SRK:West is beginning to take Bollywood seriously

Shah Rukh Khan walked the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards and also presented the award winning film Slumdog Millionaire. The superstar spoke to CNN-IBN hours before the event.

CNN-IBN: You are the first Indian star to grace the Golden Globe stage. What is your take on that?

Shah Rukh Khan: I am very honoured and at the same time I accept with full humility that I have not been called because of who I am, it is because Indian cinema is being looked upon with importance by the Western world now.

I just happen to be one of the faces of Bollywood and so they chose me. I am presenting the movie Slumdog Millionaire. First I was giving away an award but now I am presenting this film.

CNN-IBN: Slumdog Millionaire’s director Danny Boyle offered you the movie first. You were supposed to do the guest role initially. Any regrets?

Shah Rukh Khan: I would have loved to do the role but at that time I was doing Om Shanti Om so I couldn’t leave it mid way.

CNN-IBN: What do you think about the awards ceremony?

Shah Rukh Khan: They have been very gracious. I hope I don't make a fool of myself. I hope I don’t trip or fall on the red carpet. I am a very shy person, very odd at social gatherings. I am sure most of the people don’t know me there so I will just do my job and say hello to a few people who know me there.

CNN-IBN: My Name Is Khan is your next movie. Tell us something about it.

Shah Rukh Khan: Yes, it is a post-9/11 movie on Islam and Islamic people. The protagonist is called Khan and he vehemently says that he is called Khan. It is a different movie from all the films I have done so far.

On set Pics

MY NAME IS KHAN On set pics

My Name is Khan : Jimmy Shergil replace Aamir Bashir in MNIK due to US Visa Scandal

MY NAME IS KHAN MOVIE:

Earlier Aamir Bashir, one of the cast members of Karan Johar’s forthcoming film ‘My Name Is Khan’ was denied US Visa and now Amir Bashir has been replaced by Jimmy Shergil.

Aamir Bashir was to play the role of Shah Rukh Khan’s younger brother in the film. Shahrukh Khan and Karan Johar are presently in Los Angeles and busy in shooting. Kajol is playing a pivotal in the film.

Now Jimmy Shergil is ready to go to US on January 20 and will do the shooting in Los Angeles. Jimmy Shergil has already worked with Shahrukh Khan in ‘Mohabbatein’.

Chit-Chat with SRK

Shah Rukh Khan talks.. Vajir Singh is all ears..

Is this your new look for Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan?
Yeah it is. I think they’ll comb my hair a little more when they start shooting.

A new look seems to be quite a vogue nowadays.
I don’t know about the others but if I do one film at a time, I go for a look according to my director’s wish. Farah (Khan) asked me to get a six pack for a song, so I did.

Shimit (Amin) wanted me to look different in Chak De! India. Adi (Aditya Chopra) wanted two different looks for Rab ne Bana di Jodi. When my directors asks me to go in for a new look, I do.. when they don’t, I remain the way I am. 

What’s your take on the financial crunch affecting film production?
Not just the film industry, everyone has been affected.. whether it’s real estate or any other business. Even basic requirements like iron and steel have been affected. So far, cosmetics and entertainment have been the least affected businesses. 

Several films have already been shelved.
Recession will hit everyone including the film industry. I’ve done three films this year — Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi — which fortunately didn’t get shelved. Billoo the Barber has been produced by me. The shooting of My Name is Khan starts from December 18. I haven’t heard of any film getting shelved.

But the kind of prices actors were demanding will be affected. Actors, directors, writers, musicians, producers.. all their fees will be affected. We’ll have to make our products more cost-effective. If the audience can’t afford a Rs 250 ticket, everyone involved in filmmaking has to bring down his price. Plain logic! 

The terror attacks have aggravated the filmmaking situation.
Itna toh bola maine TV par, yaar. What else can I say? You must have seen me on TV talking. 

Yes. And you made a potentially controversial remark — that there’s an Islam from Allah  but very unfortunately, there’s an Islam from the mullahs.
(Cuts in) What controversy? There’s Hinduism from the Geeta and there’s Hinduism from the pandits. When I say pandit or mullah, I’m talking about those who are conversant with religion.

I know the religion, so I’m a mullah. Mere bachon ko main religion sikhaunga, so I’m their mullah. Teacher mullah hota hai.  I’m just pleading that if you have a child.. you’re their first teacher. The first thing parents need to tell their children is, “ Listen son, this is our faith and it’s a very good faith. It will lead us to the truth..it will help us to know whether we will go to heaven or to hell.”

And that Shah Rukh Khan, he says this in Urdu to his children.. he says the same thing in English..and in Shabar gurwani. Languages are different but the meanings are the same.

People are hesitant to go to the cinema halls in the wake of the terror attacks. Does the release of Rab Ne Bana di Jodi make sense in such circumstances?
See, for last two weeks, Adi and I stopped the film’s publicity. We felt we shouldn’t be talking about entertaining people. Having said that, somewhere down the line, life has to go on. 

We’re taking a chance. What can I offer to the people who’re in a depressed state of mind? All of us can offer a part of our work. As a writer, you can give hope to your readers. From our work, I’m  assuming we are making an offer — listen maybe this is not the nicest of times but this two-and-a-half hour film may help you to overcome some of your depression. 

Are you apprehensive?
No I’m never apprehensive. If the film has to be affected negatively then it will be. If it has to have a normal run, it will get one. I go by Adi’s sensibility. We also believe that Rab is involved in this film.. I think Rab will take care of us. 

The hep guy you’re playing in the film seems to have a weird sense of dressing.
He’s over the top and vulgar. He’s someone who wants to be a fashion guru but doesn’t know what fashion is. He’s a wannabe cool dude. Both the characters I play in the film are based on real guys I met during the shoot of Kya Aap Panchvi Paas se Tez Hain. Surinder and Bobby.

I asked Surinder Sahni what he would do if wins Rs 5 crore? He said he’d give it to the poor people. When I asked him why he wouldn’t want to keep the money, he said, “I know what it is to be poor. I want to give it to someone who’s poorer.”

The other guy was Bobby, he was carrying a guitar but didn’t know how to play it.When I asked him why, he said, “It looks cool.” When I asked him what do you want to be in life? He said, “I’m told I look like John Abraham.. so I want to be John Abraham.”  

Aditya Chopra is not exactly known for accepting his actors’ ideas. So how did he go along with yours?
Do you know Adi? Adi is not known by anyone. Today, if we announce that there’s no person called Aditya Chopra, people will believe that. Because there’s no person called Aditya Chopra. Yashji uses a pseudonym to make movies. He doesn’t have a son called Adi.

Ha ha!
Well, Adi is a cool guy. He’s always busy with work. He comes back home from work after midnight,  at one o’clock maybe and plays games till five in the morning.

But people have formed their own opinions about Adi. I keep hearing about his marriages. I’m like how? I know him the best, Karan knows him best of all.. but we don’t get to meet him.

Many think that Adi doesn’t like any interference. On my part, I can say that occasionally I tell him, “Adi main aisa karunga.” And he will say, “ Achha toh kar de chal.” Adi and I think alike.

Adi and I are very ordinary, boring persons since we only like to work. As an actor, I’ve to go to various places... interact with people.. everyone think I’ve a sense of humour. But in my personal life, I’m very boring. 

You’re the first actor to be conferred the Malaysian title, Datuk (often equated with the British knighthood). However, the local talent there wasn’t too happy about this.
I’m not aware of the objections. Some awards are given to create a cultural bridge. Malaysia is very close to India. Very few people are aware of the fact that Malacca is actually a principality founded by the Indian king, Parmeshwara, in 1400 AD.

But of course, local talent will always have this kind of an issue. It could have happened. I truly believe that the title is an honour to our country. It’s a very beautiful place..you should go there for a holiday. 

It’s  recession time.. I don’t think I can afford to go there.
(Smiles) You can always find some controversial story and go there. It’s the easiest thing in the world to cook up a controversy out of nothing nowadays.

MNIK is SRK's National Award Bet

Bollywood's Badshah sets his eyes on a national award this year

Life is difficult for Shah Rukh Khan rite now.Not Beacuse his popularity is waning(it isn't) or because his films no longer make money(they do,in truckloads).It's difficult because the man who, in his own words, is "typecast as a commercial hero"is doing films that challenge the actor in him-the common man in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, the superstar with twist in Billo Barber, and the autistic protagnist in My Name is Khan.

"To do something different - which can be put up for the National Award andstill be commercially viable-is a challenge," says Shah Rukh ."My Name Is Khan is about someone who has a disorder and is compulsive. It's a journey of a man and a Family. A very different film for Karan and for me, It,s another difficult film, like Rab ne...or Chak De!"

You wouldn't have thought that King Khan feels the need to prove himself as an actor, but he dose, apparently."Because," he explains,"90% of the people who see my films critically, think i can't act, including [a] lot of actors. so after 20 years, my fight is to show people that I can act....differently....and also make the film a commercial success."

These days Shah Rukh Khan is doing research to get into the special needs character of his under production movie, “My Name is Khan”.

He has been busy reading books on Asperger's syndrome to prepare for the role in Karan Johar’s movie, which is loosely based on the Hollywood film “Rainman”.

SRK is reading books on Asperger's syndrome

These days Shah Rukh Khan is doing research to get into the special needs character of his under production movie, “My Name is Khan”.

He has been busy reading books on Asperger's syndrome to prepare for the role in Karan Johar’s movie, which is loosely based on the Hollywood film “Rainman”.

Asperger’s syndrome (also called Asperger syndrome, Asperger's disorder, Asperger's or AS) is the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in which there is no general delay in language or cognitive development. Like other ASDs, it is characterised by difficulties in social interaction and restricted, stereotyped patterns of behavior and interests. Although not mentioned in standard diagnostic criteria for AS, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.

Not many would know that Shah Rukh loves reading and he recently finished reading the new book in the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer.

SRK's new look for MNIK

SRK in with his new Look for MY Name IS Khan

SRK is supporting a different hair cut in this one.

SRK will attend the Golden Globe Awards

SRK has been sent an invitation by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to attend the Golden Globe Awards and also present an award at the ceremony, to be held at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on January 11.

SRK will be the first Indian ever to present an award at the prestigious Golden Globe Awards.

Shah Rukh is currently in Los Angeles shooting for Karan Johar's “My Name is Khan”. Incidentally, he also has time to spare on January 11, so we are likely to see him at the event.

“The organisers want me to present a film in the Drama category, walk the red carpet, give interviews,” Shah Rukh has said.

Also present at the event will be A.R. Rahman, who has been nominated in the Best Musical Score category for the soundtrack of the film “Slumdog Millionaire”.

So Shah Rukh has one more good reason to attend. “Rahman is nominated for Slumdog. It will be nice to see him win,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricket captain, is all set to make his small screen debut.
He will be a judge on SRK's new reality show “Knights and Angels”, which is a talent hunt for cheerleaders.

The winner of the show will head the cheerleaders of Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders team in the IPL.

My Name is Khan : SRK resurfaced shoulder injury in Los Angeles

SRK’s shoulder injury has resurfaced, causing him immense pain while shooting for Karan Johar’s ‘My Name is Khan’ in Los Angeles. SRK had first injured his left shoulder while performing a stunt for the Mudassar Aziz directed ‘Dulha Mil Gaya’.
However, the injury resurfaced again forcing Shah Rukh Khan to seek medical help in a hospital in LA. SRK’s condition was so bad that the doctors had to perform an MRI scan on his left shoulder and hand. They also advised him rest.

My Name is Khan : Karan Johar applied for a permission to shoot in the White House

he young director has his heart set on the White House, the residence of the US President for his next directorial venture ‘ My Name is Khan’, starring golden couple Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.

Yes, you got that right! Karan Johar surely has a taste that is one of it’s kind. The director was recently in US doing some location shopping and it’s being reported that he even applied for a permission to shoot in the White House.

If KJo pulls it off, it will be the first time an Indian movie will be shot on, what’s easily the only location in the world, with the tightest security!

An industry source reveals, “Bollywood producers want to offer something new to the audiences. Snoop Dogg was seen in Singh Is Kinng, Sajid Nadiadwala has roped in Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone for his next, and Ajay Devgan brought in an action director from the US for Toonpur Ka Superhero.

The makers want to bring the two cultures and cinematic sensibilities together for the better. However, in My Name Is Khan, the White House is not merely a decoration but an integral part of the script. The film is based on the problems faced by a Muslim man (played by Shah Rukh Khan) living in America.”

Karan has applied for permission to shoot in and around the area. Even big Hollywood makers don’t really get this level of permission easily. And if Johar pulls this off for this shoot, it will be quite an achievement.

The director, who just returned from the US a couple of days back, admits, “I’m currently working on pre- production. The story of my film takes the lead actors from San Francisco to LA and eventually to Washington D.C. I am trying to figure out permissions including locations in and around Washington. I still have a lot of time, till I achieve these permissions, as I only start the shoot of the movie from February next year.”

The spokesperson for the National Security Agency in the US says, “It’s next to impossible to shoot anything in the White House. Especially if you are not a US citizen. One cannot shoot on the grounds. But various people have shot their movies outside the grounds (outside the gates of the White House) to which we have no control over.”

My Name Is Khan : Muslim cast and crew of My Name is Khan denied US Visa

SRK plans his work well in advance. After finishing the publicity and promotional drive for ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, he has embarked on a trip to Los Angeles alongside good pal Karan Johar to shoot for his next big flick ‘My Name Is Khan’.

This film would re-unite the super-hit jodi of SRK and Kajol, that was last seen in Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ in 2001 after a gap of 7 years.

There was a buzz that Kajol was dillydallying with her dates in the past, but the unit is facing even bigger trouble now.

Even before shooting could commence in full swing there’s a major barrier for the unit.

Following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, some Muslim members from the cast and crew of the film have been denied US visas.

This includes SRK’s personal staff and also actor Aamir Bashir who has acted in ‘A Wednesday’.

The buzz is that post the Mumbai terror attacks the US consulate has become extremely cautious about issuing visas and apparently despite making them understand that the people concerned were leaving for a shoot, the authorities didn’t budge.

The rejected members have been left with no choice but to submit fresh applications and praying for better luck this time around.

My Name is Khan : Noor Jehan’s grand daughter Sonya Jehan in MNIK

Sonya Jehan , grand daughter of singer-actress the late Noor Jehan, will be seen in Karan Johar’s forthcoming movie “My Name is Khan”.

The actress, who debuted with Akbar Khan’s “Taj Mahal” three years ago and was also seen in the movie “Khoya Khoya Chaand”, is highly excited about working under a big banner.

She will be playing the second lead with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol playing the main lead. SRK is shown as an autistic and will be seen sporting a complete new look with cropped hairstyle. The film is being shot in Los Angeles.

Rumored plot

In the movie SRK and Kajol play husband and wife.Shah Rukh Khan plays a Muslim named Rizwan Khan and is detained in LA as a suspected terrorist for 9/11 attacks. Add to it his character also suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a milder form of autism and his impairment makes his behavior more suspicious. Shah Rukh has gained weight and will be sporting a new trimmed hairdo for the film.

While Karan maintains that the film is a true story based on a couple's life in LA, some say it is inspired from the Oscar nominated Dustin Hoffman – Tom Cruise starer Rain Man . Incidentally the film is already in news for its alleged similar storyline with Yash Raj Films' New York starring John Abraham, Neil Mukesh and Katrina Kaif. But to us the plot sounds more similar to Naseeruddin Shah's Shoot on Sight .

The Movie will have nothing that the audience has come to expect from Johar’s films.The film will have no song whatsoever. So all the grand sets and music and costumes we associate with KJo’s films will be missing of sorts. The budget is still big. The designers are there and the locations will be grand but at the end of the day it is quite a serious film.'My Name is Khan’ will turn out to be Johar’s Biggest Bollywood risk till date.

Cast n crew

Producer - Dharma Productions

Director -

Karan Johar

Music Director - Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy(background score)

Choreographer - N.A.(no dances)

Written by - Shibani Bhatija

In the lead ,

Shah Rukh Khan
Character Name ~ Rizwan Khan

Kajol Devgan

















R.Madhavan

Sonya Jehan





Expected Release Date is Nov, 2009

About The Movie ~ My Name is Khan

Hottest pair on silver screen is getting ready to put the screen on fire once again and rule our hearts. SRK n Kajol's jodi is all set to make a come back with Karan Johar's MY Name is Khan.
Shah Rukh and Kajol will face the camera together after a gap of seven years. Incidentally, they were last seen sharing screen space in Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

It's an emotional love story, written by Shibani Bhatija."Karan had wanted to recreate the Kajol-SRK magic in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna but she had turned down the part that finally went to Rani. On Koffee with Karan, Kajol made it public that Shah Rukh was upset with her for making her comeback with Aamir Khan in Fanaa, instead of doing a film with him.
Shooting is in full swing SRK was busy for on new year's eve also.
Expected Date of Release is some where near Mid '09.