to highly placed sources, the pre-production of the show has already begun and the actor will soon start shooting for the promo. Since Wipeout's format is water-based adventure sports, contestants will be flying to Argentina to shoot for it. ``This show has been aired in 22 countries and all episodes have been shot in Argentina," informs an insider. "Almost all countries have gone into two or three seasons.''

Sources say most of the participants on Wipeout are from Fear Factor and Bigg Boss. Some names floating around include Vindoo, Narayani Shastri, Gaurav Chopra, Claudia, Debina and Karishma Baktiyaar.

SRK and television head honcho Sameer Nair have had a long relationship and it was Nair who got him to return to television with Kaun Banega Crorepati. "When Sameer approached him for the show, SRK promptly agreed," says the source, adding, "the actor agreed to do the show because his kids love it. And they watch the international version of the show. It is an adventure show with loads of action and comedy. And one will get to see the comic side of SRK on the show.''

Shah Rukh Khan started his career with television in 1988, then returned to television with KBC in 2007. He replaced Amitabh Bachchan as a host for the show's third season. In 2008, SRK hosted the game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? The latter bombed. Hope Wipeout doesn't get wiped out similarly. But then again, Baywatch had a huge fan following...

Raju Hirani to direct Shah Rukh

The director will helm a commercial featuring SRK

Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani were to unite in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 3 Idiots.

However, things didn't work out and the duo couldn't work together for various reasons and Raju made history with Aamir Khan. However he has directed SRK, exactly a year after 3 Idiots released.

It is learnt that Hirani has shot an ad with King Khan for a fairness product. This is the first time they worked together and each came away with respect and admiration for the other.

The commercial that goes on air in the coming weeks was shot yesterday at Filmistan. This isn't the Munnabhai director's first ad.

In the past, he's shot ads with Amitabh and Kareena. Initially, Raju wasn't too sure if it was something he wanted to do but has now started enjoying shooting ads in-between his films.

To look after the commercials' work, he has started a new division under the banner of Canvas Films headed by Sanjeev Kishinchandani.

SRK wearing an emerald ring

Shah Rukh Khan was convinced by wife Gauri to wear the ring for good health.
PS: It will be the first time in 20 years that he has done such a thing,

Shah Rukh Khan has finally given in. He has started wearing an emerald ring on the little finger of his hand. In the last 20 years of his career since Deewaana (1992) the actor has stayed away from the stuff that fascinates the rest of the film industry: Astrology, numerology, tarot etc.

He has never added (or subtracted) a letter from his name, or that from his films to balance them for luck. He has never consulted calendars for auspicious dates for his films. And has never worn any stones on his hands. The only jewellery the actor has sported since forever is his gold wedding band.

Until now. There's new bling on his hand now. The ring was first spotted on the actor when he returned from his Berlin schedule for Don 2. It is learnt that the actor is a non-believer and it was his wife Gauri who consulted an astrologer and got the gold ring with an emerald stone made for her hubby.

Controlling Shani
An astrologer who is familiar with King Khan's kundli says, "From 2008 his astral chart is under the influence of Saturn (Shani) which is why he's been recommended the emerald stone. This stone controls the negative influence of Shani on the health and wealth of the person wearing it."

The source adds that in recent years, SRK's health has been cause of concern. "In recent years, his health has taken a beating. There's a recurring shoulder injury, a weak knee and a back problem for which he's had surgery. He has been advised to wear the stone to stop the ill-effects on his health."

Says an insider, "He has been asked to wear the stone because his Mercury antardasha is about to begin. It will be there for two years and a couple of months. It is also great for media and communications."

Bachchan stoned
Amitabh Bachchan also wears the green emerald to combat his illnesses; mostly, stomach related problems. After wearing the stone, he has not only maintained good health but also improved his financial situation.

Do it the right way!
Astrologer Ajay Bhonsle says, "An emerald is worn on the little finger and the stone has to be transparent and clean. The stone doesn't have any harmful effects and anyone can wear it but it is very important to study your astrological chart before wearing any kind of stone as most stones can have adverse effects.

Every disease in the body is ruled by a planet, so if you are wearing a stone to combat an illness, then it has to be worn only after proper consultation."

SRK wants to have fresh date to release 'Ra.One'

Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar's films were set to clash at the box-office during the next Diwali. Now, there is yet another actor who has decided to compete with the two. After the rumour of Shah Rukh's Ra. One release date was out-around mid-2011-SRK clarified that he was not releasing the film on the said date and he wanted a fresh date.

The reasons being cited were that the special effects in the film were undergoing a big change after the way Rajnikanth's film Robot aka Endhiran showed multiple effects, some of which were similar to what Khan had planned and shot in his movie. And now we learn that the film being a big budget one, its release is being planned only during Diwali to ensure that the film gets the best audience possible.

Never mind the fact that Ajay and Akshay have their films lined up on the same date. It could be good news for SRK fans, but Ajay and Akshay will be perturbed with these turn of events. We could see a change of release dates once SRK officially makes an announcement about the Ra. One release date.

SRK to appear solo on Koffee with Karan

Shah Rukh shot alone for an episode of this season's Koffee With Karan.
PS: The actor has appeared on the show in every season. This is the first time, he was the sole focus of the chat.

Shah Rukh Khan has finally made an appearance (albeit, a solo one and his first) on this season's Koffee With Karan. The actor shot for the episode yesterday.

KWK host Karan Johar says he has taken a break from the gossip format for the episode with buddy SRK. He reveals, "This is a slight deviation from our usual chatty, controversial Koffee episode.

Intellectual and intense was the mantra for the episode with Shah Rukh. This time we have covered what really makes him tick and who better than me, his closest friend, to explore that space!

We took a call and decided to have him solo as with another person, the energies get divided."

Johar, who got emotional while hosting the show, adds, "This is the first time that I got SRK on the couch alone.

The interview was an in-depth one, where we delved into the inner recesses of the beautiful mind. Shah Rukh hasn't done a proper solo TV interview for a long time."

KJo goes on to promise that the hour-long episode is dramatic and full of exciting revelations. "Print interviews are different and Shah Rukh hasn't done a solo interview for print or TV in a long time.

The show will be aired on New Year (January 1). What can be bigger than to start New Year with Shah Rukh Khan?"

Shah Rukh took home two gift hampers one was Karan's usual Koffee goodie bag and the other, a special tohfa from Nature's Basket, sent over specially for King Khan.

Shah Rukh's "Xtrme City" vs Amir's "Maximum City" in Hollywood

Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan will cross paths next year as both go on floors with their respective international projects,

Shah Rukh Khan
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Film: Xtrme City
Producer: Anubhav Sinha
Director: Paul Schrader
Based on: Schrader's own script based on Mumbai
What's it about: Extreme City looks at the underbelly of Mumbai's slums and the people living in it. The film will be in English and Schrader spent some time living in Dharavi to get a feel of the place. Apart from Shah Rukh there will also be a Hollywood actor. Anubhav Sinha will produce Extreme City under his own banner. Like Maximum City, this film too will have characters depicting the contrast among residents of Mumbai.
Goes on floor: 2011

Aamir Khan
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Film: Maximum City
Producer: Aamir Khan Productions
Director: Danny Boyle
Based on: Maximum City by Suketu Mehta
What's it about: Maximum City got rave reviews when it was published in 2004. The book combines elements of memoir, travel writing as well as socio-political analysis of the history and people of Mumbai. Mehta writes as a person who is at one level, an outsider to the city and on the other hand, is the one who is born here and
has lived his childhood in the city, then known as Bombay.
Goes on floor: 2011

There's no spoof on SRK: Farah Khan

Ace filmmaker-choreographer Farah waxes eloquent on motherhood, dance numbers and more...

Shabaash Sheela!
Those, who have been following Farah's impressive repertoire, would agree that the lady almost always comes out with a winner with her songs. Whether it was SRK showing his six-packs in dard-e-disco or Katrina Kaif making the men go delirious with her supersexy Sheela Ki Jawani in Tees Maar Khan, Farah's songs tend to become a rage. Ask her how does she manage to pull off these magical tricks, and pat comes the reply: "If there are songs in a film, you have to put in a lot of thought, so that your endeavour stands out! After all, if your songs are popular, then there's already an instant connect with the audience!"

Fictitious fights!
There's no denying the fact that Sheela... has created a furore and there are comparisons being drawn vis-à-vis Munni Badnaam Hui, the superhit item song from Dabanng. To this Farah says with a laugh: "These are fictitious fights! Munni-Sheela ko mat ladaao yaar!" Seeing that both the songs have been choreographed by her, it's understandable that she wants to make peace between Sheela and Munni, but the million dollar question is how did she make Sheela nee Kat do such a sizzling number? "Katrina trusted me completely! In this song, she hasn't removed her clothes, but it's the hint of suggestiveness that is uber-sexy," says she.

'No spoof on Badshah!'
Her forthcoming film is making waves for more reasons than one! The so-called spoof on SRK being one of them! Ask her if it's true, and Farah says with great asperity: "It's really funny that people are making such assumptions! I'd request them to go and see the film first! There's no spoof whatsoever on SRK!'

'SRK's friend!'
Wouldn't she like to come clean on her supposed rift with SRK? "I've already cleared the air so many times, but it seems nobody's interested to know the truth! I had to take a decision a few years back to start my own company. But, I'll always be SRK's friend," she says. Does that mean all's well between the two? Farah repeats after a pregnant pause: "I'll always be his friend!"

Mee Marathi!
As Farah gets into a sombre mood, it's time to ask her about the biggest joy of her life - her triplets. So, what's the latest on their front? "They are going to be three soon, and currently doing pre-nursery. They are in that non-stop chatting mode and speak chaste Marathi because their nannies are Maharashtrian! So, I'm taking Marathi lessons from them, although Shreyas Talpade had initiated the teaching job sometime back," says she and signs off.

SRK for scholars

Tilted Shah Rukh Khan and Global Bollywood, the international conference hosted here by the University of Vienna recently was a celebration of the fact that Indian film and media are finally considered serious business today. While Shahrukh Khan remained in the neighbourhood in Berlin shooting for Don 2 at a cost of 12 million euros, scholars from different continents spent three days exploring issues in Indian cinema, including gender, sexuality and religion.

That Indian cinema is indeed worthy of study is as thrilling a thought as a report in Spiegel Online, a German newsmagazine, that Shahrukh's car in the Don sequel in the making had flown through the air over several vehicles at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate.

Despite his busy schedule, the conference received a page-long message from Shahrukh, expressing among other emotions that he was filled with pride for being at the centre of discussions in Vienna. "My being discussed here today is evidence to the fact that Indian cinema has already made inroads into the hearts of people in nearly every corner of the globe..." Shahrukh wrote in an email.

In a postscript the superstar added that his kids believe he can fly, but they cannot believe there is a conference being held with him as a subject.

For too long popular film culture in India has been neglected. It is considered low brow and looked down upon as a technicolour fantasy catering to the masses. However, this attitude has already undergone a revolution with the work of scholars like Rosie Thomas, Ashis Nandy, Ravi Vasudevan, Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Madhava Prasad and Rajinder Dudrah, over a period of less than three decades. Thomas, Rajadhyaksha, Nasreen Munni Kabir and Dudhra were all present in Vienna to reassess their views on the way Bollywood or popular Indian cinema has created a presence in a variety of locations around the globe.

The rise in scholarship demands new theories and methods to understand this kind of cinema better, and global glare is now fully focused on Bollywood and other Indian film cultures. India's is one of the largest film industries in the world with an audience that exceeds any other globally, and this inspires significant academic enquiry, both in India and abroad.

Popular Hindi cinema Is dismissed as merely entertainment or time pass for the illiterate masses. How do we study this contemporary phenomenon that is Bollywood? How do we locate Bollywood within cinema and media studies? What is Bollywood as nomenclature and object of study? These are only some of the questions on the mind of scholars.

"Unthinking" Shahrukh Khan, suggests Dudrah, head of drama and senior lecturer in screen studies at the University of Manchester, is one way of looking at popular Indian films critically. Bollywood makes interesting study as the masala films it offers are kitsch rubbish at their worst, but at their best they are enthralling entertainment that has the audience reeling with laughter and tears from one minute to the next, says Dudrah.

However, there are concerns too. After Indian cinema was granted official industry status, some filmmakers began to identify and promote commercial Hindi films through formats more familiar to international audiences of Hollywood genres, including hyper payments and publicity in a bid to woo not only traditional South Asian viewers but global non-diasporic audiences too.

This is what Rajadhyaksha, film and cultural studies theorist, co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema and senior fellow at Bangalore's Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, calls the "Bollywoodisation" of Indian cinema. Rajadhyaksha prefers to separate the Bollywood industry from Indian cinema.

He says that cinema has been around as an industry for the past 50 years, while Bollywood is more recent. Bollywood is defined as a term used for Indian movies with a feel-good, all-happy-in-the-end, tender love narratives with lots of songs and dance, and best represented by Shahrukh Khan, India's leading example of 21st-century stardom.

Given that Shahrukh is primarily a movie star, it is striking how little he depends on cinema to define himself. For he is as much a television star as he is a sports icon, a designer clothes horse and a brand ambassador. This leads to the interesting question: what's Shahrukh Khan or his income got to do with cinema?

"It is our enchantment with cinema that is real," said Rachel Dwyer, professor of Indian cultures and cinema at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, navigating the topic back to cinema. In her closing remarks Dwyer almost warned that the fascination with Shahrukh Khan can prove to be as illusive as the man behind the curtain.