Wild life conservation by Shah Rukh Khan Sanskara Development Trust aims for preservation of wildlife. It is a non profit organization. To protect the most endangered species of the world a campaign has been launched by Sanskara Development Trust and Asian Conservation Awareness Programme. The Indian Broadcasting Foundation will run the programmes on leading television [...]

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The Shah Rukh Khan Phenomenon
“Shah Rukh Khan is Shah Rukh Khan.” “There’s no one like Shah Rukh Khan.” “Nobody can match Shah Rukh Khan’s Popularity.” These and similar statements are commonly heard. And not just in the film trade but also among the general public. What is it that makes Shah Rukh Khan so different from the others of his ilk? Why in the last 15 years have we never had any actor who has had the same fan following and who could clearly step into his shoes?


What is it that really has made Shah Rukh Khan stand above all the other stars who’ve come after the superstar first made an appearance on the screen in 1992 in Deewana?


Quite simply, Shah Rukh Khan’s string of box-office hits! One after the other, the actor’s films hit the jackpot with such alarming regularity that in the nineties and 2000’s, Shah Rukh Khan became the safest bet for producers, distributors and exhibitors alike. I use the world alike to differentiate the scene that existed when Shah Rukh Khan is the numero uno and the one that exists now.

For instance, a Salman Khan today may guarantee mega-bucks for the producers of his films but there’s no like guarantee that distributors and exhibitors of his starrers will also make money. As in the case of most of his releases before his latest, Tere Naam. While producers of Salman-starrers made table profits, distributors of his films burnt their fingers rather badly when those films flopped. It was after almost two-three years that everybody associated with a Salman-starrer made money in Tere Naam.


Ditto in the case of films of other topline stars like Aamir Khan or others like Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Sunny Deol or, for that matter, anybody else. Why, even current heartthrob Hrithik Roshan’s films such as Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage and Na Tum Jaano Na Hum entailed heavy losses to its distributors. That is not the case with Shah Rukh Khan Flicks.


Secondly, merely the superstar’s name is enough to draw in the crowds into cinemas in any given day. Today, no hero can boast of such charisma as to lure the audiences to theatres on the sheer strength of their names. Salman Khan’s home production, Auzaar and Hello Brother, could not even manage decent houses on the opening day, leave alone full houses. Aamir Khan has never really drawn initial crowds; his starrers usually pick up by word of mouth publicity if they are good. Even action heroes like Ajay Devgan and Akshay Kumar had had to remain content with dismal opening of their flicks on more occasions then one. But the Shah Rukh Khan magic is one of a kind. Whether it was Aziz Mirza’s Raju Ban Gaya Gentlemen in 1992 or Yash Chopra’s evergreen Darr in 1993, Rakesh Roshan’s multi-star cast Karan Arjun in 1995 or Aditya Chopra’s All Time Blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995, Shah Rukh Khan’s first film with Aishwarya Rai - Josh - in 2000 or Farah Khan’s biggest entertainer, Main Hoon Naa in 2004, the two common features in all these hits were Shah Rukh Khan’s towering presence in them and a bumper box-office initial draw. Yes Boss, Pardes and Dil To Pagal Hai made 1997 a memorable year for the King Khan. The following year may not have been as good but Shah Rukh Khan, nevertheless, did deliver massive hit Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998. The next decade was equally exciting for the superstar. Josh, Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Devdas, Chalte Chalte, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Main Hoon Naa, Veer – Zaara, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Don - The Chase Begins Again is some of the actor’s great hits of the first and second half of the 2000’s.


Of course, when Shah Rukh Khan has reigned supreme, films did have to face the opposition of video and cable piracy. Cinema going was the expensive form of entertainment for the masses that identified with the Lover Boy image of Shah Rukh Khan. Still Shah Rukh Khan delivered Hit after Hit.



Yet another factor that went in Shah Rukh Khan’s favour in making him the darling of all sections of society was his unbelievable versatility. It is not for nothing that the King Khan became a superstar. Although he was adored in Lover Boy roles, Shah Rukh Khan never let down his fans in Action films like Karan Arjun, Ram Jaane, Josh and Main Hoon Naa. Yes Boss and Baadshah come to mind instantly when one thinks of Shah Rukh Khan’s flair for comedy. With equal ease, Shah Rukh Khan also played the intense lover as in Darr and Anjaam. For Art Lovers there was Asoka, Swades and Paheli.

The range which Shah Rukh Khan portrayed in his performances remains unmatched. Today, films do businesses of Rs 10 and 15 crores it is considered good, but Shah Rukh Khan Movie’s continuously do business of 30 Corer’s+.



Shah Rukh Khan is also the last star to have had a universal appeal that cut across geographical boundaries. Whether it was the man on the street in Ludhiana in the North or Latur down South, whether it was a company executive in Porbandar in Western India or a college student studying in Patna in East India, the fondness for Shah Rukh Khan is the same. Today, a Sunny Deol runs more in Northern Indian because of his action image; a Akshay Kumar is a hot favourite of U.P. and Bihar whereas an Aamir Khan flick generally records dull collections in Bihar. That is to say, Shah Rukh Khan’s charm affected the audiences in the North, South, East and West with equal intensity. Not just in India, but across the seven seas too, Shah Rukh Khan reigned supreme. His super-hit stage shows bore testimony to his immense popularity the world over.


Today when jubilees are difficult to get, Shah Rukh Khan’s films celebrated genuine silver, golden, diamond and platinum jubilees. Mohabbatein in 2000 celebrated silver jubilee in as many as 9 cinemas of Mumbai, a record unparalleled! From 2000 onwards Shah Rukh Khan has 19 releases out of which 5 of his Movies completed Silver Jubilees, 2 Golden Jubilees, 1 Diamond Jubilee, 1 Platinum Jubilee and 3 100 Days. Whereas Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge turned out to be the highest running movie of Indian cinema 600 weeks+ (12 Years).


It is not that only Shah Rukh Khan good movies were successful. Even the actor managed to make successes out of ordinary films like Anjaam, Ram Jaane, Army and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam. Shah Rukh Khan star power can be seen from Super Hit Don – The Chase Begins Again. It was the most worst reviewed movie of 2006, still it collected 51 corers in India and 110 corers Worldwide. Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Swades and Paheli which are termed failures by media for producers, distributors and exhibitors it was successful ventures.

Did you know?
1. Shah Rukh Khan is the only actor who gave at least one successful every year since his debut in 1992 Deewana till 2006 Don - The Chase Begins Again.

2. Shah Rukh Khan has acted in 4 films directed by Aziz Mirza (Raju Ban Gaya Gentlemen, Yes Boss, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani & Chalte Chalte). Rakesh Roshan (King Uncle, Karan Arjun & Koyla), Yash Chopra (Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer – Zaara) and Karan Johar (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham & Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna) directed Shah Rukh Khan in 3 films each respectively. Abbas – Mustan (Baazigar & Baadshah), Aditya Chopra (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge & Mohabbatein), Ketan Mehta (Maya Memsaab & Oh Darling Yeh Hai India) and Rajiv Mehra (Chamtkar & Ram Jaane) directed Super Star Shah Rukh Khan in 2 films each respectively.

3. Shah Rukh Khan has won 13 Filmfare Awards, Out of which 6 has been Best Actor Baazigar, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Devdas and Swades, 2 Critic’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (Performance) and Mohabbatein (Best Actor), 2 Power Awards, 1 Villain Anjaam, 1 Debut Deewana and 1 Special Award Swiss Consulate Trophy.

4. Shah Rukh Khan was the 1st actor to win all popular awards for Devdas (Filmfare, Screen, Zee, Sansui, Bollywood Awards & IFFA), which was next year matched by Hrithik Roshan for Koi Mil Gayaa.


5. Shah Rukh Khan is the only actor who has given maximum hits with debut directors. Raj Kanwar (Deewana), Aziz Mirza (Raju Ban Gaya Gentlemen), Aditya Chopra (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge), Karan Johar (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), K.S.Adhiyaman (Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam), Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Naa Ho) & Farah Khan (Main Hoon Naa).

Shahrukh Khan’s wife to make debut in Om Shanti OmShahrukh Khan’s wife Gauri Khan will debut in the movie ‘Om Shanti Om ’, as a part of a song where the technicians and crew members will also be shown in the movie. Gauri Khan is the official producer of the movie ‘Om Shanti Om’. After [...]

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Will Shah Rukh Khan play KBC host in Trainspotting director Danny Boyle's next, Slumdog Millionaire?
Shah Rukh KhanI all goes well, Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in British filmmaker Danny Boyle's next film, Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle, who has made popular films like The Beach, A Life Less Ordinary and Trainspotting, is in talks with Khan as he starts filming later this year.

The film revolves around an 18-year-old illiterate slum kid (Aamir) who is doing extremely well on Kaun Banega Crorepati. However, the producers, cops and viewers are convinced that he has used nefarious ways to get the right answers. Meanwhile, Aamir remains unfazed as he participated in the show only to re-establish contact with his lost girlfriend (Latika). Latika religiously watches the show and Aamir hopes to get her back through the show.

While Boyle's casting agents and co-producers are currently auditioning a bunch of theatre actors for the film. Boyle has already met Shah Rukh during his last visit in the city in April. But Shah Rukh is yet to give an assent to the film say sources. The film will be completely shot in Asia's largest slum Dharavi and will feature only Indian actors.

Danny BoyleObviously, SRK will be seen quizzing a young Aamir who will take the hot seat. Major sequences of the film will have Aamir fielding questions and getting backslaps from the host. Says a source, “Boyle approached Shah Rukh because he was the real-life host on the show, and he will also host the next season of Kaun Banega Crorepati.”

Shah Rukh Khan was not available for comment.

It's time for Mannat, Shah Rukh
By: A Mid Day Correspondent
September 14, 2007
Heritage bungalow comes under the scanner again for encroaching road

Shah Rukh Khan’s heritage bungalow and the roadShah Rukh Khan’s gorgeous heritage bungalow, Mannat, has come under the scanner again. The Bombay High Court today granted SRK two weeks to explain why the bungalow has encroached upon a public lane connecting Mount Mary Church and Land’s End in Bandra, claimed Advocate Shakuntala Joshi of Bhrastrachar Nirmulan Sangatahan (BNS).

According to BMC records the lane connecting Bhabha Road and Kane Road should have measured 9.15 metres in width. However, the lane now measures a mere 6.15 metres wide causing hindrance to droves of devotees visiting Mount Mary Church, Joshi pointed out.

Next to the bungalow that goes to the Mount Mary ChurchBNS in their affidavit before the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court pointed out that a section of the bunglow had encroached upon the abutting lane. The mandatory distance of 1.5 meters on either side of the lane has also been flouted.

BMC on the other hand claimed that the 9.15 metre wide road has been reduced to 6.15 metres and land records have been changed accordingly.

SRK’s adversaries challenged the claim by pointing out that any change in public roads should have been preceded by a public notice. This procedure has conveniently been overlooked.

Mannat came under the HC scanner after a PIL was filed seeking dereservation of the plot. Building a multi-storeyed structure on a reserved plot also violated BMC norms.

In fact, Mannat was reserved for an art gallery in light of its heritage value. However, the actor managed to construct a building abutting the bungalow.

SRK bought the bungalow from a Parsi owner for Rs 13.32 crore before renaming it Mannat. The plot measures about 26,000 square metres and is considered among Mumbai’s prime properties.

Two hours late, but SRK is forgiven

two of a kind: Shah Rukh Khan and Sania Mirza promoting the Sunfeast Open pic/sameer markande

It is a mark of Shah Rukh Khan's celebrity status that the very journalists he kept waiting for two hours at the Sunfeast Open press conference scheduled for 10.45 am yesterday, were laughing and smiling at the star's undeniable wit once he turned up.
SRK was with Sania Mirza (sporting a new haircut), to promote the WTA Sunfeast Open that begins in Kolkata on September 23, says Sowmya Rajaram.
This time, the championship trophy, which changes every year, was unveiled to be an oil on canvas painting created from a collation of children's paintings.
Mirza may not play after she picked up a wrist injury.
As for SRK, he kept the camera persons and reporters in splits with his charm. "I am asked to take off my shirt a lot now, but I say no. I am still talented enough to do a role without taking off my shirt," he replied to a question.
All good, Shah Rukh, but witty quotes and charisma can only go so far when you turn up oh-so-late, so keep that in mind for next time.