Bollywood stars to clash during festive season

Bollywood bad boy Salman Khan and reigning superstar Shah Rukh Khan will clash at the box-office for the second year in a row on the Indian autumn festival of lights known as Diwali.

"Saawariya" (Beloved) starring Salman Khan, known as Bollywood's bad boy for several scrapes with the law, and "Om Shanti Om" (Hindu names) featuring Shah Rukh are set for release on November 9 which marks Diwali, a national holiday.

Last year the Khans clashed on Diwali with Salman's "Jaan-E-Mann" (My Dear One) losing out at the box office to Shah Rukh's gangster movie "Don".

The love story "Saawariya" will be Hollywood studio Sony Pictures' maiden foray into India's Bollywood movie industry, a company official said last week.

The 41-year-old Salman is out on bail after being jailed for six days on August 25 after an Indian court rejected his appeal against a conviction for poaching.

Bollywood rarely releases major movies on the same day, but analysts feel that both films could fare well at the box office.

"Shah Rukh Khan has proved himself repeatedly at the box office and his fan following will surely see that his film is a hit," trade analyst Taran Adarsh said.

"Saawariya's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has proved himself that he is a master in his art. So, I too feel that both films will succeed at the box office," Adarsh said.

SRK strikes gold at box office

Two weeks after Chak De India's release, it has become clear that its scored a goal at the box office and become a phenomenon.

But with no leading lady, no love angle, no song and dance an unusually restrained, understated Shahrukh Khan, none of the tried and tested box office elements its not difficult to imagine the nervousness of the filmmakers of Chak De before its box office release.

"You get a few films where the producers and directors have guts to say let's take Shahrukh Khan and let's not make it a in-your-face commercial film and make him do what he does.

"I remember the last night when we saw the film. It was releasing the next morning. Adi and me sitting and Shimit, it's about 1.30 in the night.

"We were just seeing the film. Adi looked at me and he said, 'What do you think the film will do? My son and my daughter said they have loved the film. We will still worry, it has no standard to compare it with," said Shahrukh Khan, actor.

It's a film that makes a strong comment on hockey and women's sports. So does he think that this film will change perceptions about hockey and bring our neglected national game at par with cricket?

"I think we should take a cue from cricket and hopefully what cricket has done shows the way to not just what to do for hockey, for every sports.

"Sports are good. So I hope that but whether I think it will happen or not I don't know whether the film will do well or not so, let alone whether hockey will change or not. But, I am just glad that I could comment about the sport that I love," said Shahrukh.

Identity issues

Not only is Shahrukh's role in the film very different from the ones he's used to doing, it also engages with the complex issue of Muslims' indianness in the country.

"I am a complete promoter of the fact that if you have to ask am I a Muslim in a Hindu country, then I am not secular enough.

"I never asked myself that because I was never built like that. I think I am Indian. I am Indian. I mean, the question of being Muslim, from which part of the country, has never mattered to me.

"It has never been brought to my notice and I think the religion of our country is Indianness," said Shahrukh Khan.

It's obviously been a win-win situation.

It's a role that's probably lent more gravitas to superstar Sharukh's iconic status and repertoire of work.

And its worked the other way round also with his presence providing the initial impetus and draw to a film which is off the beaten track.

Shahrukh, Gauri’s legal woes with home Mannat

Shahrukh Khan and wife Gauri have been asked to file a petition by the High court regarding irregularities about the building built behind his bungalow. The building as well as the bungalow is owned by SRK and wife Gauri. The court has granted the actor 14 days to file a response in reply to a petition filed by an NGO which claims that there are several irregularities regarding the building construction.

Earlier too there was talk of SRK having legal problems as his home Mannat is supposedly not yet registered on his name. It has been three years since the purchase of his home, but the bungalow remains on the name of a trust. However now an NGO has filed a petition in court claiming that the building has encroached on land earmarked for a road, reducing it’s width from 9.15 meters to about six meters. Also the NGO claims that the balconies of the new building hang over the land for the proposed road, which is illegal.

SRK’s lawyer Darius Khambatta however claimed that SRK was merely being dragged into the case to give it some colour. He said “This is pure harassment.” Nonetheless SRK’s lawyers will have to respond and reply regarding the supposed digressions made. Earlier too petitions have been filed by NGO’s opposing SRK’s building on various grounds. The court has ordered a response from SRK within 14 days.

Shahrukh’s home is called ‘Mannat’ and is on prime property; it is on Bandstand and has a sea facing view. Earlier before the actor purchased the bungalow, many films like Tezaab etc were shot in it. Unfortunately many films which were shot here did not release and hence it has even been labeled a jinxed home in the past. But now with SRK and his family living in it, it has become a usual hot spot for tourists as well as locals as they are often spotted waiting for a glimpse of the actor.

Shahrukh faces flak over 'Mannat'

It's his dream home, but one that has brought him plenty of legal hassles.

On Thursday, the Bombay HC directed actor Shahrukh Khan to explain, how he could take up road space adjacent to his home Mannat, in Bandra's Bandstand area.

A Mumbai based NGO, Bhrashtachar Nirmoolan Sanghatan, claimed Shahrukh had violated development control regulations and encroached upon public space.

The first allegation against the actor is that the boundary wall adjacent to the road had been extended by 3 meters, causing the road width to come down from 9.15 meters to 6.15 meters.

According to the PIL, construction should start a minimum of 1.5 meters away from the boundary wall but the petitioners claim the multistoried building has balconies that extend 1.5 meters outside the wall.

"This has happened because of Shahrukh's influence. A common man will not get this benefit," said Shakuntala Joshi, Advocate for the NGO.

In an affidavit, Shahrukh Khan's wife Gauri completely denies all allegations.

She goes on to say the NGO filed the PIL only for cheap publicity and in her support, the chief engineers of BMC claimed the rules had not been bent for Shahrukh Khan.

This is not the first time Shahrukh's home Mannat has captured the headlines.

Earlier, a PIL which was later dismissed had also claimed Shahrukh Khan had redeveloped a heritage structure illegally.

Shah Rukh refused to remove his shirt !

And now let's call upon the stage Mr Six-pack Khan er… Shah Rukh Khan." That's how motor-mouth Cyrus Broacha called out to Shah Rukh Khan at the music launch of Farah Khan's forthcoming film, Om Shanti Om last evening. Unlike most Bollywood music launches, this one had everyone hooked to their seats. The do was a mini-skit altogether as guests and stars complained about the 'only vegetarian snacks' served at the venue, actress Kirron Kher's designer sandals gave way and someone even commented, "Arjun Rampal is supposed to look good and not say anything."

The cast and crew members (Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Kirron Kher, Shreyas Talpade and Arjun Rampal, music composer duo Vishal-Shekhar ) were mostly engaged in inane conversations. They quizzed each other about how it felt working with the soon-to-be-mother Farah Khan. Deepika Padukone even made candid conversations about how she got intimidated by her seniors. Despite all that she continues to like Bollywood because she doesn't enjoy shuttling around the badminton court. After she managed to fix her shoe sole with an adhesive, Kirron Kher didn't know how to react when her mobile started ringing loudly during her short but sweet speech. Vishal and Shekhar had apparently, rented out one piece suits for the evening.

While Shah Rukh refused to remove his shirt and display the six packs, Farah volunteered to show off her three packs (she's expecting triplets). Dressed in a black tee and brown jacket he confessed, "I'm scared of Saawariya and I have no problem admitting that. If I had a chance I would have postponed the film," said Sharukh Rukh Khan.