ShahRukh Khan

King of Bollywood Book Launch

Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan doesn't fret over top-star status

MUMBAI, India - Bollywood leading man Shah Rukh Khan says the success of other Indian movie stars does not detract from his achievements.

The commercial success of others has never made him feel "any lesser or more successful," Khan, who turned 42 Friday, told The Times of India newspaper.

Over the past decade, Indian movie magazines have given Khan the highest rating in polls on the country's best actors, but stars like Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar are serious contenders for the top slot.

"Today the concept of a single star ruling seems to be slowly phasing out," said Khan. "It's like a league of movie stars, all very secure, happy, singing, dancing."

Bollywood - India's prolific movie industry - is famous for romantic, musical films filled with song and dance numbers that often have little connection to the plot.

Khan has acted in more than 50 movies. He played the coach of an Indian women's hockey team in his recent blockbuster "Chak De" or "Go for it."

He compared Bollywood's number-one slot to professional tennis rankings that change based on current performance. "It's beautiful. Aamir, Salman, Akshay and I, we are all big stars today," Khan said. "It's like tennis ranking. One Grand Slam and there you go."

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Om Shanti Om Sells Out!

House Full confirmed even before Advance Bookings open.

Farah Khan's Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade starrer 'Om Shanti Om' seems all set to be a blockbuster.

Om Shanti Om is releasing on the coming Friday,9th of November.

Even though,the movie is just two days away from the opening advance bookings across cinemas in India,18000 tickets which is equivalent to about 40 shows has been confirmed sold by corporate block bookings at Satyam Cineplexes, New Delhi, informed a reliable source.

The 'If' Factor in SRK's Life

Getting hypothetical with Shah Rukh.

What if...

We want to know what Om Shanti Om means to you.

When I do a film, I try to keep myself away from the hype around it. What is important is how much of my heart and soul I have given to the film. It's not about the physical labour. It's not even the fact that I am the film's producer and the stakes are high. Sometimes the best work you do does not necessarily make it big. But does that make that work any smaller? OSO is a very well conceived film about happiness. At my age and even Farah's, we feel that we shouldn't be making things which make people sad.

What if critics are not kind to OSO?

I am not even thinking about that. I am sorry. It's not that you guys are not important. Everybody has a right to say what he/she wants. But if I start believing and get happy or disturbed about everything that is written, I am being untrue to my film.

If Farah Khan has changed as a director from the Main Hoon Na days...and how much?

Earlier, she was very good. Now, she has become marvellous. Earlier, she was comfortable with the songs. Now, she has also become comfortable with the scenes. It is commendable that she has handled OSO with aplomb and ease, despite being pregnant when it was being made. We must also appreciate the fact that she is one of the few women directors in the world who make commercially viable films.

If your daughter, Suhana wants to become an actress?

I will be worried if my daughter, Suhana decides to become an actress. Life is very difficult for actresses. Sometimes when I read certain things about actresses, I feel embarrassed. It's not right to treat women badly. I hope that my daughter makes it big as an actress and people respect her beyond the fact that she is a girl.

If your son, Aryan grows up to be a film critic?

I think he is already a film critic, and a fantastic one. He tells me if and when he doesn't like me much in any of my films. If he says that a film is going to be a big hit, it rings true. He has told me that OSO will be a big hit.

If you were to lip-lock on screen, who would you like your co-star to be?

I am not comfortable kissing on-screen. I have not kissed on-screen not because who my co-actress is, but because of who I am.

If you were to rate yourself as an actor on a scale of 1-10... and please don't be modest?

5.5. By the time I end my career; I'll try and increase it to 8.

If Karan Johar and Farah Khan stop talking to you forever?

I love Karan and Farah very much. They are a part of my life. They are as much a part of me as my heart is. If my son and daughter take a decision not to do a particular thing, I will stand by their decision. If Karan and Farah ever take a decision that they don't want to talk to Shah Rukh, I will respect it. But it would mark an end to a significant part of my life.

If tomorrow there were no cigarettes…?

I'll be fine. I am not pathetically inclined towards cigarettes. When I am on long international flights, I don't feel the urge to smoke. Even after getting off from the flight, I don't feel the urge to start smoking immediately.

If you were not Shah Rukh Khan- the actor?

I would have liked a career either in sports or teaching. It would still be a good life, whatever my career would have been if I wasn't an actor.

If you were Amitabh Bachchan?

Oh, that would be the luckiest thing that anybody could have. I think he has had a great life. Professionally, he is wonderful. Personally, he is very educated. We all have learnt from him. I don't think I can ever be Mr Bachchan.

If Kaun Banega Crorepati 4 goes to Amitabh Bachchan?

KBC always belonged to Mr Bachchan. Who Wants to be a Millionaire is an international format, but KBC in India became what it was only because of Mr Bachchan. If it goes back to him, it would be wonderful.

If Amar Singh invites you for dinner?

I would definitely accept the invitation if it is in Mumbai.

If Sonia Gandhi forces you to join politics?

Soniaji doesn't need to force anybody. Soniaji, her family and the people who run the government are far too intelligent to need silly people like me in politics.

If you met George Bush, what would you say to him?

There is not much to say to him. I'll just tell him Om Shanti Om (smiles). I have understood his politics. I was supposed to meet him at one point of time, but I didn't go. I feel that he has taken a wrong stand against certain countries. But then, he knows better. He is a President, we are nobody.

If nobody recognises you on the streets one day?

I don't know how not to be a star anymore. I can't think of life without being a star. It's like asking someone how you would feel if you don't breathe.

If you were a school teacher for a day?

I would be a very lenient and happy-go-lucky teacher. Also a little strict like I was in Chak De! India (smiles). I love kids.

If you were a news reporter for a day?

Being from the entertainment world, I would like to highlight the technicalities that go behind making a film, to the fore.

Khan and Rampal in A Face-Off !

Its the protagonist vs antagonist in Om Shanti Om.

Come 9th November and it would be the fourth instance where Arjun Rampal and Shah Rukh Khan would have appeared in the same film.

Though DON 2 is the only film where they shared a common frame with both the actors enjoying a substantial screen time, Arjun also had a special appearance in 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' where he played Preity Zinta's boss. In a small role, he did make his presence felt in the initial reels of the film.

Later Shah Rukh Khan had a 'blink and you would miss' appearance in Arjun's home production I See You' where he held a guitar for the opening number 'Subah Subah'.

Now with Om Shanti Om, it would be the clash of the antagonist and the protagonist as Arjun plays a Bollywood star pitted against Shah Rukh Khan, a junior actor in 'pehla janam' and a superstar himself in the next 'janam'!

Looking forward to this face off!

Shah Rukh makes me nostalgic: Shilpa

Shetty hinting at a casting coup of sorts with her 'Baazigar' hero? Let's wait and watch.

High on her success with 'Celebrity Big Brother', Shilpa Shetty has been on a globetrotting spree of late! A month ago, UK's new icon presented the 'One X One Difference Awards' to her controversial kisser Richard Gere in Toronto, Canada. Now she is touring Europe with her West End musical 'Miss Bollywood'. But there are some things that make the lady wistful… and King Khan is one of them!

Shilpa who made her movie debut with Shah Rukh Khan with 'Bazigar' way back in 1993, will be seen in a cameo in Farah Khan's 'Om Shanti Om' along with 30 other top Bollywood stars shaking their leg for the title song.

Not surprisingly, the lady is all excited about the appearance! Says Shilpa, "We've never been cast together after Baazigar so it's only the second time in 14 years that I'll be sharing screen space with Shah Rukh Khan. It's a small appearance in 'Om Shanti Om', but it is making me feel nostalgic."

"Shilpa is a very emotional girl," reasons her publicist Dale Bhagwagar. "SRK has always been one of her top favourite heroes and will remain so. The 'Om Shanti Om' appearance comes after fifty-one films in her career, but her 'Baazigar' experience is still fresh in her memory," he adds.

Wonder if Shilpa is hinting that she wants to be cast with favourite co-star Shah Rukh Khan yet again. Considering that Shilpa has become a huge sensation in the UK and Shah Rukh Khan has always been a super-hit on foreign shores, are the Yash Chopras and the Karan Johars who make UK-centric movies listening?

When we probed further on Shilpa's new projects after 'Metro' and 'Apne', Bhagwagar said, "I can't reveal the names of makers who have approached Shilpa, but I can tell you that there are many. There are offers from the UK, US and Bollywood. Shilpa is going through a dozen scripts at the moment and you will hear some very interesting announcements soon.

Right now, she has given the nod to Uru Patel's international venture 'Hanuman' (where she would be playing the role of Sita) and to one more film, to be directed by a big Bollywood star," But refused to reveal the name.

While the publicist keeps us guessing who this 'Bollywood star' is, he adds, "Shilpa has acted in more than three films with him and their pairing has been a hit".

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