I found this blog article on Shah Rukh and I sorta like it. It corresponds to some interviews SRK gave and I think the author had not even read them b4 he wrote that post so it's rather impressive. FYI, it's written by a guy who's french, which made me doubly impressed. I love reading anything people write/talk about SRK, whether they're bashing him or praising him. If they bash him, they suck and if they praise him, they're my comrades XD. But I prefer if it's written unbiasedly (IMO) the way this one has been written.
Also, it greatly amuses me when someone who claims he/she is not a fan writes at length about SRK. I mean, I know why I'm doing it (coz I'm obsessed with him, yes) but why are they writing about him if they're not even paid for it after they confess to a dislike.. or even hatred (altho this one alwiz makes me go, "huh? Why on earth would you hate a movie star???").. regarding his films/shows/concerts, personality, looks, God-knows-what-else-they-want-to-criticize-him-about?
Humans are strange.
I stumbled upon a treasure trove of articles and interviews. Excuse me as I pretend to work on my adobe homework while browsing through the archive.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Interview: I'll never work with anyone who I know is financially corrupt- SRK
Shah Rukh, you have had a foot in two worlds, so you might know how to deal with your wealth. See it in perspective. But what about your children? When you can afford everything, is it a struggle to know what you will give and not give them? What rules do you use? How do you stop them from being privileged brats? How do you foster empathy?
"I give a lot of things to a lot of people because I can afford to. I have two logics for this and both of them are diametrically opposite. But that’s not to say they are wrong. Both could be working. I am a giver by nature, of material things. On KBC when I give a watch, it is not a gimmick. It’s not been worked out by anyone. TAG Heur has not been roped in as a sponsor. It is not paying me for these watches. They are my personal watches. Yes, I know that if I gift out all of them, they’d have to give me another one to wear, because they want me to wear it. So I gift all of them.
As for my kids, when they ask for something, I believe they deserve to have it. But my wife is more pragmatic. She has lots of middle class values. If suppose Mohan (his personal guard) is to travel with me, I’d like him to travel first class. He’s been with me for seventeen years. I love him. I know he’d enjoy the experience. But my wife is like, no, neither will he -- or maybe he can -- but the kids won’t. Now we have come to an understanding: club class. She was pushing for economy. I could not travel ever to a foreign country until I became an actor, because my parents could not afford to send me. But if they could have, they would have. I can, so I would like to. But my wife -- we go to Hemly’s and we are given twenty pounds to buy toys, which is okay, I suppose. But on the sly, I cheat on my wife. I buy my kids anything that they want. I am a sports lover. So if they want cricket, I’ll set up a pitch in the house. In their own way, that’s what my parents did for me. My father would take us to a pitch, or my mother would call up the Firoz Shah Kotla grounds and say, ten boys are coming to play… So I try to do the same. I am so childlike that most of the things they like, I like as well. So I share it with them. But I don’t spoil them. There is a huge control over that. But if you ask my wife, she will say, Shah Rukh spoils them. I guess all fathers do that. They feel guilty that they don’t spend too much time with the kids, so they make up with presents. I am a bit like that. I make up with material goods.
But I haven’t taught my kids that it’s a dog-eat-dog world. It’s a rat race. Money is the most important thing in life. I’ve never taught them that. As a matter of fact, I want them to have a very normal upbringing, just like I had. Only, I want them to have their parents around for longer… You know, a lot of people think I’m a smart guy. Nobody thinks I am intelligent. They don’t know I am intelligent. They say, he’s got the gift, he can talk. But the values I give to my kids are very clearly that of an intelligent man, not of a smart guy. I don’t tell them to be a smart ass. It could be anything -- from being nice to the people that work for you, or with you, to saying sorry to them if you have asked for a glass of water. I never let my children yell out to the servants. Apart from that, to give you an example -- one day I was going in a car with special security etc, and sometimes the cops stop you. Then they realize the window is blackened because there is special permission or whatever, and they let you go. So one day my son was sitting in the car. He wasn’t wearing a belt, the cops stopped us, looked inside, saw me, and said, sorry sir, and let us go. A few days later, my son was alone with the driver and the same thing happened. And he turned around and told the cop, I am Shah Rukh Khan’s son. He had to go back and apologize to that cop. He had to sit in the car, drive back on his own, find the guy, and say, I’m sorry, it was a mistake, I should not have said it. I was brought up by my dad like that. I don’t reprimand my children ever. I never shout at them or my wife. I have never raised my voice at anyone in my family. They can’t fool around with their mom like they do with me. But somehow they know I am very strict in a strange sense.
Yesterday, I think these boys were rude to the maid. I didn’t tell them to go and say sorry. I just explained to them what it means to be a servant in somebody’s house, and what it means to be rude to someone who cannot be rude back to you; not because she can’t be, but because maybe she will lose her job and maybe she can’t afford to do that. So you have an unfair advantage. Are you going to fight a fight in which you have an unfair advantage? They said, no, so I said, then you decide what your heart tells you, and go say sorry to her. I’d do that. My heart would feel better. They did that. When I asked my son later, did you say sorry? He said, ya, but don’t talk about all that heart and all. Should I have pushed it further? No, I think you can let it go at that. I know it’s embarrassing to get into matters of heart, he’s just a nine-year old.
See, I don’t have rules. I think I’m the kind of person who doesn’t have to make rules for them to be followed in his office, or in his house. I think I bring in an atmosphere where my children, and the guys who work with me, try to impress me because I love them so much. They really like to impress me. I trust people a lot. And very few people have broken my trust. I think nobody’s broken my trust. And I think most of people around me understand that."
..and this is just one question answered out of ~42. I wish I knew him when I was on the verge of deciding my university course. My life might have been radically different.. but then again, I chose that path with a clear head so maybe not XD". It's only now that I'm faltering coz I'm doing something I really really didn't want to do and I only did it for others (my family). Most of the time I ask myself, will I die in the middle of doing something I'm not passionate about at all?
The rest of the interview can be found here.
"I give a lot of things to a lot of people because I can afford to. I have two logics for this and both of them are diametrically opposite. But that’s not to say they are wrong. Both could be working. I am a giver by nature, of material things. On KBC when I give a watch, it is not a gimmick. It’s not been worked out by anyone. TAG Heur has not been roped in as a sponsor. It is not paying me for these watches. They are my personal watches. Yes, I know that if I gift out all of them, they’d have to give me another one to wear, because they want me to wear it. So I gift all of them.
As for my kids, when they ask for something, I believe they deserve to have it. But my wife is more pragmatic. She has lots of middle class values. If suppose Mohan (his personal guard) is to travel with me, I’d like him to travel first class. He’s been with me for seventeen years. I love him. I know he’d enjoy the experience. But my wife is like, no, neither will he -- or maybe he can -- but the kids won’t. Now we have come to an understanding: club class. She was pushing for economy. I could not travel ever to a foreign country until I became an actor, because my parents could not afford to send me. But if they could have, they would have. I can, so I would like to. But my wife -- we go to Hemly’s and we are given twenty pounds to buy toys, which is okay, I suppose. But on the sly, I cheat on my wife. I buy my kids anything that they want. I am a sports lover. So if they want cricket, I’ll set up a pitch in the house. In their own way, that’s what my parents did for me. My father would take us to a pitch, or my mother would call up the Firoz Shah Kotla grounds and say, ten boys are coming to play… So I try to do the same. I am so childlike that most of the things they like, I like as well. So I share it with them. But I don’t spoil them. There is a huge control over that. But if you ask my wife, she will say, Shah Rukh spoils them. I guess all fathers do that. They feel guilty that they don’t spend too much time with the kids, so they make up with presents. I am a bit like that. I make up with material goods.
But I haven’t taught my kids that it’s a dog-eat-dog world. It’s a rat race. Money is the most important thing in life. I’ve never taught them that. As a matter of fact, I want them to have a very normal upbringing, just like I had. Only, I want them to have their parents around for longer… You know, a lot of people think I’m a smart guy. Nobody thinks I am intelligent. They don’t know I am intelligent. They say, he’s got the gift, he can talk. But the values I give to my kids are very clearly that of an intelligent man, not of a smart guy. I don’t tell them to be a smart ass. It could be anything -- from being nice to the people that work for you, or with you, to saying sorry to them if you have asked for a glass of water. I never let my children yell out to the servants. Apart from that, to give you an example -- one day I was going in a car with special security etc, and sometimes the cops stop you. Then they realize the window is blackened because there is special permission or whatever, and they let you go. So one day my son was sitting in the car. He wasn’t wearing a belt, the cops stopped us, looked inside, saw me, and said, sorry sir, and let us go. A few days later, my son was alone with the driver and the same thing happened. And he turned around and told the cop, I am Shah Rukh Khan’s son. He had to go back and apologize to that cop. He had to sit in the car, drive back on his own, find the guy, and say, I’m sorry, it was a mistake, I should not have said it. I was brought up by my dad like that. I don’t reprimand my children ever. I never shout at them or my wife. I have never raised my voice at anyone in my family. They can’t fool around with their mom like they do with me. But somehow they know I am very strict in a strange sense.
Yesterday, I think these boys were rude to the maid. I didn’t tell them to go and say sorry. I just explained to them what it means to be a servant in somebody’s house, and what it means to be rude to someone who cannot be rude back to you; not because she can’t be, but because maybe she will lose her job and maybe she can’t afford to do that. So you have an unfair advantage. Are you going to fight a fight in which you have an unfair advantage? They said, no, so I said, then you decide what your heart tells you, and go say sorry to her. I’d do that. My heart would feel better. They did that. When I asked my son later, did you say sorry? He said, ya, but don’t talk about all that heart and all. Should I have pushed it further? No, I think you can let it go at that. I know it’s embarrassing to get into matters of heart, he’s just a nine-year old.
See, I don’t have rules. I think I’m the kind of person who doesn’t have to make rules for them to be followed in his office, or in his house. I think I bring in an atmosphere where my children, and the guys who work with me, try to impress me because I love them so much. They really like to impress me. I trust people a lot. And very few people have broken my trust. I think nobody’s broken my trust. And I think most of people around me understand that."
..and this is just one question answered out of ~42. I wish I knew him when I was on the verge of deciding my university course. My life might have been radically different.. but then again, I chose that path with a clear head so maybe not XD". It's only now that I'm faltering coz I'm doing something I really really didn't want to do and I only did it for others (my family). Most of the time I ask myself, will I die in the middle of doing something I'm not passionate about at all?
The rest of the interview can be found here.
Interview: I'm very embarassed when I'm called a Superstar
Excerpts:
"I'm very embarrassed when I'm called a superstar and I'm even embarrassed when I'm told that I'm no longer a superstar. Let me tell any actor who is a superstar or who wants to become one that it's not about getting it right at all... but getting it right consistently. And that's difficult. I've been a consistent actor-star for the last ten years and I'm proud of that. It's not about doing the right films, right songs or looking cool. The belief that you're doing the right thing is much more important. It takes an Herculean amount of effort to get up every morning for 10 years and say that I'm doing it right. It's all about keeping the balance too. When people say Shah Rukh Khan's better than X,Y,Zee, I don't believe them. Neither do I beleive anyone who says that X,Y,Zee is better than Shah Rukh Khan."
"That's fine by me. I never thought that the trade would understand me either but they have understood me and they've loved me. Now I'm trying to make them understand another facet... in time they will. I've met people who've said it's okay if your film wasn't a hit. C'mon, I'm not stupid I knew Asoka wouldn't become the biggest hit of the year. I can tell you the business of the film the day I see it. I'm not a fool. I hope for the best and I wish that it earns more than it deserves. I've been part of some of the most successful films made in India and I've also have been a part of some of most unsuccessful films made in India. But I've never been a part of some of the most unitelligent films made in India. Intelligently, one has gone right or wrong. Abbas-Mustan made Badshah for no other reason apart from their love for me. I forced them to make it. I felt bad later because my beliefs made someone else suffer. It's not fair. I made both my films (Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Asoka) with my beliefs and I'll make my third one too with my beliefs. Making films is my way of saying thank you for putting me in a position where I can make films."
"I'm as emotional as I was. I still feel lonely, I still feel sad and I still cry. But now when I feel lonely, I just lie down next to my kids and I'm okay. I'm still very ambitious. I still want to come first in every race. I have only two fears: one, some day I won't be able to see myself, I'll become completely invisible. And two, my bones. I hope there's a shop which gives a new set of bones."
"Asking me if I'm a bisexual is as as inane as asking me--don't you fall in love with your heroines? I love my heroines but I don't fall in love with them. When I started out people said I was too energetic, then I was said to be manipulative. Then came stories about me doing substance abuse, having affairs and being a bisexual. I've been in this business too long for such loose talk to affect me."
For the complete interview, pls visit this page.
"I'm very embarrassed when I'm called a superstar and I'm even embarrassed when I'm told that I'm no longer a superstar. Let me tell any actor who is a superstar or who wants to become one that it's not about getting it right at all... but getting it right consistently. And that's difficult. I've been a consistent actor-star for the last ten years and I'm proud of that. It's not about doing the right films, right songs or looking cool. The belief that you're doing the right thing is much more important. It takes an Herculean amount of effort to get up every morning for 10 years and say that I'm doing it right. It's all about keeping the balance too. When people say Shah Rukh Khan's better than X,Y,Zee, I don't believe them. Neither do I beleive anyone who says that X,Y,Zee is better than Shah Rukh Khan."
"That's fine by me. I never thought that the trade would understand me either but they have understood me and they've loved me. Now I'm trying to make them understand another facet... in time they will. I've met people who've said it's okay if your film wasn't a hit. C'mon, I'm not stupid I knew Asoka wouldn't become the biggest hit of the year. I can tell you the business of the film the day I see it. I'm not a fool. I hope for the best and I wish that it earns more than it deserves. I've been part of some of the most successful films made in India and I've also have been a part of some of most unsuccessful films made in India. But I've never been a part of some of the most unitelligent films made in India. Intelligently, one has gone right or wrong. Abbas-Mustan made Badshah for no other reason apart from their love for me. I forced them to make it. I felt bad later because my beliefs made someone else suffer. It's not fair. I made both my films (Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Asoka) with my beliefs and I'll make my third one too with my beliefs. Making films is my way of saying thank you for putting me in a position where I can make films."
"I'm as emotional as I was. I still feel lonely, I still feel sad and I still cry. But now when I feel lonely, I just lie down next to my kids and I'm okay. I'm still very ambitious. I still want to come first in every race. I have only two fears: one, some day I won't be able to see myself, I'll become completely invisible. And two, my bones. I hope there's a shop which gives a new set of bones."
"Asking me if I'm a bisexual is as as inane as asking me--don't you fall in love with your heroines? I love my heroines but I don't fall in love with them. When I started out people said I was too energetic, then I was said to be manipulative. Then came stories about me doing substance abuse, having affairs and being a bisexual. I've been in this business too long for such loose talk to affect me."
For the complete interview, pls visit this page.
Where's Shah Rukh Khan?
No matter how much the media pits him against other stars and hurls potshots at him, they can't deny their (and the public's) addiction to this guy. It's not even a week after his house arrest following his doctors' orders to rest for 3-6 weeks after his shoulder surgery and they're already knocking on his door requesting permission for interview. Nowadays, SRK only does interviews in Mannat.. not even Marriot can pull him out of his home to talk to overeager reporters XD
I'm listing the video links corresponding to the events leading up to the interview. Some clips may overlap coz I've watched the early ones a few days ago so I didn't check them out again when I pasted them here:
A Day In The Life Of Superstar Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan undergoes successful shoulder surgery
Shah Rukh Khan on his health & surgery, My Name is Khan
Surgery News Feb 2-3 [SRK]
Shah Rukh Khan to undergo surgery on February 16
Shahrukh Khan At WCPT-AWP & IAP 2009, Mumbai
Bollywood Buzz: SRK's surgery
Shahrukh Khan needs surgery for his shoulder injury January 25
ShahRukh Khan at Breach Candy Hospital
Shah Rukh Khan at the Breach Candy Hospital for his surgery
Shahrukh Khan comes to hospital for shoulder operation news story
Shah Rukh Khan Speaks to Media Before his Surgery
Shah Rukh's shoulder surgery successful
Bollywoods King Khan in hospital Operation success, SRK on recovery
Shahrukh Khan fine after surgery CNN-IBN news February 16 2009
Shahrukh Discharged From Hospital
Shahrukh Khan talks after surgery press conference February 17 (translation link)
Members of film fraternity visit Shahrukh Khan
Amitabh Bachchan visits Shahrukh Khan at Mannat after his surgery
Amitabh Bachchan & Juhi Chawla visit Shah Rukh Khan at his house
SRK Interview on 20th Feb. Part 1
SRK Interview on 20th Feb Part 2
He sounds generally happy to face the camera again LOL. Shah Rukh, you're a workaholic! Go and rest properly~~~
..we'll wait patiently until you're healthy enough to work on the gajillion projects you/your people have lined up for you. I'm especially looking forward to Don 2. See, Don acting as Vijay has to rein himself back so I want to see a full-fledged bad guy this time. I absolutely love you in Anjaam and I miss your thoroughly psycho role for quite sometime now. Even tho it's not filmed in Malaysia this time, I'm still excited about the movie. That, and Raa-One, and MNIK, and Happy New Year and.. o man.. all the others you'll be doing right after you've recovered.
Can't wait! ^^
I'm listing the video links corresponding to the events leading up to the interview. Some clips may overlap coz I've watched the early ones a few days ago so I didn't check them out again when I pasted them here:
A Day In The Life Of Superstar Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan undergoes successful shoulder surgery
Shah Rukh Khan on his health & surgery, My Name is Khan
Surgery News Feb 2-3 [SRK]
Shah Rukh Khan to undergo surgery on February 16
Shahrukh Khan At WCPT-AWP & IAP 2009, Mumbai
Bollywood Buzz: SRK's surgery
Shahrukh Khan needs surgery for his shoulder injury January 25
ShahRukh Khan at Breach Candy Hospital
Shah Rukh Khan at the Breach Candy Hospital for his surgery
Shahrukh Khan comes to hospital for shoulder operation news story
Shah Rukh Khan Speaks to Media Before his Surgery
Shah Rukh's shoulder surgery successful
Bollywoods King Khan in hospital Operation success, SRK on recovery
Shahrukh Khan fine after surgery CNN-IBN news February 16 2009
Shahrukh Discharged From Hospital
Shahrukh Khan talks after surgery press conference February 17 (translation link)
Members of film fraternity visit Shahrukh Khan
Amitabh Bachchan visits Shahrukh Khan at Mannat after his surgery
Amitabh Bachchan & Juhi Chawla visit Shah Rukh Khan at his house
SRK Interview on 20th Feb. Part 1
SRK Interview on 20th Feb Part 2
He sounds generally happy to face the camera again LOL. Shah Rukh, you're a workaholic! Go and rest properly~~~
..we'll wait patiently until you're healthy enough to work on the gajillion projects you/your people have lined up for you. I'm especially looking forward to Don 2. See, Don acting as Vijay has to rein himself back so I want to see a full-fledged bad guy this time. I absolutely love you in Anjaam and I miss your thoroughly psycho role for quite sometime now. Even tho it's not filmed in Malaysia this time, I'm still excited about the movie. That, and Raa-One, and MNIK, and Happy New Year and.. o man.. all the others you'll be doing right after you've recovered.
Can't wait! ^^
On state of physical being post-surgery
Link
"I'll be ...err...errr.. (laugh) ..ironically, I don't work for them but maybe I'll be more Youngistaan when I come back so it'll be much nicer."
(maybe this is a hint that Pepsico can kiss that 'golden handshake' deal goodbye? XD)
A slide show in the SRK-Pepsi relationship over those happy years: link.
"I'll be ...err...errr.. (laugh) ..ironically, I don't work for them but maybe I'll be more Youngistaan when I come back so it'll be much nicer."
(maybe this is a hint that Pepsico can kiss that 'golden handshake' deal goodbye? XD)
A slide show in the SRK-Pepsi relationship over those happy years: link.
On his shoulder operation
Link
SRK has been given a DVD of his operation and he has pored over every bit of it. Here's his comment on it:
“Lots of strange looking instruments ... two nails they put into my bone ... I can see them hammering it inside ... some wires around it ... it was like sophisticated carpentry.”
SRK has been given a DVD of his operation and he has pored over every bit of it. Here's his comment on it:
“Lots of strange looking instruments ... two nails they put into my bone ... I can see them hammering it inside ... some wires around it ... it was like sophisticated carpentry.”
Bookmark
After going all over the place searching for his IPL/KKR blog, I finally found it.. ha!
Here it is~~
I'm not gung-ho enuff to register tho since I'm not into cricket (I wish he were interested in tennis instead XD) but I'll look it up from time to time. He writes like a copywriter there.. quite engaging and well enough to sell a product. I bet he still remembers the materials he's studied in his masters years.
I'm still wondering why I can't open the KKR site tho. Is it down due to maintenance or have I been given the wrong address by the 927507 websites I checked out? Even Wiki gives that address and one learns to trust the absoluteness of Wiki when one has spent uncountable hours on the net searching for obscure information on everything under and beyond the sun.
Now that the 2nd season of IPL is starting (tentatively from April 10 to May 29, 2009) and SRK is being held under house arrest by Colonel Gauri and her loyal army of two, will the blogging start in earnest? He was also talking about blogging in his own website. Trust SRK to turn potshots by screen rivals into a well-known money-making venture (with not much additional effort from him to publicise it).
Here it is~~
I'm not gung-ho enuff to register tho since I'm not into cricket (I wish he were interested in tennis instead XD) but I'll look it up from time to time. He writes like a copywriter there.. quite engaging and well enough to sell a product. I bet he still remembers the materials he's studied in his masters years.
I'm still wondering why I can't open the KKR site tho. Is it down due to maintenance or have I been given the wrong address by the 927507 websites I checked out? Even Wiki gives that address and one learns to trust the absoluteness of Wiki when one has spent uncountable hours on the net searching for obscure information on everything under and beyond the sun.
Now that the 2nd season of IPL is starting (tentatively from April 10 to May 29, 2009) and SRK is being held under house arrest by Colonel Gauri and her loyal army of two, will the blogging start in earnest? He was also talking about blogging in his own website. Trust SRK to turn potshots by screen rivals into a well-known money-making venture (with not much additional effort from him to publicise it).
Pepsico vs. Coca Cola
I wrote a bit about this in my previous post.
Of all his endorsement duties, the one with Pepsico has alwiz interested me the most. I'm not one who will introduce a particular brand of soft drink into my diet just coz my idol endorses it (I don't really like Pepsi or Coke, to be honest). Actually what first caught my attention was the Hrithik vs. Shah Rukh ad war in 2000.
Everyone who's a fan of SRK or Hrithik knew what had transpired in the media after the huge flop of PBDHH and the gargantuanly successful KNPH. It was a huge mess and the violently nasty headlines hurt SRK so much he still remembers them to this day (yes, and the bylines too.. Mr./Ms. Irresponsible Reporter). Pepsico and Coke has a tradition of spoofing each other's brand ambassadors in their ads and they exploited this much to the delight of the band of tabloids who lapped the fare up without a pause. That ad was also what pulled me out of the SRK fandom back then after having immersed myself in it for ~3 years (I got hooked on him after KKHH). The noise was too awful and I couldn't take it. At the time internet was not yet popular in the average Malaysian homes and all the info was fed to me straight from the gossip-mongers.
After more than a decade old association, they've decided to let SRK go. Or as he said, "sold me out". Brands come and go, but they'll never get an SRK again. I suspected they've made an error of judgement.. at least when I looked at the short term profit. People have very short memories when it comes to products, which is why the same advertisements have to pop up and annoy the hell out of you 10 times during one movie (at least here in Malaysia they do that). For one person who says "I won't drink Pepsi anymore coz you kicked out Shah Rukh Khan!" (I actually read this comment somewhere), there'll be 10,000 others who'd have forgotten by next Saturday that SRK is no longer its brand ambassador.
Now that Kolkatta Knight Riders has tied the knot with Coca Cola right in the middle of Pepsico's "golden-handshake" dream, my suspicion has been confirmed. What with their blunder regarding the '5-year, 50 crore' on-ground deal vs. Coke '1-year, 10 crore' on-air deal last time, I think Pepsico is in need of some serious re-structuring if they want to grab their 'second highest selling soft drink in India' slot again. Coke is very clear on their intention tho.. “We have a long-standing relationship with Aamir Khan, our brand ambassador. Our proposal has no connection with SRK, we are limiting ourselves to KKR”. O-ke, whatever. But the fact that they're sponsoring SRK's team when there's a host of others flailing to get noticed by the big sponsors at this unstable time of recession, or 'correction' as Shah Rukh would have it, is already a win where SRK is concerned. It pays to have your fingers in several pots, huh.
Interestingly.. KKR's man, Ishant Sharma, is one of Pepsico's brand ambassadors. Will there be a blanket ban on individual products during IPL then? That will make Pepsico the loser all around in this high stake game.. a second loss after the first season of IPL on-ground/on-air debacle (Pepsico took it up with IPL but ended up terminating the deal when they couldn't get the broadcaster to cancel its deal with Coke).
Of course, with any business, there's no perfect decision. You win, you lose.. you fall flat on your face and you get up again. Pepsico is still hopeful on that golden handshake thing (altho I actually have this urge to kick their asses and tell them to get lost after reading their 'he's too old for our campaign' statement, huh). And what I like about Shah Rukh is, he may be is an emotional man but when it comes to profitable decisions (I'm not just talking in terms of money here), he always makes courageous choices.
To those who are so gleeful that Aamir's contract has been renewed with a price hike while SRK's no longer in the Pepsico bandwagon, lemme remind you that an actor's bankability is only as good as his last film and Aamir's last film was a really huge success. Meaning to say, had Ghajini not happened, Aamir's future with the Coke may not be this rosy (he's been their brand ambassador for only two years and filmed only 1 measly ad for them).
I'm really uncomfortable with the public looking at the renewal of contracts sentimentally. Business is business after all. Due to personal reasons I don't support certain brands, Coke and Pepsi are some of them, so I don't care who their brand ambassadors are. But in the world of big bucks, of which a lot of us have no clue what it looks like from the inside, no matter how much heart you put into the work.. what matters at the end of the day is profit. To Pepsico, SRK does not fit into their new campaign and therefore he was dropped despite his strong loyalty to the brand. If Aamir no longer fits into Coca Cola's future campaign, he too will be dropped. It's as simple as that.
Anyone who doubts this need only to remember Beckham's fate late last year with Pepsico. Shah Rukh should have pulled the same move when that Youngistaan campaign started. I think it's his loyalty to the brand that stopped him from announcing that he's "..leaving Pepsico coz I want to focus on other future projects". I wish he'd have done that instead of letting himself be patronized in that last Pepsi ad he did with the new golden jodi. He dragged it out too long on the basis of what.. blind faith on the goodwill of a giant international company?.. which later allowed Pepsico to act cocky and tell the media that they're "dropping SRK coz he's too old for our new campaign". See, this is the kind of thing that sometimes makes me want to drop out of my study and apply for a job as his image consultant. Does the post even exist in the first place?? XD
If I dun care about the brands, why this interest then? I like advertisements.. there, the secret is out. I would have enjoyed the ads plastered on Malaysian TV had they been more fun, interesting and errrr..fun, instead of the dull show they are now. Anyway, I'm really interested on the culmination of this golden handshake thing. What form will it take? I guess with SRK still recuperating from the surgery, business deals will be conducted a bit more sluggishly than usual.. especially with a company that has already terminated his services once.
References (not in order of appearance coz I'm lazy):
- 'It's in bad taste'
- Shah Rukh hits jackpot, gets Coke to sponsor KKR
- Shahrukh defends Pepsi and puts question on mother's milk
- Baadshah Shah Rukh will no more rule Pepsi’s ‘Youngistaan’
- PepsiCo drops Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador
- Beckham and Pepsi no longer together
- Shah Rukh Khan out of Pepsi’s ‘Youngistaan'
- Two years on, Coke pays Aamir Rs 10 crore
- PepsiCo drops Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador
- PepsiCo drops Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador
- Beckham's Pepsi Deal Comes To An End
- For KKR, Shahrukh Rescinds His Association with Pepsi
- Coca-Cola clinches KKR sponsorship deal as PepsiCo loses fizz
- Coke, Pepsi thirst for SRK’s Riders
- Curtain-raiser for IPL: it’s Coke vs Pepsi
Of all his endorsement duties, the one with Pepsico has alwiz interested me the most. I'm not one who will introduce a particular brand of soft drink into my diet just coz my idol endorses it (I don't really like Pepsi or Coke, to be honest). Actually what first caught my attention was the Hrithik vs. Shah Rukh ad war in 2000.
Everyone who's a fan of SRK or Hrithik knew what had transpired in the media after the huge flop of PBDHH and the gargantuanly successful KNPH. It was a huge mess and the violently nasty headlines hurt SRK so much he still remembers them to this day (yes, and the bylines too.. Mr./Ms. Irresponsible Reporter). Pepsico and Coke has a tradition of spoofing each other's brand ambassadors in their ads and they exploited this much to the delight of the band of tabloids who lapped the fare up without a pause. That ad was also what pulled me out of the SRK fandom back then after having immersed myself in it for ~3 years (I got hooked on him after KKHH). The noise was too awful and I couldn't take it. At the time internet was not yet popular in the average Malaysian homes and all the info was fed to me straight from the gossip-mongers.
After more than a decade old association, they've decided to let SRK go. Or as he said, "sold me out". Brands come and go, but they'll never get an SRK again. I suspected they've made an error of judgement.. at least when I looked at the short term profit. People have very short memories when it comes to products, which is why the same advertisements have to pop up and annoy the hell out of you 10 times during one movie (at least here in Malaysia they do that). For one person who says "I won't drink Pepsi anymore coz you kicked out Shah Rukh Khan!" (I actually read this comment somewhere), there'll be 10,000 others who'd have forgotten by next Saturday that SRK is no longer its brand ambassador.
Now that Kolkatta Knight Riders has tied the knot with Coca Cola right in the middle of Pepsico's "golden-handshake" dream, my suspicion has been confirmed. What with their blunder regarding the '5-year, 50 crore' on-ground deal vs. Coke '1-year, 10 crore' on-air deal last time, I think Pepsico is in need of some serious re-structuring if they want to grab their 'second highest selling soft drink in India' slot again. Coke is very clear on their intention tho.. “We have a long-standing relationship with Aamir Khan, our brand ambassador. Our proposal has no connection with SRK, we are limiting ourselves to KKR”. O-ke, whatever. But the fact that they're sponsoring SRK's team when there's a host of others flailing to get noticed by the big sponsors at this unstable time of recession, or 'correction' as Shah Rukh would have it, is already a win where SRK is concerned. It pays to have your fingers in several pots, huh.
Interestingly.. KKR's man, Ishant Sharma, is one of Pepsico's brand ambassadors. Will there be a blanket ban on individual products during IPL then? That will make Pepsico the loser all around in this high stake game.. a second loss after the first season of IPL on-ground/on-air debacle (Pepsico took it up with IPL but ended up terminating the deal when they couldn't get the broadcaster to cancel its deal with Coke).
Of course, with any business, there's no perfect decision. You win, you lose.. you fall flat on your face and you get up again. Pepsico is still hopeful on that golden handshake thing (altho I actually have this urge to kick their asses and tell them to get lost after reading their 'he's too old for our campaign' statement, huh). And what I like about Shah Rukh is, he may be is an emotional man but when it comes to profitable decisions (I'm not just talking in terms of money here), he always makes courageous choices.
To those who are so gleeful that Aamir's contract has been renewed with a price hike while SRK's no longer in the Pepsico bandwagon, lemme remind you that an actor's bankability is only as good as his last film and Aamir's last film was a really huge success. Meaning to say, had Ghajini not happened, Aamir's future with the Coke may not be this rosy (he's been their brand ambassador for only two years and filmed only 1 measly ad for them).
I'm really uncomfortable with the public looking at the renewal of contracts sentimentally. Business is business after all. Due to personal reasons I don't support certain brands, Coke and Pepsi are some of them, so I don't care who their brand ambassadors are. But in the world of big bucks, of which a lot of us have no clue what it looks like from the inside, no matter how much heart you put into the work.. what matters at the end of the day is profit. To Pepsico, SRK does not fit into their new campaign and therefore he was dropped despite his strong loyalty to the brand. If Aamir no longer fits into Coca Cola's future campaign, he too will be dropped. It's as simple as that.
Anyone who doubts this need only to remember Beckham's fate late last year with Pepsico. Shah Rukh should have pulled the same move when that Youngistaan campaign started. I think it's his loyalty to the brand that stopped him from announcing that he's "..leaving Pepsico coz I want to focus on other future projects". I wish he'd have done that instead of letting himself be patronized in that last Pepsi ad he did with the new golden jodi. He dragged it out too long on the basis of what.. blind faith on the goodwill of a giant international company?.. which later allowed Pepsico to act cocky and tell the media that they're "dropping SRK coz he's too old for our new campaign". See, this is the kind of thing that sometimes makes me want to drop out of my study and apply for a job as his image consultant. Does the post even exist in the first place?? XD
If I dun care about the brands, why this interest then? I like advertisements.. there, the secret is out. I would have enjoyed the ads plastered on Malaysian TV had they been more fun, interesting and errrr..fun, instead of the dull show they are now. Anyway, I'm really interested on the culmination of this golden handshake thing. What form will it take? I guess with SRK still recuperating from the surgery, business deals will be conducted a bit more sluggishly than usual.. especially with a company that has already terminated his services once.
References (not in order of appearance coz I'm lazy):
- 'It's in bad taste'
- Shah Rukh hits jackpot, gets Coke to sponsor KKR
- Shahrukh defends Pepsi and puts question on mother's milk
- Baadshah Shah Rukh will no more rule Pepsi’s ‘Youngistaan’
- PepsiCo drops Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador
- Beckham and Pepsi no longer together
- Shah Rukh Khan out of Pepsi’s ‘Youngistaan'
- Two years on, Coke pays Aamir Rs 10 crore
- PepsiCo drops Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador
- PepsiCo drops Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador
- Beckham's Pepsi Deal Comes To An End
- For KKR, Shahrukh Rescinds His Association with Pepsi
- Coca-Cola clinches KKR sponsorship deal as PepsiCo loses fizz
- Coke, Pepsi thirst for SRK’s Riders
- Curtain-raiser for IPL: it’s Coke vs Pepsi
Friday, February 20, 2009
Me too! Me too! I want to get into the Comparison Game too! (geh)
Reading SRK's film reviews alwiz surprises me, not with what's written in the reviews coz every reviewer is entitled to his/her opinion of the movies and performances, but with the virulence in which people are commenting to the articles. I mean, what do you get out of hating movie stars?
If you feel such a strong aversion to his dimpled mug.. why bother to read his articles/interviews, watch his interview clips/shows/concerts/movies, check out reviews on his films, monitor the fluctuating figures of their BO collections, etc.? Some people either have too much time on their hands or they need to get their brains CT scanned. Or maybe they're machocists who flog themselves, not with leather whips, but with constant checking of the progress of public figures they profess to hate so much.
See, I love Hrithik when he's dancing.. I absolutely lose interest in everything and everyone else on the screen (except when SRK is around of course) whenever he puts on his moves. I hope he takes care of his knees more coz Hrithik not being able to dance is a scary thought. But I know that I'm not into his films or persona.. so I stay out of it unless it has something to do with SRK. O-ke, the "except when SRK is around" or "unless it has something to do with SRK" statement will occur too many times in too many places in this post so let's just establish that it is a given from early on, o-ke XD.
Aamir is an excellent actor and I absolutely love his acting in Raja Hindustani and Mann (I watched them more than a decade ago). I tried to follow his movies after that but somehow he just doesn't click with me even up til now. I also cannot connect with his public persona. So I leave him alone thereafter..unless bla bla bla (see paragraph above XD).
With Salman, the lesser said the better ^^; ..I dun want his minions to wank in my comment section.
Hmmm... lemme make it clear here that in no way at all anyone can compare SRK with Amitabh Bacchan. Until Shah Rukh has been around as long and as successful as Amitji still is, I will laugh at any comparison made between them. At nearly 70 years of age, AB can still pull crowds with the strength of his name.
I want Shah Rukh to be able to do that too so I wish these stupids will stop writing about "SRK's retirement plan". I dun want him to retire ever. I pray that he'll live longer than I do (despite me being younger) so that I dun have to live in a world devoid of his presence. I look forward to a time when he's a distinguished old man of Bollywood, like AB and Naseerudin Shah, coz I wonder what kind of projects will he get into.
I think SRK is an excellent actor and storyteller. It's just that his boisterous nature gets him into energetic and epic masala projects that everyone keeps pooh-pooh-ing as unserious and irreverent. One day when he's older and more quiet (lol).. he'll look into the mountain of scripts he's given, pick out some dark and intense stories out of it, and surprise everyone.. as he's alwiz done like in DARR, Baazigar, DDLJ (coz at the time, the critics and public kept saying he couldn't do romantic roles..hmmph), Devdas, Chak De, Swades, etc.
So I totally avoid reading up or taking the slightest interest in other Bollywood stars ...unless bla bla bla XD. By obsessing over his traits that they can't stand and spending hours on the net to emphasize to us SRK's fans on how much they hate him and dun care about him, these anti-SRK people have only succeeded in proving that SRK was right when he said, "they can love me, they can hate me.. but they can't ignore me".
If you feel such a strong aversion to his dimpled mug.. why bother to read his articles/interviews, watch his interview clips/shows/concerts/movies, check out reviews on his films, monitor the fluctuating figures of their BO collections, etc.? Some people either have too much time on their hands or they need to get their brains CT scanned. Or maybe they're machocists who flog themselves, not with leather whips, but with constant checking of the progress of public figures they profess to hate so much.
See, I love Hrithik when he's dancing.. I absolutely lose interest in everything and everyone else on the screen (except when SRK is around of course) whenever he puts on his moves. I hope he takes care of his knees more coz Hrithik not being able to dance is a scary thought. But I know that I'm not into his films or persona.. so I stay out of it unless it has something to do with SRK. O-ke, the "except when SRK is around" or "unless it has something to do with SRK" statement will occur too many times in too many places in this post so let's just establish that it is a given from early on, o-ke XD.
Aamir is an excellent actor and I absolutely love his acting in Raja Hindustani and Mann (I watched them more than a decade ago). I tried to follow his movies after that but somehow he just doesn't click with me even up til now. I also cannot connect with his public persona. So I leave him alone thereafter..unless bla bla bla (see paragraph above XD).
With Salman, the lesser said the better ^^; ..I dun want his minions to wank in my comment section.
Hmmm... lemme make it clear here that in no way at all anyone can compare SRK with Amitabh Bacchan. Until Shah Rukh has been around as long and as successful as Amitji still is, I will laugh at any comparison made between them. At nearly 70 years of age, AB can still pull crowds with the strength of his name.
I want Shah Rukh to be able to do that too so I wish these stupids will stop writing about "SRK's retirement plan". I dun want him to retire ever. I pray that he'll live longer than I do (despite me being younger) so that I dun have to live in a world devoid of his presence. I look forward to a time when he's a distinguished old man of Bollywood, like AB and Naseerudin Shah, coz I wonder what kind of projects will he get into.
I think SRK is an excellent actor and storyteller. It's just that his boisterous nature gets him into energetic and epic masala projects that everyone keeps pooh-pooh-ing as unserious and irreverent. One day when he's older and more quiet (lol).. he'll look into the mountain of scripts he's given, pick out some dark and intense stories out of it, and surprise everyone.. as he's alwiz done like in DARR, Baazigar, DDLJ (coz at the time, the critics and public kept saying he couldn't do romantic roles..hmmph), Devdas, Chak De, Swades, etc.
So I totally avoid reading up or taking the slightest interest in other Bollywood stars ...unless bla bla bla XD. By obsessing over his traits that they can't stand and spending hours on the net to emphasize to us SRK's fans on how much they hate him and dun care about him, these anti-SRK people have only succeeded in proving that SRK was right when he said, "they can love me, they can hate me.. but they can't ignore me".
Rush towards life with open arms
Link
RD: Apart from spinal surgery, have you faced any other difficult times? Has surgery changed your perspective on life?
SRK: I am a believer in divine retribution. I believe I got the injury because I deserved it. I must have done something that made me deserve to be in so much pain. Now that I have gone through the pain, I have absolutely absolved myself of the wrong that I must have done.
RD: You’ve tried your hand at almost everything—recently you even lent your voice to a cartoon film. What if you reach a stage where you find that nothing stimulates you?
SRK: I hope I never reach that stage. If things don’t happen to you, you have to make them happen. You never wait for life to happen to you—you rush towards life with open arms.
RD: Apart from spinal surgery, have you faced any other difficult times? Has surgery changed your perspective on life?
SRK: I am a believer in divine retribution. I believe I got the injury because I deserved it. I must have done something that made me deserve to be in so much pain. Now that I have gone through the pain, I have absolutely absolved myself of the wrong that I must have done.
RD: You’ve tried your hand at almost everything—recently you even lent your voice to a cartoon film. What if you reach a stage where you find that nothing stimulates you?
SRK: I hope I never reach that stage. If things don’t happen to you, you have to make them happen. You never wait for life to happen to you—you rush towards life with open arms.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Plans for this blog
Now before I go on and on writing about the stuff I want to post here, I'd like to remind myself of my inherent laziness that has been the cause of many a blog lying around cyber space being totally useless and unproductive. It's a good thing we can't see the rubbish we've generated on the internet or else we'd need big massive clean-up processes happening every 2 seconds.
Shah Rukh is a power house all on his own so there are too many things I can post about, actually. And the fact that materials on him are so easy to find (and in English! What bliss!) makes me more confident that this is the one idol I can blog about as easily as I please. Try obsessing over an internationally known artist in an obscure traditional japanese performing art called kyogen or a rock star who insists on being thoroughly japanese in his interviews/shows/concerts/etc. ..then look at SRK with his extremely accessible appearances and committed (read: fanatical and obsessed) legion of fans who upload any video that has a 2-second appearance of his in it on the youtube only a few hours after it's aired.. and you'll hopefully see why I'd happily stay with Shah Rukh forever and ever to the exclusion of all my previous idols.. ha!
Here's the list. I need to put them here for easy referencing purposes. I'll update this list from time to time if the need arises:
1. Making of
2. Deleted scenes
3. Updates of current issues
4. Endorsements
5. Award shows: hosting, Best Actor/etc., presenter
6. Appearances (for no apparent reason, like that medical seminar thing ...yeah, I'm still puzzling about that. I'll get over it soon, dun worry)
7. Talk shows (non-promos)
8. Promos
9. News articles
10. Gossips
11. Unofficial SRK websites (by fans)
12. Videos (non-films)
13. Interesting quotes
14. Trendsetter
15. Movie reviews (completely my opinion so I'll completely ignore any wonking about it. I will also rip everything apart so make sure you watch the movies first b4 reading my posts if you dun want to be spoiled rotten)
16. Special appearances: anything I can find on them
17. Random song clips from his movies
18. His other projects: TV shows, KKR, production, etc.
Shah Rukh is a power house all on his own so there are too many things I can post about, actually. And the fact that materials on him are so easy to find (and in English! What bliss!) makes me more confident that this is the one idol I can blog about as easily as I please. Try obsessing over an internationally known artist in an obscure traditional japanese performing art called kyogen or a rock star who insists on being thoroughly japanese in his interviews/shows/concerts/etc. ..then look at SRK with his extremely accessible appearances and committed (read: fanatical and obsessed) legion of fans who upload any video that has a 2-second appearance of his in it on the youtube only a few hours after it's aired.. and you'll hopefully see why I'd happily stay with Shah Rukh forever and ever to the exclusion of all my previous idols.. ha!
Here's the list. I need to put them here for easy referencing purposes. I'll update this list from time to time if the need arises:
1. Making of
2. Deleted scenes
3. Updates of current issues
4. Endorsements
5. Award shows: hosting, Best Actor/etc., presenter
6. Appearances (for no apparent reason, like that medical seminar thing ...yeah, I'm still puzzling about that. I'll get over it soon, dun worry)
7. Talk shows (non-promos)
8. Promos
9. News articles
10. Gossips
11. Unofficial SRK websites (by fans)
12. Videos (non-films)
13. Interesting quotes
14. Trendsetter
15. Movie reviews (completely my opinion so I'll completely ignore any wonking about it. I will also rip everything apart so make sure you watch the movies first b4 reading my posts if you dun want to be spoiled rotten)
16. Special appearances: anything I can find on them
17. Random song clips from his movies
18. His other projects: TV shows, KKR, production, etc.
Billu clips on youtube
- Shahrukh khan promotes Billu with D' Damas
- Shahrukh Khan to market his latest flick in his own style
- Shahrukh khan promotes Billu with century ply
- Shahrukh khan cuts Barber out
- Shahrukh Khan attends special Billu screening & meets with hairdressers association
- Shah Rukh Khan media blitz tour marketing Billu February 2009 Billu Barber
- Shahrukh Khan talks back stage at special Billu screening February 12 2009
- SRK at the Press Conference - Billu Barber (2\1), (2\2)
- Shah Rukh Khan defends Billu to hairdressers CNN news story
- Billu has to drop the Barber - Shah Rukh Khan talks about the controversy February 8 2009
- News story Billu Barber Promotion marketing plans
- "I don't want to hurt anyone" Shah Rukh Khan on Billu Barber & hairdressers Feb 8 2009
- Billu Ki Bak Bak Preview
- Making of Billu Barber Promo 1
- ~ king khan (srk) 'swings' in billu barber ~
- Billu Barber Promotion
- MTV Billu Barber Special - Promo
- Billu Barber | Full Dialough Trailer promo | SHAHRUKH KHAN | EXCLUSIVE HQ VIDEO |
- Shahrukh hits back at Aamir Khan, talks about Salman Khan and Billu 2009
- UnStopable Khan, Shah Rukh Khan Unplugged 30th Jan HQ XviD
- SRK's Interviews (1st Feb) NDTV
- SRK's Interviews (1st Feb) - Miscellaneous sources
- Billu: Hair & There Show - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9 Last Part
- Shahrukh Khan BBC interview February 14 2009 Laura Dutta Billu Barber
- Chat with Billu Barbers Badshah Part 1, Part 2 {subs}
- Shahrukh hits back at Aamir Khan, talks about Salman Khan and Billu 2009
- Most complete coverage of Shahrukh Khan Billu preview Mumbai
- Making of Billu Barber part 01, part 02, part 03
- Shah Rukh Khan Irrfan Lara - Making from Billu Barber
- lara Dutta Shah Rukh Khan - Making from Billu Barber- Making Of 'Love Mera Hit Hit' (Billu Barber)
- Making of Billu Barbar Marjaani!
- Video Making Of 'Khudaya Khair' (Billu Barber)
Video clips of the songs from the movie
- Marjaani Full HQ Video Song Billu Barber Shahrukh Khan Kareena Kapoor
- Billoo Bhayankar Full HQ Video Song Billu Barber Irfan Khan Rajpal Yadav
- Khudaya Khair Full HQ Video Song Lara Dutta Irfan Khan Shahrukh Priyanka Chopra
- Love Mera Hit Hit Full HQ Video Song Billu Barber Shahrukh Khan Deepika Padukone
- Ae Aa O Full HQ Video Song Billu Barber Shahrukh Khan
....errr, I dunno what the critics expect from this movie
To say that it opened to a poor response, well... my reaction was, isn't that sorta predicted already? The only reason why it's receiving so much hype is becoz it has an extended special appearance by SRK and it's being produced by his company. Otherwise, the synopsis does not sound like a blockbuster formula.. it's been made twice before in tamil and malayalam.. and IMO it's an off-beat film. It's a film about a barber and his family who live in this small village.. and it looks pretty 'quiet' ...except when SRK fills up the screen of course :P
Personally, if I could go.. I would go just for his item numbers and his appearances. Otherwise I'd be munching popcorn, drinking some soft drink and trying to stay awake throughout the whole show when he's not around. I have this one track mind when I watch movies or dramas. I've been rather disillusioned with the whole 'it's an original and fresh approach/story/plotline' promo surrounding them really, so I only want to watch them for the actor(s) I like. I can watch SRK films without subtitles, and at one time I even prefer them without sub coz the small writings at the bottom of the screen distract me from enjoying him. I dun want to miss even 2 seconds of his screen time. I can totally separate the roles from the movies in terms of enjoyment, i.e. the film can suck but I would still be able to say I love watching it coz of his acting in it. Like Chaahat, for example. I simply adore Rup. I understand completely why Reshmaji wants to keep him as pet. I want to too.
But I can see how some people can enjoy the simple, family-friendly film like Billu. And I think everyone is entitled to his/her opinion about the movies he/she enjoys... same goes for music, really. Just coz I love SRK like mad, I dun have to like every bit of the million and one projects he's doing. If I dun like it, I dun like it.. period. My opinion is only that of a fan's and it shouldn't hurt anyone else's sensitive feelings (geh). That said, I want to own the Billu DVD.. just for the item numbers. Infact... specifically? Just for the Ae Aa Oh song (lol). And I just found out that the whole bleeding movie is already on youtube.. whaaaa?? How come Rab Ne is still a well-guarded secret? I want to watch the complete Dance Pe Chance video! Adityaji.. dun be so mean. If you're gonna hog it to yourself, at least release the DVD/CD version quickly so we can buy it T__T
I've looked up news on its collection and here are the headlines:
Billu's fate at the box office
Box Office report: Billu fails to pull crowd
Billu opens to an average collections at box office
Billu - Shaved at the Box Office
Film Billu Average Opening Shahrukh Khan Priyadarshan ...
Billu Box Office Report Collections, billu barber box office ...
...but see, after I knew that Dil Se and Asoka were flops, I no longer respect BO figures in India. I will watch SRK films regardless of how it did/is doing at the BO and I will make up my own mind whether it's a good film or not, according to me. Especially now that he's not doing out-and-out romantic films anymore. It makes his future projects more unpredictable and hence, more exciting. He's right.. if you know already how the film will be accepted when it's released becoz it follows a set formula, it's not really that fun compared to making a different sort of film from what you usually do.. release it.. and then spend the whole weekend biting your nails while monitoring the fluctuating figures XD.
Personally, if I could go.. I would go just for his item numbers and his appearances. Otherwise I'd be munching popcorn, drinking some soft drink and trying to stay awake throughout the whole show when he's not around. I have this one track mind when I watch movies or dramas. I've been rather disillusioned with the whole 'it's an original and fresh approach/story/plotline' promo surrounding them really, so I only want to watch them for the actor(s) I like. I can watch SRK films without subtitles, and at one time I even prefer them without sub coz the small writings at the bottom of the screen distract me from enjoying him. I dun want to miss even 2 seconds of his screen time. I can totally separate the roles from the movies in terms of enjoyment, i.e. the film can suck but I would still be able to say I love watching it coz of his acting in it. Like Chaahat, for example. I simply adore Rup. I understand completely why Reshmaji wants to keep him as pet. I want to too.
But I can see how some people can enjoy the simple, family-friendly film like Billu. And I think everyone is entitled to his/her opinion about the movies he/she enjoys... same goes for music, really. Just coz I love SRK like mad, I dun have to like every bit of the million and one projects he's doing. If I dun like it, I dun like it.. period. My opinion is only that of a fan's and it shouldn't hurt anyone else's sensitive feelings (geh). That said, I want to own the Billu DVD.. just for the item numbers. Infact... specifically? Just for the Ae Aa Oh song (lol). And I just found out that the whole bleeding movie is already on youtube.. whaaaa?? How come Rab Ne is still a well-guarded secret? I want to watch the complete Dance Pe Chance video! Adityaji.. dun be so mean. If you're gonna hog it to yourself, at least release the DVD/CD version quickly so we can buy it T__T
I've looked up news on its collection and here are the headlines:
Billu's fate at the box office
Box Office report: Billu fails to pull crowd
Billu opens to an average collections at box office
Billu - Shaved at the Box Office
Film Billu Average Opening Shahrukh Khan Priyadarshan ...
Billu Box Office Report Collections, billu barber box office ...
...but see, after I knew that Dil Se and Asoka were flops, I no longer respect BO figures in India. I will watch SRK films regardless of how it did/is doing at the BO and I will make up my own mind whether it's a good film or not, according to me. Especially now that he's not doing out-and-out romantic films anymore. It makes his future projects more unpredictable and hence, more exciting. He's right.. if you know already how the film will be accepted when it's released becoz it follows a set formula, it's not really that fun compared to making a different sort of film from what you usually do.. release it.. and then spend the whole weekend biting your nails while monitoring the fluctuating figures XD.
On shattered glass
Link
On a glass door breaking over both fans and media (and left him with mild bruises) when he attended the music launch of film ‘Jai Jagannath’: “The media's overtures are always like this - in fact, their love is not complete without some shattered glass thrown in for good measure. So thank you, that you all love me so much. May buildings and monuments crumble next time.”
On a glass door breaking over both fans and media (and left him with mild bruises) when he attended the music launch of film ‘Jai Jagannath’: “The media's overtures are always like this - in fact, their love is not complete without some shattered glass thrown in for good measure. So thank you, that you all love me so much. May buildings and monuments crumble next time.”
On focus
As someone who has an extremely limited ability to focus on the task at hand (for example, I had a few homework projects lined up early this evening and they all went kaput as soon as I switched on the evil router and now it's already 12.30am. Geh!) ...I understand completely the importance of such an ad and I fully support the thought that there's production value to it if it were ever to be made.
Link
You have 20 secs to advertise anything you want. Go.
I would advertise focus to a lot of people who don't know what it means. I'd tell them to concentrate, think hard, think leaner, be clear headed for a moment. Focus on what they are supposed to do-love, life, sleeping, whatever. Focus is the essence of life.
Link
You have 20 secs to advertise anything you want. Go.
I would advertise focus to a lot of people who don't know what it means. I'd tell them to concentrate, think hard, think leaner, be clear headed for a moment. Focus on what they are supposed to do-love, life, sleeping, whatever. Focus is the essence of life.
On some updated news
It’s Coca Cola for SRK's Knight Riders
...the moment I read this, I was laughing soooo much. O man, this guy is so exact in his 'revenge' ..cool. Well, I've alwiz been attracted to this sharp persona of his.Some background on it... SRK has been Pepsico's brand ambassador for more than 10 years and he has always confessed b4 to drinking nothing but Pepsi (not even water).. but now he's not allowed to be so Pepsi-centric by his team of doctors. Pepsico has decided not to renew their association and dropped his contract.. wait for this.. just a day b4 his film was released and a few days b4 the shoulder surgery was to take place. Yep.. on Friday the 13th (who says it's not a creepy combination. All sorts of nasty things happened to him that day ^^;). The reason being that he doesn't fit in with Pepsico's new 'Youngistaan' campaign coz he's TOO OLD! You dun tell SRK he's dropped out of the deal coz he's too old. Idiots.
The company PR said they'd 'do a golden handshake'/'take this relationship to a new phase' sorta deal with the Kolkatta Knight Riders. I nearly fell off my chair when I read that XDD. You told him he's too old for your new campaign, kicked him out of yr more than a decade old partnership while he's in such distressing situations.. and then attempted to grab a deal with his popular cricket team, allegedly the team that made the most money last year (altho they didn't even get to semi-final). What cheek! XD
Anyway, Coca Cola must be in cloud 9 by now. They've got Aamir Khan, the other big Khan of Bollywood AND Shah Rukh Khan's cricket team. Both Khans are in their bags and it's just the beginning of the year! Yare yare yare... some Coke people are getting fat bonuses, for sure.
There is a love story going on between Filmfare and Shah Rukh Khan
...is what the article says. And I concur coz I seriously have lost hope of ever seeing him as the host/co-host of the show in the future after last year's very veeeerrrry crass and cheap jokes he did while monkeying around with Saif. I have never been so entertained in my whole entire life. It took me several attempts to properly watch the 'Nila Nila' sketch from start to finish coz I was laughing so much (tears were pouring from my eyes and the screen got blurry). And when I knew what it's about, I watched it again and laughed equally loudly ..but this time while thinking.. hoshiz, this guy is gonna be murdered by Sanjay XDDD
Despite saying every 2 minutes in the 53rd Filmfare that they'd be banned from hosting or even appearing in the show in the years afterwards, here he is again as the host of 54th Filmfare (2009). And since he has just undergone surgery, they've POSTPONED THE ENTIRE BLEEDING SHOW OMG from Feb 28th to March 7th. What the hell (LOL!). I think if they keep inviting him to host the show, it's invariably clear for all to see that one day, being hurled potshots and insults by SRK from the Filmfare stage will become 'fashionable' ..sorta like being included inside an inner circle or sumthg (coz he only makes vulgar jokes with friends since everyone else has ended up being disturbed by his humour) ..and those ignored will feel as if they're like 'outsiders' to the film fraternity... not that it makes a difference to some people *cough*
He's still nursing his newly-repaired shoulder + entire left arm/side while playing host tho, so I hope the army of the insulted will sympathize with him and not get overmuchly angry. Ek saval (one question).. since RNBDJ vs. Ghajini was such an overhyped and popular theme in 2008 ..as OSO vs. Saawariya was muchly discussed in 2007.. do they think it's wise to let SRK holds the mike for 3 hours?? Oh, I forgot. Aamir doesn't attend award ceremonies. How convenient that he gets to escape all the fun planned for the night. Hmmm.
I dun think he's ever held back his jokes when he wins ..and he's won some kinda award every year he hosted the show (I know what you're thinking *dusyum* XD). Who knows what he'd do if he doesn't get any lovely statuette to take home..hahaha, so this will definitely be one super-interesting show to look forward to. O-ke, o-ke.. I'm betting on Naseeruddin Shah.. so there. Hey, I love the guy, so what? I hope Naseeruddin-ji gets it this time. Don't give all the 'stone cold ladies' to Hrithik lah..altho I did hear he was very good as Akbar and I shall never forget the experience of watching Hrithik says 'Allah' and 'MashaAllah' (watched it in youtube). Man, that has to be the most memorable Hrithik scenes ever..at least for me. I hope they upload the Filmfare real quickly and it gets instantly subbed (pls??).
O yes, I forgot to mention that he's supposed to don the Suri-Raj personas from RNBDJ.. what.. no Saif?? One SRK is enuff to topple me off my chair in a fit of giggles.. but TWO?? Are yaar, my heart can't take such an explosive mixture. I hope he gets well enough to do the show in good health. Btw, when does he find the time to do the script for this? He's nuts. Someone should tie his whole body to the bed (like a mummy) for the 3 weeks he needs to recuperate or his wandering hands/legs/entire right side will start working on some projects, maybe even independently of each other if his caretakers are not careful. But I want him to overwork himself as much as I want him to rest, so yeah.. it's a conundrum/catch 22 kinda thing ^^;
Shahrukh produce a film adaptation of the bestselling novel
...he's alwiz been suggesting good titles to his producer friends and they've alwiz failed to follow his suggestions, to their loss... ha! This time, Shah Rukh has decided to hog the good books to himself. He loves children, he loves girls and he loves crickets. In 'The Zoya Factor', he gets to combine the three objects of his love in one film. The synopsis instantly reminds me of Sophie's World, somehow. I've not read the book but I alwiz like to read the book and film previews. Most times I even end up explaining what they're about to people who've read or watched them only to surface out of their murky depth in puzzlement haha (o-ke, that's an exaggeration btw). Maybe it's coz both stories are about the journey of a young girl through the terrains of life.
I think it'll be another extended appearance for Shah Rukh tho. Maybe a benevolent and kind-hearted uncle Zoya meets in one of the matches who gives out advices and in the end loses a bet with her over the game? Who knows. I haven't read the book yet. But I like SRK in his 'distinguished old man' avatar, like in Veer-Zaara. So cute, like an adorable grandpa. I wish I had an adorable grandpa like that while I was growing up. I'll sit in his lap and play with his stubble all day long XD
SRK called: ‘Don’t let Preity buy Mortaza’
...I love sports. It's the only modern area where men can be bid and sold to a woman while all the men in her team cheers her on. Preity neat, huh. Anyway, SRK managed to grab his guy, altho not before spending quite some bucks for him coz Preity's team kept on countering their bid. Yes! Go Preity! Give the macho guy a run for his money (lol). I love SRK to bits and pieces but the feminist heart in me wildly clapped for Preity Zinta when I read the article.
SRK's conducted this all-important business phone call all the while nearly overdosing himself with medication to contain his pain from the completely-torn shoulder muscle injury due to his delaying his surgery date before he's completely wrapped up everything that could be wrapped up coz he's supposed to be out of action for some months after (yeah, like we believe you can stay down that long~♥♥♥~). Do you think it's easy to be the biggest star on the planet? Well, think again.
SRK the LOL magnet:
...the moment I read this, I was laughing soooo much. O man, this guy is so exact in his 'revenge' ..cool. Well, I've alwiz been attracted to this sharp persona of his.Some background on it... SRK has been Pepsico's brand ambassador for more than 10 years and he has always confessed b4 to drinking nothing but Pepsi (not even water).. but now he's not allowed to be so Pepsi-centric by his team of doctors. Pepsico has decided not to renew their association and dropped his contract.. wait for this.. just a day b4 his film was released and a few days b4 the shoulder surgery was to take place. Yep.. on Friday the 13th (who says it's not a creepy combination. All sorts of nasty things happened to him that day ^^;). The reason being that he doesn't fit in with Pepsico's new 'Youngistaan' campaign coz he's TOO OLD! You dun tell SRK he's dropped out of the deal coz he's too old. Idiots.
The company PR said they'd 'do a golden handshake'/'take this relationship to a new phase' sorta deal with the Kolkatta Knight Riders. I nearly fell off my chair when I read that XDD. You told him he's too old for your new campaign, kicked him out of yr more than a decade old partnership while he's in such distressing situations.. and then attempted to grab a deal with his popular cricket team, allegedly the team that made the most money last year (altho they didn't even get to semi-final). What cheek! XD
Anyway, Coca Cola must be in cloud 9 by now. They've got Aamir Khan, the other big Khan of Bollywood AND Shah Rukh Khan's cricket team. Both Khans are in their bags and it's just the beginning of the year! Yare yare yare... some Coke people are getting fat bonuses, for sure.
There is a love story going on between Filmfare and Shah Rukh Khan
...is what the article says. And I concur coz I seriously have lost hope of ever seeing him as the host/co-host of the show in the future after last year's very veeeerrrry crass and cheap jokes he did while monkeying around with Saif. I have never been so entertained in my whole entire life. It took me several attempts to properly watch the 'Nila Nila' sketch from start to finish coz I was laughing so much (tears were pouring from my eyes and the screen got blurry). And when I knew what it's about, I watched it again and laughed equally loudly ..but this time while thinking.. hoshiz, this guy is gonna be murdered by Sanjay XDDD
Despite saying every 2 minutes in the 53rd Filmfare that they'd be banned from hosting or even appearing in the show in the years afterwards, here he is again as the host of 54th Filmfare (2009). And since he has just undergone surgery, they've POSTPONED THE ENTIRE BLEEDING SHOW OMG from Feb 28th to March 7th. What the hell (LOL!). I think if they keep inviting him to host the show, it's invariably clear for all to see that one day, being hurled potshots and insults by SRK from the Filmfare stage will become 'fashionable' ..sorta like being included inside an inner circle or sumthg (coz he only makes vulgar jokes with friends since everyone else has ended up being disturbed by his humour) ..and those ignored will feel as if they're like 'outsiders' to the film fraternity... not that it makes a difference to some people *cough*
He's still nursing his newly-repaired shoulder + entire left arm/side while playing host tho, so I hope the army of the insulted will sympathize with him and not get overmuchly angry. Ek saval (one question).. since RNBDJ vs. Ghajini was such an overhyped and popular theme in 2008 ..as OSO vs. Saawariya was muchly discussed in 2007.. do they think it's wise to let SRK holds the mike for 3 hours?? Oh, I forgot. Aamir doesn't attend award ceremonies. How convenient that he gets to escape all the fun planned for the night. Hmmm.
I dun think he's ever held back his jokes when he wins ..and he's won some kinda award every year he hosted the show (I know what you're thinking *dusyum* XD). Who knows what he'd do if he doesn't get any lovely statuette to take home..hahaha, so this will definitely be one super-interesting show to look forward to. O-ke, o-ke.. I'm betting on Naseeruddin Shah.. so there. Hey, I love the guy, so what? I hope Naseeruddin-ji gets it this time. Don't give all the 'stone cold ladies' to Hrithik lah..altho I did hear he was very good as Akbar and I shall never forget the experience of watching Hrithik says 'Allah' and 'MashaAllah' (watched it in youtube). Man, that has to be the most memorable Hrithik scenes ever..at least for me. I hope they upload the Filmfare real quickly and it gets instantly subbed (pls??).
O yes, I forgot to mention that he's supposed to don the Suri-Raj personas from RNBDJ.. what.. no Saif?? One SRK is enuff to topple me off my chair in a fit of giggles.. but TWO?? Are yaar, my heart can't take such an explosive mixture. I hope he gets well enough to do the show in good health. Btw, when does he find the time to do the script for this? He's nuts. Someone should tie his whole body to the bed (like a mummy) for the 3 weeks he needs to recuperate or his wandering hands/legs/entire right side will start working on some projects, maybe even independently of each other if his caretakers are not careful. But I want him to overwork himself as much as I want him to rest, so yeah.. it's a conundrum/catch 22 kinda thing ^^;
Shahrukh produce a film adaptation of the bestselling novel
...he's alwiz been suggesting good titles to his producer friends and they've alwiz failed to follow his suggestions, to their loss... ha! This time, Shah Rukh has decided to hog the good books to himself. He loves children, he loves girls and he loves crickets. In 'The Zoya Factor', he gets to combine the three objects of his love in one film. The synopsis instantly reminds me of Sophie's World, somehow. I've not read the book but I alwiz like to read the book and film previews. Most times I even end up explaining what they're about to people who've read or watched them only to surface out of their murky depth in puzzlement haha (o-ke, that's an exaggeration btw). Maybe it's coz both stories are about the journey of a young girl through the terrains of life.
I think it'll be another extended appearance for Shah Rukh tho. Maybe a benevolent and kind-hearted uncle Zoya meets in one of the matches who gives out advices and in the end loses a bet with her over the game? Who knows. I haven't read the book yet. But I like SRK in his 'distinguished old man' avatar, like in Veer-Zaara. So cute, like an adorable grandpa. I wish I had an adorable grandpa like that while I was growing up. I'll sit in his lap and play with his stubble all day long XD
SRK called: ‘Don’t let Preity buy Mortaza’
...I love sports. It's the only modern area where men can be bid and sold to a woman while all the men in her team cheers her on. Preity neat, huh. Anyway, SRK managed to grab his guy, altho not before spending quite some bucks for him coz Preity's team kept on countering their bid. Yes! Go Preity! Give the macho guy a run for his money (lol). I love SRK to bits and pieces but the feminist heart in me wildly clapped for Preity Zinta when I read the article.
SRK's conducted this all-important business phone call all the while nearly overdosing himself with medication to contain his pain from the completely-torn shoulder muscle injury due to his delaying his surgery date before he's completely wrapped up everything that could be wrapped up coz he's supposed to be out of action for some months after (yeah, like we believe you can stay down that long~♥♥♥~). Do you think it's easy to be the biggest star on the planet? Well, think again.
SRK the LOL magnet:
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Profile intro
I'm not an interesting person. When I talk a lot, I get depressed. But my brain constantly thinks up weird things and the words can sometimes become a waterfall that literally jars my psyche, so I need to spew them out somewhere or I'd go nuts.
Along the way, I have become quite obsessed with Shah Rukh Khan so I dedicated a blog for him here. And I peppered my other blog with so much Colin Firth, it's hard to get through a page without bumping into the guy like 10,000 times.
But I have to make my visitors and friends understand this one thing: I write here for myself. I do not crave comments, I'm not that eager to discuss any of my words/sentences/posts/etc., I'm not particularly overjoyed when someone agrees or disagrees with my views, and I can be happy writing 6 bajillion posts without a single person in this world noticing the existence of my blogs. So write comments to me if you have something nice or worthwhile to share.. otherwise I'd appreciate it more if you just follow my blogs unobtrusively.
For whatever it's worth.. welcome to my blogs. Glad to have you here! \(^o^)>
Along the way, I have become quite obsessed with Shah Rukh Khan so I dedicated a blog for him here. And I peppered my other blog with so much Colin Firth, it's hard to get through a page without bumping into the guy like 10,000 times.
But I have to make my visitors and friends understand this one thing: I write here for myself. I do not crave comments, I'm not that eager to discuss any of my words/sentences/posts/etc., I'm not particularly overjoyed when someone agrees or disagrees with my views, and I can be happy writing 6 bajillion posts without a single person in this world noticing the existence of my blogs. So write comments to me if you have something nice or worthwhile to share.. otherwise I'd appreciate it more if you just follow my blogs unobtrusively.
For whatever it's worth.. welcome to my blogs. Glad to have you here! \(^o^)>
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