Shah Rukh Khan refuses to play a fading superstar

Ranbir Kapoor is a happy man these days for the actor is finally getting a chance to share screen space with his idol Shah Rukh Khan. The actor, who has often confessed to being a big fan of King Khan will be seen opposite SRK in a remake of a Bengali film ‘Autograph’. The film that has won rave reviews in Kolkata is about a fading superstar and his sudden comeback to limelight.

The film’s Hindi version will be directed by Srijit Mukherjee, who also directed the Bengali version. And as expected SRK is averse to play the role of a fading superstar. Wonder if, it would mirror his real life a little too much?

To be produced by Madhu Mantena, the film will be an exact copy of the Bengali flick. Talking about the film, Mantena said, "I think the era of remakes from regional languages into Hindi is back. We just need to make sure the regional flavour is not lost in Hindi. Ghajini was a smash-hit Tamil to Hindi remake. I am talking to at least five major Tamil-Telugu blockbuster directors about making their own films in Hindi."

Well looks like if SRK and Ranbir jodi is to go through, SRK has no option other than play the role of a fading superstar for Ranbir is much too young for the part.

‘I flunked the tennis quiz SRK gave me’

Lara Dutta is back in town after a month-and-a-half of shooting for Don 2 in Berlin. Quiz her on her stay in Germany and she shivers at the memory: “It would get dark by 4.30 pm and it was freezing. But hopefully, I’ll sizzle on screen.” Dutta is as excited about playing an “ultra
sophisticated mystery miss” in the Farhan Akhtar-directed sequel as she is about Shah Rukh Khan’s spectacular stunts in the thriller. “He’ll give you some ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ moments; I hope I too will,” she says. “Mahesh (fiancé Mahesh Bhupathi) is really kicked about the film, as much for Shah Rukh as for me. He’s a huge SRK fan!”

So, did he and the Bollywood Badshah talk tennis during his flying visit to Berlin? “They chatted, Shah Rukh is pretty knowledgeable about tennis,” she says, adding with a laugh, “Once, when we were in his van, he gave me an impromptu tennis quiz that I flunked.”

But of late, ever since the FIFA World Cup in South Africa earlier this year, Khan, she points out, is more into football. After pack-up everyday, he gets together with the boys — Farhan, Ritesh (co-producer Ritesh Sidhwani), Bamzee (Boman Irani) and Kunal (Kapoor) — among others, to play ball.

“They were all hooked on this game called FIFA 2010 and would play for hours. Priyanka (Chopra) and I were reduced to being the cheerleaders,” Lara chuckles. There’s been plenty of speculation over the last few weeks about the ‘icy’ vibes between Chopra and Dutta in ‘icy’ Berlin. The amiable actor attributes the buzz to the over-active imagination of some journalist.

She points out that Chopra wasn’t around during her initial stay in Berlin. It was only when she left to come back for five days that Priyanka joined the Don 2 team. “We’ve been together for only a really short time but we had a blast,” Dutta clarifies. “I’ve known Priyanka for far too long, dating back to our modelling days and our debut film Andaz, for our equation to be affected by rumours.”

Dutta insists that Chopra is the one of the most talented actors in the industry today and is warmed by her excitement over Dutta’s engagement. She smiles, “Priyanka was making my plans for me.”

SRK’s kids are my God-children: Karan Johar

"I am everything that a child can be. At 38, I am still as dependant on my mother as I used to be when I was a child. I am a messy eater and I have bad eating habits. I have a poor sense of time management and need constant mothering,” are some of the candid confessions from Karan Johar, one of the leading filmmakers in the country. “On Children’s Day, everyone must celebrate the child in them,” he adds.

Single and eligible, the filmmaker reveals he does not miss having kids of his own. And the reason? “Shah Rukh’s kids (Suhana and Aryan) are my God-children. They are a Godsend and I dote on them completely! I regard them as my own children. Besides, I’m also fond of my cousins’ daughters. So, there, I have so many children!” he adds.

Currently, his show Koffee with Karan is the much-talked-about show on air. On being asked what makes the biggest of stars confess their secrets to him on national television, Karan attributes this to the comfort factor.

“It’s all about lounging around and having a good time with your close pals. The cameras are just incidental. So, there’s no strategy, no script and no agenda. It’s all about some conversations over coffee. So, you should not expect some over-the-top philosophy... I’m just having a fun time with my friends and I’m inviting everybody to be a part of it,” Karan says.

Karan informs that My Name Is Khan is getting released in China on November 30 this year. “I am proud to say that My Name is Khan has become India’s first true global film. It has got a tremendous response at the Berlin Film Festival and the foreign box office collections of the film are stupendous. It is now getting released in China after France and Germany. I must also thank Fox Pictures for giving me such great support,” he adds.

SRK, Ranbir would be star in remake "Autograph" Bengali film

Superhit Bengali film "Autograph" will be remade in Hindi with a Khan and a Kapoor,

Get ready to watch Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor come together on screen to play a fading superstar and a young director, respectively.

Last week, Autograph, a Bengali film about a fading superstar (played by Prosenjeet), an ambitious new film director and his girlfriend who end up playing the superstar's co-star in a film that the director helms, became a surprise success in Kolkata.

Producer Madhu Mantena, who was busy focusing on the release of his two big Hindi films -- Jhootha Hi Sahi and Rakht Charitra -- was taken by surprise with the film's success. The Hindi version will be directed by Srijit Mukherjee, who also directed the Bengali version, and will star SRK and Kapoor.

Changes may have to be made to accommodate SRK's though, who obviously cannot play a 'fading' superstar. This is where the producer and director differ. While Mantena is all for fine-tuning it to make the Bengali to Hindi transition, director Mukherjee would rather go with the original plot.

Mantena doesn't deny the remake plans. "I think the era of remakes from regional languages into Hindi is back.

We just need to make sure the regional flavour is not lost in Hindi. Ghajini was a smash-hit Telugu to Hindi remake. I am talking to at least five major Tamil-Telugu blockbuster directors about making their own films in Hindi." But the transition has to be complete. "As much as we would have liked Prosenjeet to play the superstar in the Hindi adaptation, it won't work. We need a pan-India superstar." So SRK it is? "I'm not saying anything at the moment," he smiles.

In the Bengali film, Prosenjeet paid a tribute to the ultimate Bengali superstar -- Uttam Kumar. In the Hindi version Shah Rukh is expected to model his superstar's character on Amitabh Bachchan.

"Ra.One" came to me at right time: SRK

Impossible is a word that Shah Rukh Khan doesn't believe in.

But when it came to playing a superhero in his next film Ra.One, the superstar confesses that the film came to him just at the right time and he wouldn't have been able to do the kind of action it demands two years from now.

It is a known fact that 'Ra.One' was physically taxing for Shah Rukh who suffers from severe back problem. "I am 44 and trust me I got injured in places which I can't even mention. It's so tough on me physically. A superhero film does take a couple of years to be made so I started thinking about it two years back. And I don't think I would agree for any superhero film two years from now. I am happy that Ra.One got on the floor at the right time", says Shah Rukh. Even his next film Don 2 promises a lot of action.

SRK makes it a point to stay tuned with the latest technology across the world and promises to showcase the best VFX in Ra.One. "The next big thing in India cinema will be technology and VFX. If I am able to manage this, it will be the best thing for our cinema. I don't know if we have the capacity to make a film like this in India. But I think somebody has to begin. In fact the attitude of my film is let's begin", smiles Shah Rukh.

SRK hunting for plot in lion's den,

AHMEDABAD: After Sachin Tendulkar inked a property deal in a 700-acre golf course in Ahmedabad, it is now the turn of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who is said to be looking for land in the home of Asiatic lion in Gir.

Sources said Shah Rukh Khan and television producer Ekta Kapoor have already made inquiries for land on the outskirts of the protected Gir sanctuary, which is the only home for Asiatic lion in the world. Khan, say local sources, has shown interest in a plot located between Haripur and Jalandhar villages on the outskirts of the Gir forest in Junagadh district.

Earlier this month, Tendulkar had invested in a property in the Kensville Golf and Country Club near Ahmedabad.

GD Gajera, talati-cum-mantri of Jalandhar village, which is near the Devaliya Interpretation Zone for Asiatic lions, told TOI, "We too have learnt that there are some negotiations going on between locals and estate brokers. But the deal is yet to be clinched".

Sources said a farmer in Haripur had decided to sell off his land to the star. According to sources, Khan's office in Mumbai was still to clarify for what purpose he wanted the land. It is believed to be for a farmhouse. The film star's office was in contact with local estate brokers, who are expected to be in Junagadh on Saturday to get land records.

Officials said the only condition the buyer party has put forth is that the farmhouse has to be in the vicinity of the national park. When contacted, Haripur sarpanch Ramnikbhai Naranyanbhai said, "We have heard that Khan and Kapoor are looking for land near Sasan". He said Khan's office had probably zeroed in on a plot near Hiran river which passes through Gir forest. The owner of the land is a Gujarati based in Mumbai.

Aamir Khan eager to work with SRK & Salman

The movie fraternity might be divided in some factions and actors may not see each other eye to eye, but when it comes to serious business a lot of tend to forget all differences.At least, Aamir Khan does. The actor, who has had a strained association with his Shah Rukh Khan, claims if he comes across a good script he wouldn’t mind working with SRK or Salman. “ Why not? If there is a suitable script I would definitely work with both Shah Rukh and Salman.

But at the end of the day it is the script that needs to be worked upon,” he says.Salman’s Dabangg was a blockbuster but does Aamir feel it is at par with his seriously acclaimed Taare Zameen Par ? “ Actually, both the movies cater to dissimilar viewers. I feel every film has its own flavour. You can’t compare one film with the other,” says the actor humbly.

And yes, Aamir has already given a nod to work with Salman in a remake of the hit film Andaz Apna Apna . But, the irony is that no one has come forward to work on the same.Though the three Khans have agreed to work in the film together, everyone rue lack of right kind of script.

Will SRK work with director Abhinav Kashyap?

Shahrukh Khan might soon work with director Abhinav Kashyap. The King Khan is busy these days with his ambitious project, Ra.One and Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2.

According to reports buzzing in the industry, Abhinav met SRK to describe the script which was liked by the actor. The director is still riding high with the success of Dabangg and might soon work with the Badshah of the industry. If things work out between both of them, the shooting of the film might start in coming year.

Shahrukh last release was Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan and now in coming year will surely make his fans happy with Ra.One and Don 2. Let’s see whether the successful director who gave Salman a rocking hit this year also proves lucky for SRK.

When We Fell in Reel Love

We all have those moments when we knew it was love in real life, but I bet just as many of you can name the moments when you fell in reel love. Especially in the love stories of Bollywood there are many chances for prem to strike, whether it be a scene, a film, a hero or heroine.

Stacey Sighs Over Shah Rukh (writer BollySpice.com)

It was my first Bollywood film ever. I already was falling under the Bollywood magic spell but it was this moment that made me tumble all the way into love with Shah Rukh Khan. The film: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The scene: At the train station right after their European trip. She says to him, 'I need your address to send you a wedding card. You will come na?' He gives her that look, his eyes say everything (Come on Simran. You know deep down... I love you and you love me). I sighed and fell totally in pyaar, ishq and mohabbat with Shah Rukh's eyes, with Raj and with Bollywood! In fact, I called my husband and told him I found the perfect movie! It was love and still is to this day! From there I went on down the Bollywoodtastic road of films and am still sighing, melting, swooning and tumbling into love over many more scenes and heroes but this one will always be THE ONE!- Stacey Yount

Shahrukh Khan in 8 different outfits

What do you get when you have the biggest superstar of the country and one of the best photographers come together for a campaign? Sheer Magic! Yes that's what happened when ace lensman Dabboo Ratnani captured 'Baadshah of Bollywood' Shahrukh Khan in his many moods for a special campaign for Belmonte.

Shahrukh Khan is seen in as many as eight different outfits ranging for business wear to party wear and needless to say, he looks super cool in each one of them. The campaign introduces Belmonte's 8 days a week concept, which flaunts a fresh collection of 8 new looks, seven for each day of the week and one for that special Saturday night.