Shah Rukh Khan performing at the SLAM show in San Jose, Calif., Sep. 28. [Photo: Siliconeer]

SHAH RUKH KHAN: Any Film I Star In Will Become Bigger

Shah Rukh Khan talks to the audience at the SLAM show in San Jose, Calif., Sep. 28. [Photo: Siliconeer]
Shah Rukh Khan talks to the audience at the SLAM show in San Jose, Calif., Sep. 28. [Photo: Siliconeer]
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has had a tryst with offbeat films with Maya Memsaab, Swades, Chak De! India, but does not understand the concept of this genre as he feels his presence can turn any unconventional film into a mainstream money-spinner.

The 48-year-old actor, best known for his romantic hero act in films, said he did take a few risks with his movies but since he is such a big star, his experimental films also find audience.

“What is an offbeat film? You put me in an offbeat film and it will become on-beat. Like Chak De! India was an offbeat film and it did really well money wise. It is the biggest success of my career,” Shah Rukh told PTI.

“I think any film that I am part of will become bigger than it was meant to be as I am big movie star. Even if it is an offbeat movie, people will watch it and so it will become on-beat. I did Maya Memsaab, Oh Darling Yeh Hai India, Darr, Baazigar, Swades, Chak De! India and others so I do offbeat films whenever I feel like doing it,” he said.

“I will never do anything that others want me to do. I have enough money, I am a rich star, I am famous and have enough awards. I will do films that make me happy like I did Ra.One because my children like superheroes. My father played hockey so I wanted to do Chak De. It is important to feel excited about doing what you want to,” he said.

Shah Rukh said that his forthcoming releases YRF’s Fan and Rahul Dholakia’s Raees fall in the category of offbeat cinema and he is happy to be a part of them.

“I have no worries at all. I am good at the craft. I am at a good level. I know my choices and do my best. I have no worries as every day you evolve as an actor. Actors don’t worry and if they do they are not actors they are stars. And I am an actor. My stardom overshadows my work,” he said.

Shah Rukh is aiming to usher in a crackling Diwali at the box office with his upcoming multi-starrer film Happy New Year.

“I have never done an ensemble film where everyone has an equal part. When you are trying to entertain people you have to get bigger and better.

“As an actor who has worked for 20 years and who could lose patience easily, I think what this film has taught me is you got to be patient. Every good thing comes with patience. It doesn’t come with speed, aggression. I think patience is another name for creativity,” Shah Rukh said.

– Komal Panchamatia

KATRINA KAIF: Bang Bang, A Very Difficult Film for Me

Katrina and Hrithik in “Bang Bang.” [Photo: Siliconeer]
Katrina and Hrithik in “Bang Bang.” [Photo: Siliconeer]

From shooting in seven different locations across the globe to performing strenuous stunts, Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has done it all in action thriller Bang Bang which the actress says was the most difficult film to work on.

The 31-year-old actress says she has been hard at work for over a year along with the team to bring the Rs. 140 crore film to the big screen.

Bang Bang also stars Hrithik Roshan in the male lead and has been directed by Siddharth Anand.

“What attracted me to the film is that along with action there is a very good storyline behind it. There is action in the film but it is basically a love story,” she said.

When asked if she was open to play the lead in a female-centric action film, Katrina said since she pulled off stunts in Bang Bang she could do a Tomb Raider or Kill

Bill.

“The stunts that you see in the trailer I have done mostly myself. You know if a good script comes then I would love to do solo action films. I don’t think physical challenges scare me provided I have time to train and prepare,” the actress said.

Bang Bang is an official remake of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz-starrer Hollywood film Knight and Day.

The film suffered several delays in its shooting stage with lead star Hrithik’s injury and subsequent brain surgery besides the cancellation of the Kashmir schedule of the film due to unrest in the valley.

 

BIG B: Hails Farhan Akhtar’s Song on Women’s Rights

Amitabh Bachchan speaking at the launch of Dettol Banega Swachh India, a 5-year nationwide program by Reckitt Benckiser in partnership with with NDTV & Facebook, in Mumbai, Sep. 25. [Photo: Press Trust of India]
Amitabh Bachchan speaking at the launch of Dettol Banega Swachh India, a 5-year nationwide program by Reckitt Benckiser in partnership with with NDTV & Facebook, in Mumbai, Sep. 25. [Photo: Press Trust of India]
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has joined the list of admirers of actor Farhan Akhtar’s latest song championing women empowerment.

Farhan has collaborated with music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman on the single “Chulein Aasman” for his social campaign, MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination), launched in 2013.

The song speaks about the importance of social media for women in getting them more opportunities and helping them become self-dependent.

Big B took to Twitter to praise the initiative taken by the 40-year-old star.

“Farhan Akhtar sings ‘Chulein Aasman’, more power for women… with Salim-Sulaiman.. FANTASTIC!,” Bachchan tweeted.

Bollywood actresses Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma have also shown support for Farhan’s campaign by recording video messages, encouraging women to connect with the social media.

“Big shout out to PriyankaChopra speaking in support of gender equality and online empowerment. Thank you AnushkaSharma for speaking in support of Helping Women Get Online,” Farhan tweeted.

 

AAMIR KHAN: Kids Need to be Caring, Hardworking

Aamir Khan (c) interacts with students at the Round Square International Conference 2014 in Bhopal, Sep. 29. [Photo: Press Trust of India]
Aamir Khan (c) interacts with students at the Round Square International Conference 2014 in Bhopal, Sep. 29. [Photo: Press Trust of India]
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan wants kids to be caring, hardworking and focused in their lives. “I want kids to be hardworking, passionate and focused in their lives,” Aamir said addressing participants of Round Square International Conference 2014 at Sanskar Valley School, in Bhopal, Sep. 29.

Delegates, including students from 22 countries, belonging to five continents, that are members of Round Square, took part in the meeting.

When asked about one of the most important qualities in life, Aamir said, “Caring is the most important thing that comprises everything, love, compassion among other things.”

“It is a very important quality in life,” he said.

To a question, Aamir said one should not leave his or her dreams, no matter a person may have to compromise with the means to achieve it.

Besides other subjects, educators should emphasize on promoting sports in the curriculum as it teaches a lot of things, especially how to work as a team, he said.

He also advised parents not to compare their children with anyone, as every child is special in his own way.

The actor also asked educators to make learning a fun exercise by encouraging students to ask questions so that they have clarity of concepts.

RANVEER SINGH: Turns ‘Krrish’ on Busy Mumbai Street

Ranveer Singh doing his dare for “Bang Bang.” [Photo Courtesy: Twitter | RanveerFB]
Ranveer Singh doing his dare for “Bang Bang.” [Photo Courtesy: Twitter | RanveerFB]
Actor Ranveer Singh let his inner child out as he donned the avatar of Indian superhero Krrish, portrayed on-screen by Hrithik Roshan, and displayed some crazy dance moves on a busy street here.

Ranveer’s impromptu act was a response to Hrithik’s Bang Bang dare which required the Band Baaja Baaraat star to get out of his car and pose on the middle of any main street of Mumbai.

But the 29-year-old actor did more than just posing.

In a video posted by Ranveer on his twitter handle, the actor, dressed from head to toe like Krrish including the mask, gets out of the car in a busy road and begins to dance like crazy to the beats of “Main Aisa Kyu Hoon” from Hrithik’s film Lakshya.

The performance attracted quite a crowd and seemed to annoy a traffic police, who asks the actor to wrap up his act. Ranveer apologized to the policeman while still dancing and took off his mask before rushing back to his car as fans had recognized him.

Besides Ranveer, other Bollywood stars who have completed their Bang Bang dare by Hrithik include Shah Rukh Khan, Uday Chopra, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor and now Aamir Khan has accepted the challenge as well.

Aamir was dared to repeat his PK poster stint but without the transistor.
Aamir had posed nude, with a transistor protecting his modesty, for the first poster of his upcoming Raju Hirani film PK.

SHAHID KAPOOR: Haider My Most Honest Work

 

Shraddha Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor at Mumbai Airport, Sep. 27. [Photo: Press Trust of India]
Shraddha Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor at Mumbai Airport, Sep. 27. [Photo: Press Trust of India]
Actor Shahid Kapoor says he avoided taking half measures in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider, an adaptation of Hamlet, as he did not want to cheat the audience or himself while playing the famous Shakespearean tragic hero.

Shahid, 33, had to opt for a bald look in certain scenes of the movie that is set in Kashmir and the actor did not have a moment’s hesitation in shedding his hair.

“Prosthetics were an option but I felt it was not right to do it for Haider. There is a certain honesty and passion in this film. I have done it dil se. I did not want to cheat my audience or myself while playing this character. I wanted to do something different and shocking. There is a value in real,” Shahid told PTI.

It is Shahid’s second film with Bhardwaj after Kaminey. The film completes the director’s trilogy of William Shakespeare’s three famous tragedies after Maqbool (Macbeth) and Omkara(Othello).

Haider is a family revenge drama. It is about a son looking for his father and then there is a love story between Shraddha and me,” said Shahid.