SRK: Friendly Tune For Farah?

Shah Rukh Khan makes for a super pal; a fact that he's proved time and again. Hence, this recent gesture should come as no shocker; rather, the only surprise here is that it has been directed at Farah Khan, with whom his relations have been reportedly strained.

SRK and Farah Khan's friendship goes back a long way, much before the choreographer turned full fledged director with their two collaborative efforts: 'Main Hoon Na' and 'Om Shanti Om'.

But the equation soon struck a faltering note: Shirish Kunder. To her horror Farah discovered that Kunder and SRK couldn't see starry eye to eye. Matrimony and a trio of triplets later, when the duo decided to kickstart 'Tees Maar Khan' under their own production house, there was little surprise that SRK wasn't a part of it.

Meanwhile, SRK is all set to start work on his next venture, 'Ra1', a fantasy thriller starring him alongside Kareena Kapoor. 'Tees Maar Khan' is all set to commence in March.

Tunesmiths Vishal and Shekhar found themselves in an awkward spot as they were revving up music for both flicks simultaneously! But trust SRK to smoothen out the issue… by insisting that they craft the music of 'Tees Maar Khan' first, so that Farah's flick faced no delay owing to the music score.

The canny composers, however, decided that since SRK and Farah are both rather accommodating, they would have the best of both worlds… and finetune the score for both flicks side by side.

Two much, too much, Vishal Shekhar!

SRK Smoothens Touchy Ties

He's now turned mediator of sorts. Notch one more high for Shah Rukh Khan. After Hrithik Roshan's b'day bash , the party swerved late into the night at 'Mannat', as well.

SRK had personally invited Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan, Vivek and many others to his residence, when they met up at the Roshan celebration. But tension peaked with Vivek Oberoi sharing the same celeb space as Abhi Ash.

Sensing the squirmy discomfort that was soon to follow, King Khan, playing the suave host bought together the two warring factions, Abhishek and Vivek. And he managed this subtly, forging a polite bond without making his intentions expressly known.

What's next? 'Yuva 2'? Your call, Mani Sir.

Akshay takes a dig at SRK once again

Akshay is a smart khiladi and he never losses any opportunity to make a dig at SRK.

Yesterday at the Film Producers Guild Apsara Awards function in Mumbai, the Khiladi played his game and smartly made a dig at Shah Rukh when he was invited to present the award of Lifetime Achievement to the Bachchan senior.

Aksahy said, “Sir(Mr. Bachchan) is a legend and he still inspires other actors and makers to make remake of his films and act in them”.

Shahrukh was present at the event where he performed and also walked with the best actor trophy for ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

Obviously, Akshay was referring to Don sequel Don 2. According to sources it was the remake of ‘Don’ by Farhan Akhtar that sowed the first seeds of difference between SRK and Amitabh Bachchan who previously where on very good terms.

The prankster Akshay who is known for his mischievous behaviors in sets with his co-stars knows very well that he single-handedly can’t tackle the Khans as they are three of them, so he smartly takes the cover of Bachchan make him his dhall (read shield) and go Scot free as any reaction by SRK will be taken as an attack on Big B and Akshay can laugh at his attempt of adding more fuel to the fire.

Well, instead of sorting out the differences between the two icons of the Indian film industry, Akshay is more interested in making pranks and helping in stretching the gap between the two.

Anyways the news that Khiladi Kumar has made some dent in SRK’s camp and is doing 2 films for Farah is not entirely true. It’s a fact that Akshay will be doing another film with Farah to be produced by her husband, but the truth is Farah who is a strong supporter of SRK is directing ‘Tees Mar Khan’ only to support his husband Kunder who needs a standing after the mega flop ‘Jaan-e-man’ starring Akshay and Salman. Akshay and Farah’s hubby Shirish Kunder are good friends and hence Akshay has said yes to ‘Tees Mar Khan’ and Farah didn’t approach Akshay for the role.

She did approach SRK who agreed on the condition that Farah will direct the film under his banner. Things didn’t materialize and hence Farah who is married and has triplets

Wanted to support her husband and hence agreed to direct ‘Tees Mar Khan’ starring Akshay.

Akshay can continue to take digs at SRK and fill the gossips pages next day but the truth that he was not the first choice of ‘Tees Mar Khan’ and he got the film when SRK said 'no' will always remain the truth.

Dulha Mil Gaya... and then what went wrong?

CommentMudassar Aziz's maiden venture Dulha Mil Gaya has finally been completed. It's always important to give first-time directors a little leeway for errors. Direction may not be rocket science but debut projects often has some raw edges.

Mudassar was lucky enough to cast Sushmita Sen and Shah Rukh Khan together. These two nearly set the screen on fire with their sizzling chemistry in Main Hoon Na .

DMG also stars Fardeen Khan and veterans like Johnny Lever and Parikshit Sahni. With such a talented cast the least one expected was a fun, watchable film. Unfortunately, DMG reminded me of a film which keeps taxiing down the runway but never really takes off.

The film opens in Trinidad with a spoilt brat son, who hopes to inherit millions from his deceased father's estate. But Tej Dhanraj, also known as Donsai (Fardeen Khan), is in for a rude shock. He has just a few days time to marry Samarpreet Kapoor (Ishitta Sharrma), a girl from rural Punjab .

This is a theme which was hugely popular in romance novels and movies in the 1960s and 1970s. The director could have kept us engrossed by taking the story to a new level. But Mudassar Aziz sticks to the tried-and-tested. Samarpreet remains the 'sati savitri' type, who will go to any lengths to woo her husband.

But this Herculean task cannot be managed single-handedly. So Samarpreet receives help from Shimmer (Sushmita Sen) and Pawan Raj Gandhi (SRK ). Shimmer is ashamed of Donsai's behaviour. She hopes to reform him but fails to realise that she is equally commitment phobic. Mudassar in text-book fashion introduces his characters in the first 30 minutes and then for the next two hours, the film keeps plodding its way towards a dreary, predictable end.

Kareena all set to do sci-fi super hero film Ra1 with SRK

By Joginder Tuteja

Quite a few interesting films are lined up for release early 2010. Be it director Sajid Khan, Sirish Kunder or Ken Ghosh, they are all looking forward to their creations in the New year.

While "My Name Is Khan" and "Kites" are the hottest contenders when it comes to the most awaited films, there are quite a few others like "Rann" and "Teen Patti" that may be exciting.

Producer-writer Shirish Kunder has another choice. "In 2010, I am waiting most for 'Tees Maar Khan'. With Farah Khan at the helm of affairs and Akshay Kumar leading the case, it's going to be the peak of commercial cinema, " he told.

The film also stars Akshaye Khanna, hence bringing the two namesake actors together for the first time.

It may not be on the wish list of many but "Run Bhola Run" is what excites Tusshar Kapoor most. "For obvious reasons I am waiting for this film the most," said the actor who will be seen with Govinda again after "Life Partner".

Minissha Lamba is waiting for her "Well Done Abba". This Shyam Benegal-directed film has been making waves in the festival circuits and is now being lined up for theatrical release.

"I am looking forward to 'Well Done Abba'. However, there are also films like 'Raavan', 'Veer', 'My Name Is Khan', 'Kites' and 'Dostana 2' on my wish list," she said.

Ken Ghosh had a hit "Ishq Vishk" and a miss "Fida" with Shahid Kapoor over the years gone by. However, he is confident of "Chance Pe Dance" hitting the bull's eye. "Other than my own film, I am also waiting for 'Kites'", he says.

Newbie Urvashi Sharma, who began as a leading lady with "Naqaab" and played a small role in "Baabarr", is excited about turning over a new page in her professional career in 2010.

"I am really looking forward to two of my own films - 'Khatta Meetha' and 'Nishaad' - both with Priyadarshan. Apart from these two films, I also want to see Ambika Hinduja's 'Teen Patti' which has Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan in it."

Rituparna Sengupta, who was seen in "Do Knot Disturb", has a lot to look forward to in 2010.

"For me, the most awaited films in the New Year are my own like 'Mittal vs Mittal', 'S.R.K', 'Paroksh' and 'Bum Bum Boley'."

For filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra, who is working on multiple films, it is "Apartment" all the way. "The film is ready and it should release very soon," he said.

Though she has a pivotal role in "Apartment", it's "Rann" that excites Neetu Chandra the most. "It is going to be my first release of 2010 and I am counting days for the January 29 release of the film."

Sajid Khan, who will release his "Housefull" in May, said: "It's obvious that 'Housefull' would be my as well as audiences' choice of 2010."

For Kareena Kapoor, the choice is obvious - 'Ra 1'. Though she is not saying it yet, the buzz is that she has more or less signed on the dotted line for this Shah Rukh Khan starrer sci-fi super hero film which is being directed by Anubhav Sinha of 'Dus' fame.

'SRK was the first choice for 3 Idiots'

Rajkumar Hirani has moved on from his blockbuster Munnabhai series to 3 Idiots, from Sanjay Dutt to Aamir Khan.

The director, who landed on the Bollywood map out of nowhere, tells Patcy N what to expect from his new film, out on Christmas Day.

What made you decide to take on 3 Idiots after announcing Munnabhai Chale Amerika?

I was slightly exhausted doing two back-to-back Munnabhai movies. And for the third part, I would have to think about Munnabhai and Circuit again -- the same style, clothes and everything. I wasn't too excited about that. Also, I thought that if I write a script, it may not be as exciting.

On the other hand, I had the germ of an idea of 3 Idiots. I was trying to concentrate on Munnabhai but my mind would think about 3 Idiots. In the end, I realised I had written more on 3 Idiots than Munnabhai. So I decided to make that.

Now that 3 Idiots is done and my mind is fresh, I will work on Munnabhai Chale Amerika.


Image: A scene from 3 Idiots. Inset: Rajkumar Hirani

Aamir and Shah Rukh in the Same Frame would be a Historical Moment

Everyone is waiting with baited breath for a film which can bring the two superstars together, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. A little secret was let out recently that the two stars gave it a near miss to be cast together in what we know today as 'London Dreams'. The story was first narrated to Aamir and Shah Rukh by filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, with Aamir offered to do Salman's role and SRK to do Ajay's role and the film to be titled 'Rashque'. However, destiny had other plans, because after listening to the narration, the duo who liked the script did not revert to Santoshi even after being pursued constantly, and finally Vipul Shah took over the film and made 'London Dreams' out of the story. But if you guys are wondering, if ever the two Khans, Aamir and Shah Rukh were seen in one frame, the answer is yes. They were seen in the same frame only once in the year 1993 in the movie 'Pehla Nasha' where they came together for Ashutosh Gowariker for a film premiere sequence. So, until the warring Khans do not make up their mind, their fans need to suffice only on that particular shot, which is indeed a historic moment in the Bollywood.

SRK upstages Salman!

Both Khans had been bitterly vying for the finale to showcase their lines. In a constant show of one-upmanship, this round goes to King Khan. At the glam event, SRK will be in the limelight, while Salman has to be content with showcasing his collection on Oct 13. At any couture week, the grand finale has the most prestige and it’s no wonder that both Khans had been eyeing the slot.

While Shah Rukh is walking with his wife Gauri Khan for the launch of Karan Johar’s clothesline, Salman will walk to display his charity clothesline, Being Human. It is surprising that Salman could not make it to the grand finale despite having many aces up his sleeve: the biggest stars Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar will be walking with him on the ramp. Not so long ago, there was a buzz that Salman had edged out Shah Rukh for the grand finale.

A source says, “Both Shah Rukh and Salman were keen to do the grand finale. A grand finale in a fashion event is always very special.”

It’s interesting that Shah Rukh managed to elbow out Salman despite the fact that Salman’s endorsement manager and the couture week event organiser is the same person, Reshma Shetty.

Confirming that Shah Rukh will walk the grand finale, Reshma maintained, “Salman did not want the grand finale. He is walking for charity. His show is not the couture show per se. He and the other actors with him will walk the ramp on Oct 13. We had blocked the dates of every star walking in the event two months ago. Salman won’t even be here in Mumbai on the day of the grand finale.”

Asin declines Farah’s offer for a movie with SRK

Asin, who has always expressed a desire to work SRK after having worked with Salman and Aamir Khan, recently turned down Farah Khan’s offer. Farah had asked her if she wanted to do her film, Happy New Year opposite Shah Rukh but Asin refused.

Farah has been in touch with her ever since Asin appeared on Farah’s show. Farah had asked to think about the offer carefully. Asin was very keen on it at the beginning but she spoke to her father and then refused the offer citing date issues.

Now that Asin is out of the race for the female lead in Happy New Year, the other top Bollywood heroines, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone are all eyeing the role.

'SRK's memory is phenomenal'

Filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani, 33, who was in New York recently to attend the I View film festival organised by the advocacy group Engendered, talked at length about his value system, the influence his mother has had on him, and the genres that are close to his heart as a filmmaker.

He has served as an assistant on a string of hit films before Karan Johar (whom he had assisted on many films including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) asked him to direct Dostana. Mansukhani has also served as an assistant to Aditya Chopra on Mohabaatein and to Nikhil Advani on Kal Ho Naa Ho.

Before thius interview started in a suite in Radisson in mid-Manhattan, Mansukhani, who looks younger than he is, said he needed to smoke.

"No, you can't," I told him, smiling. "I am not smoking here," he said. "I am dashing off the street."

After the interview, he said, he enjoyed very much but he was going off to the street again.

"It was a good interview. Why do you want to smoke again?" I said. "You never know how the next one will be," he said laughing as he raced to the street corner.

You have announced Dostana 2. What are the challenges have you set for yourself?

It cannot be more of the same. As I am writing, I am constantly conscious of the fact that it should have new elements, new tension, new twists and everything about it should look and sound fresh.

Even the title?

I don't want to call it Dostana 2. I will be using the word in the title, of course, but it has to be far more imaginative than Dostana 2. It has to have an identity of its own. It is funny, even when Dostana was made, we had everything in place but the title came up the last. It might happen this time, too.

Shahrukh was questioned for so long because he is a Muslim: Farah

New Delhi, Aug 18 : Bollywood choreographer and director Farah Khan today said the reason Shahrukh Khan was questioned for so long by the US authorities was because he is a Muslim.

''For me the only reason for his being questioned for so long was because he is a Muslim,''Farah said at an event in the capital to promote 'Tere Mere Beach Mein', her new chat show on Star Plus.

While admitting that the questioning of Shahrukh was part of the routine procedure by the US airport authorities to enhance security in the wake of 9/11, the filmmaker, who is a close friend of the 'King Khan', said,''there was nothing wrong in questioning as manitaining security in the post 9/11 scenario is the top priority area. But why did the authorities at Newark airport took so long to question the actor. After all, he has so many work permits in his passport. Also, if the airport officials who questioned the actor had searched the word 'Shahrukh' in Google, they would have come to know in five minutes who he was.'' She said that by questioning the actor for two to three hours, the officials wasted the actor's precious time as well as that of the US administration.

''In the amount of time, energy and resources spent by the airport officials in questioning the actor, two to three terrorists could have escaped from behind their back,''Farah said.

Shilpa Shetty takes up for Shah Rukh Khan

Shilpa Shetty, who suffered racial discrimination during the British reality television show Celebrity Big Brother, claimed that Shah Rukh Khan's detention by US immigration officers at Newark Airport was 'a very unfortunate incident.'

"I have been through this whole thing of racial discrimination," she said during a press conference organised by the Federation of Indian Associations held before the India Day Parade in New York on Sunday, where Shilpa was the grand marshal. "I think everyone has the right to live with dignity, and if something like that [SRK's detention] has happened, and if it is because of his race, it is unfortunate."

Shiney missed the chance to work with SRK

While he is right now in the news for being a real life villain accused of raping his maid servant and languishing in Mumbai's infamous Arthur Road jail, Shiney Ahuja, it is learnt had missed a golden opportunity to play the villain onscreen opposite none other than Bollywood Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan.
Reveals a source from SRK's production house, "The first actor approached to play the role of the villainous producer Mukesh Mehra in OM SHANTI OM was Vivek Oberoi but Vivek declined the role, since he didn't want to be seen in a negative role, in the mega film starring King Khan. Then the next actor approached was Shiney Ahuja. His GANGSTER back then had just released, and he had been winning accolades for his acting skills in HAZAARON KHAWAISHEN AISI and GANGSTER. In fact, Shah Rukh even had a few meetings with Shiney over the role. But Shiney finally opted out of playing the part, since, perhaps, he thought this villain's part may slot him as a negative role specialist actor and it would become a dead end for his solo hero aspirations."

Well Shiney's loss went on to become Arjun Rampal's gain as his non-happening acting career suddenly flourished after SRK took him under his wing. But for Shiney as they say rest is history.

SRK will romance Ash again

They were last spotted together in the film DEVDAS that was directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and created magic at the box-office.
Now, the hit pair of the film Aishwariya Rai and Shahrukh Khan are all set to come together again. The two will be seen in an upcoming film that will be directed by cinematographer-director Rajiv Menon.

It's known that Menon flew down to London to narrate his script to SRK, who according to reports has liked the story and agreed to be part of it.

Though the spat between SRK and Salman Khan had Ash as the bone of contention, now with SRK all set to romance the lady again; let's hope Salman maintains his cool this time.

When 'My Name Is Khan' left Karan Johar stressed out

After making candy floss romances, Karan Johar is dealing with serious issues in his 'My Name Is Khan', which brings Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol together on screen after a long time. Though he is excited about presenting a different side of Shah Rukh, making the film did turn unpleasant when actor Aamir Bashir was denied a visa to the US.

Karan's latest directorial venture is 'diametrically opposite' to his earlier films.

'You know, on the very first day of shooting my cameraman Ravi Chandran looked at me and said, 'I don't think you've ever shot something like this'. Shah Rukh plays a completely different human being ... I've never directed that person before,' Karan Johar told IANS in an interview.

But he had his share of problems too.

'Yes, there were problems. We had certain legal issues. We had to make some changes to accommodate the developments. They were sorted out. I believe in completely going by the law of every land. That's what we did in LA (Los Angeles) when troubles arose,' said Karan, who replaced Aamir with Jimmy Sheirgil in the movie.

Were you upset with Aamir for going to the press about the visa problem?

'I don't see why the issue had to be reported so prominently in the Indian media. It complicated things for me. If creating hurdles for a filmmaker on a difficult foreign location makes news, so be it. It constantly kept creating stress for me,' he added.

Written by Shibani Bathija, 'My Name Is Khan' is about a Muslim (Shah Rukh) who suffers from the Asperger syndrome, a form of autism that impacts social interaction abilities, and he is arrested as a suspected terrorist in post-9/11 Los Angeles after authorities mistake his disability for suspicious behaviour.

Excerpts from the interview:
Q: You could make a film on the things that happened during your Los Angeles schedule of 'My Name Is Khan'.
A: Besides normal problems, there were unforeseen problems. Thank god for my fabulous technical team. Without them I could never make my film the way I want to. Yes, there was stress.

Q: There were visa problems for some Muslim members of your cast?
A: Yes, there were problems. We had certain legal issues. We had to make some changes to accommodate the developments. They were sorted out. I believe in completely going by the law of every land. That's what we did in LA when troubles arose.

Q: Was Aamir replaced by Jimmy Sheirgil after a great deal of deliberation?
A: Yes, we did have to do some serious re-thinking. I spoke to my casting director Shanu Sharma for immediate release. I was very happy to have Jimmy Sheirgil on board. I had done his clothes for Aditya Chopra's 'Mohabbatein'. So I know him from his debut. It was unfortunate that things didn't work out with Aamir Bashir. Like Jimmy, he was terrific in 'A Wednesday'. I look forward to working with him some other time.

Q: Were you upset with Aamir Bashir for going to the press about the visa problem?
A: I don't blame anyone for the situation. I don't see why the issue had to be reported so prominently in the Indian media. It complicated things for me. If creating hurdles for a filmmaker on a difficult foreign location makes news, so be it. It constantly kept creating stress for me.

Q: Was it a painful experience to shoot in LA?
A: In all my 11 years as a filmmaker, I've never felt the experience to be so different. Content-wise 'My Name Is Khan' is diametrically opposite to whatever I've done in the past. You know, on the very first day of shooting my cameraman Ravi Chandran looked at me and said, 'I don't think you've ever shot something like this.'

It is for the first time I'm directing a screenplay I haven't written myself. This gives me a level of detachment from the proceedings and yet a lot of attachment. It has released a plethora of unexplored emotions in my head.

This time I'm being creative in a different ways. And Shah Rukh plays a completely different human being ... I've never directed that person before. It took a few days for all of us to get into the groove. How this exploration of a new territory will turn out, no one knows.

(Subhash K. Jha can be contacted at jhasubh@gmail.com)

Fatwa against Shahrukh

Following his alleged controversial remarks about the Prophet Mohammed, Shahrukh is issued with two separate fatwas by religions centers in Bareilly. Protests were also held against the actor with the protestors burning the actor’s effigies in Mumbai.

The fatwas were issued to him to condemn his remarks about Prophet Mohammed in the July issue of the ‘Time and Style’ magazine, it is learnt.

The clerics also announced that his nikah and his relationship with his wife would be considered illegal.

A public apology was also demanded from the actor failing which, the clerics noted, the author would not be provided a place in the graveyard.

FIR against Shah Rukh for comments against Islam

Mumbai: A complaint was today lodged against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan for allegedly making statements against Islam in a magazine.

“We have registered an FIR against Shah Rukh Khan after we received an application from an advocate who alleged that the actor made some statements hurting the sentiments of Muslims,” senior police inspector of Bandra police station, Prakash George, told PTI.

The complaint was registered against Shah Rukh and the publisher of the magazine and the writer, he said.

“Complainant Khalid Babu Querishi alleged that in the July issue of the Time and Style magazine, Shah Rukh had used unparliamentary language against the Prophet which is unacceptable,” George said.

The case was registered under section 295-a (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religion feelings or any class by insulting its religion beliefs) and 34 (acts done by several persons with common interest