Posts for 'Interviews' Category

Georgetown University in USA has come out with a list of 500 of the world's most influential Muslims, including Shahrukh Khan, former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam, and composer A R Rahman. A chat with SRK on how he feels about being in that list:

How do you feel on being the only one from the entertainment world being selected in the top 500 besides A R Rahman? I don't think a list of this nature is of a competitive type to feel proud about.

It's not about a list of awards that I have won. I am a Muslim by birth and because of the kind of cinema I do, I assume must be influencing lives of people across the world. I have been actively working in the film industry for 18 years and my work has gone across the world, my films and done well in many places including Germany, Poland, Dubai, USA, Morocco and South East Asia. People know me well because of my films but I never felt that I was different. I'm in the field of mass communication and am doing my work. That's it.

Read the complete story

Gone are the days when the King Khan used to poke many by saying that he was the best and he wanted all the possible love, attention and fanfare. Shah Rukh seems to have been breathing in humble airs, for the actor has for the first time gone on record saying that there are actors who are if not better as good as him.

Now that is some news coming from SRK at least. When asked what he thought of actors who did films rejected by him, the newly humbled Khan said, “There shouldn’t be any afterthought once a decision is made.

Read the complete story

Director-choreographer Farah Khan has sought to bring the curtain down on a raging controversy over the depiction of Bollywood veteran Manoj Kumar in her film Om Shanti Om, saying she isn't "bothered" about him any more.

"I am not bothered about him anymore," said Farah over the phone when asked for her reaction to Manoj Kumar's decision to file a case against her over his portrayal in the 2007 blockbuster.

Manoj Kumar had told a media outlet he would be filing a case against the makers of Om Shanti Om as they have not kept the promise of deleting the scenes that mock him.

He had said that he gave the nod to the film because of the intervention of the legendary director Yash Chopra who had mediated talks between him, Farah and Shah Rukh Khan, who starred in the movie.

Manoj said all of them had mutually agreed that the objectionable scenes would be deleted but this was not done.

On being asked if the scene was shot keeping in mind the artistic liberty of the film industry, the offended actor had said: "I had studied in school that liberty is the undying passion of the mind and one cannot use it to humiliate others. This is an insult to Indian nationalism and patriotism."

Manoj Kumar had taken objection to the scene in which his younger double was shown being beaten up by the police outside a movie theatre since they could not recognize him.

He had also objected to another scene in which Shah Rukh delivered a mock "Thank you" speech in a drunken state and concluding by saying he was Manoj Kumar.

Aamir Khan is donning a new role – that of mentor to Shruthi Haasan. Aamir is the one who brought Shruthi Haasan to the notice of Soham Shah, director of the Hindi film Luck, in which Shruthi Haasan makes her film debut.

When Aamir Khan spotted Shruthi Haasan in a fashion magazine, he thought that she was a perfect fit in Bollywood and the one Soham and he wanted for Luck. He immediately took the magazine to Soham Shah, who, impressed by Shruthi Haasan’s pictures, was convinced that Shruthi had the perfect athletic physique and looks that suited today's trend in Bollywood and Hollywood. But he apprehended that Kamal might not approve of his daughter's film debut in a film directed by an upcoming director like him; also, he felt, Shruthi might feel the same, though the film is a big-budget film with a great script; Kaal was the only directorial venture by Soham Shah (as assistant to Karan Johar).

Therefore Aamir Khan, who is fully confident about this film which also stars his nephew Imran Khan, took the initiative, called Kamal Haasan and requested him to allow Shruthi Haasan to act in this film. He explained the script to him over the phone, discussed the way it would project his daughter, gave an assurance that he would take care of her like he would care for Imran, and also make sure that she makes it big in Bollywood with this film. Then Kamal Haasan talked to Shruti Haasan and they both gave a nod to the film.

The way Shruthi’s fame reached Aamir and Soham through a fashion magazine will only force one to change the old maxim slightly – Like father, like daughter. And with an able mentor and caregiver like Aamir Khan, Shruthi Haasan will definitely have a dream opening in Bollywood.

Aamir Khan’s involvement with Southern film industry is growing these days. Recently, the chocolate boy paid a surprise visit to Murugadoss, his director in the Hindi version of Ghajini, to congratulate him on his wedding anniversary. They have both struck up good friendship and mutual respect while working for the film.

“We don’t like to copy; so what if it is inspired?” Saif Ali Khan replied when he was asked in London last week if this week’s release Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (TPTM) was the Bollywood version of the Julie Andrews musical Mary Poppins. Khan plays the stern guardian of four orphans who are befriended by a bicycle-riding angel. “Jaws and Schindler’s List have the same story!” Khan reasoned.

Is Khan happy with his current A-list status? “I was really doing such bad work and just about managing to survive. All our lives changed with the success of Hum Tum.” TPTM reunites the lead pair of Khan and Rani Mukherjee with director Kunal Kohli. The trio worked together earlier in the aforementioned When Harry Met Sally Bolly-remake. “We have had such fun shooting in Bangkok and Los Angeles especially annoying Rani!”

“It was cheaper to shoot in Bangkok than in Delhi,” director Kunal Kohli told me when I asked him why he filmed abroad. “Have you seen Delhi prices?” Kohli has just started his own production house. Why the lack of proper advance press previews? “We’ll show you the film on the Wednesday or Thursday before its Friday release but certainly not before!”

Read the complete story

The London outdoor of his first home production being directed by Imtiaz Ali proved to be quite tedious for Saif Ali Khan. He is not only flying in and out to be with ladylove Kareena Kapoor who is busy with her commitments elsewhere, but also had to babysit his kids Sara and Ibrahim who were with him in the UK.

It is learnt that as the children had their school vacations, they decided to accompany the actor for the outdoor. All was fine till their maid Uma, who has been them for years, was around. But suddenly, the domestic help disappeared without warning; forcing Saif to look after his kids, especially Ibrahim, who is quite a handful.

Says a unit source, "After the maid vanished, Saif was forced to take time off from the shoot. He requested the director saying that he wanted to take a day off to be with the little Khans. Uma had been around for almost eight years. Her decision to leave without warning or notice hassled Saif a lot. He somehow managed."

The Bhatts (Mukesh and Mahesh) and Percept Picture Company’s ambitious Indo-Pak joint venture film may turn out to be a big project with the filmmakers trying to rope in either Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan or Saif Ali Khan as the central character.

The untitled project is to be helmed by Shoaib Mansoor who directed the critically acclaimed Khuda Ke Liye, a film about the difficult situation in which the Pakistanis and the Muslims are caught post the 9/11 terror strike. The filmmakers have sent DVDs of Khuda Ke Liye to the actors so that they can appreciate Shoaib’s work.

Read the complete story

Saif Ali Khan who played edgy characters in Omkara and Being Cyrus seems a different guy who’s now drawn to family-friendly entertainment like Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Tara Rum Pum. So what gives him a bigger high the success of Race or the rave reviews for Omkara? We find out.

Rajeev Masand: A year ago, everyone was talking about Saif the actor. Your performances in Omkara, Being Cyrus and Parineeta and how you had come into your own as an actor. A year later, everyone is talking about Saif the stud, Saif the boyfriend who wears his heart on sleeve, Saif and Kareena – are you embarrassed by that?

Saif Ali Khan: Frankly, yes, sometimes. Depends on what’ said. I am okay with certain things while others sound silly. It’s beyond my control. People write articles in newspapers and it almost feels we are responsible for those articles. I am fed up of hearing about us. Imagine, what people would be. I just want to say: I did not write it.

Read the complete story

Aamir Khan is giving all his personal details through his blog. From how good a father he is to his accident and recovery stories on the sets of Ghajjini to the launch of his nephew. And the latest is Aamir has broken his promise and started smoking once again.

He confesses this to his fans “I’ve begun smoking again. I know you guys are going to kick the shit out of me; my family is already doing that.” He further explains that the reason behind being out touch with his fans. “I didn’t know how to face all of you. I’d want to write about something interesting, but I’d broken my promise to you all so I did not know how to get around that, and then I’d just shut my comp.” he reveals.

Calling it as human frailties Aamir explains that though he is back to his bad habit, he is more conscious than before. He says, “I don’t smoke in front of kids, and I don’t smoke in the presence of people who get disturbed with it. Small mercies, I know. But what to do?”

Needless to say that Aamir is completely stressed out as he juggling between two responsibilities of being a producer and an actor. He is all set to launch his nephew through Jane Tu... which is releasing with Harry Baweja’s Love Story 2050. His forthcoming film Ghajini is getting delayed because of his injury and apart from that he is planning to launch the DVD of TZP.

He reveals “I get really stressed when any of my films is about to release. I know the music is doing really well and most of you will tell me there is nothing to worry about but it doesn’t work like that. Bear with me folks; I’ll give up once Jaane Tu... releases.”

Salman continues to open up about his personal life on the 10 Ka Dum blog that he pens, perhaps buoyed by the good response that the well executed TV reality game show on Sony is receiving.

However the blog remains a PR exercise, with the focus having shifted from promoting the TV show to promoting Salman Khan!

Amitabh Bachchan often uses his blog to present his point of view and clear the air whenever he feels wronged by the media. The combination of Amitabh's writing skills and indefatigability is potent and has been effective in 'silencing' the media to a great extent. Tabloid stories concerning the Bachchans have almost disappeared.

Salman, however, seems to be focusing on image building.

His post on Sunday, June 15, dwelt on his fondness for his pet dogs. Today's post talks about his family's hospitality which he alludes comes from his Pathani roots.

Refereeing to his proclivity to throw parties he says, "My father believes that guests oblige us by coming to eat the food that was destined to be theirs…,"

So far Salman has skirted the many controversies that have dogged him in the past and continue to do so now.

While it may not be possible for him to discuss his road accident, which resulted in death and injury, or the Chinkara case under which he has been sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment, because both matters are sub judice, he could use the blog to clear the air about his turbulent relationships in the past, or media rumors about recent domestic violence, or at least what is stopping him from making up with Vivek Oberoi.

Read the complete story