Showing posts with label Gauri Khan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gauri Khan. Show all posts
My daughter would dance to Katrina Kaif’s songs, which we would record and send to her-Kabir Khan
9:55 AM
Natasha Coutinho (BOMBAY TIMES; July 11, 2025)
Few know that Kabir Khan, director of films like Kabul Express, Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Chandu Champion, is also a skilled dancer. He has now found a dance partner in his daughter Sairah, who has been training in several dance forms since the age of three. We spoke to the filmmaker about the dancer in him, while Sairah shared her career plans.
I dabbled in dancing a lot in DU: Kabir Khan
Talking about his love for dancing, Kabir shares, “I dabbled in dance a lot when I was in college, we had a good choreography team at Delhi University, where I graduated from. It’s safe to say we were good because we won awards at the university and in Lady Shri Ram College where my wife Mini (Mathur) studied. I spent six months on the production of the musical West Side Story with choreographer Ashley Lobo. It also featured Parvin Dabas, Gauri Khan and others, so that was a phase when I was dancing a lot. Mini showed her dancing chops on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, and now Sairah dances better than both of us put together. So yes, dance does run in the family.”
‘I’d put up performances for my parents as a kid’
Talking about how she fell in love with dancing, Sairah says, “My parents enrolled me in a ballet class when I was three years old, and I started enjoying it. I was very dramatic as a child and would put on performances for them. I was dancing to Sheila Ki Jawani when I was two. I trained with Ashley Lobo, did professional certificate courses in different styles, and now I dance simply because I enjoy it.”
To this, Kabir adds, “We enrolled her in the class because she had already started dancing. She would dance to Katrina’s (Kaif) songs, which we would record and send to her.”
‘Documentary filmmakers are considered serious people, but they are the most interesting people I have met in my life’
Reminiscing about his journey from dancer to documentary filmmaker to finally directing large-scale commercial movies, Kabir shares, “Dancing is about team building, and was something I really enjoyed. I’m still in touch with many people from the West Side Story production. Gauri and I became friends during that project. Documentary filmmaking is what I studied – I did my master’s in filmmaking. At some point, I felt those films lacked a wide audience, and I felt frustrated. That’s when I wrote Kabul Express, based on my journey with a friend in Afghanistan. I landed a three-film contract with YRF, and the rest is history.”
Does the tag of a documentary filmmaker paint him as a serious person? “Documentary filmmakers are considered serious people, but they are the most interesting people I’ve met in my life,” says Kabir, adding, “They have varied experiences because of their travels. Just last year, I caught up with many documentary filmmakers at a festival in Kathmandu, and the interactions, as always, were quite interesting.”
I love being in front of the camera, but maybe not as an actor: Sairah
Sairah is often asked if she would take up after her parents. But she has other plans. “I’m hoping to study at New York University first,” she says, and continues, “Both my parents’ movie sets have always been a playground for my brother and me. My brother Vivaan has taken to filmmaking. While I love being in front of the camera with the spotlight on me, maybe not as an actor. But let’s see.”
Pics: Prathamesh Bandekar
This new book explores Shah Rukh Khan's fandom
3:01 PM
Shah Rukh Khan; (right) Dancing through life: Shah Rukh and Gauri show young love’s got rhythm
A new book aims to encapsulate what actor Shah Rukh Khan means to his fans. This extract talks about an early hit, Fauji, and how it heralded the birth of the superstar we know, and love, even now
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 10, 2024)
Shah Rukh’s breakthrough in television came with Fauji, helmed by the jovial Colonel Raj Kapoor, who appeared on Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai to talk about the actor.
Speaking about Colonel Kapoor, Shah Rukh said, “I never thought I could act on screen. Let me share a story: After my father passed away, my mother and I were searching for a house to rent. When we found one, my mother insisted that I see it first before confirming. When asked where I was, she replied, “He’s off acting.”
Kapoor’s son-in-law Kamal Dewan suggested I go to him, who was directing a serial. That’s how Fauji, which was aired in 1989 and had thirteen episodes, came to be.
Fauji served as Kapoor’s homage to the Indian Army, presenting a realistic portrayal of cadet life as young men trained to become commandos. Shah Rukh was already acting in another serial titled Dil Dariya at that time and shot for Fauji during lunch breaks—such shooting schedules were common for actors then who worked on multiple projects at the same time. The audition for Fauji involved a rigorous physical test, including a 1.5-mile run at dawn, followed by an impromptu boxing match. Shah Rukh impressed with his discipline, by not giving up on the race even when many co-auditioners dropped out. He was initially designated to land a smaller role while Kapoor’s son Bobby was to play one of the leads, Abhimanyu. But Bobby, who was already the cameraman, had to bow out.
It’s the way of this industry, as Karan Johar points out in Zoya Akhtar’s debut movie Luck By Chance: “Industry mein outsiders aise hi toh aatey hai. Koi alag tarah ka role likhta hai, koi badaa star nahi karta hai and finally ek naye ladke ko break mil jata hai [This is how outsiders get into the film industry. Someone writes a different sort of a role, big stars refuse to do it and then finally a newbie gets his break]. Zanjeer was turned down by seven actors before a struggling star, Amitabh Bachchan, picked it up.”
Shah Rukh has been destiny’s child in that sense, or probably was always at the right place at the right time. His two big Bollywood hits, Darr and Baazigar, landed in his kitty just like that.
How Shah Rukh landed Fauji, over and above the rigour he showed, is funny, to say the least. At the launch of Samar Khan’s and Sonali Kokra’s book SRK: 25 Years of a Life, he recounted, “I went there, I auditioned and he gave me a sweet role—in the whole Fauji serial, the Colonel orders me to go and count the crows on the tree. I would run and say, ‘There are four crows’. This was my role in the whole serial. I thought this was so strange… How could I tell my family that this was my role? … I did that and it was one of the nicest roles, and they’ve all loved me like a family. I am not saying this with false humility, but maybe the goodness I have at this age is because of the wonderful men and women I’ve met in my life.”
Amina Shervani, who wrote and acted in Fauji (as Kiran Kochar), said that for its time, Fauji was an extremely expensive show to make. It cost nearly Rs 2 lakh per episode to shoot. It was facing a four-year delay in its pilot launch. The Fauji team rallied in 1988 to ensure an early release the following year. They obtained permissions from the Ministry of Defence, Doordarshan and the Army headquarters. Despite challenges, the dedicated team pooled their talents and resources to bring the series to fruition.
In an interview to The Print, Shervani said, “I remember the Army was supposed to give us sten guns and other equipment to use, but they didn’t let us touch anything. So I flirted with a commando to steal a broken, defunct sten gun, and made a mould of it. We made twelve aluminium moulds that looked quite real. And one day, I was carrying them back from the studio in an auto, and the cops stopped me, and there I was—with twelve real-looking guns. Fortunately, we had done films for Delhi Police before that, so the police commissioner knew what we were really doing.”
This was the late 1980s and the turmoil in Punjab meant that procuring materials such as fuel for the demolition and explosion scenes was difficult, as the authorities had put strict rules in place. And so, for the scenes in the show, these had to be sourced from Shah Rukh’s mother, who owned a kerosene company. Dynamite was acquired through connections with friends who had contracts for stone and mica mining in the Aravallis, allowing the team to create their own explosives.
One would think these would be the biggest challenges in the making, but the real hurdle was getting Shah Rukh to cut his hair. Shervani said, ‘”Shah Rukh just wouldn’t cut his hair. He would keep smoking, and his mother would be worried that nothing would come of his passion for theatre.”
When Fauji was aired, it resonated with people in a big way. Shah Rukh’s charm captivated viewers, propelling him to the forefront of the show. His character, Abhimanyu, became central to the story, showcasing Shah Rukh’s knack for both romance and action. This was the first time he started becoming a household name. One of the many fans of Shah Rukh from that era is my own mother, Ellora Basu. When I first told her I am working on this book, she recounted to me how her love for Shah Rukh dates back to the late 1980s.
“Watching Fauji was like witnessing the birth of a superstar. Shah Rukh Khan’s charm as Abhimanyu Rai was not to be missed, and we knew he was destined for greatness from the very first day the show aired.”
As a child of that time, she told me how there was a general sense of fatigue with the trope of the ‘Angry Young Man’ that ruled movies and television then. “I wasn’t interested in television until Fauji came along. That was a young show. It had stories that my siblings and I could relate to. The show brought in young people to television viewing. A large part of our love was because of Shah Rukh. He was always a sincere actor, but more than anything else, he had the ability to charm you. It could be called screen presence, but in his unique goofy, boy-next-door way, he was someone you’d want to root for in a story. That’s the sign of a hero!”
Extracted with permission from Shah Rukh Khan: Legend, Icon, Star by Mohar Basu, HarperCollins India
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‘Even at his worst, he finds it in himself to be a kind person’
Author and mid-day writer Mohar Basu says that the book, Shah Rukh Khan: Legend, Icon, Star, came into existence because they wanted to view Shah Rukh and his influence on cinema, culture and community from a third eye perspective including the lens of his fans. We spoke to her about what inspired her most as she wrote the book, and how she managed to write it as a detached writer, and not die-hard fan.
Excerpts from an interview.
What anecdote about SRK inspired you the most personally after writing this book?
There are a lot of absolutely fantastic stories about Shah Rukh, and a great selection of these has made it to the book. But the one that stuck with me was this story about Shah Rukh rushing back to India after his wife had a miscarriage while he was in New York shooting for Pardes. To get home quickly, he flew from LA to New York and then caught an Air India flight to India. There was rush and confusion at the airport and a fan persistently followed him for an autograph, despite seeing him flummoxed. When he finally reached his gate, he realised the lady actually was Akshay Kumar’s fan and thought he was Akshay. He didn’t want to break her heart so quickly signed an autograph as “Akshay Kumar”. This story shows what makes him as loved as he is. Even at his worst, he finds it in himself to be a kind person.
As a journalist, writing about fans and a star, what were some things you were careful about—so that it didn’t end up pandering to a star, but spoke of something deeper?
The relationship that fans have with the star they love has been a point of academic research. We all know how powerful and dynamic fandoms are. The approach we had decided early on in the project was to view Shah Rukh and his influence on cinema, culture and community from a third eye perspective including the lens of his fans. Why do people love him so much for so long is a question that was repeatedly asked at every step along the way. My editor at HarperCollins India, Bushra Ahmed, in fact, kept reminding me that fan psyche was at the forefront of this book. This is why we decided to write an entire chapter about why people love and desire him and tackled every aspect of it. Most interviews were done for this chapter because everyone found different things that drew them to him. Married women loved his love story, younger women saw him as a benchmark of what they seek from a man they are in a relationship with, some love the fact that he is a great father and everyone finds themselves drawn to him because he is respectful. The men loved his ability to work hard. The approach was pretty sociological. Some amount of my own training as a journalist and my education in sociology came in handy. We have tried to create a multi-layered, non-lateral narrative which I hope best portrays the power that SRK holds. The love for Shah Rukh runs deep and his charm is an added bonus.
What’s something your book has that you don’t think has been ever addressed about SRK before?
The impact of Shah Rukh Khan on community and culture, not just cinema, is at the heart of this book. The broad highlights of his life are well-known but this book looks deeper into the phenomenon that is SRK. For instance, take my favourite SRK film—Chak De India. The finest sports film India has ever made. And why has that movie been hard to top? It blended in entertainment and social themes perfectly. No other film has been able to reflect how diverse the country is and then SRK says that iconic dialogue— “Mujhe states ke naam na sunai dete hai, na dikhai dete hai. Bas ek mulk ka naam sunai deta hai.” Or more recently, a film like Dear Zindagi. A fan spoke about how she had always felt different and knew she wasn’t okay but Dr Jug made her to check in to therapy and she is better because of it. We often discuss how stars, especially in a country like India, actually impact real lives and how fans look up to them to inform their own perspectives. This book attempts to do show you how Shah Rukh Khan goes beyond being just a superstar.
Aryan Khan buys two floors in Delhi building for Rs. 37 crore
8:30 AM
Faizan Haidar (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; July 29, 2024)
New Delhi: Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, has bought two floors at Panchsheel Park in South Delhi for Rs. 37 crore, as per documents accessed by ET.
The family already owns the basement and ground floor of the building, where Khan and his wife Gauri used to live in the early days. According to documents seen by ET, the transaction was registered in May 2024, and Khan has paid Rs. 2.64 crore as stamp duty.
"In Delhi, high-value transactions by Bollywood stars are rare. Earlier, Amitabh Bachchan had also sold his Gulmohar Park property in South Delhi for around Rs. 23 crore," said Pradeep Prajapati, founder of boutique real estate consultancy firm Wealthvisory Capital.
According to people familiar with the deal, Gauri designed the house. It holds emotional significance for the couple as Delhi is where they met.
The areas around Rashtrapati Bhavan and South Delhi have seen several high-value transactions since the Covid lockdown was lifted, with entrepreneurs and ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking larger homes in the city's upscale colonies. Over the past year, the wealth of HNIs has increased, spilling over into the real estate sector and causing a surge in the purchase of super luxury homes.
Experts said the scarcity of such properties available for outright sale near Lutyens' zone, coupled with rising demand for such bungalows, will ensure that prices remain high despite market fluctuations in other parts of Delhi.
Shah Rukh Khan recovers after hospitalization for heat stroke
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 24, 2024)
The internet went into a tizzy ever since reports surfaced on Tuesday that Shah Rukh Khan had to undergo sudden hospitalisation in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In what has come as a major relief for his fans, the actor was discharged from the hospital in the early hours of Wednesday and is feeling better now.
Khan’s manager Pooja Dadlani posted on her Insta Stories on Thursday afternoon, “To all of Mr Khan’s fans and well wishers- he is doing well. Thank you for your love, prayers and concern (sic).”
On Tuesday, Khan was at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where he attended his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) playoff qualifier on May 21. The 58-year-old suffered a heat stroke during the game. On Monday, a red alert was issued for the ongoing heatwave in the state (with the mercury touching 46°C).
“God willing, he will soon be up, and in the stands on the weekend, cheering the team on, as we play the finals,” actor Juhi Chawla, who co-owns KKR, earlier told News18. Producer Gauri Khan, the actor’s wife, was spotted visiting him at the hospital on May 22.
These are some of the big-fat Diwali parties that Hindi film stars are set to host this year
8:21 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 19, 2022)
After a two-year lull, the quintessential big-fat Bollywood Diwali parties are back! With social distancing being the norm during the pandemic, such gatherings had come to a halt everywhere. But, like for everyone else, 2022 marks the return of the festive fervour for Bollywood celebs, too.
While actor Ayushmann Khurrana started the roster with a party at his home recently, which was attended by actors Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan and Ananya Panday, and filmmaker Karan Johar, among others, here’s a look at all the upcoming Diwali parties in Mumbai, starting today.
OCTOBER 20
Actor Taapsee Pannu’s interestingly titled Diwali party, The Outsiders Party, has garnered a lot of attention. A source close to Pannu says that people working in her productions such as actors Sanjana Sanghi and Ratna Pathak Shah, and her friends, actors Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, are on the guest list.
OCTOBER 24
Actor Anil Kapoor’s party is known for having a great turnout every year. But a source tells us that there’s a change of plan: “Every time, his kids — Sonam, Rhea and Harsh Varrdhan — organise it at his place. But, this time around, the party will be at Sonam’s new home in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on the Diwali day. It’s extra special for Sonam and her husband, Anand Ahuja, as they have just become parents.”
OCTOBER 22
Producer Ekta Kapoor will throw a party on Saturday. An insider tells us that her gang, including actors Mouni Roy, Karishma Tanna Bangera and Anita H Reddy, among others, will all be present at the do.
OCTOBER 23
Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s friends will be attending an intimate gathering at her home. We are told that it will be a card party.
OCTOBER 19
Producer Ramesh Taurani says, “I am happy about getting to throw a party. I can’t reveal the names of the guests. I always invite my friend Salman Khan.”
OCTOBER 21
Actor Ankita Lokhande and her husband, businessman Vicky Jain, will be hosting a party at their new home.
No party at Mannat!
Actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife, producer Gauri Khan’s Diwali party at their home, Mannat, is always an attraction. But, this year, the couple is not hosting one, as confirmed by his manager, Pooja Dadlani.
Nothing can be worse: Gauri Khan opens up on Aryan’s arrest
9:25 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (September 23, 2022)
In October last year, Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan and interior designer Gauri Khan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under suspicion of carrying drugs aboard a cruise in Mumbai. Neither Shah Rukh nor Gauri had spoken about it. However, on the recent episode of filmmaker Karan Johar’s chat show, Koffee With Karan Season 7, Gauri broke her silence on the subject and shared that “nothing can be worse” than what the family went through.
During the episode, Karan asked her about life as an entrepreneur, as Shah Rukh’s wife and how the entire family dealt with Aryan’s entanglement in last year’s drugs-on-cruise case.
Enquiring about how the incident, Karan said, “It’s been such a tough time for him (Shah Rukh), not just professionally, but with everything the family went through. You all have emerged so strong, as a family. I know it hasn’t been easy. I know you as a mother and him as a father, and all of us like we’re members of the same family. What do you have to say about your own way of handling tough times, when families go through something like that?”
To this, Gauri replied, “I think nothing can be worse than what we’ve been through as parents.”
She added that the incident made them come out stronger: “Today where we stand as a family, I can say that we are in a great space where we feel loved by everyone — all our friends and so many people who we did not know. With so many messages and so much love, I feel blessed. I’m grateful to all the people who have helped us through this.”
Aryan, 24, spent a few weeks in jail before he was given a clean chit by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the NCB.
People don’t want baggage of working with Shah Rukh Khan’s wife-Gauri Khan
11:26 AM
Returning to Koffee With Karan after 17 years, Gauri discusses flipside of having a superstar husband
MID-DAY (September 21, 2022)
It isn’t easy to get the reticent Gauri Khan to make an appearance on a show. Ask Karan Johar, who has convinced her to return to Koffee With Karan 17 years since her last appearance. This time around, the producer-interior designer is joined by friends Maheep Kapoor and Bhavana Pandey.
The conversation, laced with wit and humour, sees the ladies discuss it all — from Shah Rukh Khan’s epic parties to stars’ airport looks, and Gauri’s dating advice to daughter Suhana Khan.
In a segment of the Disney+ Hotstar offering, Gauri opens up on how having a superstar husband also comes with its baggage. The entrepreneur, who has a successful interior designing business and hit Hindi movie productions to her name, says, “When [working on] a new project, there are some people who consider me a designer. But there are also times when it does not work out that way because people do not want to get attached to the baggage of working with Shah Rukh Khan’s wife. It works against me 50 per cent of the time.”
I am pretty much myself like most women are on a day-to-day basis juggling many roles-Gauri Khan
8:29 AM
Mirchi and Gauri Khan take on some of Bollywood’s most popular celebrities’ homes, transform them and take viewers through it in this new show
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; September 16, 2022)
Mirchi, India’s No. 1 city-centric music and entertainment company, is all set to present its new show titled Dream Homes With Gauri Khan, which marks the digital debut of film producer and interior designer Gauri Khan, as a host. Presented by Kurl-on and powered by Bonito Design and ACE group, the show will present six episodes where Gauri Khan will take the viewers through the space makeover journeys of some of the most popular B-Town celebrities’ homes.
The show delves into how Gauri has aesthetically and with superb flair transformed spaces at Manish Malhotra, Farah Khan, Katrina Kaif, Kabir Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Malaika Arora’s homes. Amidst her candid conversations with the celebs, Gauri will be seen bringing the vision of the celebs for their spaces to life alongside giving a sneak peek into her sensibilities when it comes to redoing homes.
Mirchi is all set to drop the first episode of the show on September 16, exclusively on the Mirchi Plus app. Fans can also watch the episodes a week later on the Mirchi Plus YouTube channel. The show will be telecast on Colors Infinity every Sunday from October 2 at 9 pm.
Dream Homes With Gauri Khan will not only bring the latest home décor trends and hacks, but will also reveal the behind-the-scenes happenings of revamping the spaces for some of Bollywood’s most talented and creative minds.
Excited about Gauri’s new venture and rooting for the show, on Wednesday, Shah Rukh Khan on his social media announced, “@gaurikhan looking forward to seeing you host #DreamHomesWithGauriKhan! coming soon on @mirchiplus App & Youtube Channel from 16th September 2022 (sic).”
In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, Gauri Khan spoke about her unique sensibilities when it comes to personalizing space and stepping in front of the camera to host her new show. Read on…
Producer, interior designer mother and superstar’s wife, you don various hats. What’s Gauri Khan like when no one’s watching?
I am pretty much myself across all these roles just like most women are on a day-to-day basis juggling many roles. I am a very private person, but I enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Designing a house is a very personal, intimate experience. How do you merge your own aesthetics with what others want?
Designing anything requires a lot of conceptualization and brainstorming. The first thing I do is sit down and put all the requirements together – the likes, dislikes, aspirations and dreams of the customer. It helps you get an idea of what the people in the home that you are designing would do and what they would use the space for, allowing you to picture it and then start working. With experience, you tend to understand people’s minds better. As you travel more, experiences in life equip you to design multiple spaces for people from different backgrounds and age groups. I have gathered that experience through my travels, being a mother, a student and a designer.
In the show, we see you visiting celeb homes and redoing parts of it. While you have been designing homes for a while now, this is the first time, we will be seeing you doing it for a show, which can be viewed on digital platforms and TV. How was the experience of being a part of Dream Homes With Gauri Khan?
It’s all been very exciting. Though I have done celebrity homes before, doing the same on television is very different and challenging. Also, this is the first time I am hosting a show as well, which I am really looking forward to, as that is a totally unexplored territory for me.
Speaking of homes, which corner of your house brings you peace and why?
The spaces facing the sea are my favourite. I love sitting there and working, I find it very calming and inspiring at the same time. It’s simple with some comfortable seating so one can lounge there with plants for greenery and some nice lights.
What are you most particular about when it comes to your home?
I love classic designs and don’t like too much clutter in terms of décor.
Do you binge-watch house makeover shows on OTT?
Sometimes, but I do read and travel a lot, which are the biggest inspirations for my designs.
Tell us about your association with Mirchi for this project, in terms of how this collaboration came about. What were your initial thoughts and your overall experience working on this?
Mirchi is known for its unique concepts and associations with personalities from across the industry. Growing up, I have always been fascinated with design. I felt like design and design curation came naturally to me and over time, I honed it further. I have always explored various ways in which I can bring my designs to people through many associations and collaborations. Designing and bringing ideas to life has been a passion, so, when Mirchi approached me with the concept of Dream Homes With Gauri Khan for Mirchi Plus, I was very excited as it was something I have never done in the space of design and, I will be turning host for the first time, which is something completely new to me. The journey of collaborating on this show, locking the designs, mapping it to our dear personality into a full-fledged show has been quite an exciting ride. With the pandemic, and lockdowns, it hasn’t been easy, yet today I am most happy to showcase my work and vision as a designer to the world of course, in collaboration with India’s leading entertainment platform — Mirchi Plus.
There was no case against Aryan to begin with-Mukul Rohatgi
8:52 AM
Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who represented Aryan Khan in court, feels authorities should think twice before ‘arresting people without material evidence, or a case, and sheepishly apologizing later’
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 29, 2022)
On Friday, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) gave a clean chit to Aryan Khan in last year’s drugs-on-cruise case, stating that there was no recovery of drugs from Aryan, nor was there any concrete evidence to prove that he conspired with the other accused. We spoke to senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who represented Aryan in the matter. He said, “Come to think of it, there was no case against him to begin with. The matter was under investigation for months. It’s clear now that there was no material found against Aryan Khan to prosecute him. Drugs were not found on his person, and neither had he consumed it prior to arrest. It has now been clearly concluded that there is no case against him.”
While Aryan’s father Shah Rukh Khan and mother Gauri have maintained a dignified silence through the proceedings, Rohatgi added that the “family had suffered a great deal”. He said, “It’s also painful and unfortunate to see what the family went through at that time.”
‘THIS IS THE TIME FOR AUTHORITIES TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS’
At the same time, he said that Aryan was lucky that the matter was “wrapped up in six to eight months”. “There are thousands of cases across the courts in our country. Undertrials spend days, weeks, months and sometimes, even years behind bars. In that context, he was very lucky – he spent just about 25 days. Having said that, it’s still unfortunate. But in the context of the larger picture, Aryan’s incarceration was the shortest. And the fact that there is no case against him has come about quickly.”
Rohatgi added, “This is really a time for prosecution agencies to think if they should go on arresting people without material evidence and then sheepishly say that they don’t have a case and that they made a mistake. I think it’s time that authorities began to take on more responsibility for their actions. The law gives them the power but they need to exercise it with caution. The good part is, this chapter is over for Aryan.”
Aryan Khan was unfortunately at the wrong place at the wrong time-Sussanne Khan
8:34 AM
While most in showbiz maintained a studied silence, some have noted that the case is generating sensationalistic, voyeuristic pleasure. Others also extended moral support to the Khan family
BOMBAY TIMES (October 5, 2021)
On Monday, Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were produced for their second remand hearing in the cruise ship drug raid case. They were sent to NCB custody till October 7.
The NCB had sought custody till October 11 and in its remand application stated that “shocking incriminating material has been found on his phone in the form of pictures”, which talks about “procuring in bulk for further distribution.” The sections applied under the NDPS Act were 8(c), 20(b), 27, 28, 29. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NCB, read Rhea Chakraborty’s bail order where it was observed that offences under NDPS are non-bailable.
Advocate Satish Maneshinde, appearing for Aryan, said, “My bag was searched but nothing was found. After some time, they took custody of my phone and began interrogating me. Mr Merchant is a friend of mine. This is a small quantity (six grams of charas). None of the other drugs was seized from us. The main seizure is from the other accused. I am not connected to others. Even if the offences are non-bailable as argued, based on Rhea's case, I am entitled to bail. There, Section 27A was invoked, for financing. If material is seized from other accused, that cannot be foisted on me. One of the grounds is that there is the seizure of total commercial quantity in the entire case. But that can't be used against me. According to them, I’m in the position of purchase. But nothing is recovered from me.”
Regarding the allegation that Aryan was involved in international trafficking, the lawyer said, “Now they say that when I was abroad, I have certain conversations in the phone and they want to bust an international drug trafficking racket. In the last one year, I've gone to my university. In the entire period, I have not indulged in any drug trafficking.”
Earlier, on Saturday, NCB officials raided a cruise ship off the coast of Mumbai and held eight people for questioning, including Aryan. On Sunday, Aryan, Arbaaz and Munmun were arrested by the NCB and produced before a holiday court in Mumbai. The court sent all three to NCB remand for a day. The other five accused – Nupur Satija, Ishmeet Singh Chadha, Mohak Jaiswal, Gomit Chopra and Vikrant Chhokar – were also arrested later on Sunday.
Before Monday’s remand hearing, Sameer Wankhede, Zonal Director NCB, had told us, “NCB will seek further custody of Aryan Khan. I cannot reveal the links and the findings of last evening’s interrogation, but there are areas we need to investigate.”
As to whether all eight accused will be questioned together or not, he said, “We use all techniques in our investigations, and will be using the same methods in this case too.”
On Monday, when the cruise ship returned to Mumbai, Wankhede and other NCB officials reached the cruise terminal and searched the vessel, an official reportedly said.
HAD HE NOT BEEN SRK’S SON, PEOPLE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THE CASE SO MUCH: SHOBHAA DE
It’s very indicative of something far deeper that needs to be investigated more thoroughly. And because it’s such a high profile arrest today, it is generating that kind of sensationalistic, voyeuristic pleasure in seeing whether Aryan is going to be actually arrested and how, what statement is he going to be signing. All of it, which has gone viral, has everything to do with his public profile, as the son of Shah Rukh Khan. But, the problem is very much there, and has been addressed perhaps not strongly enough, and there was no follow through after the Sushant Singh Rajput incident. This is the second such (case) which should act as a wakeup call, and what we have to remember, to start with, and that’s the most important thing, that whether it’s Shah Rukh Khan’s son, it’s Aryan Khan, or anybody else, due legal process is being followed... Had he not been Shahrukh Khan’s son, had it been just another arrest of a rich kid, I don’t think anyone would’ve been that interested in following this case. (The comment was made during a discussion on NDTV)
PAINFUL FOR PARENT TO DEAL WITH CHILD IN TROUBLE: HANSAL MEHTA
It is painful for a parent having to deal with a child getting into trouble. It gets compounded when people begin to arrive at judgements before the law takes its course. It is disrespectful and unfair to the parent and to the parent-child relationship. With you @iamsrk
HE WAS AT THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME: SUSSANNE KHAN
I think this is not about Aryan Khan, as he was unfortunately at the wrong place at the wrong time, this situation is being made an example to drive home the excitement that some people get as they have a witch hunt on people from Bollywood. It’s sad and unfair as he is a good kid. I stand by Gauri and Shahrukh. (The comment was in reaction to Shobhaa De’s post)
BOLLYWOOD GAWKING IS A TAMASHA: SUCHITRA KRISHNAMOORTHI
Nothing harder for a parent than seeing their child in distress. Prayers to all. For all those targetting #Bollywood remember all the #NCB raids on filmstars? Yes nothing was found and nothing was proved. #Bollywood gawking is a tamasha. It’s the price of fame.
THE CHILD SHOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY, LET THE REAL REPORTS COME: SUNIEL SHETTY
When a place is raided, a lot of people are detained. We assume that the kids must have consumed or done something. All I want to say is that the process is on, let's give that child a breather. Whenever there is something related to Bollywood, the entire media starts reacting on every angle and assumes that everyone is like that. I think the child should be given an opportunity and let the real reports come out. Till then, he is a child and I think he is our responsibility. (The comment was made on Sunday)
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2011: SRK detained and fined by customs at Mumbai airport
This is not the Khan family’s first run-in with Sameer Wankhede. In 2011, Wankhede, who was then the Deputy Collector of Customs at Mumbai Airport, had stopped SRK and family when they returned from an international holiday. SRK was interrogated and then fined with a custom duty of approximately ₹1.5 lakh
Shah Rukh Khan’s Khar office turned into 15-bed ICU facility
8:33 AM
It will be run by Hinduja Hospital from today; equipped with oxygen and ventilators; housekeeping and meals by Khan’s Meer Foundation
Linah Baliga (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 8, 2020)
Two months after Shah Rukh Khan’s office in Khar was turned into a quarantine centre for asymptomatic Coronavirus patients, the BMC has further converted the superstar’s facility into an ICU for critical patients.
The 15-bed facility will be operational from today, in association with Khan’s Meer Foundation, Hinduja Hospital in Khar and the BMC. Khan had offered his four-storeyed office on C D Marg to the BMC in April, but it couldn’t be taken over until May-end due to lack of doctors and healthcare workers. It was acquired after Mirror’s report on May 29. The work to upgrade the space into an ICU facility began on July 15 and isolated patients were shifted to another centre.
Executive director of Hinduja Hospital (Khar), Dr Avinash Supe said the current need for the pandemic is more ICU beds with oxygen tanks and ventilators. He said the space will have six beds with central oxygen facility on the first floor and five ICU beds and four standby beds on the second floor.
Dr Supe said, “It has been equipped with ventilators, oxygen lines, high flow nasal oxygen machines and liquid oxygen storage tanks for high-risk and critical patients. The service will be run by Hinduja Hospital under the guidance of the BMC.”
Assistant commissioner of H-West ward, Vinayak Vispute said it has been decided that Khar Hinduja Hospital will provide 24×7 resident doctors, nursing staff and paramedical staff, who will replicate the hospital’s expertise in running the oxygenated and ICU beds. “This will be like an alternate hospital for the citizens of this ward,” Vispute said, adding that Khan’s own Meer Foundation will look after the day-night security, housekeeping, waterproofing, upkeep of the beds and meals.
In the time that the facility was functional as a quarantine centre, 66 patients were admitted here, of whom 54 were discharged after recovery. However, 12 had to be transferred to other facilities as the space needed to be upgraded to an ICU facility.
On April 24, Khan and his wife Gauri had announced a slew of initiatives to help the state government in its fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. One of these was offering Khan’s office as a quarantine facility with 22 beds.
Shah Rukh Khan bats for Amphan ravaged West Bengal
8:15 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (May 30, 2020)
In the aftermath of cyclone Amphan, Shah Rukh Khan, along with wife Gauri, has extended support to West Bengal. Besides contributing to the West Bengal CM Relief Fund, the 54-year-old actor and his wife are helping out in the rehabilitation of acid attack survivors, and have pledged to replant 5000 saplings under their KKR Plant A6 initiative.
The couple will also be distributing essential items, including ration and hygiene products, across the Amphan-ravaged regions of the state. “Kolkata is more than just a city to me; it’s an emotion. I have found friendship, love and joy here. But beyond everything, I have learnt the importance of unity and teamwork,” the actor said in a statement.
SRK also invoked the anthem of his IPL franchise, ‘Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo’, saying, “As we face these turbulent times, my experience and learnings teach me that there is strength in standing strong together as a teamunited and brave.”
My husband is an expert in crisis management-Celina Jaitly
8:19 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 2, 2020)
Celine Jaitly is currently in Austria with her husband and her three sons. As the country is on its way to lift the lockdown, Jaitly cannot wait to go back to her normal life. She says, “Austria went into lockdown on March 16, but restrictions started earlier that week, with bans on more than five people gathering in public put in place on March 15. The lockdown will hopefully be over almost entirely by mid-May.”
She explains that Austria’s prompt medical services have contributed in battling the pandemic. “The lockdown has helped reduce the daily increase in infections to 1.6%. There are 24-hour medical rescue support services in case of an emergency. There’s a Coronavirus hotline of the AGES - Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit here,” she says.
With children at home, life in lockdown can be a challenge but the former beauty queen credits her husband Peter Haag for being an “expert in crisis management”. She shares, “Thanks to his foresight, we were well-prepared for the lockdown much before it was announced. We’ve had no problems regarding grocery supplies despite the strict lockdown. The advantage of living high in The Alps is that we also have a continued supply of fresh local vegetables and dairy products.”
To take care of her family at this time of a health crisis, the No Entry (2005) actor has resorted to a healthier style of cooking. She says, “Cooking is my hobby, and I’ve been trying many international recipes during this time. I’m using a lot of Indian spices (in our food), thus following our Prime Minister’s advice to incorporate Ayurveda as it helps towards immunity building.”
A while ago, she took to Instagram to hail actors Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar for their donations to the PM-CARES fund. Talking about them, she says, “Shah Rukh, Gauri (Khan) and Akshay are playing very important roles in inspiring and lifting the spirits of people in India with their wonderful actions, the beauty and joy of which reminds us of our humanity.”
Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena and Karisma Kapoor headline Armaan Jain-Anissa Malhotra’s sangeet ceremony
9:32 AM
Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena and Karisma Kapoor, Karan Johar, Anil Kapoor headlined Armaan Jain and Anissa Malhotra’s filmi sangeet ceremony in Mumbai
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 6, 2020)
Karisma and Kareena Kapoor’s cousin Armaan Jain and his bride Anissa Malhotra clearly don’t care for wedding-related rulebooks. The newlyweds had a star-studded sangeet on Tuesday, a day after tying the knot and throwing a reception party at a suburban five-star.
The stage, this time in Central Mumbai, was decorated in mauve and silver shades with the couple’s initials engraved in gold. According to Priti Sidhwani, who did the décor for all the ceremonies, the theme for the sangeet was metallic accents. “Gold, shimmer, gold acrylic and white were the colours of the musical evening after the floral drama, Venetian gardens and French windows of the wedding,” she added.
Holding court near the entrance was Karisma, who was twinning with daughter Samaira, and welcomed guests on behalf of the bridegroom’s cousins. Later, she joined sister Kareena’s stage revival of Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, dancing to “Bole Chudiyan” and the Veere Di Wedding song “Tareefan”. “This was very last-minute, so I’m warning you guys,” Karisma, who also danced solo on “Le Gayi” from Dil Toh Pagal Hai, told guests ahead of the performance. The actress-siblings were later joined by Karan Johar and the trio grooved to “Radha” from Student of the Year.
Ranbir and Neetu Kapoor, who, along with Alia Bhatt, had been unable to join in the revelry owing to Rishi Kapoor’s recent hospitalisation, were in attendance. “They left early to tend to Rishi ji,” said a source.
Also present at the do were Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal, Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Chunky Panday with wife Bhavana and daughter Ananya, Rani Mukerji, Sonam Kapoor, the Ambanis, Gautam Singhania and Yash Birla. Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora made their first joint appearance at a filmi do. British actress-socialite Elizabeth Hurley also attended with Haseena Jethmalani.
While Armaan danced to “Jine Mera Dil Luteya”, his brother Aadar Jain performed on cousin RK’s “Bachna Ae Haseeno” and on “Gallan Kardi” with rumoured girlfriend Tara Sutaria.
KJo anchored the entire ceremony, while SRK and Gauri presented a skit, playing Manoj and Rima Jain.
Kiara was joined by the girl gang from the family for a bit on “Sauda Khara Khara” from her film Good Newwz, while Anil Kapoor closed the show with “Gallan Goodiyaan”.
The dinner spread featured various Indian, Mughlai, Oriental and Italian cuisines, with a counter dedicated to sushi. Cocktails and mocktails were served from five bars that were set up at different spots at the venue. “The haleem and mughlai chicken were the best. I’m sure Rima had chosen the dishes herself,” a guest informed.
—With inputs from Avinash Lohana
Image: Bollywood celebs party with Katy Perry at Karan Johar's residence
8:23 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (November 16, 2019)
Katy Perry touched down in Mumbai at around 3 am on Tuesday, November 12, and Jacqueline Fernandez, her designated tour guide, had told Mirror (November 13) that the American pop singer “wants to understand the culture and immerse herself in Bollywood films” on this visit. In keeping with her wishes, Karan Johar hosted a party at his residence to which he invited several of his industry friends and colleagues. And not surprisingly, the who’s who of Bollywood turned up for the do, from the Bachchans—Abhishek and Aishwarya—to his ‘students’, Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday, Aditya Seal from the reel life Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh, Vijay Deverakonda and Shahid Kapoor to real life Arjun (Kapoor) and his Madam M (Malaika Arora). Jacqueline was there and so was KJo’s bestie Kajol, who left home after saying “Cheese” for her fav photographer, son Yug. She and Gauri Khan found a lot to bond over. The party kicked off around 9 pm and Katy arrived within an hour and stayed a little past midnight. “Karan introduced some of his guests to her while some walked up themselves and posed for pics. She obliged everyone with a smile,” informed a guest, raving over the fresh pink flowers on the ceiling of the balcony.
The DJ played both international hits, many of them Katy’s songs, including “Hot ‘N’ Cold”, and a few Bollywood hits. But unlike other Bollywood parties that are all about dancing and drinking and continue into the early hours, this do was more muted and sophisticated, with most guests mingling with each other. ‘Fan girls’ Ananya and Shanaya Kapoor, got their ‘moment’ with Katy. Alia, who came with sister Shaheen Bhatt and Rohan Joshi, who were dating at one point, also had a lot to discuss with the pop star. It was a cross-cultural exchange between two women who admired each other’s work.
Also seen at the do were Man Mountain Bhallaladeva, Rana Daggubati, Kabir Singh’s lady love Kiara Advani, golden girls Sonakshi Sinha and Sonali Bendre, Aditya Roy Kapur and Aditi Rao Hydari. Anushka Sharma arrived minus husband Virat Kohli, who is back on the field, but another cricketer Hardik Pandya was there. Karisma was without her glam sis Kareena Kapoor who is away on a film shoot. Among the filmmakers, there was Dinesh Vijan with wife Pramita riding high on his latest success and KJo regulars Punit Malhotra and Shashank Khaitan. The party folded up early, around 3 am.
Not surprisingly, the food was one of the highlights. A multicuisine spread—mushrooms and foie gras to keema pao—and exotic desserts, there was something for everyone.
Images: Ranbir Kapoor rings in his 37th birthday with family, Alia Bhatt and close friends
8:08 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (September 29, 2019)
It was a fun birthday for Ranbir Kapoor as his family members, friends and girlfriend Alia Bhatt made the day special with a cosy party at his residence on Friday night. Ranbir Kapoor’s dad Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor were among the early birds.
Earlier in the day, Neetu took a trip down the memory lane and shared some unseen pictures of the birthday boy on her social media handle. Along with the pictures, she wrote, “This day brings loads of nostalgia !!! When there were no event managers When we would go shopping a week before the birthdays When we went crazy with Khoi bag back presents dance competitions fancy dress prizes the birthday gift was a big one !!! Now I bless you each day: When you leave so much goodness behind where ever you go: When you are our strength::\ When you understand without saying:: When you encourage everyone around you all of this fills my heart with so much joy n pride !!! Happiness always RK (sic)."
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao and Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora were among the B-Town couples seen here. Also on the guest list were Aditya Roy Kapur and Zoya Akhtar, among others.
Karan Johar to host another talk show featuring Bollywood star wives
7:56 AM
With a dating series for Netflix in the works, sources say Karan Johar to host another talk show centred on Bollywood star wives
MID-DAY (May 28, 2019)
In March, mid-day had reported that Karan Johar was in talks with Netflix to host a dating show. Sure enough, on his birthday, the filmmaker announced that he is joining forces with the streaming giant for What The Love? Even as he readies to dole out relationship advice, Johar's in-house digital arm has simultaneously set the ball rolling on another chat show - this time around, the director-host will have star wives for company.
A source reveals, "It is an intimate chat show where star wives will talk about how they have seen their better half chart a career in Bollywood, their struggles, and how their relationships have survived despite the constant spotlight and the dizzying pressure of stardom. Karan intends to bring in Gauri Khan and Twinkle Khanna amongst others. The show will also, by extension, feature star moms or momagers who have helped their kids foray into the movies. Currently in the nascent stage, the show, once developed, will be pitched to different OTT platforms."
The source adds that the project will roll only by end of 2020, after Karan wraps up Takht, which features Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.
The beauty of love is that you don’t need to demand or beg for it-Shah Rukh Khan
8:12 AM
Shah Rukh Khan on his idea of romance, giving undivided attention to his next, the connection between stardom and innate goodness, and why his younger son AbRam makes for the best travel companion
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 12, 2018)
He is expected to arrive around 9.30 pm. I’m on my way to Mehboob Studio a little before 9 pm, when I get a frantic call informing me that Shah Rukh Khan is already there. Later, he jokes that he took everyone by surprise by arriving on time. The interactions are expected to continue till around 2 am after which he plans to meet his Zero director Aanand L Rai who has been, for days, working all nights on the film’s post-production. It’s going to be a long night’s work but that’s routine for SRK, who settles down on the sofa in his vanity van and turns expectantly. Excerpts from an interview:
In our first conversation about Zero, Aanand L Rai had confided that he wanted to take the biggest superstar and cut his height by a couple of feet. How did he present the idea to you?Aanand with Himanshu (writer Himanshu Sharma) came to meet me late one night with a one-page story idea. He narrated the opening sequence which had the dialogue, “Gutka khate ho gapagap, sperm chhota padh gaya tumhara, aur kya!” and I was instantly hooked. It wasn’t important that the character was vertically challenged because when I was acting, I wasn’t four foot tall. On screen, I often don’t recognise myself because Bauua is so different from me but it makes me happy as an actor. What I liked was that here’s a person who’s aware that maybe he is not the most complete of them all, yet he doesn’t give a damn what the world thinks of him. (Smiles) That’s the best way to be, particularly in today’s world where everybody is telling you how you should be or shouldn’t be.
My mom wanted me to become an actor but three-four people from Mumbai whom we knew well told her I’d never become one because I wasn’t good-looking enough. She was hurt but it didn’t bother me because all I wanted to do was act and I assured her “main kaam karta rahunga”. At that point I wasn’t interested in films, I was doing well on stage. Then, TV happened and, 30 years later, I’m a poster boy!
You just have to believe in what you want to do despite what others may think of you or even if you yourself feel the lack of something, material or otherwise. Through Bauua, Anushka’s (Sharma) Aafiya and even Katrina’s (Kaif) Babita, who is emotionally incomplete in this flight of fantasy, we want to convey the message that this is how God made us and since we have just one life, let’s live it to the fullest.
You’ve always come across as a confident person. Is there something that makes you feel incomplete as a person?
Everything! But I don’t think of weakness or fallibility as a shortcoming. I have never been confident but at the same time, I’ve never felt bereft of something. This is who I am and my best quality is that I can tell people I don’t know certain things. Even now I tell all my heroines, even the younger girls, that I can’t dance and that they should either stand in front of me or hold my hand. When Aanand would ask me how I wanted to do a certain scene, I’d admit I had no idea and asked him to share if he had one.
I’m very emotional and sensitive to people unless I am angry, then I don’t give a damn. And if people are insensitive to me, I grow very quiet and go away. My wife and children know my weaknesses so even if they know something is crap, they will tell me so gently because I get a little taken aback by directness. When the kids were young, Gauri would tell them, “Don’t talk like this, papa gets disturbed.”
What disturbs you?
When it’s family, I’m not offended by anything. But sometimes I get hurt if they refuse a simple thing. I don’t ask for much.
Has your sensitivity ever been misread?
Sometimes because of it, I may come across as a little formal as a younger actor pointed out when I called to ask his permission to use a shot taken at the Filmfare Awards. Since he wasn’t aware that he was being filmed, I thought it was only decent and dignified to ask him. He was very sweet.
Stardom comes with a lot of responsibility. How difficult is it to be good to people all the time?
I’ve never thought of stardom and goodness as being mutually exclusive. You are either good, or you’re not. I’m always nice to people. When I’m with people, I love them, and when I’m alone, I love myself. If you’re my friend, you are always in my heart and I’ll be there just in case, though I hope it never happens that you need me. But I don’t have any social etiquette.
I can’t be ‘in touch’, chat and text. I don’t take phone calls, I don’t answer messages properly and I’m okay if you don’t either. My family and best friends understand that I love them and that when I’m on my own time, I’m gone. But it can offend some people who take it as lack of love.
Being a star has never influenced who I am and how I behave. I’m awkward doing and saying a lot of things in real life, but I’ll do it in a movie if the character demands it. The only thing I still can’t do is address someone as “Tu.” I request the director to change it to “Tum.”
Ever since Aryan entered his teens there’s been a lot of talk about him being groomed for stardom. And now Suhana is catching the eye with her performances on stage. What is it like to have two growing actors in the family?Neither my son nor my daughter have been groomed to be actors. Suhana has an inclination towards wanting to be an actor. She finishes school in six months after which she will go to an educational institute for three-four years to train in acting. Aryan doesn’t want to be an actor, he wants to make films, become a director, and is training for it in the US. AbRam I don’t know, he’s good-looking enough to be a rock star.
Gauri and I never told our kids that they have to grow up to be actors. People around would say handsome hai, tall hai, body achcha hai, but if looks were a criterion, I’d never have been an actor. Genetics too has nothing to do with capability. If I can be of help as someone with 30 years of experience in the field, I will, but I don’t think I should because acting is not just a job, it has to be a turn-on every second. It is about how happily, longingly, desperately and crazily you want to act. Don’t do it if you only want to wear good clothes, look nice and drive flashy cars. Get into banking then, it’s much safer!
You’ve got into the habit of going off on little vacations with AbRam…
My other two kids were not so social but AbRam enjoys spending time with my friends and me. Once Gauri dropped him off at Mehboob Studio for an hour. Now, he’s happy to come here, watch movies, play football, play with the cat and hens… He doesn’t need you to be with him. He goes to sleep at 9 pm, wakes up early and if we’re in London, wants to go to Hyde Park to play. If I can accompany him, great. If not, he’s okay!
He’s an easy and happy traveller and since I get lonely on long outdoors, I enjoy his company. During the shoot of Jab Harry Met Sejal, Gauri dropped him off for four days. He stayed on for 32 days, going with me to the Netherlands, Portugal and Hungary. In Hungary, we had a party one night, and since the production guys had always seen him with me, they cordoned off a portion of the nightclub we were visiting as a no-drinking kid zone and invited him along. He was happy to play there and dance with Anushka. He’s a cool kid!
You’ve been a romantic hero since Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. What’s your personal take on love?
I believe it’s a fuller, more complete word for respect. If I respect your space and still encroach it, if you can respect my individuality and can still be a couple with me, then that’s love. And the beauty of love is that you don’t need to ask for it, demand it or beg for it, it flows naturally. If you are in a relationship where respect even when unasked is given, it’s love. Otherwise it’s liking, which is also nice, or companionship which is brilliant.
There’s been speculation that you have given the nod to the Rakesh Sharma biopic, Saare Jahan Se Achcha, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali too is planning a film with Salman and you…
I talk about my film when I’m making one, if I haven’t made it yet, there is no point in speaking about it as it only misleads. Apart from these two you mentioned, there are six other films that I have heard, some really exciting stuff. But it’s only after I’ve finished Zero, that I can take a call on my next as only then can dates and casting can be locked. For the moment I just want to stay with this film and have requested everyone else to give me some time.
Saare Jahan Se Achcha I’ve heard, it’s beautiful, I’d love to do it and I will, eventually. But the timing has not been decided and it is nice to announce a film with the whole cast and crew. Sanjay and I have been talking about a film for the last two years but not specifically about this one. I’d love to work with him again but since nothing is specified yet, it obviously means Sanjay is not ready yet and it will take us some more time.
I’ve spoken to Aanand about another film, but he’s not even done with Zero yet, how will he start a new film. There is another idea that I’ve really liked which someone narrated to me. Some friends wanted to announce a film eight-nine months ago, but I convinced them to hang on as I wanted to give Zero all my time for now. So, at this point I don’t have another film to talk about.
Did you watch Rakesh Sharma on TV when he responded to then-PM, Indira Gandhi’s question about how India looked from space with the unforgettable words, “Sare jahan se achcha Hindustan hamara”?
I did, growing up, he was one of my biggest heroes, along with Milkha Singh and Sunil Gavaskar. It was an amazing moment which gave us a sense of what an Indian could achieve at a time when our space programme wasn’t as strong as it is now. In fact, a lot of people still think he went to the moon rather than into space.
It was endearing to see you shake a leg with Gauri to the tunes of “Dilliwali Girlfriend” at the Ambani pre-wedding celebrations. But someone changed the song to “Paisa Pheko Tamasha Dekho” online and trolls got into action.
I do what I feel like doing and it’s made me the person I am. I have never worked for an image. If someone does something mischievous and others are stupid enough to believe this is the asli song, God bless them. We’re in the nascent stage of social media and there are many who don’t know that such things can be done. There’s a need for video literacy not just in India but in the US too.
How do you react to such mischief?
You can feel bad about it, but you have to accept that social media is a virtual social reality. What I don’t get is people trying to be socially relevant by saying you shouldn’t say this or that. You have to retain your sense of humour and not take such criticism too seriously. In the end, it’s each to their own. If someone gets a kick out of doing this, you have to live with it. I’m not going to reply to a message on it or clarify because I know which song I danced to. And my knowledge is more important than someone else’s take. I have a system in place. If I go to a party and there are three groups, one gossiping, a second abusing people and a third discussing films, I’ll join the third group. On social media too, I alienate myself from the gossips and gaalis, block trolls, and express myself the way I wish.
You said earlier that you can’t dance but you were in sync with your wife.
My wife trained with Shaimak Davar and his young dancers were with us that evening too. She was dancing on stage after 10-20 years, it was very sweet of her. I don’t rehearse with my heroines, but this time I practised my steps backstage. (Laughs) With the wife you have to, especially if she is a trained dancer.
Isha Ambani-Anand Piramal's sangeet: Beyoncé enthralls Mukesh Ambani-Nita Ambanis’ guests
7:30 AM
DNA (December 10, 2018)
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’s pre-wedding celebrations took place in Udaipur over the weekend. Pop star and Grammy winner Beyoncé arrived in the City of Lakes yesterday afternoon. There was much buzz about the international icon’s performance for the soon-to-be newlyweds even before her arrival.
The Ambanis played the perfect hosts and pulled out all stops to ensure that their guests were looked after very well. Before the Single Ladies singer got on stage on Sunday night, the celebrations on Saturday evening were thoroughly enjoyed by the guests. White chandeliers, red roses and shimmery lights added to the charm of the Udaivilas Palace. A large statue of Lord Shrinathji was seen at the venue. The sangeet ceremony began with a maha-aarti of the deity.
More musical festivities followed soon after. The entire Ambani family was seen on the stage this evening. While Nita and Mukesh Ambani performed a romantic track from the film Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Akash Ambani and fiancée Shloka Mehta shook a leg to the song Khabar Nahi from Dostana. Isha and Anand, who will tie the knot on December 12 at the Ambani residence in Mumbai, expressed their love through a performance on the number Mitwa from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Nita along with her sons Akash and Anant danced on Mahi Ve from Kal Ho Naa Ho. Bollywood singer Arijit Singh sang numbers like Jiya Jaye Na followed by Kabhi Jo Badal Barse and more. The venue was bathed in blue lights for the private concert. Parineeti Chopra, too, crooned a few tracks for the guests.
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, Karisma Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Karan Johar, and many more marked their presence at the function dressed in beautiful traditional clothes. Ranbir Kapoor and buddy Aditya Roy Kapur flew to Udaipur together late on Saturday night. Besides Beyoncé, Sunday morning also saw the arrival of Rekha, dressed in traditional attire, at the Udaipur airport. She was accompanied by Disha Patani. Maniesh Paul and Sukhbir were also snapped here.
Shah Rukh Khan to ring in his 53rd birthday with Zero cast
8:00 AM
DNA (November 1, 2018)
Shah Rukh Khan turns 53 tomorrow and like every year, this time too, there are some big plans for his birthday. Usually, the Raees actor meets his fans as well as the media and also throws a bash for his friends from the industry. This time, he will launch the trailer of his forthcoming ambitious project Zero.
Says a source, “The film’s entire team is working hard to make it an eventful experience. They have built a huge set and invites have been sent out to fans as well as reporters to be part of the big reveal. SRK will also ring in his birthday with the Zero cast and crew including Aanand L Rai, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif.” SRK and wife Gauri Khan are expected to host a bash for their friends from the industry.
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