Shah Rukh reveals Akon singing Hindi language in Ra.1

Shah Rukh reveals Akon’s plans of not only singing for the ambitious super-hero film Ra.1 in the English language but also in Hindi.

Says Shah Rukh, “On Tuesday and Wednesday he’ll record our song with Vishal-Shekhar for Ra.1.”

That’s where the real excitement begins.

Says the excited superstar, “ There’re two versions of the song in English and Hindi and Akon wants to sing in Hindi.

Though he’s a Senegalese by birth he can sing in many different languages. I don’t see why he can’t manage Hindi. Akon is very charged about coming to Mumbai to sing.

He will be adding his own bits to Vishal-Shekhar’s composition. Akon is very participative.I love his songs, just like you love Latabai’s numbers.”

Shah Rukh hums one of Akon’s recent chartbusters. And you wonder why Shah Rukh doesn’t sing for himself .

SRK laughs, “No yaar I can’t sing. I did some lines for myself in Josh. But that was not real singing. If Akon can sing for me why should I?”

Shah Rukh says he is a big fan of Akon’s music. And now he’s friends with the super-rapper. “When I met him recently in New York for the first time I was floored by his niceness. Such a big international star and so down-to- earth.Such a humble man. I asked him if he’s sing for me and he said, anytime.”

The minute Shah Rukh mooted the idea that Akon sing for Ra.1, the super-rapper was game. “ Everyone including Kareena who has heard the song has loved it. I think Akon’s song is a very good way to get the Ra.1 project on its feet.”

Akon has a jam-packed 3-day schedule ahead.

Says Shah Rukh, “He’ll be performing at the XXX launch, recording the song. I’ll also have him home for dinner and also arrange a quick press meet for him.

I don’t want to put too much pressure on his time. After all the man’s got to sleep also. But it is just a three-day visit and I guess he’ll have a lot to do during his time in Mumbai.”

Shah Rukh also wants to show My Name Is Khan to Akon. “Akon was in Cairo when My Name Is Khan released there. He saw all the hoardings and has heard a lot about the film. He has shown interest in watching it. Insha Allah, I’ll screen my film for Akon when he’s here.”

Shah Rukh a certifiable workaholic says he has been preparing to perform all the daring action scenes in Ra.1.

“I tried to see how much of it my shoulder can take. And you know what? My hand still hurts when I put pressure on my shoulder. But we’ll really get to know in April how much of the action I can shoulder when I get down to it..”

Shah Rukh says actors doing their own stunts is becoming boring.

“It’s become passe for actors to claim they are doing all their stunts themselves. Of course they have to! What’s the big deal in that? We’ve to take screen-action to another level. And that’s what we plan to do in Ra.1.”

My Name Is Khan's biggest ever opening Bollywood film at the UK

Shah Rukh Khan starrer `My Name Is Khan` has become the biggest ever opening Bollywood film at the UK box office by making 936,000 pound in its four day weekend.

The film, which was released by 20th Century Fox on February 12, is the widest Bollywood release, being shown on 129 screens at 91 sites across the UK, the film surpasses the previous recod of 749,000 pounds set by `Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna`, which also starred Khan.

The Karan Johar directed movie, which reunited the Khan and Kajol on screen for the first time since their 2001`s `Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham`, is a love story set against the backdrop of 9/11 America.

Khan plays a Muslim man suffering from Asperger`s syndrome, who marries a Hindu single mother. But their idyllic life is torn apart in the shadow of violence. `My Name Is Khan` is the first Bollywood movie to be picked up by a major Hollywood studio for marketing and distribution.

"Expanding our distribution network into the Bollywood arena has been a challenging and exciting experience. We are very fortunate to be working alongside the best possible talent associated with Bollywood," said Andrew Turner Director of Sales at Twentieth Century Fox, the global
distributors of the movie.

"We are very proud to be associated with this extraordinary film and really could not have hoped for a better start with our entry into the Bollywood market place," Turner said.

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Shah Rukh Khan My Name Is Khan broken the record in North America

Grossing an estimated $1.86 million at the box office in its first weekend, Shah Rukh Khan starrer `My Name Is Khan` has broken the record for the largest opening weekend ever for a Hindi film in North America.

The Fox Searchlight release directed by Karan Johar averaged $15,500 from 120 theatres across the United States and Canada over Feb 12-14 weekend. The previous record was held by Shah Rukh`s musical extravaganza "Om Shanti Om" which grossed $1.76 million from 114 theatres when it was released over the Diwali holiday weekend in 2007.

"My Name Is Khan" opened Friday with $444,000, rose 65 percent to $734,000 Saturday, and is estimated to dip 7 percent to $682,000 on Sunday, Valentine`s Day.

Monday`s Presidents` Day holiday in the US will lead to a four-day debut of more than $2 million. MNIK also generated the highest per-theatre average of any film in the Top 20 over the weekend.

Meanwhile "My Name Is Khan" is getting good reviews from US critics with variety.com saying "This riotously overstuffed and enormously enjoyable drama races forward with incredible drive."

Trade publication Hollywood Reporter in a review from Berlin said, "It`s well worth the 162-minute journey" noting "Shah Rukh Khan comes to America (although in a Bollywood film) and shows why he is an Indian mega-star."

"The thing about some Bollywood superstars is that they are actually fine actors as well as charismatic performers. So it`s not surprising in `My Name Is Khan` to see Bollywood mega-star Shah Rukh Khan - he`s light-years beyond a mere superstar in Hindi cinema`s cosmology - challenge himself to expand his acting range and possibly his international fan base."

"This is a movie not built for subtlety, but it does tackle a subject American movies have mostly avoided - that of racial profiling and the plight of Muslim-Americans. It also allows Shah Rukh Khan to display his talent to an even wider audience," it says.

The Los Angeles Times called it "a sweeping epic in the melodramatic Bollywood manner yet emerges as a potent, engaging and timely entertainment." MNIK "is a potent, energetic heart-tugger and Khan and Kajol, major Bollywood stars, are highly appealing and equal to the demand of their emotion-charged roles."

"At its best `My Name Is Khan,` set mainly in America, is an affecting fairy tale about the perils of goodness," said the New York Times.

"`Khan` is one of a handful of Hindi films ("New York," "Kurbaan") about Indians living in a paranoid, post-9/11 America, and there`s something fascinating about looking at this country through a Bollywood lens, even when the story is a kind of fairy tale."

"Skillfully directed by Karan Johar and with an evocative score by Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy, `Khan` jerks tears with ease, while teaching lessons about Islam and tolerance," the Times said.

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Shah Rukh Khans `My Name Is Khan` opened to a huge response in Bangalore

Shah Rukh Khan-starrer `My Name Is Khan` opened to a huge response in Bangalore Friday but got a lukewarm response in other parts of Karnataka like Hubli, Belgaum and Davangere.

The film opened to a great response in all the six multiplexes and 11 single screens in Bangalore.

Bijan Bose, Regional Head-Film cell (South India) told reporters, "The response for the weekend is fantastic. Even the online bookings have been extremely good. We hope this trend will continue in the next seven days."

Abid, programme head of Inox, said "MNIK" is getting very good response in two INOX multiplexes in Garuda Mall and Swagath Complex. "We are running nine shows in the Garuda Mall and five shows in Swagath Complex INOX cinemas. We are getting good inquiries for Saturday and Sunday through online bookings and advance bookings," he said.

The lukewarm response in many cities in North Karnataka was due to the disturbances created on account of Sri Rama Sena Chief Pramod Muthalik`s face being blackened in Bangalore by Congress workers Thursday evening.

Many towns in North Karnataka observed shutdown on Friday and some have even announced shutdown Saturday. This affected the collections of `MNIK` on the opening day.

"Generally, Shah Rukh`s films open to a huge response, but somehow `MNIK` has not got a good opening in Hubli and Belgaum, two major centres of North Karnataka region," said well-known exhibitor and distributor Venkataraman Babji, who is the owner of Padma theatre in Hubli.

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Controversies just don’t seem to leave Shah Rukh Khan

Controversies just don’t seem to leave Shah Rukh Khan. The actor, who has been facing the ire of Shiv Sena over his comments on Pakistani cricketers, has landed in another murky controversy. And this time it’s concerning the new airport security system at UK airports. Shocking all, the actor in a talk show, stated that he autographed printed nude scans of his own body for two female security officers at the Manchester Airport.

And this comes after, the British transport secretary said last week that images taken by new full-body X-ray scanners, which capture in detail the human anatomy, would be destroyed immediately and not pose a risk to travellers` privacy.

Speaking at the show, Shah Rukh said, "I came out [of the scanner] and then I saw these girls and they had these printouts. So I looked at them, I thought maybe it`s a form you`re supposed to [sign] ... and you could see everything inside. And then I`ve autographed them for them”.

As for the statements of British transport secretary go, Lord Adonis said, "A pat-down search is a pretty intrusive procedure but people accept that because it is important that we do detect whether there are weapons or other powerful substances that people may be carrying. A body scanner is in the same category -- it is very important to stress that the images, which are captured by body scanners are immediately deleted. Staff are, of course, properly trained and supervised who manage the body scanners."

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Films normally are for entertainment-Shah Rukh Khan

It has some religion, a bit of politics and it`s set in the backdrop of a world shaking event, but for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan his latest venture is not so much about Islam post-9/11 as it is entertainment.

"The film is mainly entertainment," Shah Rukh said in a lengthy interview from New York on a trip last week to promote his new film, "My Name Is Khan" (MNIK), releasing in the US February 12.

"If some issue is taken back home, I always tell people if they can take back a little more than an empty pack of popcorn, that`s interesting...that`s an added advantage to an entertaining film."

Shah Rukh, who plays a Muslim Indian with Asperger`s syndrome living in the US, finding his marriage to a Hindu single mother (played by Kajol) crumbling post-9/11, wouldn`t agree that it`s the Islam angle that is grabbing the most attention in the US.

"A film normally deals with lots of issues, comedy, or it`s a tragedy or a serious film or a dramatic love story like `...Khan` is meant to be," he said. "If one starts talking or deciding on issues before a whole film is seen, it`s kinda not right to do, specially as a filmmaker.

"Normally, a film is more than the sum of its parts. It`s not like it`s a love story, it`s got a Karan Johar touch to social cinema, it has an angle of religion, it also has a part of politics, it has a world-shaking incident as a backdrop, it also has a lot of sweet songs. It combines all that.

"To me as a filmmaker, or part of a film, any aspect of the film can only be decided once one has seen the whole film. But there`s no denying that there is an aspect of religion in the film."

Nor would Shah Rukh look at this and other recent Bollywood films about the fate of Indian Muslims in the US post-9/11 as an effort to redress any negative images people may have formed about Islam over the last nine years.

"Films normally are for entertainment. One doesn`t really make a conscious decision to make a statement with it. Within entertainment, if a statement gets made, it`s really nice for a filmmaker.

"You know, maybe `3 Idiots` talks about education, but it`s an entertaining film. Similarly `Chak De! India` talks about patriotism, but it`s a sports film.

"You can have issues related in a film, but when filmmakers of commercial proportions like Karan, myself and Kajol and all get together, it`s not to highlight an issue because it`s too expensive as a commercial venture to make a film about an issue and not entertain."

To Shah Rukh, "the most interesting part of the fact as an actor is that I`m playing a character who`s got Asperger`s. It`s also not in any which way to show it in a light which is not nice...but for an actor that`s a great thing to do, you know, to play a (person with a) disorder like this which very few people know about."

"Hopefully, I`ll be able to convince people about it when they see (the film). I don`t think at least commercial filmmakers from India really make a big-time film which is localised or even localised by an international issue," he said.

"Commercial we will only know once the film releases," said Shah Rukh when asked if MNIK isn`t one of Karan Johar`s least commercial offerings so far.

"...Yes, the only thing it has amiss is big set dance pieces, but we just felt with the disorder we were dealing with, it would look very unrealistic for the character Rizwan Khan to indulge in dancing of the order of we normally see in a Hindi film of Karan`s, or you might have seen earlier.

"Except for that, I think the venture is extremely commercial," he said.

"In the last five years, there`s a whole paradigm shift as to what people accept as a commercial film," Shah Rukh said describing it as "Karan`s evolution from making and keeping up with the trends of new commercial cinema in India and elsewhere".

On professional challenges he faced during its filming, Shah Rukh said it was a "very difficult" character to play. "If I was to just put it simply, it`s very seldom that I`ve really gone ahead and played a character which exists in real life.

"And whenever you`re dealing with a disorder or a near...atypical situation, the first thought is that the sort of parameters you have to set that in no which way you are derogatory or deriding the disorder.

"You have to make the protagonist very proud of what it is. The second part is you have to come as close to reality in depicting that characterisation and so one had to study a lot and one does get worried..."

But a couple of people affected with the same disorder who were shown the film had told them "...it`s a great portrayal, it`s very close to someone with this kind of disorder".

"Of course, having said that, I have taken a few cinematic liberties with it, because I`ve used three or four traits which may not exist simultaneously in one person and tried to create one character who has Asperger`s, called Rizwan Khan."

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Shah Rukh Khan is hoping Shiv Sena ire against him

In the eye of a storm over his criticism of exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from a major tournament, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is hoping Shiv Sena ire against him would not be visited on his new film.

"If there is an issue with me you have to sort it out with me and talk to me about my ideology," he told reporters from New York where he was to promote his new film `My Name Is Khan`.

"As far as the film is concerned, that is an incidental thing. According to me, that`s not something they should take their ire against and hopefully they won`t and nobody will and it will release and, inshallah, people will like it," he said.

"I have nothing to respond," said Shah Rukh when asked about Shiv Sena`s threat to disrupt the screening of the film if he did not apologise for speaking against the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"I don`t even understand what `My Name Is Khan` has got to do with what I say," he said.

"You know `My Name Is Khan` is not only my film. It has got Kajol and Karan (Johar) and hundred and fifty other people whose livelihood depends on that."

"And if there is an issue with me you have to sort it out with me and talk to me about my ideology," said Shah Rukh, who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders team, while sticking to his guns on the issue.

"I have no take on anybody`s statement" he said referring to Shiv Sena leaders` criticism of his views. "I can only do a take on my statement. And what I say and what everyone believes in... what I say that we are Indians and we should have everyone like to live freely and happily and be good."

"And so there is nothing new, we learnt it in class three civics books till I finished my masters that this is what I was taught by my parents and my mom."

"And I don`t know what the issue is really. I mean what is wrong in saying what I say that everyone is welcome to my country and I welcome them with open arms, whether it`s art, culture, sport, politics... you know, whatever."

"Everyone has got the right to do what they wish to do in our country. That`s why it`s the biggest democracy apparently," Shah Rukh said.

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SRK's My Name Is Khan will see its world premiere in Abu Dhabi

Shah Rukh Khan `s much-awaited film `My Name Is Khan` will see its world premiere in Abu Dhabi next week.

The film, which marks the return of the famous onscreen pair Shah Rukh and Kajol after a gap of eight years, is a love-story in the backdrop of post 9/11 America.

Directed by Karan Johar and co-produced by Khan, the film will premiere in Abu Dhabi on February 10 followed by an European premiere in Berlin two days later.

Thousands of fans are expected to descend on the Emirates Palace hotel in the capital to catch a glimpse of the 44-year-old star, who has a huge fan following in the country.

In the movie, Khan plays Rizwan, a man suffering from Asperger`s syndrome (a form of autism), who embarks on an extraordinary journey across America to win back the love of his life, Mandira (Kajol).

`My Name Is Khan` is one of the first Bollywood films to be distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the US.

Imagenation Abu Dhabi is in a partnership with Fox Star studios to distribute the film in the Middle East.

The film will see its worldwide release on February 12.

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Shahrukh Khan is extremely excited about his next project

Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan is extremely excited about his next project, the much touted big-budget action film RA.ONE.

Reportedly Shahrukh plays a software engineer Shekhar, who as a video-game hero takes on his self-created techno-monster Ra-1. Bollywood hottie Kareena Kapoor plays the female lead in the film.

Shahrukh’s wife Gauri Khan is the producer and Anubhav Sinha (TUM BIN) is director of this film, which will be produced by Bollywood Hollywood Production and Red Chillies Entertainment. Cinematography is by Ueli Steiger (The Maiden Heist), while David Benullo (Shadow Man) is screenwriter.

This superhero film, which goes on floors from next month, has finalized Miami as its location. This will be the second Bollywood shooting in Miami in less than a year. Just around nine-ten months back, shooting was held for Abhishek-John-Priyanka starrer DOSTANA.

The makers of RA.ONE are planning to close parts of an avenue for a car chase, which will also extend to various other parts of Miami.

Whilst Shahrukh these days is being described in the media as Hollywood stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt mixed into one.

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I should learn to share my life in Twitter-Shah Rukh Khan

After Karan Johar, Priyanka Chopra and Preity Zinta, now Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has joined social networking site
Twitter.

"Being extremely shy, I never thought I would be here (on Twitter). But my friend Karan Johar insisted that I should learn to share my life," Shah Rukh posted on his Twitter page.

"Thanks everyone, this is really sweet...didn’t expect such a warm welcome. Love to you all," he added.

The superstar was hardly seen on big screen in 2009 except in "Billu", and explaining the reason behind his absence, he wrote: "Injury has kept me away from making more films. Will work my back off to be around more... the shoulder feels strong and so do I."

In February last year, Shah Rukh underwent an arthroscopic surgery for acute pain in his left shoulder at the Breach Candy hospital in south Mumbai.

He is now gearing up for the release of his much-talked about film "My Name Is Khan" which also stars Kajol.

Releasing Feb 12, the film’s story revolves around Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh) who suffers from Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. Rizwan falls in love with a single mother Mandira (Kajol) who lives in San Francisco. Rizwan is detained by authorities at Los Angeles International Airport, mistaking his disability for "suspicious" behaviour.

Right now Shah Rukh is enjoying his holiday with wife and children.

"Kids and life calling...watching Tim Burton’s ’9’ (animated fantasy film directed by Shane Acker) with them...last holiday...so up late...catch up later...," he wrote in his latest posting.

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Shahrukh Khan has renewed the brand endorsement contract

Shahrukh Khan is said to be the brand and the company to be profited by his ‘Midas touch’ is none other than Linc pens. We hear Shahrukh Khan has renewed the brand endorsement contract with Linc pens and has inked the deal for one more year.

Apparently the news is that the management at Linc pens is way too happy with the way their sales are skyrocketing ever since Khan saab has scribbled a few words on television with their brand of pens. Therefore they have decided to cash on Shahrukh Khan to keep increasing their brand visibility.

The suave gentlemanly brand ambassador, Shahrukh Khan comments, “It has been wonderful being a part of the Linc team for the past year and I am glad to continue the association. Over the years, Linc is one of the most trusted brands in the Indian writing pen industry and I am happy to be associated with the Linc family.”

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Sunny Deol patched up with Shah Rukh Khan after 16 years

Lately, Shah Rukh Khan might have had serious issues with several people from the film industry but the first actor who he had an ego clash with was Sunny Deol way back in 1993. Now, the two actors have patched up 16 years after they had a huge fight during the making of Yash Chopra’s Darr. They finally buried the hatchet during a party on Saturday night and the man responsible for the patch up was host Subhash Ghai.

A source present at the party said, “Shah Rukh had come in earlier in the evening and he was sitting in one of the private sections at the party venue with Karan Johar and his other friends. Sunny Deol was accompanied by director Neeraj Pathak, who he was chatting with, when Ghai suddenly went up to the reticent actor and took him to the private section. Ghai headed straight to Shah Rukh and reintroduced the two warring actors.

SRK and Sunny shook hands and gradually warmed up to each other and were later seen chatting animatedly with lyricist Prasoon Joshi.”

Commenting on the SRK-Sunny animosity, the source added, “Sunny was probably the first one among the long list of people that Shah Rukh has had a problem with over the years. Sunny had such a big issue that after Darr he completely stopped speaking to Shah Rukh and Yash Chopra . The two actors have buried the hatchet after so many years.”

According to the source, Sunny left the party early and when the clock struck midnight, SRK’s friends gathered around him to celebrate his and Gauri’s wedding anniversary, which was yesterday.

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Shah Rukh will be conferred with a Black Belt Honorary in Taekwondo

After receiving laurels from governments of foreign nations, Shah Rukh Khan will now be the recipient of a special honour, conferred by the Korean government.

Delegates from the Korean government have landed in New Delhi last evening and are scheduled to fly down to Mumbai on Thursday morning. Shah Rukh, touched by the gesture, has agreed to be present at the ceremony to accept the honour.

Shah Rukh’s close friend reveals, “These developments took place a couple of weeks ago. Shah Rukh will be conferred with a Black Belt Honorary in Taekwondo.

Not only that, he will also be the ambassador of the Korean Culture and Tourism. SRK is mighty excited at this and feels modest that he is going to be the recipient of such a prestigious honour.”

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Shah Rukh Khan Won the Farah’s Joru Ka Gulaam award

The Badshah of Bollywood,Shah Rukh Khan is back, this time as a guest on the chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein. Host Farah Khan makes a vibrant entry and introduces the nominations for the best ‘Pati’ (husband) or Joru Ka Gulaam award.

The nominations are: Abhishek Bacchan for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan; Anil Ambani for Tina Ambani; Hrithik Roshan for Suzzane; Sachin Tendulkar for Anjali; Akshaye Kumar for Twinkle. But the award for slavish devotion to one’s wife goes to the one and only - Farah’s best friend and the King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan.

Farah congratulates SRK and presents him the trophy, as SRK admits shyly that he likes all sorts of awards. He may be over 40 years old, but is very thankful to all for this award as he has been waiting for this for a long time! SRK thanks God and his mother for it and shares that it was actually his mother who made him capable of receiving the award.

SRK admits that it was his mother who taught him how to be a ’Joru Ka Ghulam’ like his father. He thanks his parents for finally receiving the award and adds in his remarkable witty style, “Wife ko main thanks publicly kabhi nahi karta hoon, roz subah uttkar main unke charan (feet ) paani se dhokar peeta hoon!”

And his message for the other nominees is to persevere for such an award; "Main in sabhi nowjawaano se kehna chahoonga ... ki aur mehnat karo aur koshish karo ki biwi ke gulaam ban sako, aur main unko yeh bhi clear karna chahta hoon ki just because yeh Farah ka show hai, yeh STAR TV par hai, isliye yeh award fix nahi hai! Yeh mera haq hain aur maine haq se jeeta hai!"

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