ShahRukh Khan

LuNo · May 4, 2008

Kolkata Knight Riders

LuNo · May 7, 2008

Shah Rukh calls it quits with Shankar

Shah Rukh Khan had called off the sci-fi Robot with South director Shankar owing to creative differences. Afterwards, Shah Rukh had said “Yes, we have called it off. We were not happy with a few things; Shankar’s take on the film was completely different from mine. We had worked very hard on the film and it is sad that we had to call it off. Both Shankar and I decided that we won’t make it together.”

However, no one said what exactly the creative differences were. Shah Rukh had loved the script and was all set to produce the film under his banner Red Chillies Entertainment. So what went wrong?

Apparently, Shah Rukh and Shankar parted ways because Shah Rukh wanted the special effects of the film to be done in his SFX studio in Khar, but Shankar wanted to do the same in Chennai. According to our well-placed source in the film industry, “Robot had a lot of special effects. For the whole exercise of special effects to be completed, Shankar would have had to stay in Mumbai for six months at least. Shankar didn’t want to stay so long in Mumbai. Shankar argued, but Shah Rukh was adamant.”

SRK had even given a signing amount of Rs 5 crore to Shankar. Our source further reveals, “Shankar’s fee for the film was going to be Rs 12 crore. When Shah Rukh gave him the signing amount, he deducted the TDS. Later, Shankar returned the entire signing amount but without deducting the TDS - Rs 5 crore.”

We sent a message to Shah Rukh, but he did not reply. Shah Rukh’s next project will be Yash Raj Films’ Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which will be directed by Aditya Chopra.

LuNo · May 8, 2008

When SRK met The Great Khali

Shah Rukh Khan has invited WWE Champion, The Great Khali, for dinner at Mannat as his kids Aryan and Suhana are huge fans of the wrestler.

King Khan has even organised a private jet to fly Khali to Kolkata to join the Knight Riders for their match on May 18.

So, does SRK fulfill every wish of son Aryan and daughter Suhana? Well, it looks like he certainly made this wish of theirs come true.

Not only did he personally invite Khali for lunch at home, but he even wants to share his latest passion, Cricket and the IPL, with him.

Says a well-placed source close to Khali, “SRK has invited Khali for lunch with his family at Mannat. His kids are big fans of the wrestler.”

Khali will be shooting a crucial action sequence of the film Rama - The Saviour before flying off to Kolkata.

A source from the production unit of the film says “We had agreed to part ways with Khali but given his importance in our story, we had a mutual settlement.

Sahil Khan and Tanushree Dutta also insisted on a new deal with the wrestler, keeping in mind Khali's popularity with the masses.”

LuNo · May 8, 2008

SRK excited about 'My Name is Khan'

SRK excited about 'My Name is Khan'One of Karan Johar’s most awaited films My Name is Khan starring Shah Rukh Khan is set to go on the floors in a few months from now. But even before the first scene is shot we have some news for you.

The industry is abuzz with rumours that Shah Rukh will get the negative rights of My Name Is Khan. Our well-placed source from the film industry says, “Karan has offered Shah Rukh 50 per cent stakes in the profits of the film, and in return, Shah Rukh will work on the film without charging a single penny.”

Karan made this offer to Shah Rukh a few days ago. “Shah Rukh Khan loved Karan’s idea. SRK is very excited about My Name Is Khan’s story,” our source further says.

In the film, Shah Rukh plays an activist who gets kidnapped by terrorists and how his attitude and entire perspective towards life changes subsequently. According to the source, My Name Is Khan will have nothing that the audience has come to expect from Karan’s films as it is a serious film.

Our source adds, “Since Shah Rukh will not charge his fee, the budget of My Name Is Khan is unlikely to exceed Rs 15 crore. Going by the track record of Shah Rukh’s last blockbuster Om Shanti Om which was reportedly sold for close to Rs 80 crore, My Name Is Khan also is estimated to go for around that much money.

A Karan-Shah Rukh project in today’s times will definitely command and receive that amount. Thus, the film stands to gain a minimum of Rs 60 crore as table profit. Add to this the box-office collections.”

The earlier plan was that Shah Rukh will work on My Name is Khan as soon as he is free from the Indian Premeir League matches (he owns the Kolkata Knight Riders team) and Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain?, which he is currently hosting. But when Aditya Chopra requested Karan to allow Shah Rukh to start his film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi first; Karan immediately obliged.

The hunt for the female lead of My Name Is Khan is still on. The role was offered to Kajol who turned it down for reasons best known to her. The film is expected to be shot entirely in Los Angeles and New York.

Karan Johar refused to answer our repeated calls and text messages.

LuNo · May 10, 2008

Tollywood Calling - SRK and Juhi

Suddenly Tollywood stars are on SRK and Juhi’s speed dial. Thanks to the IPL hype, almost all Tollywood stars have jostled for space in the VVIP box to cheer the King’s men on.

While the proximity is sure improving the brand worth of our entertainers, is it also nudging them on to explore greener pastures in Mumbai? Or, is it finally working the other way round where our local talents are regaining their faith in their own abilities and trying to entrench their position so that it strengthens the local industry status as well?

Director Anirudhha Roychowdhury, who was invited by the officials of Kolkata Knight Riders to watch a match at the Eden Gardens, says that the IPL focus on Kolkata has surely added to the momentum at which things are being done in Kolkata. “It’s more of a fraternity feeling that’s taking Tollywood to the stadium. Since a lot of business deals in the entertainment circuit happen at social gatherings, I wouldn’t be surprised if people strike such deals even on the cricket pitch. Kolkata is drawing attention now and one hears companies like Reliance and Mahindra & Mahindra showing interest in making Bangla films. This IPL connection should teach us a thing or two about professionalism and inspire us to make Bangla films that tap the overseas market the way Bollywood has been doing in the recent past.” As for brain drain, Aniruddha says, he, for one, wouldn’t wish to shift to Mumbai. “Distance is not a big deal in the shrinking world of today. I had an offer to make a Hindi film but I wish to work in Kolkata.”

Divya Khosla Kumar, creative head of T-series, who had come down to Kolkata to watch one IPL match, says that she was pleasantly surprised with the support that the Knight Riders had garnered. “Though I had been to Kolkata earlier, I’m now convinced that it would be a good idea to tap the local market. Kolkata directors and actors have always done well in Mumbai and it would make sense if we invested there. Since we plan to invest down South, we might do a market research in Kolkata to figure out how to enter that market.”

Indrani Halder, who flew down to Kolkata as Juhi’s special guest for yesterday’s match, says, “These personalised invitations have added prestige to Tollywood. They are an index of one’s achievement too. It’s judicious to maintain this rapport even after the IPL is over.”

Though it might be a far-fetched dream to use big ticket invites as a permit to Bollywood stardom, stars could shrug off their smugness and proactively use these connections to foster stronger business ties in Bengal. As Nilanjanaa, the better half of actor Jisshu Sengupta, says, “My husband is a cricket buff and I know he watches the match because of the love for the game. I do see a lot of chance for Tollywood to turn friendships into professional associations.” Is Tollywood listening?

LuNo · May 10, 2008

Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain

LuNo · May 10, 2008

KAPPS interview with Rediff

LuNo · May 10, 2008