Anushka Sharma opposite SRK in ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ May 9, 2008

Bangalore model, 19-year-old Anushka Sharma has been identified to play the female lead opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Aditya Chopra’s third film as director ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

Said Yash Chopra, “We were looking first and foremost for someone who could truly embody the spirit of small-town Punjab and we know we have found her in Anushka. And while she has no previous acting experience, we have seen that unique spark in her that makes us confident that she will be a standout even opposite Shah Rukh.”

‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ will go on floors on 16th May and will hit theatres worldwide on 12th December.

Shah Rukh ’sleepless nights’ April 14, 2008

Four days before the start of the Indian Premier League the latest initiative of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the negatives are piling up .

In an extensive interview to the Kolkata-based Anand Bazaar Patrika, Shah Rukh Khan, who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, said he is “quite disappointed” at the poor audience response.

“The first day, when I heard this, I was really surprised that only 237 tickets had been sold at the counter,” Khan told the Kolkata paper. “I am truly finding it difficult to accept this. I have never, till date, requested my fans to go and see my films. Never ever done it. I am a bit surprised as to why, despite keeping the ticket prices low, people are not showing any interest.”

Khan said he is “very tired” by the IPL experience. “I never thought so many problems would crop up when I bought the Knight Riders. I was not prepared for these circumstances. A rosy picture, removed from reality, was painted to me,” he said.

One element in that rosy picture was that the franchise owners would be allowed to stage various forms of entertainment at the venues, in order to woo the fans. Apparently even that has run into trouble — apparently the Kolkata government, unlike governments of states hosting other franchises — has refused to provide tax exemption.

“How can I do it [hold an entertainment package] unless the entertainment tax is waived?” Khan told the ABP. “The tax has been exempted at all the other centres in India except in Kolkata.”

He said officials of the franchise have met government officials and appealed, but thus far, he has no word on whether exemption will be granted. “Involvement with the Knight Riders is giving me sleepless nights,” a clearly disgruntled Khan told the ABP.

The interview comes as the final straw on what has been a bad week for the IPL. The Press Trust of India late last week announced that it will boycott the event in protest against the draconian conditions laid down by IPL for the media.

The PTI boycott is a potentially devastating blow. In its inaugural year, the IPL needs as much publicity as it can get; PTI is the agency smaller, out of town newspapers and the vernacular media that cannot afford to send correspondents to cover the event live — or may not get accreditation, given the pressure on space — will rely on for news, information and features. The boycott by PTI virtually ensures a near total blackout, therefore, of the IPL in the medium and small scale segments of the media — thus preventing the league from drumming up interest and support in the grassroots communities.

The same is true for international coverage. The News Media Coalition, an umbrella body that incorporates global news and photography services such as Reuters, Associated Press (AP), Agence France Presse (AFP) and Getty Images, have also said that in view of the IPL’s restrictive clauses — most notably, the proscription on news agencies selling content and photographs to websites — the Coalition will boycott the event; thus reducing or in some cases eliminating international coverage of the much-touted league.

Shah Rukh Khan, and other franchise owners, are reportedly concerned over the threat of a blackout by some sections of the media. Cricinfo reported late last week that franchise owners plan to voice these concerns to IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, and ask that he resolve the issues.

‘If the issue escalates to a point where media or sections of the media will choose to ignore the IPL, we will have to step in, meet with IPL and seek clarifications. We need to find an amicable solution,’ Cricinfo quoted Charu Sharma, chief executive of the Vijay Mallya-owned Bangalore Royal Challengers, as saying.

The website also quotes Fraser Castellino, CEO of Jaipur’s Rajasthan Royals, as saying they had invested heavily in the venture and would like the entire media on board, to ensure that the event “reaches every heart”.

“For that, we need the entire media on our side,” Castellino said. “We hope the two parties, like two sensible people, will sit across the table and resolve the issue. We really have no time but we, as a franchise, are willing to step in and help resolve this situation.”

Castellino’s wish is unlikely to come true. Getty Images, a global photography service, has taken the IPL off its list of assignments for the month; equally significantly, PTI did not apply within deadline for accreditation, which effectively means it will not be present ringside to send in reports and features.

SRK’s ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ to go on floors in May April 3, 2008

The movie marks the return of Aditya Chopra as a director after eight years.

Shah Rukh Khan has been cast reportedly opposite Sonam Kapoor, daughter of veteran actor Anil Kapoor, in the film which trade circles describe as a love story between a 40-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl.

However, sources in Yash Raj films are tight lipped on the cast opposite Khan as well as the film’s story which will be set in Punjab.

Slated for release on December 12, Sanjeev Kohli, Director and CEO of YashRaj films, said that for the past eight years, Aditya has put his energies on building Yash Raj Films into India’s first production house built on the studio model and shaping it into a creative nerve centre that has nurtured some of India’s best screenwriters, directors and stars.

He said ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ will make audiences think of the magic touch that has made ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ the longest running motion picture in the history of Indian cinema.

Unlike many of his stories and screenplays including `Veer-Zara’, this film will capture the hearts across the globe all over again, he claimed.

© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved.

First Look: SRK’s ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ March 20, 2008

The first look of Aditya Chopra-Shahrukh Khan blockbuster combo ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ is a studio still since the movie is yet to start. As is apparent it is mint fresh and oozing with youthful buoyancy. The king spins the world on his finger while that dimpled smile raises indescribable emotions in millions of hearts. Don’t be surprised if new box office records are created this year once it is released on December 12.

The wait is over. Eight years after he last directed a film, Aditya Chopra is back helming a Yash Raj Films production. Even as his directorial debut ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ continues its record breaking run in its 13th year, Aditya is ready to direct his third film.
 
After directing his second film, ‘Mohabbatein’, back in 2000, Aditya had taken a conscious break from direction to set up and develop India’s first studio model making Yash Raj Films a name to reckon with. In the years that followed, YRF, under the keen eye of Aditya, produced such blockbusters as ‘Dhoom’,  ‘Dhoom 2’, ‘Hum Tum’, ‘Bunty Aur Babli’, ‘Salaam Namaste’, ‘Fanaa’ and ‘Chak De India’. While Aditya was the creative producer in all these films, he also kept up with his creative juices by writing his father Yash Chopra’s directorial venture ‘Veer-Zaara’ in 2004, and the stories of other films.
 
Aditya’s third directorial venture would be titled ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ that would star the formidable Shah Rukh Khan… indeed the jodi of Adi and SRK would once again be a treat for film audiences the world over.
 
Aditya would introduce a new girl opposite King Khan in the film. The hunt for a new girl is on.
 
The film, to be produced by Yash Chopra, would be written and directed by Aditya Chopra.

Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai- An Exclusive look March 15, 2008

 

Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain? *TV Promos!!!*

SBS – Shahrukh talks about kya aap paanchvi paas se tez hai

School kids will have lot of fun, but will also practice moral restraint when they see their elders restoring to cheating on Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai?. It’s a television game show featuring Shah Rukh Khan and is based on the international Mark Burnett format Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader‘ in which grade-school level questions are put to adults. But here, the adults are not to be blamed; the format allows them to cheat without fear.

The Rules of the Game

Each game is played by an individual contestant, who is presented with the chance to win up to Rupees 5 Crore by answering questions taken from the syllabus of a fifth grade level or lower. The contestant is presented with 10 subject cards, which he may answer in the order of his choice. Each correct answer moves the contestant higher up the ladder of money values. If a contestant answers all 10 questions correctly, he is given the chance to answer an 11th question which on answering correctly will get him Rupees 5 Crore.

The Money Tree

Each time a question is answered, the contestant must ‘confirm’ the answer by saying it out loud. As each new question is read, the contestant is given the option to drop out with the amount of money currently in his bank. If the contestant chooses to answer the question, but gives the wrong answer, he walks away with nothing (during questions 1-5) or with Rs. 200000 (question 6 or later).

The above mechanism varies on the 11th question, if the contestant should reach it. The 11th question is drawn from a separate pool of five fifth-grade questions. However, unlike previous questions, the contestant must commit to answering or walking away, based on subject alone—he will not be allowed to hear the question before making his decision.

Cheating is fun

The contestant is also provided three cheats to use over the course of the round. All of these cheats involve his classmates, which is a group of children seated on stage who are answering the same questions as the contestant.

Every two questions, a new classmate joins the contestant and becomes his teammate for those two questions. The contestant can use his cheats at any time during the first 10 questions.

The three lifelines

Taank Jhaank: Here, the contestant has the opportunity to review his current teammate’s answer before submitting his own.
Nakal: Here, the contestant may opt not to answer the question at all, but rather, let his current teammate answer for him. Unlike the ‘copy your classmate’ cheat, in this instance, the contestant may not reject his teammate’s answer, but is stuck with it.
Bachao: This cheat is triggered automatically if the contestant gives a wrong answer. If the contestant’s current partner turns out to have the correct answer, the contestant is then saved.

The only instance in which two cheats can be used on the same question is if the contestant opts for Taank Jhaank, rejects the kid’s correct answer, gives a wrong answer himself, and is then saved by the kid. Other than this one scenario, the cheats must necessarily be used individually.

The twist in the game

If the contestant makes it to the 11th and final question, he must tackle that question without help, even if he has not used his cheats.
Upon leaving the game either by quitting, or answering incorrectly, the contestant must profess to the camera, “I’m not smarter than a fifth grader.”

While the kids will have fun watching the elders admitting that they are not smarter than a fifth grader; elders will be put to a lot of embarrassment. Finally, kids are going to have good time learning and elders will have to brush up their primary school knowledge. So, stay tuned this summer for Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai? only on Star Plus.

ShahRukh Khan- A terriorist?????????? March 10, 2008

After seven years, Shah Rukh and Kajol would once again appear on the silver screen together in an emotional love story directed by none other but Karan Johar.

SRK, Kajol to recreate magic yet again!

They have made you cry, laugh and watch bedazzled as they unleashed their magic in films after films like ‘Karan- Arjun’, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’. We are talking of Bollywood’s favourite onscreen couple, Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan.

Well there is some good news for their fans. If reports are to be believed then director Karan Johar, would cast the two of them opposite each other in his next film. SRK and Kajol would face the camera together after seven years. They were last seen together on screen in Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’. Before leaving for New York for location hunting, the young director confirmed the news. He said that Kajol and SRK would be in his next film, which is an emotional love story being penned by Shibani Bhatija. He had wanted to recreate the ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’ magic. Kajol did admit on the television chat show, ‘KoffeeWith Karan’, that SRK was mad at her for making her comeback with Aamir Khan in ‘Fanaa’ and not him.

Source: MovieTalkies

Shahrukh to gift son a superhero flick February 25, 2008

Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan is a great fan of superhero flicks. King Khan is all set to gift his son a superhero flick in which he will star himself. The movie will be directed by Anubhav Sinha in what will be one of the most expensive movies ever made in Bollywood. Hunt is currently on for a 12 year old boy who will be flying in the sky along with Shahrukh.
The movie will not be an animation but a full length movie shot on the scale of Spiderman. It will involve a huge number of special effects never before seen in Bollywood. Shahrukh will also be involved in the scripting process along with Anubhav. The movie will be produced by Shahrukh’s Red Chillies Entertainment. Anubhav who has directed Cash and Dus in the past is confident of the film doing well.

The 53rd Fair Film Fare Awards- A Big Hit February 25, 2008

   

53rd Fair Film Fare awards were indeed a grand ceremony. However, one could not help but notice that only those stars were present at the gathering who won certain awards, those who didn’t win anything did not bother to turn up at the show.

The happiest of the lot were those who took home the lovely black lady – the Filmfare trophy. Shah Rukh, Kareena, Aamir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Tabu, Darsheel Safary, Konkona Sensharma, Irrfan Khan, AR Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan, Rishi Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone… had reason enough to celebrate.

These were the stars who brightened the Award Show, which was hosted at the Yash Raj studios.

The best part was when Sharukh and Saif got naughty using satirical remarks on people of the film industry. This duo are real wicked, but are loved by the audience.

These guys dressed up so whackily too, check them out in that blue wrap up !!!!!!

Happy were those who won the awards and they indeed had a blast that day.