King Khan Performs for Cricket Teams

The King Khan performed for the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams yesterday (November 12) at a gala event organised by Subroto Roy Sahara of the Sahara Group, triggering speculation over whether Shahrukh Khan had taken the place of the Big B who till recently was the biggest endorser of the Sahara camp. And just where was one-time close friend and confidante Amar Singh?

Meanwhile Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh today (November 13) took jibes against the Sahara Group and also lashed out at Shahrukh Khan, reacting to the reports published in a national newspaper.

The report quoted a top executive of Sahara as saying, "Only family members and not outsiders" were allowed at the recent Sahara function in Lucknow.

An angry Amar Singh reacted today saying it was up to the media to "read between the lines" and that it was Shahrukh Khan who started the verbal duel when he made nasty comments against him at the Filmfare awards last year.

"I have read in Mumbai Mirror that the Director of Corporate Communication has said that only friends and family was invited not outsiders- if Sahara has made this statement it is for you read between the lines," said Singh.

He went on to "put on record", "I have don't have anything against Shahrukh Khan. He made a comment against me in a Filmfare function. He might be a superstar and a rockstar, but I have also got some North Indian foolish supporters who reacted angrily on that. I am sorry about that. Shahrukh gave a statement that his kids had felt very bad about that - even my kids are Shahrukh fan - when they heard his statement they asked me, why Shahrukh 'uncle' was talking against me that way.

"Thereafter he is keeping mum, I am also keeping mum, I do not have any issue with him because he is not joining SP, and I am not going to join Bombay Film Industry.," said Singh to TIMES NOW.

Shahrukh Khan danced the night away on Monday (November 12) at Sahara City in Lucknow - a Dawat -e-Dosti organised by the head honcho of the Sahara Group, Subroto Roy Sahara. While the evening was a gala one with celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment, it was not so much the guest list as the people excluded from it that set tongues wagging.

While Shahrukh was given superstar treatment with a private jet and a personal invite, one-time confidante of the Subroto Roy Sahara, SP leader Amar Singh and 'Big B' Amitabh Bachchan were conspicuous by their absence.

Though representatives of the Sahara Group have been quick to brush aside the Big B's absence claiming he was busy - but we can't help but wonder whether a new order is in a place - and is Shahrukh the new poster boy for the Sahara group?

TIMES NOW managed to catch up with BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla, who was also present at the gala, for his take.

"They (Sahara) are the Team India sponsors, Sahara had invited Mr Shahrukh Khan and he was gracious enough to be there," said Shukla.

But while everyone may be doing their best to pooh-pooh the reports - it wouldn't exacztly be a bolt out of the blue, considering rumours have been afloat for sometime now of an alleged falling-out between the Sahara family and Amar Singh and a consequent distancing from the Bachchans as well.

Well, evidently in the world of politics and entertainment, relationships rarely last forever!