Shahrukh Khan: Controversy’s favorite child?

SRK has become controversy’s favorite child. The MNIK-Shivsena row was has just settled down, and he is amidst a new controversy. And this centers on Lux Cozi owner Todi, and its association with SRK’s IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders.

You must have seen the new advertisement in which SRK appears with his team, and their jersey flashes the name Lux Cozi. . This hosiery and undergarment company has struck a deal with SRK and he is the new brand ambassador of it. It is obvious that they will make the jersey for the KKR team this year. Now the hullabaloo relates with this company’s owners.

For those who don’t remember, I am telling the ‘andar ki baat’. Just a couple of years ago the owners of this company Ashok Todi and Pradip Todi were in news. Actually, Ashok Todi’s daughter was in love with Rizwanur Rahman, a shia Muslim, a St. Xavier’s College,Kolkata Grad and also a Computer Graphics designer.

It is alleged that Todi didn’t like this relationship & he made Rizwan’s life a living hell. Unfortunately there was so much of pressure on him from all the corners, that this smiling and bright man committed suicide. This created a lot of furore inKolkata and also in rest of India.

Todi got arrested, and case is handled by CBI. In fact this was the reason behind the sacking of Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizwanur_Rahman)

Now, SRK’s ‘money-chase’ has rekindled the fire, and the religious circuit and also many eminent person’s in Kolkata which includes artistes, actors, dancers, writers and performers, are against him now. They are angry and this will affect KKR’s popularity in their home city.

Also, it has been reported that SRK has responded positively on this matter, and the endorsement and its association is on hold for the time being.

Kareena Kapoor: I want a grand wedding... Part 2

Do you ever see Shahid and you coming together?

I am professional, and I am sure Shahid is as well. And I don't see why we shouldn't work together, if there is a good script, and if we both have good roles.

What's happening to Milenge Milenge, an old commitment?

It's like a seven-year-old film. I just want it to release for Satishji (Kaushik) and Boneyji's (Kapoor) sake, so they can get out of the stress. (shrugs) But it is an old film.

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What's the status of Saif's home production Agent Vinod starring you and Saif?

It is definitely happening. Agent Vinod is the kind of film that requires of lot of pre-production, which is happening right now. It's not a love story. It will be shot at seven different locations...and also the way Saif functions, unless there is a locked script, he doesn't get onto the set. He doesn't care if it takes, one, two or three years. So many times, Zahid (her manager) will come and say, 'Arre, this one has signed so many films. And that one is doing three films' And Saif says, "I don't care." He functions very differently. He says he isn't running a race...

That's something you've picked up from him...

Yes. You cannot imagine, how much he has taught me professionally. He has taught me to approach my work differently. He'd tell me, 'Stop bothering about what everyone else is doing. How can it matter to you? You should only be interested in what you are doing.' And that is what he does. And he's very happy and content professionally.

Any fear of you and Saif coming together in Agent Vinod? Your pair in Tashan and Kurbaan didn't really click.

Not at all. I think films run on the basis of the script and not the pairing. I mean star status and publicity can get you a opening but beyond that, the film has to work.

So what went wrong with Kurbaan?

Maybe there was something wrong in the screenplay or whatever but I still feel that Rensil and Karan made a brave, amazing film. And above everything else, I think it is one of my best performances. I won most of the awards for Kurbaan, so it is a film I will never regret.

When in need for career advice, who are you most likely to turn to?

I ask my sister. I definitely ask Saif (he has a great script sense) and my secretary Zahid. These people's opinion matters but ultimately, it is my own decision. But I do consider what Saif says, a lot because he can instantly tell me whether the film will work or not.

I hate reading, and Saif loves to read, and recently he wasn't getting sleep he said, 'Let me read this script out to you.' I won't tell you which film, but he finished reading it at 5.30 am, and shut it and said, 'According to me -- for an actress like you -- don't even think of this." He said don't do a film because you want to prove yourself as an actress. Another important thing he has taught me is: 'Don't to do a film because I don't do it, then some 'X' will do it, and you don't want 'X' to do that film. If someone else does it, good for them but you should do a film for yourself.

And if you don't see yourself in the part, forget it. Even if that film goes on to become a huge hit, you shouldn't bother because you don't want to be that character.' I love what he said, and I am going by that. That's one thing I truly follow, whenever I'm being narrated a script.

What is happening to Race 2? Are you and Saif still doing it?

As of now, it's still in scripting stages and technically, only Saif is part of it. I am going to hear the script but at the end of the day, I think Saif and I need to draw a line about how many films we will do together. As on now, there is just Agent Vinod. I will have two releases this year. Stepmom and Golmaal 3. And next year, I have Ra1 and Agent Vinod.

A lot is said and written about you and Saif. Do you regret making your relationship public?

I am known through my roles, not my personal life, and I don't want people to confuse the two. And I don't want to be caught up in my image. My fans want to know about my life and that's okay, up to a limit. If I am seeing someone, I don't see why I should hide it. And love is celebrating. It is ridiculous to hide your relationship. If I hide the fact that I am seeing someone, then I am disrespecting my man and my relationship.

Ever so often, there are rumours of you and Saif having had a secret nikaah at Pataudi. Your comment?

We have been together for two-and-half years now. We are very happy. Marriage will happen, but it hasn't happened. At some point, we are going to settle down but we don't know when. And catch me doing anything secretly! Anything about my life has been so much in the open. Why would I break my record and go have a hush-hush wedding? I am the last unmarried Kapoor girl  in the family and I want a grand wedding... I want to be a beautiful bride but right now, I am too busy being a bride on the big screen.

Saif once told me that he is ready to get married but that it wouldn't be fair to you because like it or not, an actress' stock gets affected.

That's why I love him so much more.

Kareena Kapoor: I want a grand wedding... Part 1

Kareena Kapoor on life with rivals, her beau, a possible shaadi... and living ambitiously

Kareena Kapoor is fun to hang out with. She reminds me of Blair Waldorf, a fictional character from TV show Gossip Girl. Like her, she was born into a rich family, so there is vanity. They both have a bitchy side which is balanced by a sensitive one. Both Blair and Bebo have a superiority complex but also good-natured centers.

Blair's biggest vice is her "insecurity" with regard to her social status, which often makes her an over-achiever. Ditto for Bebo.

But luckily for her she has a man, who checks her ambitious instinct. Here she talks about her beau's influence on her life, her rivals (where are they?) and the inevitable marriage plans. Read on for the politically correct Kareena. The real one surfaces once the dictaphone is switched off.

You have always believed that you are head and shoulders above competition. Admit it...

(Thinks hard) Not really. I know what I can offer, maybe it is because of that. And I am passionate about cinema. I have grown up with people who lived and breathed cinema and that has a lot to do with it. Acting is in my blood. I am very proud of being a Kapoor and I thank God everyday that I come from this family.

Lolo, too, was from the same family but she was humble. You don't seem to have a false sense of modesty.

You know, whoever knows me knows that I am very honest. I know what I can bring to the table. I am confident that I can deliver the goods.

If asked to name an actress you consider your closest rival, you'd pick...

The truth is, I think everyone is running a race. I am not. I know where I am. I am competing with myself. And if that wasn't the case, I don't think I would have films like 3 Idiots, Kurbaan, Omkara, Chameli, or Jab We Met. Also, the problem is, my closest rival keeps changing. Every year, a new name is touted. I don't want to name anyone, but I think in the last few years, I have been compared to five different names.

So let me name them... Bipasha, Katrina, Priyanka, Deepika, and Sonam...

(Laughs) I am not naming anyone... let me just say that all these comparisons have never bothered me.

Speaking of 3 Idiots, you had to know that the boys had the best roles, so what was the motivation for accepting the part?

I knew what I was getting into. I did the film because I wanted to work with Raju Hirani, Vinod Chopra and Aamir Khan. From what 3 Idiots was on paper, I could see that it would go on to become really huge. And for me the question really was: Do I want to be part of this film? Or am I just going to be part of films where my role has been great but they've not gone on to be huge successes? And besides, we have to start thinking differently. In Inglourious Basterds, Christoph Waltz had a much better role but that didn't stop Brad Pitt from being part of the film. We keep talking about the West doing things differently, but no one really follows it. Everyone is just bothered about the length of their roles, and how many songs and scenes they have. And for me, it's not about screen time. It's about being effective.

How much money did you really make in 3 Idiots?

(Giggles) Well, not even one third of what Raju, Vinod and Aamir made. But more than my bank balance, I am just happy that I am part of a film that has made history.

Are you in discussion for another film with Aamir? You visited his house before you left for your European vacation with Saif...

I went to Aamir's house because I hadn't seen him since his dad passed away. Saif and I are very fond of both Aamir and Kiran. And I would love to meet them again. Ours was a condolence visit, it wasn't about work.

Ok, I have to ask. You have worked with all the three Khans (Aamir, SRK, Salman). Who's the most fun to work with? And please don't be politically correct.

I think they are all special -- Aamir, Salman, Shah Rukh, Saif...

Saif doesn't count. He is the boyfriend...

(Complains) No, no, not fair. Why should he be left out because we are together? Anyway, to get back to your question, I think they are all different and special in their own way. And that is why the Khans are still ruling the roost. No matter, who comes and who goes, they remain unaffected. I mean, see 3 Idiots, Love Aaj Kal, My Name Is Khan, and Wanted. Come on, guys, wake up.

So where does that leave a Bachchan, a Kapoor and a Roshan?

I would love to work with Hrithik. I think he is one of the finest actors in the country but surprisingly, no one is offering us films together, can you believe that. I am sure we will work together at some point.

But there's no stress there?

Not at all. It's strange that no one is even thinking of casting us together. I am looking forward to it, to be honest.

Salman's ex-driver creates a scene on sets

Salman Khan is well known to have a soft heart beneath the tough exterior he loves to portray -- sometimes which lands him in trouble.

An eyewitness from the Dabanng sets says, "About eight months ago, Salman Khan had asked his driver Ashok Singh to leave his work. Salman had felt that his driver's behaviour hadn't been appropriate. Salman has faithful old-time retainers working with him for years.

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In fact, Salman has been so attached to Ashok that when the driver got married, Salman had even gifted him a flat for the newly wedded couple to stay in. So when Ashok behaved in a manner that irked Salman, the actor felt very let down and asked him to leave."

However what Salman wasn't prepared for was that his ex-driver Ashok would land up on the sets when he was shooting and create and an emotional scene there. "Salman was seated with his group while shooting for Dabanng in Wai when Ashok came in. Initially, when Ashok sent word that he wanted to talk to Salman, the star ignored him.

Finally after a lot of coaxing and wheedling, Khan agreed to meet him and called him to his room. Ashok broke down in tears saying ever since he had left Salman, his life had been in a mess. He begged for his job back. Salman, who is still irritated with Ashok's behaviour, said he had another driver and wasn't looking to replace him. But the truth is with Salman -- one never knows. Tomorrow he just might take Ashok back."

A source close to Salman says, "Yes. It's true that Ashok had come on the Dabanng sets but bhai is a very nice person. Today Salman might ask someone to leave and tomorrow if he feels bad, he might take him back." Salman Khan remained unavailable for comment.

Shahid-Kareena back as friends?

The one time talk of the town couples Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor have called the truce? Yes says the reports. All thanks to Karan Johar and Sharukh Khan, for being behind the patch up.

Sharukh Khan had organzied My Name Is Khan success celebration at his house Mannat where Kareena-Shahid came face to face and to the surprise of many they greeted and had a short conversation. People at the party says the two stars looked quite comfortable with each other.

Boney Kapoor who has been trying to bring the ex couple Shahid and Kareena together for his much-delayed film Milenge Milenge would be the happiest man on the earth. Isnt'it?

Amidst controversy Shahrukh drops Todi

The year 2010 seems to be a year of controversy for Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan. No sooner did the actor come out of the controversy around the release of his movie My Name Is Khan amidst protests by the Shiv Sena he finds himself locked in another one.

If it was supporting the cause of the Pakistani players in the IPL which agitated the Sena, it is the endorsement deal for his team Kolkata Knight Riders which is giving Shahrukh headaches now.

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Shahrukh had struck a deal with the inner wear brand Lux Cozy and he was appointed it's brand ambassador. Lux Cozy which is owned by Ashok Todi and Pradip Todi in turn sponsored the uniforms for the Kolkata Knight Riders team.

Ashok Todi is facing court trial for the murder of graphics designer Rizwanur Rehman, a Muslim, after he married his daughter Priyanka. The case had also led to the removal of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee.

Many in Kolkata have been upset over Shahrukh's tie-up with the Todis. Some religious groups had also called for the boycott of his movie My Name Is Khan when it released on February 12.

To add to Shahrukh's woes artistes, actors, dancers, writers and performers are also expressing their opposition to the controversial tie-up. Shahrukh who will need the entire city to rally behind him in the upcoming IPL will find it hard to continue with the deal.

Aamir Khan would make a good Finance Minister: Anu

Inflation is not just hitting the common man, apparently the crème de la crème are sweating out too seeing the rising prices.

Hence people have lots of expectation from the upcoming budget and the king of music Anu Malik is not to be left behind, as he voices his opinion on the same, “I think its really high-time for us to say goodbye to inflation and I hope this inflation rate goes down after the budget has been declared.”

When we quizzed him on who according to him fits the bill of a Finance Minister in Bollywood, Anu pondered and replied in his unique style saying, “To be a Finance Minister needs certain qualification and I don’t think anyone in film industry has that, as we are more into creativity. Although I feel Aamir Khan would make a good Finance Minister because he is a very balanced person. And I think whoever is balanced can balance assets well.”

Ahem! What more can we add to that!