Sorry Khan't make it!
By: Upala KBR
May 9, 2007
Wizcraft, the entertainment company that manages the International Indian Film Academy Awards, is having a tough time getting A-list stars to put in an appearance at the ceremony in Yorkshire (England) next month.

The word around B-Town is that it is because of Amitabh Bachchan, who is the brand ambassador of the awards.

One actor who is definitely not attending is Shah Rukh Khan, even though he is immensely popular with the English population.

Says SRK, “I’m not going because the function is always fixed during my kids’ holidays.

It’s extremely difficult to take three days out for the event.”

‘B’ware

According to an industry source, it’s not a co-incidence that SRK will be absent this year. “The last time Shah Rukh attended IIFA was in Amsterdam in 2005.

He skipped the event in Dubai the year later, and officially it was said he was holidaying with his family in London.

But the real reason was the cold war between him and Amitabh Bachchan.

Karan Johar had to organise two music release functions for Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in London and at IIFA in Dubai to appease both SRK and Bachchan,” says the source.

As for the real reason why SRK will be skipping the event in Yorkshire, the source says, “SRK was royally snubbed when he wasn’t invited to the AbhiAsh wedding. Also, Amitabh, Abhishek and Ash will be present as the Bachchan family brand, thus stealing the limelight from other stars. It’s no wonder then that they are wary of attending.”

‘Shaadi’ affair

Andre Simmons of Wizcraft is reportedly worried that Khan’s non-attendance will hamper ticket sales, as shindigs like IIFA are sold on the strength of stars performers and attendees.

Adds the source, “Salman Khan too is in two minds over attending the show. He and SRK had decided to boycott the event as they were upset about not being invited to the wedding. But now, Salman might perform with Govinda, though he hasn’t confirmed anything yet.”

When we ask Govinda, he says, “I have not been informed about this, but it would be great if Salman and I could perform together.”

Rakesh Roshan confirms that he will be attending along with Hrithik, but the star son won’t perform.

Name dropping

However, Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft puts on a brave front. He says, “The attendance is pretty good this year. Some stars might be missing and some are still to confirm, but we have a good line-up of international celebrities too.

Colin Firth, and Sienna Miller are some of the international names who will be there.

There will also be a charity cricket match between Yorkshire XI and IIFA XI, which will have names like Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kapil Dev, Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Rakeysh Mehra, Emraan Hashmi, Abhishek Bachchan and others.”

Will Shah Rukh Khan act in Hindi 'Casablanca'?
07th May 2007 22.18 IST
By Aparajita Ghosh

‘Casablanca’, one of the cult classics of Hollywood, is going to be remade in Hindi by an acclaimed [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]filmmaker[/color][/color].

T Rajeevnath, a National Award winning filmmaker, is all set for a daunting task. He wants to make a Hindi [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]movie[/color][/color] inspired from the 1942 flick ‘Casablanca’ that starred Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

The Hindi remake is said to be roughly titled ‘Sangam’, and its script has been written by Rajeevnath himself. Rajeevnath believes ‘Casablanca’ is one of the most outstanding movies of the last century.

The Oscar-winning film had Humphrey Bogart in the role of an expatriate American named Rick Blaine, who owns and runs a casino in Casablanca. Ingrid Bergman played Rick’s ex-lover Ilsa Lund, who is married to another man. The film is about the inner conflict of Rick as he finds himself torn between his feelings for Ilsa and his duty to do the right thing by helping her husband, who is a resistance hero fighting against the Nazis.

Rajeevnath is hoping to sign none other than Shah Rukh Khan to play the role essayed by Bogart in the [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]Hollywood[/color][/color] classic. According to Rajeevnath, SRK has the charm and flamboyance to carry the role with conviction. Rajeevnath is looking forward to approach SRK in the coming days.

As for the movie’s heroine, Rajeevnath hasn’t decided yet. But he wants an actress of big stature.

For the time being, the filmmaker has signed A R Rahman to compose the film’s [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]music[/color][/color] and songs.

The Hindi remake of ‘Casablanca’ will be shot in Andaman Islands and Shimla.

The film’s shooting will begin by the end of this year.

SRK in Casablanca?

It’s hailed as one of Hollywood’s greatest romantic films set during World War 11. And, if the buzz doing the rounds is true, then T Rajeevnath has one mammoth task ahead of him.
But the national award-winning film-maker has just made his job easier – he’s apparently roped in Shah Rukh Khan for his ambitious Hindi remake of ‘Casablanca’.
Rajeevnath, who has much-acclaimed films like, ‘Moksham’ and ‘Janani’ to his credit, has already signed AR Rehman for music direction. If the reports are true, then SRK would be playing Humphrey Bogart’s character – casino owner Rick Blaine. The Indian Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) has yet to be decided.
It would be interesting to see which Bollywood leading lady is picked for this role, considering the chemistry between Bogart and Bergman in the film was much-raved about.
Rajeevnath earlier made news when he announced his plans to make a film on ‘Mother Theresa’ with Paris Hilton. That project was soon shelved.

It’s well known that superstar Shah Rukh Khan is very fond of Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Bano. In fact, many feel SRK’s acting is inspired by the legendary thespian’s style. SRK himself had once mentioned that his mother always felt he looked like Dilip. And if that was not enough, Saira Bano herself [...]

More...

Shah Rukh Khan was original MunnabhaiDid you know that Shah Rukh Khan was Rajkumar Hirani’s first choice when he started his first Munna Bhai film. Now as the Munna Bhai maker goes on to make his third film which is not a Munna Bhai sequel, he has signed his original choice that he had in [...]

More...

Shah Rukh Khan's painting in London
06th June 2007 09.01 IST
By Agencies

After Salman Khan the painting bug seems to have bitten Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan .

SRK and India's greatest contemporary artist M F Husain will together create a painting in a 'live' effort. The painting will then be auctioned by Bonhams of London on the spot.


SRK will soon be headed to London to contribute his artistic skill to a painting to be created jointly with Husain. This event will take place on June 7, 2007.
The King Khan will join wife Gauri – who is a well-known art collector – and children Aryaan and Suhana in London.
The joint painting with Husain will be a 'live' effort and will be auctioned by Bonhams of London on the spot and many other joint artist-celebrity paintings will also go under the hammer at this auction.
Anjana Kuthiala, the artist who has painted many portraits of SRK, says that collaborative art pieces have become a big trend today. Her own painting called 'SRK and the flowering tree' has contributions from celebrities including Sonu Nigam and SRK's mother-in-law Savita Chibber.
This painting will be auctioned in New York later this year to coincide with the India economic summit in which speakers like V S Naipaul, Vijay Mallya, Ram Jethmalani and Praful Patel will participate.