"King of Bollywood" well received in Marathi

KING OF BOLLYWOOD: SHAH RUKH KHAN AND THE SEDUCTIVE WORLD OF INDIAN CINEMA by Anupama Chopra, which was recently translated and released in Marathi, has sold over 900 copies in one week.

The English edition sold over 10,000 copies in the first ten days, after which the Marathi edition has also created a record for itself. The Marathi translation, published by Ameya Prakashan, was released in Pune last week.



- IndiaFM

Shahrukh Khan won't sign to 'Save Sanju'

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday said he was not part of any signature campaign to "save" jailed actor Sanjay Dutt, saying "we understand that the law will take its own course."

"We are not illiterate nor are we stupid. We understand that the law will take its own course and I am sure his (Dutt's) family also realises that. I don't know where this news has come from," Shah Rukh said here on the sidelines of a promotional event here this evening.

"Of course, as a friend I do wish him all the best. But we do realise that we cannot change the way the law functions. Nor would I want that the courts change their decisions just because some say so. That is not how it works at all," the superstar added.

Shah Rukh's name had figured in a section of the media as one of the Bollywood personalities who were thinking of starting a signature campaign in support of Dutt who has been sentenced to six years in prison for illegal possession of arms by a special TADA court which tried accused in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Special Public Prosecutor in the case Ujjwal Nikam had lashed out at such campaigns, saying they amounted to contempt of court.

The 48-year-old actor is lodged in Pune's Yerwada Jail and his lawyers on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court against his conviction and also applied for bail.

Shahrukh Khan, the new boss?

After making the blockbuster Sivaji: The Boss with Rajnikanth, director S Shankar is all set to make a film with Shah Rukh Khan. The two will apparently work together on an action thriller.

SRK has been in talks with the director for a while now about working together. The Bollywood superstar has not yet signed on the deal but it is believed that the duo have already discussed the script and other details of the film. The shooting of the film, however, will take a while to begin as SRK wants to finish work on Shirish Kunder's yet untitled film. Shankar has won many accolades for the stupendous success of his Sivaji. The film has broken all Indian ticket sales records, prompting its makers to have it dubbed in Hindi and some foreign languages as well. Shankar is also the man who directed Aishawariya Rai in one of her first film's Jeans.

Anupama Chopra's 'King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan'

King of Bollywood is a sweeping portrait of a man who is worshipped as a modern-day God, a country finding its identity and a movie industry that helped to change the face of India. The book reveals how Shah Rukh Khan, a middle-class Muslim boy from Delhi, broke into the insular, nepotistic world of Bombay show business and emerged as a superstar. His larger-than-life tale takes us through the colorful and idiosyncratic Bollywood movie industry, where fantastic dreams and outrageous obsessions share the spotlight with extortion, murder, and corruption.

Mira Nair, director of The Namesake, comments, "The ultimate story of the outsider who became Bollywood's great insider. Chopra captures the snap, crackle and pop of celluloid dreams in this immensely readable bio of the great Khan's life...a bounty for cinema lovers everywhere."

Emma Thompson, Oscar winning actor, comments, "The Easy Riders, Raging Bulls of the Bollywood industry and essential reading for any Shah Rukh Khan fan."

King of Bollywood is the first comprehensive narrative account of Bollywood published by a major US publishing house: Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books). The book is being distributed in India by Om Books and Westland Books Pvt. Ltd. Internationally renowned film critic Anupama Chopra combines her knowledge of the Bollywood industry with firsthand interviews and exclusive photographs for an exclusive, insider's look at Shah Rukh Khan and the world of Bollywood. King of Bollywood will also be available in Hindi, Marathi and German translations.

Anupama Chopra is a film critic and book author. She has written about the Hindi film industry since 1993. Her work has been published extensively in India Today. She has also written about Bollywood for various international publications such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Variety and Sight and Sound. Currently, Anupama scripts and hosts a weekly film review show.

Anupama Chopra's first book Sholay: The Making of a Classic sold over 10,000 copies and won a National Award for the best book on cinema (2000). Her second book, 'Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge', was published by the British Film Institute as part of the Modern Classics Series.

More praise on the book...

"King of Bollywood is the all-singing, all-dancing back stage pass to Bollywood. Anupama Chopra chronicles the political and cultural story of India with finesse and insight, through fly-on-wall access to one of its biggest, most charming and charismatic stars," praises Gurinder Chadha, director of Bend It Like Beckham.

"This smart and thoroughly researched book explores stardom - that most of mysterious of phenomena - and in telling the story of Shah Rukh Khan it also shows how a city, an industry and a star can be characters in a single urban epic. Anupama Chopra knows how to blend social analysis with the frisson of glamour and the insider's knowledge of one of the world's great dream machines," says Arjun Appadurai, John Dewey Professor in the Social Sciences, The New School, New York.

"India has changed more after economic liberalization in 1991 than at any other time in its history. This elegant book is not only an intelligent guide to the charismatic superstar of this era, Shah Rukh Khan, but also to the Indian film industry (Bollywood) and modern India itself. Long live King Khan!" says Dr Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Indian Cultures and Cinema.

"I have always read Anupama Chopra's books with relish. She has an educated and unbiased approach. Her work is always thought provoking and entertaining. Whoever reads this book will have a clear and insightful understanding of Bollywood and of course, me. Thanks Anu," says the King Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) himself.

Source - Glamsham Enfotainment Magazine

Chak De India

Movie Name: Chak De India

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Mallavde

Producer: Aditya Chopra

Director: Shimit Amin

Music Director: Salim Suleiman

Release Date: 10 August 2007

There are a couple reasons why Chak De India is one of the more anticipated films to release in 2007. Firstly, it is yet another high-profile gathering of Shah Rukh Khan and Yash Raj Films. After hearing this, you'd think to yourself - "ah, another tear-jerking performance from another over-the-top romantic film." Well, let's not be too sure of ourselves; which brings me to the second reason why this film garners some thought - Director Shimit Amin.

It's extremely rare to see a director, who took his first steps in the RGV Factory (with Ab Tak Chappan) waltz over to the Yash Raj banner. Needless to say the two high-profile production companies are like fire and ice, producing some of the most contrasting films you'll find.

Starring Shah Rukh Khan and newcomer Vidya Malvade in lead roles, Chak De India revolves around Kabir Khan (SRK), the coach of a girl's hockey team, and a young sikh girl, Vidya (Vidya Malvade), who wants nothing more than the hard-to-earn consent of her parents to be able to join the team. SRK plays the role of a muslim man, disturbed by the sorrows of life, who wants nothing more than to see his nation's flag held high with all others. The girls' team makes it to Australia to play for the World Cup, and this is where the story portrays the plight and opportunities of the team as they fight for dignity, respect, and victory.

Model-turned-actress Vidya Malvade has truly received the break of a lifetime with this role. Or has she? Ladies and gentleman, over the past decade and a half or so, there has been an ignored theme that has run beneath the career of Shah Rukh Khan and the debutant actresses who work with him. If we look back, there have been several instances where debutant actresses gain the break of a lifetime working opposite this larger-than-life superstar, but then failing to ever achieve any sort of success in their careers (if you can even call it that). Is it the SRK curse? Or is just the luck of the draw? Let's reminisce...

Circa 1993, Shilpa Shetty has a dream launch with SRK in Baazigar. She's been struggling ever since. Apart from Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) and Dhadkan (2000), Shilpa has really never been able to gain the acceptance of both the masses and the classes. It is obvious that she has the potential, but will she ever reach it?

Suchitra Krishnamurty - do I have to say anything else? You probably haven't heard of her because she's done absolutely nothing since her dream debut opposite SRK in Kundan Shah's Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994). It wasn't until eleven years later she got a role in RGV's My Wife's Murder (2005).

Mahima Chaudhary was probably the most surprising victim of debuting with SRK. Her role as Ganga in Ghai's mega-blockbuster, Pardes, is still remembered by millions today. She was even hailed as Madhuri's successor... but wait, what happened Mahima? A slew of flops and a number of special appearances later, you still remain just that one-hit wonder.

Finally we have SRK's co-star in Asoka, Hrishita Bhatt. Although the film itself was a disaster, Bhatt was the one shining star in the entire film. But the curse had its way. Apart from full-fledged roles in films like Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Out Of Control, she had a couple scenes in Shimin's Ab Tak Chappan and a dance number in the super-flop, Kisna - The Warrior Poet.

Oh and I almost forgot, whatever happened to Gayatri Joshi from Swades? 'Nuff Said!

So it looks like history and fate is fighting hard against Vidya Malvade, who will be combating an uphill battle to prove that her career will be a success regardless of who she co-stars with. Vidya, here's wishing you all the best - and we hope the curse doesn't cast its shadow on you as well.

Coming back to the film itself, Chak De India has music by composer duo Salim-Suleiman, while the editing is done by Shimit Amin himself (who was a full-time editor before his progression into the director's seat). Cinematography will be handled by Vishal Sinha who did a stellar job working with Amin in Ab Tak Chappan. The film has been written by Jaideep Sahni.

Source - Glamsham Enfotainment Magazine.