Lost? Try saying SRK!

When lost in a foreign country, Bollywood always comes to your rescue. Especially Shah Rukh Khan. That King Khan has a crazy fan following

Shahrukh Khan More Pics

from Ambarnath to Amsterdam is stale news.

But what you don't expect is to see strangers, otherwise hostile to Asians, suddenly becoming more approachable, the moment they realise you belong to SRK's country. Recently, a group of tourists from India were gallivanting in Naples, Italy, trying to find their way out of a maze of confusing streets.With not a soul in sight who could speak even half-decent English, they had a tough time negotiating the nukkads of Naples.

Suddenly popped up Giovanni, a local youngster chilling out with his friends on a street corner. Hesitantly (after having experienced some not-so-polite encounters with Europeans), they approached him for help. "India?" was Giovanni's first response to a rather long-winded question. "SRK?" was his next one-word query. And out of the blue, broke into 'Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam' from DDLJ in what sounded like a strange mix of Italian, English and Hindi. "I love Saahruk," he informed the stupefied tourists. Turned out, Giovanni was a musician with a passion for world music. He had heard the song, watched the film and had fallen in love with Shah Rukh. Incidentally he hadn't heard of Amitabh Bachchan or Akshay Kumar, neither had he visited India. But touring Mannat was certainly on his wish-list. Needless to say, the Bollywood convert immediately became a helpful guide for our stranded Indians, taking them on an impromptu tour of the city.

So the next time you feel directionless abroad, just say S-R-K.

Time for America to ban racial profiling

Editor's note: Chandra Bhatnagar is a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union's Human Rights Program and principal author of "The Persistence of Racial and Ethnic Profiling in the United States," recently submitted to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan was detained by authorities at the Newark, New Jersey, airport.

(CNN) -- Earlier this month, one of the biggest movie stars in the world was flying from Newark, New Jersey, to Chicago, Illinois, when he was allegedly pulled out of a security line and questioned and detained for over 1½ hours, apparently because of his Muslim name.

Bollywood megastar Shahrukh Khan is adored around the world, with an estimated fan base of 3.5 billion people. His fame merited a wax figure at Madam Tussauds in London, England.

Khan had come to the United States to participate in Indian Independence Day events in Chicago.

What is significant about Khan's experience is not simply that it happened. Indeed, prominent Indian travelers including former Indian president Abdul Kalam and Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen have also been victims of racial profiling at airports, and countless other Indian and other South Asian travelers (be they Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or Christian) have been subjected to similar forms of profiling and scrutiny.

What makes Khan's case particularly stinging, however, is that he had just completed filming "My Name is Khan," a movie that deals with discrimination against Muslims in the United States in the post-9/11 environment. Yet, there he was, a famous movie star, experiencing a poignant example of life imitating art imitating life.

Internationally, and particularly in India, the Shahrukh Khan incident has generated a lot of attention and anger. Khan is a symbol of Indian national pride. The indignity he suffered is emblematic of the insults faced by countless other Indian and South Asian travelers, and has led to demonstrations and burnings of U.S. flags in protest.

However, the Khan case provides a chance for American society to re-examine the breadth and depth of racial profiling, its impact on minority communities in the United States, and its harm to America's reputation around the world.

Source: CNN

Shah Rukh Ambani, pan BCCI over IMG ouster

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League franchisees are up in arms against the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s decision to terminate event manager IMG’s contract with the league on Saturday. Mumbai Indians owner Mukesh Ambani, Knight Riders’ Shah Rukh Khan as well as the owners of Team Delhi and Team Jaipur have thrown their weight behind IMG and protested at not being consulted on the decision by shooting off letters to BCCI president Shashank Manohar, former board chief Sharad Pawar and IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. Copies of the letters are in TOI’s possession. Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees have protested unitedly after the BCCI cancelled IMG’s contract with the League on Saturday. The trouble started when IPL chief Lalit Modi, who also was not in favour of ending IMG’s contract, forwarded the termination letter issued by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan to all IPL team owners. Incidentally, Srinivasan is the owner of Team Chennai. Sources said that while Modi’s move angered the board, it got the franchisees together in support of IMG. The result is that IPL’s governing council will now meet on September 2 in Mumbai to take a fresh call on the issue and how it can avoid a legal tangle. The meeting would be attended by BCCI president Shashank Manohar, Modi, N Srinivasan, Arun Jaitley, Rajeev Shukla, Niranjan Shah and IS Bindra. Mumbai Indians’ owner Mukesh Ambani, in his letter to Sharad Pawar, has expressed his vexation at the way the issue has been handled by the BCCI and has asked Pawar to intervene. Ambani writes: ‘‘I am personally shocked at the unilateral decision of doing away with the services of IMG. We are only two seasons old, and we need the continued participation and support of the most capable partners globally to take IPL from strength to strength." He was also critical of BCCI. ‘‘It is also worrying to me that such a significant decision in relation to IPL has been taken without even so much as consulting the franchisees. I strongly believe that this decision, if taken forward, will destroy substantial value for all the stake holders, especially the franchisees and dilute the success of IPL in the coming years.’’ Even Shah Rukh Khan (Knight Riders) has questioned BCCI’s decision. In a letter to Manohar, he says: ‘‘It’s a matter of sincere concern and anxiety, that IMG, who have been an integral part of the tournament management and it success so far, have been expelled due to failure of commercial negotiations.’’ SRK further wrote: ‘‘We have invested in this league and paid a high price for our franchise with the belief that we are buying into an unique league and world-class event that would break boundaries, not only in India but internationally." Shah Rukh also drew the example of T20 World Cup in England and said: ‘‘This is evident in the recent ICC World T20 Championships, which took place in England, the delivery of which was nowhere near the quality of IPL. Team Jaipur’s Manoj Badale expressed his reservations against ‘‘the manner in which the decision was made, the basis for the decision, the clarity of metrics surrounding IMG’s evaluation and performance and the absence of clear plan to replace IMG’s services’’. Source: TimesofIndia

Sameera gets SRK’s gyaan

Shah Rukh Khan has fans the world over, but the star has also many takers when it comes to his gyaan and fundas on life.

And one ardent fan when it comes to adopting his philosophies in life is Sameera Reddy. The leggy beauty, who's known the actor long before she entered Bollywood, even considers him her 'spiritual guru' and recalls one of her conversations with SRK that made a huge impact on her. "It was during a not-very-pleasant phase in my life, and I had too much on my mind. We were flying back after attending one event in Kolkata, when he realised that I was restless about something. And when I shared it with him, he said, 'You will be subjected to constant speculation and talks in this industry and you shouldn't take it seriously. All you got to do is know, accept and embrace yourself.' And over the time I do realise that the key of happiness does lie in finding peace within oneself," said Sameera. Well, wonder if that's the secret to the all new-Sam!

Source: TimeofIndia

Akram meets Shah Rukh Khan

MUMBAI: Cricket legend and former Pakistani Captain Wasim Akram met Kolkata Knight Rider's owner Shah Rukh Khan's residence in Mumbai on Sunday. Akram is one of the leading contenders for the job of the coach of the Knight Riders. Earlier in the day former India coach Sandip Patil met the Bollywood actor at his residence. John Wright and Andrew Pybus are also vying for the high profile coaching job of the IPL team. However former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly who wanted Akram to be India's bowling coach during his tenure as skipper was not present at the meeting at Mannat. Earlier, Akram had expressed his keenness to coach the KKR team. The former captain said he has received a call from Shah Rukh's secretary, inviting him for a "chat" to discuss a coaching assignment with the Knight Riders on August 30. "Sunday, I will be there for sure and I am keen. I am ready. Check me out," said Akram, who has emerged as a strong contender for the job. "I have never done formal coaching before. It is a different skill and is honed over a period of time. It requires a lot of patience and that is something I have acquired over a period of time. Source: TimesofIndia

So

Racism thrives in Obama's America

Why does America, after electing President Barrack Obama, continue to be racist? There may be many explanations. One of them is that by installing him at the highest position in the country, the Whites feel that they have cleared the debt they owed to the non-White world. Yet this does not make America liberal. In fact, the conservative path that Obama has been taking of late shows that he would rather acquire pro-White credentials than those of a liberal who looked as if he had joined issue on colour as well as capitalism.

I feel let down because I saw in him a bit of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Kennedy. What Obama has done is that he has effected only some cosmetic changes. He seems to have compromised with the vested interests in the fields of race and religion. A fresh thinking which I spotted in his pre-election speeches turned out to be a strategy to win votes. I feel sorry for him, but more so for America which invariably disappoints after evoking hope.

The treatment meted out to Shah Rukh Khan at New Jersey airport where he was detained for two hours is out and out racialism. That he is a Muslim doubled his sin. There is no explanation given for the biased questions he was asked. The lame excuse that it took time to check his luggage does not condone the grilling he was subjected to, as the US does to Asians and non-Whites.

The fact is that the democratic America ends when the real America, arrogant and prejudiced, takes over. The authorities that showed no decency to Shah Rukh Khan are trained that way. None of them is accountable and none of them is punished because they have humiliated even the best of Asians. In the case of Shah Rukh Khan they could not have made a mistake because he was there one month earlier, the computers at the customs and immigration counters having his full details, with his photograph.

India's former President Abdul Kalam was also roughed up. So was the then Defence Minister George Fernandes. I do not know if any punishment was given to the officers who humiliated Kalam and Fernandes. America is concerned about what happens to the White. Recently, an Indian family of five and 25 Poles travelled to America in the same plane. Only the Indians were checked and detained. The Poles were not stopped even for a second to keep the appearance at least.

Washington is also careful about what happens to the Chinese because they have the type of economy which can hurt America. Hapless India hardly matters, particularly when it is already queuing up before the White House or the State Department for favours. The successive governments at New Delhi have reduced the country to a client state. The Ministry of External Affairs indulges in some diplomatic acrobats whenever a Shah Rukh Khan-like incident takes place but then it goes back to its obligations under the strategic alliance with America. The ministry awaits another insult to go over the exercise once again.

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan gives a press conference at his residence in Mumbai regarding a recent questioning by US Immigration officials. AFP

I was happy when Information Minister Ambika Soni said after the Shah Rukh Khan incident that we should pay back in the same coin. I wish we would do so at least in one case so that the Americans come to realize that the nation which ousted the British has not yet become part of furniture. One MBA girl student assured me that the day was not far when India would be rejecting visa applications of Americans as they are doing in our case.

It is time that the Americans realize that the word, ugly, for them is returning with a vengeance. America's resolve to fight against terrorism and its soldiers in Afghanistan pale into insignificance when Washington has no respect for the non-Whites and when it believes that it can get away with all the insults it can heap on Asians, Africans and Arabs. Enough is enough.

And how Washington meddles into the internal affairs of nations can be judged from a circular the US Commission in International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued. It has placed India on its watch list for what it calls Indian government's largely inadequate response in protecting its religious minorities.
USCIRF has said that India earned the watch list designation due to the disturbing increase in communal violence against religious minorities specifically Christians in Orissa in 2008 and Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 and the largely inadequate response from the Indian government to protect the rights of religious minorities.

India feels itself ashamed over what has happened in Gujarat and Orissa. Still, we are more concerned over racialism practised in our own country. We suffer from the same bias of superiority of the White. Students from Africa and the northeast complain of our prejudice against them on the basis of colour or race. They find it hard to get accommodation and have practically no opportunity for social gathering with other Indians.

Our literature is full of praise for a woman who has white complexion. Kalidas in his books compares the beautiful with the ones who are white. Shakuntala is bewitching because she excels the white in looks. Probably, this attitude is because of our slavery of 150 years at the hands of the British, the White. We have not been able to jettison our slavish complex.

But who are Americans to teach us how to treat the minorities? They have a society which feels superior because it comprises the White. The treatment meted out to minorities in their country is unprintable. We should also set up a committee to look into complaints by the black and the religious bodies against Americans and then place Washington on the watch list. All that I can tell the US is: Physician, heal thyself!

source: sundaytp\imes

Arjun Rampal brings in Shah Rukh, Hrithik for restaurant

New Delhi: Actor Arjun Rampal who launched his new restaurant `Lap` in Delhi on Friday, made sure that the opening was a star studded affair with none other than Bollywood`s Badshah Shah Rukh Khan on the guest list along with superstar Hrithik Roshan.The glamour quotient was further upped by the spouses of the megastars, Gauri Khan and Susanne Roshan, who were at their fashionable best.

The `Rock On` star who came with his supermodel wife Meher Rampal, said that his restaurant, located inside Samrat Hotel would stand out from the crowd with as it will offer "privacy" to it`s members and be "exclusive".

"You have to become a member to know how incredible this place is. It`s for people to enjoy. India can proudly say, we have a place to party. It`s about privacy, a discovery of yourself," Rampal said about his latest venture.

Shah Rukh Khan, who was with his wife Gauri said, "Gauri has designed it with Arjun and Meher. I think it would be fabulous. I wish them all the best. I am from Delhi and want everyone to visit this place."

Khan, however, steered clear of any controversy during his visit to the capital and refused to make any comments on Salman`s recent remarks over his nearly two-hour detention at a US airport.

Rampal, though being a Delhiite, said he hasn`t not been able to visit the capital city much because of his commitments to the film industry. "I was waiting for 'Rock On' to release. Tomorrow is its first anniversary. I was not coming to Delhi because I needed to make money and give back something to Delhi. Films is my work, that is one of my first priorities. This is just a hobby and passion for me. We are after all entertainers."

"I love women and want women to feel safe at 'Lap'. That's why it's exclusive," added Rampal.

About 'Lap's menu, Rampal said, "I am a complete foodie who definitely wants to see Biriyani on the menu."

Actors Abhay Deol, Imran Khan and Dino Morea, fashion designers Rohit Bal, JJ Valaya, Reena Dhaka and Tarun Tahiliani, models Indrani and Sonalika Sahay, DJ Akil, hotelier Vikram Chatwal, were among the guests.

Source: Spicezee | Bureau Report

Prabhu Deva pays tribute to MJ!

On the legendary icon Michael Jackson�s 51st birthday falling today (August 29), Prabhu Deva has featured in a music video produced by Shah Rukh Khan�s Red Chillies and titled �A tribute to MJ�.

Says Prabhu Deva: �I�m not only a big fan of Michael Jackson; he is my idol and role model in life. So when Shah Rukh Khan called me to be a part of his music video, a tribute to MJ on his birthday, I readily agreed. Vishal Sekhar has composed the musical tribute which has been choreographed by Remo.�

Kay Kay, Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Goshal are singers in the album, which also has heartfelt messages by top stars like SRK, Hrithik Roshan, Prabhu Deva, Shahid Kapoor, Harman Baweja, Yuvraj Singh, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Kangna Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra.

The five minute music video has Prabhu Deva wearing a white suit and dancing like MJ. The musical tribute is being shown on all television channels from today (Aug 29), MJ�s 51st birth anniversary.

Source: Sify Movies

Arjun Rampal launches his restaurant 'Lap' in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) It was party time at Hotel Samrat here tonight as actors Shah Rukh Khan, wife Gauri, Hrithik Roshan, along with Suzanne, joined the star-studded launch of Arjun Rampal's restaurant 'Lap'.

Rampal of 'Om Shanti Om' fame said his restaurant is an "incredible" place to have all the "privacy".

"You have to become a member to know how incredible this place is. It's for people to enjoy. India can proudly say, we have a place to party. It's about privacy, a discovery of yourself," Rampal said about 'Lap' located inside Hotel Samrat.

Shah Rukh Khan, who was with his wife Gauri said, "Gauri has designed it with Arjun and Meher. I think it would be fabulous. I wish them all the best. I am from Delhi and want everyone to visit this place," King Khan said.
Source: PressTrustofIndia

'Make it Large-A Tribute to Michael Jackson' - Redchillies Entertainment

Mumbai August 26 2009 In what can be easily termed as musical history, Seagram's Royal Stag has created a special video 'Make it Large- A tribute to Michael Jackson', to be released on music channels across India on the 29th of August to celebrate the pop legends 51st birthday.

A celebration could not be larger than this one where the best of Indian musicians come together to pay tribute to the genius that is Michael Jackson. Written by Vishal, composed by Vishal and Shekhar, produced by Red Chillies Idiot Box, and directed by Samar Khan 'Make it Large' features Shankar, Shaan, KK, Shreya Ghoshal and Michael's closest dance likeness in India-Prabhudeva. 

The video also features testimonials on Michael Jackson from Bollywood's hottest talent; Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Anoushka Sharma, Shahid Kapur, and cricket's best-Yuvraj Singh.

Commenting on the initiative, Bikram Basu, Vice President-Marketing, Pernod Ricard India said, "Michael Jackson is an icon, an undying creative genius. He uniquely stands for Royal Stag's brand philosophy to aspire and 'Make it Large'. This tribute song and video to Michael Jackson is really special." 

Watch Video Live Now

Composer Vishal said, "The idea was derived with just from the thought of Michael. It's just awesome to see all of us come together out of love for one person and his music. It's magic!" Composer Shekhar said, "A tribute to MJ is something any musician would give his right hand to do." 

Director Samar Khan said, "MJ's life and death have made an indelible impression on my life and suffice it to say that I had to be part of that history. The opportunity to direct this video was one I could not pass up and I am certain that it will leave a lasting impression on audiences across India"

Source: Redchillies Official Website of ShahRukh Khan.

SRK gets Shahid, Priyanka, together for MJ tribute

Mumbai, Aug 28 (IANS) From Shahid Kapoor to Vishal-Shekhar, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has roped in the biggest names in the business for a music video to pay tribute to the late pop legend Michael Jackson.

Vishal Dadlani of Vishal-Shekhar duo told IANS that it was Shah Rukh's idea to get a tribute rolling for the music legend who passed away on June 25 this year.

"The entire world was upset about his demise and so were Shekhar (Ravjiani) and I. We happened to meet Shah Rukh and he also expressed his thought about doing something that would be befitting the stature of the man who entertained us for decades. This is how the idea around the music video was born," said Vishal.

It was decided that the music video titled "Make it Large - A tribute to Michael Jackson" would be launched Aug 29 to coincide with Jackson's 51st birthday. While Vishal also wrote the lyrics for the song, some of the best singers in the industry - Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, KK and Shreya Ghoshal - were roped in to sing.

"For the moment, the idea is to launch the music video across all music channels just for one day. It is available on Red Chillies Entertainment website though," said Vishal who is currently holidaying in London.

Directed by Samar Khan, "Make it Large - A tribute to Michael Jackson" is also special since it features Prabhu Deva who is yet again seen at his dancing best.

Also, the video features testimonials on Michael Jackson from Shah Rukh Khan himself along with Shahid Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Anoushka Sharma and Yuvraj Singh.

Vishal and Shekhar would also be allowing free download of the song at their website beginning Aug 29.

"The video wasn't created for making money. It's a tribute and I am sure there are millions out there who would want to grab a copy of the song for themselves. We are more than glad to share our sentiments with the rest of the world," said Vishal.

Source: Theindian

Will SRK give taarik pe taarik!

After playing Rizwan Khan, a man who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome in My Name is Khan, SRK will step into the shoes of a lawyer for Subhash Kapoor's Jolly LLB.

The role is a first for SRK who has played a NASA scientist in Swades and a hockey player turned coach in Chak De! India.

Subhash Kapoor who directed the flop venture Say Salaam India starring Sanjay Suri, Vinay Pathak and Sandhya Mridul, will write and direct Jolly LLB. It will be jointly produced by Akshay Kumar's close aide, Rakesh Upadhyay. The film is based on a lawyer's life and will be an expose on the Indian judicial system.

According to sources, Rakesh and Shahrukh have wanted to work together for a long time and were looking for a suitable project. SRK liked this topic as he hasn't played a lawyer before and it seems like a fun film. He will be working outside the YRF and Dharma banners after a long time so it will be a different experience for him and audiences will see him in a new light. If everything goes according to plan, then the film will go on the floors next year.

Subhash Kapoor was lucky enough to meet SRK recently. The actor had given him 45 minutes for the script narration but he liked what he heard in the first 20 minutes and the meeting continued for two hours. SRK loved the film and was keen to start work on it soon. Producer Rakesh Upadhyay is finalizing the finer details, including the female lead. The film will throw light on the pros and cons of the judicial system for which it will have to be well-researched. A formal announcement will be made when the deal is signed, sealed and delivered.
Source: Starboxoffice

Shahrukh Khan turns lawyer in Jolly LLB

If all goes on well, Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan will don a role that he has not done so far. He is going to play a lawyer in his forthcoming film Jolly LLB, and it is expected to go to the floors next year.


The film will be produced by Shahrukh's Red Chillies Entertainment in association with Rakesh Upadhyay. This film based on a lawyer's life will expose the judiciary and Subhash Kapoor will direct it. He had earlier directed film Say Salaam India.


Subhash Kapoor revealed that Jolly LLB would take on the pros and cons of the judicial system. He added that the discussion on the film with Shahrukh went beyond two hours though the actor gave them just 45 minutes. Shahrukh felt in love
with the script of the film.

Rakesh Upadhyay said that talks are on to work with Shahrukh's production house for a long time. He added that it's too early to say anything and that they would make formal announcement if anything good happens.

Source: OneIndia

SRK to pay video tribute to King of Pop

King Khan is all set to pay a tribute to the King of Pop. Coinciding with Michael Jackson's 51st birth anniversary, Shah Rukh Khan will release a star-studded music video tribute to Michael Jackson on Saturday.

The project has been undertaken by SRK's banner, Red Chillies. The song, titled We lived in his world was composed by music directors Vishal- Shekhar, while the video features messages from top celebrities, including SRK, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapur, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Yuvraj Singh, Anushka Sharma and Prabhu Deva among others.

Each star will be seen saying a few words on the pop legend and his music, and the inspiration they have drawn from MJ, the phenomenon.

Prabhu Deva, in fact, has recreated some of MJ's famous moves in the video.

Kay Kay, Shaan, Shreya Goshal and Shankar Mahadevan have lent their voices to the number.

The music video, directed by Samar Khan and choreographed by Remo, is scheduled to go on air on August 29, coinciding with Michael Jackson's birth anniversary. It will also be available for free download on the Internet.

"This is our way of thanking Jackson for giving us his music. It was Shah Rukh's idea, and Vishal and I jumped at the chance because we are both huge fans of Michael Jackson. The sound composition and arrangement of We lived in his world is very similar to that of a Michael Jackson number.

"The song talks about how the music world is absolutely empty without Jackson," said Shekhar.

Director Samar Khan said, "All my life I haven't met anyone who hasn't heard of or grown up listening to MJ. He's quite like Amitabh Bachchan in Hindi cinema - a part of our lives... someone we grew up with.

"The visual of the song I am directing conveys the fact that even though Michael Jackson is gone, he is still a part of our lives. Although the frames are mostly black, in the end the video is a celebration for Michael Jackson's fans." SRK has on several occasions in the past revealed that he is a huge MJ fan. In fact, only last year, the Bollywood superstar did an item number for Rakesh Roshan's Krazzy 4 that was modelled on Michael Jackson's image.

Vishal and Shekhar, too, have often referenced the King of Pop in their music over the years. The song Khuda Jaane in Bachna Ae Haseeno, composed by Vishal- Shekhar, had a crescendo similar to Jackson's Earth Song . "We have been greatly influenced by Michael Jackson's music. I still have the original video cassette of Thriller with me, which I value greatly," said Shekhar.

The composer duo was looking forward to watching Michael Jackson live at the O2 Arena in London, Shekhar added. In fact, even SRK had bought tickets for the show and was extremely saddened by MJ's untimely death.

Several celebrities across the world have paid a slew of tributes in the honour of the irreplaceable legend of pop music. International stars such as Madonna, Robbie Williams, Beyonce, Usher, John Mayer and Whitney Houston are all paying tributes to MJ through original songs or remakes of his hit numbers.

Source: IBNLive

As the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry gets ready to announce the winners of the National Awards for 2007, buzz is that two of Bollywood's biggest stars Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan are in the contention for the Best Actor Award.

While Shah Rukh Khan has been nominated for his role as hockey coach Kabir Khan in Chak De India, Aamir Khan is in competition for his restrained performance as Art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh in Taare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan is also said to be in the running for Best Film for Taare Zameen Par - having directed and produced the film. News is that Darsheel Safari is also being considered for the Best child actor award for his performance as the dyslexic Ishaan Awasthi in the same film.

Shah Rukh Khan's home production, Om Shanti Om has also been nominated for a National Award in the best feature film for wholesome entertainment category. Aamir Khan earlier won an award in this category for Lagaan which he produced in 2001.

However neither Shah Rukh nor Aamir has ever won a national award for Best Actor yet in their career.

Meanwhile I&B Minister Ambika Soni is likely to announce the National Awards next week and President Pratibha Patil is scheduled to handover the awards in Delhi in October this year.

Source: Buzz18

Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan ready to rock in 'Dhoom 3'

Mumbai: It is always a treat for cine lovers if they watch Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan together on silver screens. Yes, Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan are likely to act together again in Aditya Chopra's forthcoming Dhoom 3" . The duo worked together in bollywood block buster Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum.

The "Dhoom" authorisation is back with a big bang. Remember the superficial biker movie that featured adrenaline pumping mean machines, hot hunks and cool babes that became a violent Box Office success.

Aditya has offered a role to Shahrukh Khan, who just cannot say no to him. Hrithik too is said to be keen on acting in the film inspite of his busy schedule.

Abhishek Bachchan will play the character he played in the earlier two films. Uday Chopra will also play the same character he did in the earlier series.

Source: SamayLive

SRK's TV company pays tribute to MJ on his 51st birthday

Mumbai, Aug 26 Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan's television company "Red Chillies Idiot Box" has created a video featuring India's best music talent from the film industry to pay homage to King of pop Michael Jackson on his 51st birth anniversary.

The video titled "Make it large" will be released on music channels across India on August 29, Jackson's birthday.

Written by Vishal, composed by Vishal-Shekhar, the video is directed by Samar Khan and choreographed by Remo Fernandes.

The video features Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, KK, Shreya Ghoshal and Prabhudeva.

Shah Rukh, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Anoushka Sharma, Shahid Kapur and cricketer Yuvraj Singh will share their memories about Jackson.

"The idea was derived from just the thought of Michael.

It's just awesome to see all of us coming together out of love for one person and his music. It's magic," Singer-composer Vishal said.

"A tribute to MJ is something any musician would give his right hand to do," Shekhar said.

Director Samar Khan said, "MJ'S life and death have made an indelible impression on my life. I hope the video will leave a lasting impression on audiences across India.

Source: SamayLive

Farah Khan denies rumors on Big B in ‘HNY’

Ostensibly, certain channels are keen on cooking up stories as on when they hear a single word about films. Looks like Farah Khan's 'Happy New Year' isn't an elision as there've more rumors pertaining to it. One of the rumors spelled that 'Big B' sharing screen space with SRK in this film.

However, Farah Khan gimcracks the rumors about Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan playing lead roles in her forthcoming film 'Happy New Year'.

Says Farah, "I'm really wondering how come such stories pop-up all of sudden. As of now, Shah Rukh Khan and me have been confirmed for the film and rest of the casting will be carried on after completion of script works."

Totting up this buzz, there were quite other rumors as well about presence of Sanjay Dutt, Juhi Chawla and Zayed Khan. Nonetheless, the choreographer-turned-filmmaker terms it to be a rumor again.

Source: India Glitz

SRK on the sets of MNIK

Adi to direct SRK in Dhoom 3

Buzz has it that Aditya Chopra may direct Dhoom 3; ropes in Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik

Shahrukh Khan More Pics

Roshan...

Reclusive director Aditya Chopra, who is perfectly content to oversee and remote control the YRF empire while leaving the actual direction of the films to someone else, is now excited at the possibility of Dhoom 3, especially if his wish list of actors is satisfied.

Reportedly Shah Rukh Khan , who can never say no to Adi, has consented to be part of the film. An equally important role has been offered to Hrithik Roshan. Hrithik who is fastidious to a fault sometimes, is supposed to be mulling over the offer, even as he stays busy with his home production Kites and his new film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Guzaarish.

Abhishek Bachchan will of course reprise the Jay Dixit of the earlier two films and Uday Chopra will continue to play the lovable Ali who woos all the pretty girls.

But the icing on the very crowded cake will be that Aditya Chopra will direct the film. But, and this is a big but, only if all the said actors are in place.

But then, has anyone been known to refuse Adi? We think not.

SRK is in Farah's 'Happy New Year', not Big B

Choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan has rubbished rumours that her upcoming film 'Happy New Year' will see the coming together of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.

The 'Om Shanti Om' director said her best friend SRK is the only actor who has been finalised for the movie, which is still in its scripting stage.

"There is no truth in the rumour that Big B is going to star in the film. Besides SRK, I never cast anyone in my film till I have my script ready. As of now, only Shah Rukh and me are in the film," Farah said.

Earlier, it was reported that the 'Main Hoon Naa' director will bring the two actors together in the film. The duo was last seen together in Bhoothnath also starring Juhi Chawla.

The other actors who were said to be working in the movie were Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan and Juhi Chawla, a claim denied by Farah.

Source: Indexexpress

KKR approach Akram for coaching job

The beleaguered Kolkata Knight Riders team, which finished at the bottom in the recently concluded second season of the Indian Premier League, has approached Wasim Akram for the job of team coach, sources revealed on Tuesday.

According to a news channel report, Akram has confirmed having received the offer from team owner Shahrukh Khan and will be giving an interview for the job at the end of the week.

According to sources, Akram's chances of getting the job are extremely bright, considering his excellent rapport with skipper Sourav Ganguly.
 
KKR had sacked Australian John Buchanan as coach after their poor showing in the second season of the IPL.

Since then, the Kolkata team have interviewed several people for the job including former Australia batsman Michael Bevan, former England player Dermot Reeve and former Indian batsman WV Raman.—Online

Source: The Dawn

Vivek Oberoi joins Shahrukh Khan's camp

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Mumbai: Recently, it has been in the limelight that Vivek Oberoi has recently teamed up with "King Khan" of Bollywood. Vivek didn't find any space in the camp of Salman Khan thus he rolled to Shahrukh Khan's site.


In a press conference, he showed his great concerns for "King Khan" and revealed that Shahrukh Khan is an expert and deserves worldwide admiration and honour. He unconditionally adores SRK.


Vivek Oberoi showed a great skill of personal relationship with Shahrukh Khan and got entry directly in his life, wife Gauri Khan and his private villa "Jannat". Even Vivek was seen in the birthday bash of King Khan's wife Gauri Khan.

Source: SamayLive

Can Shah Rukh Khan Wake Up America?

As the Shah Rukh Khan controversy about his mistreatment at a US airport rages on, it has opened up new perspectives. One of them is of PR guru Dale Bhagwagar who has handled the media relations for some of the biggest names in Bollywood, including controversy queens like Priyanka Chopra, Shilpa Shetty and Sherlyn Chopra.

Can Shah Rukh Khan Wake Up America?

- Planet Bollywood Special Correspondant           Let us know what you think about this story

---

As the Shah Rukh Khan controversy about his mistreatment at a US airport rages on, it has opened up new perspectives. One of them is of PR guru Dale Bhagwagar who has handled the media relations for some of the biggest names in Bollywood, including controversy queens like Priyanka Chopra, Shilpa Shetty and Sherlyn Chopra.

The public relations expert recalls, "When Shilpa Shetty faced racial discrimination, the whole of UK rallied behind her. I was her publicist then and was overwhelmed with UK journalists calling me in Mumbai just to ascertain facts, while Shilpa faced Jade Goody's onslaughts in the Celebrity Big Brother house."

But when Shah Rukh Khan has alleged community discrimination at a US airport, even many Indians are calling it a 'publicity stunt' for the promotion of Karan Johar's 'My Name Is Khan'. "Not fair," says the PR man. Would King Khan need a publicist like Dale to get things moving in his favour and make people understand that this is not a stunt?

Though the PR specialist feels it's doubtful this controversy is a stunt, he points out, "at least, the incident exposes the continuous discrimination towards Muslims in America and gives hope to so many people around the world, seeking a life of respect. If you still want to call it a stunt; then call it a stunt with a cause!"

Indeed, Shah Rukh Khan has raised a voice which so many throughout the world are identifying with. It's only a matter of time (or maybe, with the right kind of PR) when it will be heard in the right 'perspective'.

Source: PlanetBollywood

ShahRukh Khan on the sets of MNIK !

My name is Patel

Kem cho bhai? My maiden surname is Patel, naam toh suna hoga? Man!!! We are samdukhias!!! Did you know that what you have recently gone through at Newark is something we all go through?


So sad, that the immigration officers did not know the 'Baazigar' that you are and that all of India is your 'Deewana'. Imagine!! Even after we welcomed Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt with a 'Dil aashna hai'attitude, they thought you were some kind of 'Don' or 'Duplicate!' But I am so happy you braved it like a true 'Fauji' and did not show the slightest 'Darr'.


Going to 'Pardes' has become a pain for us too but kya karey, 'Dil toh pagal hai.' Like you said, it's the NRI.s ki, 'Mohabbatein' that takes us there. 'Ram jaaney' what will be the 'Anjaam' of this incident which is now a big political 'Paheli'


The 'Trimurti' gang is saying this was a mere publicity stunt, that you are doing some 'One two ka four' to show your 'Shakti-the power', Salman bhai is saying that its nothing new, they keep doing this with every 'Karan Arjun' and 'Billu'! Well, what to do, life is a big 'Circus' and it has 'Kabhi khushi kabhi ghum.'


In spite of the fact that we dress up like 'Raju ban gaya gentleman' when we travel, 'Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani', so we carry our thepla, ghooghra and chakris and get into trouble.


First, they used to call us dot heads because of our bindis, but after Madonna showed the 'English babu, desi mem' look; now they don't.


Don't they realise humko bhi, 'Kuch kuch hota hai' and we want to 'Chak de' when they ask us stupid questions like 'do u know anybody here? I reply, 'Kabhi haan kabhi naa'.


Last year we went for a 'Dilwaley dulhaniya ley jayengay' ceremony but they turned the groom into a 'Devdas' by saying 'your passport says your name is Jignesh but you are saying its Jignace!!!" 'Hey Ram'! What to do?


Am 'Dil se' saying 'King Uncle', only a 'Chamatkar 'can make them understand that 'Oh darling yeh hai India!'.


Can you say 'Main hoon na' and convince them that 'Hum tumhare hain sanam'?


The Kolasana Patel samaj, in Dallas, has held a havan for 'Om shanti Om' on the matter and has requested you to 'Kabhi alvida na kehna' because of this incident, even though you have returned to 'Swades' and are saying you do not feel like stepping on US soil again. We love your 'Josh'.


'Chalte chalte', we only wish to say since you are the 'Badshah' of your business, and Fox Star will not have any trouble distributing 'My name is Khan' in the USA now, will you be our friend, and plan a sequel, 'My name is Patel', it would surely be a 'Rab ne bana di jodi' match to make our trips easier.


Tapi town tattle- What did Gujarat tell Jaswant? Tari ban!

Source: TimesofIndia

Shahrukh's lengthy guest appearance in 'Dulha Mil Gaya' !

Mumbai: Bollywood Badshah Shahrukh Khan is all set to make a different record of its type. Though the actor is in guest appearance in upcoming 'Dulha Mil Gaya', his role is almost for one hour.

Sources say that his role in the movie is almost one hour long in a two-and-a-half hour film. SRK had signed the film due to his close friendship with producer Vivek Vaswani.

Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film features Fardeen Khan, Johny Lever and Tara Sharma.

Source: Samaylive

Dulha Mil Gaya-SRK Has 3 Songs And 17 Scenes

Shah Rukh Khan has 3 songs and 17 scenes in his guest appearence in the forthcoming Hindi movie Dulha Mil Gaya.

It is common knowledge that Shah Rukh Khan will make a guest appearance in Dulha Mil Gaya, produced by close friend, Vivek Vaswani. But did you know his guest appearance lasts for an hour, in the two and half hour film? The buzz is that Shah Rukh is not happy with his role getting extended so much so, that he didn't want to complete shooting for the film.

However, producer Vivek Vaswani has rubbished these reports and informed that they have not added or subtracted any scenes with Shah Rukh. Whatever was narrated to him has been filmed. He has 17 scenes and three songs. One of the music videos is yet to be shot with the entire cast. Since Shah Rukh is doing Dulha Mil Gaya as a favor for a friend, he is being credited as a guest appearance. Vaswani also thinks that getting credited, as a guest appearance does not depend on the length of the role. He gives the example of Sunny Deol in Damini. Similarly, he feels that while Shah Rukh is not part of the main cast, his role is equally powerful as that of the others. SRK will be seen promoting the film along with the other cast members.

Source : Sampurn

Terminator wants to end SRK’s woes

Former action star and now politician Arnold Schwarzenegger has invited Shahrukh Khan to dinner after the Bollywood heart-throb's recent detention by US im migration officers.

According to The Telegraph, the Californian governor has offered to meet Khan in Washington next month in a bid to de fuse the diplomatic row. Khan has not announced whether he will accept the invitation.

Khan, 43, recently signed a £125-million (R1.6-billion) deal with Fox-Searchlight Pictures in the US to distribute his latest movie, My Name is Khan, which highlights racial tensions in the US after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The star was detained for almost two hours at Newark Airport in New Jersey last week.

South African academic and political analyst Adam Habib endured a similar experience two years ago when he was denied entry into the country on suspicion of being a terrorist.

"This does not surprise me, and it is certainly not the first time Indian and Muslim citizens have been treated like this in the US. It is a trend which was unleashed by the Bush administration, which in effect has become a racial agenda," said Habib.

He said it was a tragedy that this kind of racial profiling took place in a country that described itself as a democracy.

" It seems that unless there is a formal intervention to root out what has essentially become a form of racism, it will continue to manifest itself in the US."

Meanwhile, local Muslim leaders referred to the Khan incident as another example of "Islamophobia".

The president of the Muslim Judicial Council , Moulana Igshaan Hendricks, said he had noted an increasing number of locals who had returned from the US feeling "insulted and belittled".

"The truth is whether it is film stars, academics or religious leaders, we, unfortunately, all have to bear the brunt of the American approach, particularly if you are Muslim," he said.

Meanwhile, the Times of India reports that Bollywood will pay tribute to the late King of Pop in a video that will be screened on Michael Jackson's birthday on August 29.

The video, which was promoted by Khan, is titled We Lived in his World.

Source: The Times

SRK's guest appearance

Although SRK's role has been billed as a guest appearance, he has over 50 minutes of screen time...

This has to be the longest guest appearance by any star in a film. Shah Rukh Khan, who was always told that he has a guest appearance in Dulha Mil Gaya, must have never thought that his role in the forthcoming film will be, hold your breath, almost one hour long in a two-and-a-half hour film.

SRK had signed the film due to his close friendship with producer Vivek Vaswani. But there have been constant reports about SRK being upset about his role getting extended so much so that it was even said that the superstar was not ready to complete the film.

Producer Vivek Vaswani clarified, "We have not added or subtracted any scenes with SRK. We have shot exactly what was narrated to him. He has about 17 scenes and three songs, and among the three, one is his entry sequence. We still have to shoot the music video with him with the entire cast. However, Dulha Mil Gaya is not a professional assignment for SRK. He has done it as a favour to a friend, hence he is getting billed in a guest appearance as that's the ethical thing to do. Had he charged me, then the equation would have been that of a producer and actor."

Moreover, Vaswani insists that the length of the role has got nothing to do with getting credited as a guest artist. He cites the example of Rajkumar Santoshi's 1993 release Damini. He said, "In Damini, Sunny Deol makes his entry quite late in the film but he is as good as the hero Rishi Kapoor. Similarly, SRK enters the film in the second half but has a very powerful role. SRK's role is wonderful and he has given an extraordinary performance. His role has been written such that he fits perfectly in the ensemble cast. His fans won't be disappointed at all. SRK will also be a part of the publicity but only within the parameters of his role and as befits a star of his stature. But I will never market the film as an SRK film as everyone has equally powerful roles."

Shahrukh Khan is going to feature in "Don- 2"

Mumbai: After delivering a rocking flick "Rock On" and television show "Oye! Its Friday", the mutli-talented star, singer and director Farhan Akhtar had stop to come in front of media.


Farhan became so unnoticeable that his locations were not known to any of his friends and colleagues. He is not just hidden for any other reason but he is seriously busy in his forthcoming flick- the sequel of his previous hit Don with "King Khan".


Farhan Akhtar's father and known legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar wrote the script of original Amitabh Bachchan Starer "Don". Thus, Farhan is holding his feet at his place and keeping himself busy in writing the screenplay of the upcoming sequel of his flick "Don".


A source revealed that Farhan feels that this time he is in competition with his father who is the majesty of his own style in writing lyrics and scripts for about more than 2- decades. So he wants to make the sequel which was a worthy successor. Thus, he isolated himself from every one including his family members, friends and companions so that he could easily finish his screenplay of the upcoming movie.


Farhan was not there to comment on, so his business partner Ritesh Sidhwani said that Farhan was locked away from humanity. He added that Farhan wanted to write a script that goes beyond the first one. And he thinks Akhtar Akhtar has cracked it as the script of "Don 2".


The main cast of the film will have again been in the coming sequel of "Don" by Farhan Akhtar- Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Rampal and Boman Irani. The director of photography and the production designer have been changed this time. The "Don 2" is going to roll on cameras from summers of 2010 in outdoor shoots in Germany.

Pak-American group criticizes US for King Khan detention

A Pakistani-American group has criticized US authorities for detaining famous Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan at Newark International airport last week.

A statement issued by the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) said that after the 9/11 terror attacks 'lawful' Muslim travelers were being unnecessarily subjected to 'unfair' inspections and interrogations.

A Pakistani-American group has criticized US authorities for detaining famous Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan.

"Since the terrorist attacks, lawful Muslim travelers have extensively been subjected to unfair inspections, intrusive secondary searches, excessive questioning based on their names and ethnicity," The Nation quoted the statement, as saying.

"The PAKPAC believes that profiling people based on their race, religion, and origin is wrong and not the appropriate use of resources," the statement added.

It said that the PAKPAC has already brought to attention the futility of interrogation procedures at US airports during various meetings with the Transport Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security officials.

SRK’s pal is now reading Salman!

Dear All,

This is pure rubbish..dont bother.

This a price one as to pay for being friendly with a super nova like Shah Rukh Khan.

I beginning to accept that I am the envy of many eyes because of my proximity to SRK...and the ones that hurt most end up spreading garbage like this about me...While I bask in the sudden shift in focus on me.

Why I have become suddenly become so important???? in the scheme of things surprises and amuses me both.  

Please ignore this piece of trashy toilet journalism...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/SRKs-pal-is-now-reading-Salman/articleshow/4917479.cms

 

Regards

Mushtaq Shiekh

Recieved email from the author confirming that news is a rubbish.

Uday, Yash Chopra were caught having lunch at Kjo's office

KJo denies that there's an alliance in the offing

Everyone knows that Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra are the best of buddies. And that Karan is a huge fan of Yash Chopra films. But that the Chopras and KJo are lunching buddies, is not a known fact.

It was Uday Chopra who let the cat out of the bag on his Twitter account, "Had lunch with Karan and my dad at KJ's office...lots of fun and good food."

'We do it often'

Karan confirms, "Yes, Yash uncle and Uday had dropped in at my office but then we keep doing that often. Yash uncle is like family and no, there are no tie-ups happening. It's a given thing that they are the first ones to see all Dharma films which are ready. Wake Up Sid is ready and I will show it to them. Everything that I do is discussed with Adi."

Currently, Karan is multi-tasking. "We have a long schedule of My Name Is Khan beginning from today in Mumbai till September, I am looking into the promos of Wake Up Sid and soon, the marketing campaign of Kurbaan will start. Right now, I am hyper-ventilating and will soon burst a blood vessel," he quips.

Recently, SRK was detained in the US and it was called a publicity stunt for My Name is Khan. Karan says, "I am appalled that people are calling it a publicity stunt! The film is releasing early next year, so how does it make sense to publicise it from now?

I think people who are insinuating that it's a publicity stunt lack the intelligence and vision to back their statement. And am  I powerful enough to get the US security to help me promote my film? I have gone through three emotions - shock, indifference and amusement.

This kind of publicity won't help our film. MNIK is about the protagonist Rizwan Khan (Shah rukh) and we are trying to build that character. It's not about Shah Rukh's detainment. Lastly, Shah Rukh, Kajol and Dharma Productions don't need to resort to such tools to promote their film. I feel sorry for such people who think it's a stunt. God bless such people."

Johar's My Name is Khan begins last shooting schedule

MUMBAI: The final shooting schedule of Karan Johar's My Name is Khan, which stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, will be shot at Filmistan Studio from 22 August.

The cast and crew of the film are back after a schedule in the US and are now gearing up for their next schedule in Mumbai at Filmistan Studio, where a set is being constructed.

Co-produced by Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, the movie was recently acquired by Fox Star Studios. The screenplay of My Name Is Khan has been written by Shibani Bathija.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have composed the film's music, while the cinematography is by Ravi K. Chandran. The schedule at Filmistan is from the 22 - 29 August.

The movie is being readied for a release on 12 February, 2010.

Source: TimesofIndia

Hosts under US scanner. That’s what got SRK held up

Washington: The US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) extra scrutiny of megastar Shah Rukh Khan was triggered by Bollywood's showbiz having come under the scanner of law enforcement authorities and intelligence agencies for dodgy financial transactions and alleged underworld links.
    Khan was questioned closely by CBP agents on his arrival at Newark's Liberty International Airport last week with emphasis on ascertaining his local US contacts and engagements. It transpires that Khan was visiting the US primarily for Bollywood shows in Chicago and Houston promoted by brothers, Farhath Hussain and Altaf Hussain, with other local promoters, some of whom are on the radar of authorities in the UK, US and India.
    Although there was no red flag against SRK's name itself, it was his local contacts which triggered the alert, according to sources who didn't want to be named. The situation was compounded by the non-arrival of his baggage from London. US intelligence agencies have long been leery of a possible terrorist attack by Islamist extremists from a city dubbed Londonistan, particularly since British passport holders do not need a visa to enter the United States.
    Farhath Hussain is a Londonbased businessman who modestly describes himself as the "world's No. 1 promoter of Bollywood shows''. His brother Altaf Hussain is a Chicago-based businessman in the gas station industry who founded the Lake County South Asian Entertainment Inc. to tap into the Bollywood showbiz market in US after the eclipse of Vijay Taneja, a former Indian partner who founded a company called Elite Entertainment.
    Taneja was convicted in a mortgage fraud last year and sentenced to seven years in the clink, allowing brothers Hussain to capture US territory.
CONTACT TRACING

• Main promoters of SRK's US shows were brothers, Farhath and Altaf Hussain

• Altaf shares name with the leader of Pakistan's MQM party. This may have caused confusion

• Some local promoters of US shows said to be on radar of UK, US, India authorities

• No red flag against SRK's name, but his local contacts seem to have triggered off the alert at the airport

• Situation aggravated by delayed arrival of SRK's baggage from London 'SRK treated with respect'
Washington: Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's detention at Newark's Liberty International Airport was less to do with his credentials or Asian identity and more to do with his US show organizers, who are possibly under the authorities' observation.
    Chicago-based Altaf Hussain, who along with his brother Farhath organized the SRK nite last week, bears the same name as the London-based leader of Pakistan's Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) party, another possible trigger for the CBP red flag. That Altaf Hussain, a key player in Pakistani politics who is frequently accused of sectarian violence (most notably by Imran Khan), was a cab driver in Chicago before he eventually returned to Pakistan to found MQM to represent Mohajir interests.
    US officials declined to go into the details of the Shah Rukh episode, citing law enforcement sensitivities. "A lot of stuff we discuss with passengers,we can't reveal because of privacy rules,'' CBP spokesman Elmer Camacho told TOI, maintaining the actor was treated with due professional courtesy and the process had not taken two hours as claimed.
    Comacho also pointed out the actor himself had reeled back from some of the initial comments and acknowledged that the CBP was following a laid-down procedure. Phone numbers listed for brothers Hussain and other promoters of the 'South Asia Carnival' went to mailboxes which were full. Messages left to their associate Monty Syed were not returned.
Source: TimesofIndia

Katrina crosses over to SRK!

And it's an exclusive bit of news from a first class air passenger, who was on the same flight that Shah Rukh Khan was on from London to Mumbai (en route from his infamous brush in the USA with the immigration officials).

As we know, Katrina Kaif was also on the same flight and we hear from our 'flier-on-the-wall' that once the plane was in mid-air, it was Katz who went across the aisle to sit with SRK and get into an animated chat.

And Shah boy, gentleman that he is, got up and gave his seat to the lady. All the while chatting away. Mainly about his experiences in the USA and UK. And the only time Katz went back to her seat was when the plane was to land in Mumbai.

Awesome, this dostana, eh? But wonder what loverboy Salman has to say to this one? Hopefully, SK and SRK don't fly 'in' to America together soon, or maybe they should, for two Khans are better than one, right guys?

Source: TOI

We live in Michael Jackson’s world: SRK

Michael Jackson has influenced Bollywood for decades now. From his signature moves to his singing, he has inspired everyone from musicians to technicians.

Now, Bollywood unites to pay a heartfelt tribute to the King of Pop in a video, which will be aired on Michael Jackson's birthday on August 29. The initiative has been taken by Shah Rukh Khan himself.

Vishal Dadlani confirmed the story and said, "The song is titled, We lived in his world."

Our source said, "Shah Rukh Khan is a huge fan of the late Michael Jackson and when the creative heads in Red Chilles pitched the idea, he loved it. He had cried when he learnt about MJ's death. He was also supposed to attend one of the London concerts which never happened. So, the idea was finalised and they decided to make a music video as a tribute. The best talent for the song was Vishal of the Vishal-Shekhar duo. Vishal is a huge fan too and he was in shock for days when he learnt about MJ's death.

He has written this passionate song and it has been composed by Vishal-Shekhar. They are also the performers in the video with singers Kay Kay, Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Goshal, among others. The video will have heartfelt messages by top stars like SRK, Hrithik Roshan, Prabhu Deva, Shahid Kapoor, Harman Baweja, Yuvraj Singh, Katrina Kaif, Kangna Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra, among others. The video, currently being shot, is directed by Samar Khan."

The source further said, "None of the people associated with the video has charged a penny and it's their love for the legendary singer that has brought them together. It's been shot in low lighting and has a unique mood. The video will be aired on all the leading channels on August 29, MJ's birthday. The song has been choreographed by Remo."

Samar Khan remained unavailable for comment.

I don't believe in VIP culture, says SRK

In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan spoke about his detention at the US airport and denied that it was a publicity stunt for his upcoming movie My Name Is Khan.

Shah Rukh said it was an unpleasant experience and he would never do something like this for publicity.

Here is an excerpt of the interview -

Rajdeep Sardesai: Critics are saying that Shah Rukh Khan's detention in America has been hyped by Shah Rukh himself and it is a publicity stunt for the upcoming film My Name Is Khan. How do you react to that?

Shah Rukh Khan: As a matter of fact my film is coming much later, there are still some eight to nine months to go and we normally don't start promotion of the movie this early. Moreover, it is not very positive when someone asks you for vouching for you to enter someone's country. Though I don't want to say this word, I would say it is a bit disrespectful.

Rajdeep Sardesai: People are detained and questioned in American airports post 9/11, this is a regular practice there. Then why should suddenly Shah Rukh Khan take it as a personal upfront? Was it that how can you detain me, I am Shah Rukh Khan?

Shah Rukh Khan: No, I am very humble about what I am. I may talk about myself when I talk about my films otherwise I am very humble. I am very scared of rules and therefore always abide by them. Like everyone even I had those instances when I have been subjected to very thorough special security checking.

Rajdeep Sardesai: The problem perhaps in India is that our security system is not tough enough. We still work on VIP system where a Shah Rukh Khan or a big politician can easily walk through an airport without being checked.

Shah Rukh Khan: Whenever I am flying I always stand in queues and make my children do the same.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You don't believe in VIP culture?

Shah Rukh Khan: No, I never called anyone asking please get me inside faster. I have not done that even in a night club. Even in India I don't believe in saying 'don't you know who I am' when I am asked for my identification.

Rajdeep Sardesai: When you were detained at the US airport you never said to the officers there that 'don't you know who I am'?

Shah Rukh Khan: If you have to say that then I think you are not known enough. I'll die before saying that.

Source: CNNIBN

Shahrukh Khan has postponed Arnold Schwarzenegger's invitation

Mumbai:For what ever happened in the episode of detention to "King Khan" Shahrukh Khan at the Newark Airport, the Californian Governor and Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger alias "Arnie" has invited "King Khan" to have a dinner with him at the actor's convenience.


According to the sources, Arnie as an action hero is quite disturbed by the treatment SRK meted to at the Newark Airport and wants to make compensation. His office has already sent a letter of invitation to the actor and is awaiting his reply.


Shahrukh has just returned to Mumbai and has held a press conference to clear the air on the detention controversy. He (Shahrukh Khan) is aware of the Arnie's invitation but right now SRK is not in mood to visit America immediately. Thus, Arnie's invitation has been postponed till September 20.

source: samaylive

Bips to host a show for SRK

The sassy brunette Bipasha Basu will soon be seen hosting a talent hunt show on the small screen to be produced by Shahrukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment.


by Kangna Agarwal - August 19, 2009 - 0 comments 

Mumbai, August 19: Rumors are rife that Bipasha Basu is going to host the Indian version of America's Next Top Model. The original version is hosted by dazzling model Tyra Banks.

About the show
Although the details of the show are under the wraps but it is hushed that 10-14 contestants will be participating in it who will be competing with each other for nine to fourteen episodes.

According to sources, "The show will have a number of women compete for the title of the Best Model to get a chance to start their career in the modeling industry. 

"There will be minor changes in the pattern of the show as it is catering to the Indian audience and the show will be called the Female Model Hunt."

Also, some noteworthy personalities will be judging the contestants and the winner of the show will get a chance to begin her modeling career with the finest in the arena of glamour world.

Just like its U.S. counterpart, the Indian version will also see some real sizzling and young models aspiring to become India' s next supermodel.

While Bips is lip sealed and chose not to comment about the show, Sharukh is really looking forward to this production since his last television show didn't turn out well.

Busy Bipasha
Bipasha is working on quite a few projects these days. One of them being Rohit Shetty's comedy flick 'All The Best' in which she will be seen essaying the role of a gym instructor.

The sexy diva has also been chosen as a celebrity judge by a popular UK reality show. Sources close to her informed that Bips is quite elated with the proposal as this would boost her career and she will also get recognition on an international level.

source: totalfilmy