I will treat them to the first copy of OSO

By: Upala KBR



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As we watched India beat Pak on TV yesterday, Shah Rukh Khan and his son Aryan watched it within touching distance of our cricketing stars — in the stadium at Johannnesburg. After the presentation, he went over and shook hands with Dhoni's team. Reliving the experience Shah Rukh said, "I want to thank Team India for making all of us so happy and proud. I also want to say that they won against a great opponent — Pakistan — they have a wonderful team too. But today was our day. I am so thrilled that I could, with my son, be a part of history, a spectator.
"My voice is hoarse and after all the fireworks, I wish the team some peace and quiet — meditate a bit on Om Shanti Om. I have promised the team that I will show them the first copy of the film."
They are waiting, we're sure...

Shahrukh Khan praised the Indian cricket team performance After the team India headed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the World Cup finals match against Pakistan, the Bollywood star, Shahrukh Khan praised the team performance. He watched the finals match at the Johannesburg stadium along with his son and cheered the team at the most decisive moments [...]

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World Cup winning cricketers the real heroes: Shah Rukh Khan
26th Sept 2007 09.01 IST
By Agencies

Euphoric over India lifting the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan described cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and, before him, Kapil Dev, who brought glory to the nation by scooping the 1983 World Cup, as the real heroes of the country.

“I am just a ‘Badshah’ (king) without a crown, but Kapil paaji and Dhoni are the ‘Badshahs’ with the Taj (crown). These sportsmen are the real heroes of India. I am just an actor who tries to take inspiration from them in films like Chak De India ”, SRK, who was yelling encouragements in the stands at the Wanderers along with his son Aryan during the grand finale, told a news channel after India’s electrifying win.

http://media.fastclick.net/w/get.med...&tp=10&d=s&c=1

Refusing to see this win as an offshoot of the enthusiasm for sports created by his latest venture ‘Chak De India’, which featured the King Khan as the coach of the Indian women’s hockey team whose training helps the team win the World Cup, SRK said, “In fact, it is the other way round. It is from people like Kapil Dev and Dhoni that we draw inspirations for films like ‘Chak De India’ and not the other way round.”

Expressing elation over the seesaw battle, which eventually saw India romping home, its first after a gap of 24 years since the cricket World Cup in 1983, SRK said he had a strong belief that the Indian team would emerge triumphant in the Twenty20 World Cup.

“My son and I strongly believed all through the final between India and Pakistan that India would win. At no point of time did we feel that India would lose. Fortunately for us, our young cricketing heroes proved us right.”

SRK said it was his strong belief in the capability of the Indian youngsters that led him to suddenly decide early Sunday to go to South Africa to lend support to Team India.

“I was very small when the Indian team won the cricket World Cup in 1983. But now I wanted my son to watch closely our young cricketing heroes battling it out in the cricket field. Fortunately for us we were not disappointed.”

Expressing his gratitude to the people like BCCI president Sharad Pawar, Industrialist Vijay Mallaya and Congressman Rajiv Shukla for arranging his visit to South Africa at such a short notice, SRK said, “I am extremely happy that I was present at such a historic moment in India’s cricketing history.”

“I am also happy that this win by the Indian cricket team as well as the brilliant show by the Pakistani cricket team has given the much-needed fillip to sport in the subcontinent and brought cricket back to the centrestage after the unfortunate loss at the 2007 cricket World Cup,” SRK said.

Refusing to liken the World Cup win in 1983 to the Twenty20 World Cup victory, SRK said, “I would not like to make any comparison. A win is a win is a win. In that sense, the present win is as cherished as the 1983 win.”

Not a wise move, Mr Khan

publicity stunt: Shah Rukh Khan at Johannesburg on Monday
The entire Indian media highlighted Shah Rukh Khan's presence in Johannesburg, where he was seen hugging Team India after the win.
Now, a reader, Anil Kant, from Andheri (W) has written in to say, "To see SRK at Jo'burg wearing an Om Shanti Om T-shirt was disappointing and a very selfish and unclassy act of self promotion.
"Giving away the first copy of OSO to the players is a smart move to make people believe what a generous man the superstar is. He was only promoting his film there. That is PRK instead of SRK. King of PR."
Meanwhile, there were some more brickbats for PR… oops SRK with a report on the BBC website stating that Shah Rukh has been criticised for promoting a skin lightening cream, Fair and Handsome, on the shelves of British shops.
The report says, Kiran Kaur, a Sikh human rights activist in west London, one of the epicentres of Asian cultural life in the UK, says the arrival of Fair and Handsome, with a Bollywood name in tow, is a step back in time.

But in this report, BBC news admits his charming image and talent and appreciates him that he is like “Tom Cruise of Byllywood”. Check it out this report here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7010885.stm

A leaf from Shah Rukh's past: He courted Gauri for 6 years
30th Sept 2007 15.01 IST
By Agencies

A new book on Shah Rukh Khan reveals interesting facts from the superstar’s past.

Shah Rukh as a child was weak in Hindi, dreamt of representing the country in international sports events and as a young man had to court his love Gauri for six years before he could win her, says a new book.

Shah Rukh was bright, naughty, fond of sports but was weak in Hindi either scoring very low marks or failing in the subject says the book 'SRK: King Khan' by journalist, critic Deepa Gahlot.

Instead of scolding him, his mother once told him that she would take him to a Hindi movie in a cinema hall if he did well in the subject. The bait was attractive enough for young Shah Rukh and his first visit to cinema must have triggered off the acting impulse in him, says the book. The newly generated interest in Hindi made him understand Hindi films better and gave him a command over the language, a skill that stands him in good stead in his career even today, it says.

In the school he was more interested in sports such as cricket, hockey, football and athletics than in studies and hoped to become a sportsman capable of representing his country in international events.

In Delhi while performing for both television and theatre, Shah Rukh was also wooing the pretty Gauri Chibba, a Hindu girl. Because of the difference in the religion, Gauri's family disapproved of their relationship. The courtship carried on clandestinely for over six years.

Gauri was not too pleased about his choice of career or his decision to move to Mumbai but their love overcame all problems, pretty much like it happens in the movies, the book says.

‘SRK: King Khan’ is published by Roli Books and is priced at Rs. 495.