Salman Khan trying to quit smoking

New Delhi, He might be known as the Bollywood brat, but it looks like Salman Khan is now trying to turn a new leaf. He says he is trying to quit smoking.

Asked about the habit that is hard to kick, he said: “I’m trying to (quit smoking)… Smoking is something people start to either enter a social circle or to show off.”

But he does have a word of advice for others trying to quit cigarettes too.

“Once you quit, there are also chances of picking it up again because when you find people around you smoking, you join them to be with them. But it slowly and slowly kills you and people stop only when they are advised by the doctor. So everyone should quit it before reaching that stage,” Salman said.

Shah Rukh may have been victim of random selection parameter

Chicago, Actor Shah Rukh Khan’s two-hour detention and questioning at the Newark International Airport could well be a result of the random selection parameter built into the US immigration’s security system rather than racial profiling.

Now whether that parameter was designed deliberately to focus on people of certain names, religion, background, nationality or race is a different story altogether. On the face of it, Khan may have been randomly picked out by the US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services’ database. The system at the airport threw up Khan’s name for any number of variable reasons. It is hard to speculate on the algorithm that triggered it.

Someone might argue that the Khan = Muslim = possible terrorist = detention logic, although profoundly offensive, it seems to have been built into the system with the rationale that it is better to humiliate a thousand innocent Khans than let a potential terrorist Khan enter the US.

However, this explanation does not make sense because Khan has been visiting the US for many years. As a matter of fact, he only recently finished a shooting schedule of his latest film “My Name is Khan”, which ironically deals with the kind of stereotyping and profiling that he just experienced.

Isn’t the Bureau’s database designed in a way where the immigration officer, who detained Khan, could have instantly pulled up the actor’s record and known about his many past visits? Apparently not, because once the system randomly selects someone it is expected of the officer in question to go through the standard procedure of detention for questioning.

At some level it is understandable that the whole security apparatus has been designed to not just take out potential terrorists in their first attempt but to disrupt their operation at any and every stage. No one at the Bureau is likely to acknowledge that the system works the way it does because of a built-in combination of intelligent and brute logic as well as preordained bias.

Forget the Bureau’s own database; a simple Google search of Khan’s name would have at the very least made the detaining officer question his action. There are 3,610,000 search results of his name on Google. Depending on when it is searched this number is sometimes even higher. Such a Google search should have stopped any reasonable immigration officer in their tracks to wonder that for a terrorist, Khan has managed a fantastic cover of being one of the world’s biggest movie stars.

Perhaps behind creating a security system that depends as much on brute and random logic as intelligent sifting was the deeply embarrassing case of Mohammad Atta, the ringleader of the 9/11 terror attacks.

In 2005, Navy Captain Scott J. Phillpott, who was in charge of the Pentagon’s counter-terrorism project codenamed ‘Able Danger’, created a stir when he said in January 2000 his team had identified Atta as a member of an Al-Qaeda terror cell operating in Brooklyn, New York. And yet Atta was able to travel in and out of the US unmolested. Atta’s lapse was attributed to the fact that he first went by part of his name as Mohamed el-Amir and eventually travelled to the US in June 2000 as Mohammed Atta.

The result of the security churning that followed 9/11 was the compilation of a list of nearly 1.1 million names who were either terror suspects or people of interest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The list has been a subject of serious scrutiny and criticism by civil liberties groups, which believe it is sweeping in its reach and more often than not throws up those who have absolutely nothing to do with any terrorist groups.

An internal audit report recently quoted by The Washington Times underscored the failures in managing the list. It said there were at least 10 people who should have been kept out of the US according to the list but were allowed to enter while there were many more who should not have been on it but remain there.

It quoted Democratic Senator Patrick J. Leahy, who as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee has oversight of the FBI, as saying “that the FBI continues to fail to place subjects of terrorism investigations on the watch list is unacceptable”.

“Disturbingly, (the) report reveals that in 72 percent of the cases, the FBI has also failed to remove subjects from the list in a timely manner. … Given the very real and negative consequences to which people on the watch list are subjected, this is unacceptable.”

It is not clear whether Khan’s name is on this list or not but the fact he showed up on the immigration’s database it is conceivable that a similar name is on it. However, it should be rather easy for the law enforcement agencies to specifically exclude someone of Khan’s global recognition from such a list.

Now that every visitor to the US and even permanent residents are fully fingerprinted on arrival every time it is hard to comprehend why specific names attached to specific fingerprints and passport numbers cannot be exempted. For some reason once a person gets on the FBI watch list it is very difficult to get off. The Washington Times story said some 65,000 names were audited and more than a third of it were outdated.

Security experts say that the random selection parameter is designed to make preventive determination more effective. They acknowledge that one of the negative fallouts is that many innocent people get singled out because of this parameter. They also point out that when the national threat index is higher the system is designed to become less discriminating. In simple terms, during heightened alerts it is possible that the system will sweep up many more people with a set of specific names and backgrounds than it would normally do.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, for all domestic and international flights, the current US threat level is High, or Orange, which is just below the highest Red. That may partly explain how the actor was singled out because of his name. It is a form of profiling based on many parameters such as names, religion, ethnicity and nationality.

As Khan acknowledged the immigration officials were polite but the question is not one of etiquette but effectiveness. Khan managed to stir up those who matter because of who he is. Lesser mortals might have had to go through a more nerve-racking experience once red flags go up against their names and they are asked to step aside at the immigration counter.

Post-’New York’, filmmakers look at me differently: John Abraham

Mumbai, Hit film “New York” has completed 50 days at the box office and actor John Abraham says the film industry is looking at him differently now – from being termed as expressionless by critics, he is now being praised for emoting on screen.

“Can you beat that… there was so much negativity thrown about me over the years, but I was keeping my head down and continuing to pick the best from what came my way. I’m glad I did ‘New York’. It just changed the way filmmakers are looking at me today,” John told IANS.

Directed by Kabir Khan, “New York” was the biggest earner of the year before “Kambakkht Ishq” and “Love Aaj Kal” arrived. A clean hit at the box office, this Yash Raj production boasted of critical as well as commercial success.

“The film helped me in a way that today even those people from the industry are calling me who have never done that before. I’m not holding any grudges though… what’s the point in doing that?” said John.

With harsh criticism coming someone’s way, isn’t it natural to have bitterness?

“No, I have actually never been bitter. Instead I have only tried to be as humble as possible, put my head down and work hard. I guess the result is a film like ‘New York’. I hope to be doing many more such performance-oriented films. I work for appreciation more than anything else and I guess my time has started now,” said John.

Known more for his physicality, courtesy movies like “Dhoom” and the recent “Dostana”, it was a welcome shift for John to see critics warming up to his acting abilities.

“What a relief it was…my physicality has been so overpowering but thankfully people looked beyond that in ‘New York’ and talked about my performance too,” said the actor who had earlier impressed audiences in Deepa Mehta’s Oscar-nominated “Water”.

After movies like “Dhoom” and “Kabul Express”, John got an opportunity to work with Yash Raj Films again in “New York”.

“All credit to Adi (Aditya Chopra) who put so much faith in me and roped me in for ‘New York’. I remember telling Adi and Kabir (Khan): give me more of second half in the film and I will make sure that there won’t be a single moist eye in theatre. As you see, the climax is still being remembered for being such a heart-wrenching affair.”

Right now the actor is investing a lot of himself in his next “1-800 Love”. The film is being directed by Abbas Tyrewala and produced by Madhu Mantena of “Ghajini” fame.

“This is yet another special film for me. We can’t go wrong with the film as we have made 200 percent sure that we’ve got everything right on the writing at the pre-production stage itself. In fact, I went through these formal script workshops for the film which was such a great experience,” he said.

John can’t be seen resting though. Before the end of year, he will have one more of his films hitting the screens – David Dhawan’s “Hook Ya Crook”, which is set for a Dec 11 release.

A UTV Motion Pictures production, “Hook Ya Crook” also stars Genelia D’souza, Kay Kay Menon, Shreyas Talpade and Sharad Kapoor with a special appearance by cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The film is set in a prison and revolves around a cricket match played among the inmates.

Sanjay Dutt set to scare as Ringmaster in ‘Aladdin’

Mumbai, After being seen as a baddie with a heart of gold in the Munnabhai series of films, Sanjay Dutt is set to don the avatar of deadly gangster Ringmaster in “Aladdin”.

The actor will be seen as a villain who can inspire tremendous awe and fear in the audiences’ mind. Director Sujoy Ghosh feels his character will take villainy to new heights.

“He (Ringmaster) is a fun, evil character. A man who is happy in what he is doing. A man who is good at being bad, whose smile would scare the living daylights out of you. A man so big that even the all powerful genie would be rendered helpless in front of him.

“And to play such a powerful character, I couldn’t think of anyone but Sanjay Dutt. The larger than life persona that he so beautifully portrays on screen is unmatchable,” said Ghosh.

Looks like after Gabbar and Mogambo, perhaps Ringmaster is the next Bollywood villain to strike fear in your hearts.

Scheduled for release this October, “Aladdin”, which stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role, is a contemporary look at the classic fairy tale. Riteish Deshmukh will be seen as Aladdin. The film also marks the debut of Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandes.

Packed with fun, music, action and adventure, the film boasts of a visual scale never seen before on Indian screen.

Shah Rukh’s detention has Bollywood shocked, disgusted

New Delhi, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s two-hour detention at Newark airport in the US over his surname had members of the Indian film industry fuming. Karan Johar was “shocked”, actress Priyanka said it was “downright disgraceful” and filmmaker Kabir Khan termed it “harassment”.

The 43-year-old actor was detained while he was on his way to Chicago to attend an event related to India’s Independence Day and was freed only after Indian diplomats intervened.

Here’s what King Khan’s friends and colleagues had to say:

Karan Johar: I am shocked and upset…feeling terrible for Shah Rukh.

Priyanka Chopra: Shocking, disturbing and downright disgraceful. It’s such behaviour that fuels hatred and racism. Shah Rukh Khan is a world figure for god’s sake. Get real!

Kabir Khan: When I heard this news, I was so surprised…it has almost become a routine. If you have a Muslim name you are bound to be questioned. It happened with me thrice in the US. I was stopped by immigration officials for three to five hours… they don’t care whether you are a celebrity or whoever.

But when it comes to Shah Rukh, it doesn’t take more than 20 seconds to figure out who he is�any search engine (on the Internet) will give more information on him than Hollywood stars Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt and despite that if it took them two hours to figure out, then its harassment.

Post 9/11 it is prejudice to have a person’s name and religion checked and it is very discouraging as well.

Pritish Nandy: This is the problem with law enforcers worldwide…Truly obnoxious. Cops don’t want to recognise anybody. They love to show their power and authority, especially in the US.

Kunal Kohli: It’s really disgusting. Even if they had done a Google search on their mobiles, they would have seen who he is. What were they checking for two hours on their super computers? To detain him for two hours is ridiculous, disgusting and an insult to us Indians.

Arindam Chaudhari: Shah Rukh has just finished his film “My Name Is Khan” in which his character tries to prove to the Americans that he is not a terrorist. I’m sure he never thought it would happen in real life too…What a shame! It’s shocking and shameful because I am sure Shah Rukh would have had to explain who he is.

It’s Shah Rukh so it’s become big news. But there many who constantly go through this everyday. It’s really sad.

Eesha Koppikhar: I am not sure of the exact events but if he was detained just because he is a Muslim with Khan as a last name, it is very wrong.

Bollywood icon SRK detained in US, send fans into a tizzy

New York/New Delhi, Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan was detained and questioned by immigration officials at a US airport for more than two hours on arrival to take part in a function to mark India’s Independence Day, sending his fans into a tizzy.

But hours after being detained at the Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey Friday, Khan participated at an event advertised as a “Dinner with Shah Rukh Khan” at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino.

Though he jokingly referred to the incident during his performance, SRK spoke out strongly against his treatment at the airport after the event, saying “it was not a good feeling” when the security officials took him to a separate room for questioning.

“I appreciated my independence a million times more today, I wish I was in India on Independence Day,” said Khan who was on way to Chicago to take part in an Independence Day event.

In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Vishnu Prakash said India had taken up the issue with the US embassy.

“The matter was taken up with the US embassy,” Prakash said.

In a statement, US Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said: “We are trying to ascertain the facts of the case – to understand what took place.”

Shah Rukh was a “global icon” and “he is a very welcome guest in the United States. Many Americans love his films,” the envoy added.

The Indian consulate in New York said by the time they were informed about the incident and contacted the superstar, Khan said the incident was already over.

“I was taken to a room for questioning. They said my name kept popping up on the computer,” Khan was quoted as saying. Immigration officers wanted to know why Khan was visiting the US. after his name appeared on a computer screen at a counter.

“Khan is a Muslim name, and I think the name is common on their checklist,” the actor said. “I was waiting for my bags. I thought it was nice of them to take me to another room, but that was apparently a second check. I had my papers in order.”

“I was really hassled at the airport because of my name being Khan…The couple of hours of interrogation wanting to know if I know anyone in America while all around people were vouching for me from India and Pakistan (sic),” the Bollywood superstar said in a statement.

“Only these guys just would not let me through. Finally they allowed me to make a call, which I did and the Indian Consulate helped me through.”

“It was absolutely uncalled for I think, me having just finished working there for more than a month…just a couple of weeks ago. They said I have a common name which is causing the delay…checked my bags…I felt angry and humiliated,” Khan said.

He said after about an hour, he asked the officials if he could make a call. “They said it was not allowed from here but they could make an exception. I called a friend who contacted an Indian embassy official who came and vouched for me,” Khan said.

“I am assuming this country is paranoid with a certain section of religion in the world. This has happened to me before. This is not the first time.”

Khan’s latest film “My Name is Khan” produced by Khan and director Karan Johar is set against the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and examines their impact on an Indian Muslim living in the US.

The film, shot largely in the US, is near completion and US-based Fox Star Studios has secured the global distribution rights for a deal which industry insiders estimate to be about 20 million dollars.

Shah Rukh detained in US airport – over ‘Khan’ name

New York/New Delhi, Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan was Saturday questioned for two hours at the Newark airport in the US over his surname and was freed only after Indian diplomats intervened.

The Indian government and entertainment industry reacted furiously after the 43-year-old actor, named by Newsweek last year as one of the world’s 50 most powerful men, revealed how he was detained and stopped from even using his mobile telephone.

Speaking to CNN-IBN channel on telephone from the US, Shah Rukh appeared to shrug off the embarrassing episode saying he had suffered similar treatment previously too.

The incident happened as the hugely popular actor, whose fans number millions in India and abroad, was on his way to Chicago to attend an event related to India’s Independence Day.

Other Bollywood stars like Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan too are set to attend the function.

“They checked me because I was an Asian,” the actor said. “They wanted to know why I came to the US and where I am staying.”

Shah Rukh’s manager Niloufer Qureshi earlier told IANS over telephone from Mumbai: “He was detained because his surname is Khan. He was kept until officials from the Indian embassy intervened.”

Asked if he got into trouble because of his giveaway Muslim name, Shah Rukh, who is married to a Hindu, said: “Certain countries have issues with my name.” He quickly added: “I am very proud of my name.”

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni denounced Shah Rukh’s detention over religious grounds.

“I don’t think that this manner of detaining (in the name of religion) is justified. But in the US, several examples have surfaced where frisking takes place more than required,” she told reporters in New Delhi. “There should be a tit for tat response.”

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar, a close friend of Shah Rukh, said in Mumbai: “I am shocked and upset. I am feeling terrible.”

Shah Rukh admitted that he became “greatly worried” as the American officials piled him with questions — mainly about his travel to the US.

The actor said a large number of Indians, including organisers of the Chicago event, were waiting outside at the airport to receive him. Indian diplomats came to his rescue when they heard about his plight.

He said it was ironic that the incident happened on the eve of Aug 15 — when freedom is celebrated by Indians.

“I personally feel it is over and done,” he said, sounding conciliatory. Asked if he felt like reacting in a similar way, he replied: “If they want I can frisk Angelina Jolie when she is here (India).”

Undoubtedly one of Bollywood’s biggest and most highly paid stars, Shah Rukh has acted in nearly 70 films in a career spanning 17 years.

Sanjay Khan Plans Mega Film for Zayed

Actor Sanjay Khan is reportedly worried about his son Zayed Khan's acting career. Hold it. Does he still have one? Okay, we're going to stop with the bitchiness..

The veteran actor and filmmaker is planning to make a super big budget film, starring Zayed. This is part of Sanjay's plan to launch Zayed in the big league of Bollywood, and make sure his beta gets his due place in the film industry.

Good luck to the Khans, is all we can say

Shiney's Cell Flooded

The media hoopla on Shiney Ahuja may have died down, but the star has been in jail since June 15, for allegedly raping his maid. He's locked up in Mumbai Arthur Road Jail's Barrack No 1, which also houses gangster Abu Salem, who the star essayed in one of his movies.

So here's the update: The recent rains have resulted in water logging in his barrack, leaving the actor struggling to find a dry corner. He even requested permission to be transferred to a different cell, but the authorities are yet to act on it. That's not where it ends. If it rains, the prisoners are expected to clean up themselves, a rule that Shiney apparently complied with.

Bollywood Heroes Become a Little More Human

From determined farmer to disco dancer, angry young man to romantic lover, the Bollywood hero has had many avatars, but in each, he has been epitomised. Our male protagonists have been able to outrace a car with a bullock cart, single-handedly vanquish fifteen villains, and always get the girl. They have been unbeatable, untouchable - perfect.

But not anymore. A new spate of movies is set to break this mould, centering on heroes that are not necessarily perfect example of their species. And this is not arty, alternative cinema, but mainstream Bollywood flicks starring some of the biggest actors in the industry, including Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Shahid Kapoor.

In Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey, due to release this Friday, Shahid Kapoor has a double role, where he plays estranged twin brothers. The movie is marketed as a "dark comic ride", and boasts all the ingredients of a box office success - guns, drugs, hit songs, and leading actress Priyanka Chopra in a wet white tank top. Shahid too, is the ultimate hero - muscles bulging, he runs with wild horses, seduces women, and parties hard. But, there's a difference. Both twins have extremely noticeable speech defects - one stutters, and the other lisps. The fact that the heroes of such a big production suffer from syndromes much ridiculed in Indian society is unusual indeed, and has been the cause of much speculation in the media.

Karan Johar, famous for his candy floss blockbusters, is now working on My Name is Khan, a film whose protagonist suffers from Asperger's Syndrome (a mild form of Autism, made famous by Forrest Gump and Rain Man), and who is picked up by American authorities in the wake of 9/11, who mistaken his disability for suspicious behavior. The film is apparently based on a true story. Shah Rukh Khan, who is playing the lead character as well as co-producing the movie, told a daily here that the movie is "not about a disabled man's fight against disability. It's a disabled man's fight against the disability that exists in the world -- terrorism, hatred, fighting." My Name is Khan is slated for a February 2010 release, and coincides with three Hollywood upcoming films that also feature Asperger's Syndrome, including Adam.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, one of India's few leading directors who has tackled disabilities in his past movies, has begun shooting for his next, Guzarish, in which India's version of Sly Stallone - Hrithik Roshan, will play a paraplegic, paralysed from his waist up and confined to a wheelchair for most of the film. The film is rumored to also deal with euthanasia and stars former Miss World Aishwarya Rai. Fans of Hrithik Roshan's famous dance moves and action sequences, both of which will be amply showcased in his upcoming home production Kites, are bound to be disappointed.

It is true that some Indian movies in the past have featured main roles with disabilities - Kajol, a leading actress who will star in My Name is Khan recently played a visually impaired woman, and Rani Mukherjee essayed the role of a visual, hearing and speech impaired girl in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black. But heroes, especially those portrayed by big-named leading men, have until now, been largely untouchable. These upcoming movies, along with spreading awareness of conditions like Asperger's Syndrome and paraplegia, will also hopefully pave the way for an era of protagonists who along with being perfect lovers, dancers, fighters, and sons, will also be just a little more real, and human.

Decade later, Salman Khan the singer returns

Mumbai, A decade after he was last heard as a singer, Salman Khan is back behind the mike for his upcoming release “Wanted”. Composer duo Sajid-Wajid say the song titled “Most Wanted Track” is true to the mood and theme of the film.

“The song is indeed a special part of ‘Wanted’. We wanted to make something ‘dhamakedaar’ for Salman bhai and the idea was to have a track that gives audiences a taste of what the film is all about. This is why you don’t just hear Salman bhai mouthing a few dialogues from the film but also singing in the true sense,” Wajid told IANS.

In the late 1990s, each of Bollywood’s three big Khans tried flexing their vocal chords as singers.

Aamir Khan saw huge success coming his way through the song “Aati kya Khandala” in the 1998 movie “Ghulam”, Shah Rukh Khan’s “Apun bola” that he sang for his 2000 movie “Josh” is heard till date and Salman too came up with a ‘tapori’ hit in “Chandi ki daal par” in “Hello Brother” in 1999.

Salman’s new song has quite a few dialogues. It in fact begins with now-famous dialogue, “Ek baar jo maine commitment kar di…..”, and packs in a lot more such one-liners that are bound to keep the masses and lovers of action cinema happy.

“Most Wanted Track” is currently being played along with the teasers of the film. If those 60 seconds are any indication, then this Boney Kapoor production is pretty much a successful film in the offing.

Courtesy the zany sound, two major aspects of the film are highlighted – Salman and ‘desi’ action – setting the tone for lovers of hardcore masala action.

“Salman Khan has always been known for giving his all to a film where his heart is set. ‘Wanted’ pretty much appears to be the film where he is back in a full-on action avtar five years since the release of ‘Garv – Pride And Honor’,” said a trade insider.

Wajid said: “The film is a full-on commercial affair and we went all out to make the album a complete package affair. Other than this theme track, which is of course the highlight of the film, we have incorporated a few dance numbers. We in fact even got Kamaal Khan, who has done so well with Salman bhai earlier, to sing a song (’Ishq Vishq’) in ‘Wanted’.”

In the past, Salman has been credited as a singer for a couple of songs like “Chal mere bhai” or “Main hoon Yuvraaj”. However, he didn’t sing in the conventional sense for either.

While in the former it was Sanjay Dutt who actually crooned the track, with Salman just chipping in as a drunk younger brother, in the latter he primarily spoke a dialogue or two for around a minute as he introduced his character.

” ‘Most Wanted Track’ is a full-fledged song though. Other than the dialogues, Salman bhai is heard singing ‘Teri yaad satati hai’ as a part of it. He has got the feeling of pain spot on. The genre of the song dictated that he sing in a laidback tone and he has done that perfectly fine,” said Wajid.

Produced by Boney Kapoor, “Wanted” is directed by Prabhu Deva and features Ayesha Takia Azmi opposite Salman Khan. The film also stars Mahesh Manjrekar, Asseem Merchant, Mahek Chhal and Prakash Raj along with Anil Kapoor in a special appearance.

Shahid unhappy over ‘A’ certificate for ‘Kaminey’

Chandigarh, Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who is looking forward to the release of his latest film “Kaminey”, is upset over the ‘A’ certificate it has been given by the censor board.

“I am quite surprised with the decision of censor board to have given an ‘A’ certificate to ‘Kaminey’. One should not go by the title of the movie as there is no other offensive word or abusive language used in the entire film,” Kapoor told reporters here Saturday.

“My family members have seen the movie. They found it very good and did not point out anything objectionable in it,” said Kapoor, who was in Chandigarh Saturday to promote the film.

“Kaminey”, which is directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, is slated to release Aug 14. Priyanka Chopra plays the female lead role opposite Kapoor.

Kapoor added: “Our aim was to make a U/A certificate movie but when we got an ‘A’ certificate our whole team was unhappy and could not understand the reason behind it.”

There are reports that the censor board had advised Vishal Bhardwaj to cut some scenes and to make certain changes in “Kaminey” if he wanted an U/A certificate for the film.

Fox STAR Studios to distribute Shah Rukh’s ‘My Name Is Khan’

Mumbai, Actor-producer Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Karan Johar have inked one of Bollywood’s biggest deals with a Hollywood studio. Fox STAR Studios will finance and distribute their forthcoming film “My Name Is Khan”, reportedly spending Rs.100 crore (Rs.1 billion / $20 million) in the process.

Shah Rukh and Karan, who are co-producing the film, announced their tie-up with Fox STAR Studios, a joint venture between 20th Century Fox and STAR, at a press conference here Thursday.

“We are very happy that Fox STAR Studios is taking responsibility of a film of this stature that too in a different language, though we do speak a bit of English in the film as well. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to take Indian cinema further,” said Shah Rukh.

Though they didn’t talk about the money, Fox STAR Studios have reportedly bought distribution rights for around Rs.100 crore for the film about a Muslim (Shah Rukh) who suffers from the Asperger syndrome, a form of autism that impacts social interaction abilities. He is arrested as a suspected terrorist in post-9/11 Los Angeles after authorities mistake his disability for suspicious behaviour.

Fox STAR Studios will market and distribute “My Name Is Khan” in India, while its sister companies, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox International, will distribute the movie in the US and other territories respectively.

Karan Johar is wielding the megaphone after three years to narrate the emotional journey of a Muslim man from India in the film, in which Shah Rukh has teamed up with Kajol. In the past, the two have starred in hits like “Baazigar”, “Karan Arjun”, “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge”, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and “Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham”.

Talking about the movie, Karan said: “I’m almost petrified when it comes to making a movie with Shah Rukh and Kajol. Together, they have given iconic love movies and so they raise the level of expectations each time they are paired.

“This time it is again a love story but with a different treatment. It won’t be like ‘Dilwale Dulhania…’ or ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, nor will it have songs shot in Egypt or Switzerland. But it will still leave a mark in the hearts of people.”

The partnership on “My Name Is Khan” follows Fox STAR Studios’ distribution deal with multiple Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” in India earlier this year.

Shah Rukh buys 20 million pounds apartment in London

London, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has reportedly bought a 20 million pounds apartment in a posh area of London.

The actor, who was recently awarded a doctorate by the University of Bedfordshire for his contribution to Indian cinema, is a regular visitor to the city and spends a good amount of time there with his family.

He had been hunting for a house for a long time and has finally zeroed in on an apartment in the Park Lane area of central London, reports theasiannews.co.uk.

Shah Rukh, who is right now busy with the shooting of “My Name Is Khan”, sealed the deal on his recent trip, said reports.

He also owns properties in the UAE.

Three boys die attempting Aamir Khan’s ‘Ghulam’ stunt

Ludhiana, Three teen-aged friends in this Punjab town attempted Aamir Khan’s “Ghulam” stunt of out-racing an incoming train to reach a spot in their real life. But they failed and lost the bet, and lost their lives too.

Police said the boys – in the age group of 15 to 16 – had struck a bet to run on the track towards the fast moving incoming train. However, they were run over by the train before they could jump off the tracks in Ludhiana, around 100 km from Chandigarh.

“Kala and Lalu died on the spot while Anees succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. He told police that they had struck a bet to see who could run for the longest duration in front of a running train,” said a railway police official.

“They were in the age group of 15 to 16 years and we are suspecting that the three were running on the railway track under the influence of liquor, due to which they could not react in time.”

The “Ghulam” train sequence that shows Aamir Khan running on the tracks towards an incoming train had won the Bollywood actor the Best Stunt award. Aamir Khan had himself performed the stunt of the famous ‘dus ki daud’ sequence.