I Am No Marketing Guru, Says Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan left no stone unturned to promote 'Chennai Express' but the superstar, who made exhaustive rounds to all the popular TV shows, did city and world tours, held live chats to create a buzz about his latest outing, says he is not an expert in marketing.
The 47-year-old actor says he simply likes to inform his audience about his films.
And it seems that SRK's efforts have paid off in a huge way as Rohit Shetty directed film has become the fastest entrant into the elusive 100 crore club despite garnering average reviews from the critics.

Shah Rukh Khan says he simply likes to inform his audience about his films.

"I am not a marketing guru or a romantic hero. I promote my film to inform about it to my audience. I feel since they had to shell so much money to watch a film, they have the right to know about it. I inform my audience and give a brief overview of it," Shah Rukh told PTI.
The actor's last similar promotion blitzkrieg was for his home production 'Ra.One'.
"I promoted 'Ra.One' fanatically because it was a new genre in India. I didn't promote 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' much because it was a love-story and Yash uncle's sudden death upset me. I have been talking about 'Chennai Express' a lot because many think it's an action film but its an out and out comedy. I love to live with my films," he added.
Shah Rukh, whose banner Red Chillies Entertainments co-produced 'Chennai Express' with Disney-UTV, is on cloud nine after the film's success at the box office.
"It's a good sign for Bollywood and I am happy with the business part of it. The film has done good overseas and has done good as compared to a Hollywood film (I am not comparing my film with 'Ironman' or 'Superman'). It shows that our films have a huge market overseas," he said.
Earlier, Salman Khan starrer 'Ek Tha Tiger' collections had crossed Rs 100 crore in six days but Shah Rukh, whose iftar hug with friend-turned-foe created headlines, is vary of comparisons.
"In India people tend to compare things right from the footfall to the occupancy of theatres. But, in foreign countries people don't compare their work. I have seen in London that during an opening day of a film only four people were watching it in a theatre. But the film is still a success at the end," he said.
Shah Rukh is now geared up to shoot his next film 'Happy New Year' with friend Farah Khan from next month. For the film he will again team up with his 'Chennai Express' co-star Deepika Padukone.
"I will start shooting for the film next month. I have decided to do only one film in a year. We are planning to release the film by Diwali next year. Earlier, we had planned to release it during new year but since I met with injury I could not start the shooting," he said.
After 'Happy New Year', Shah Rukh will decide on the project he will do with Aditya Chopra, who is currently writing a script for him.
"Adi (Aditya Chopra) is a family. We sit and discuss work. He is writing something for me. But I am not deciding on something now from Yash Raj. I will finalise the deal next December after 'Happy New Year' releases," he said.
SRK and Chopra have given hits like 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', 'Mohabbatein' and 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'.

Kajol Finds Shah Rukh Khan's Baby AbRam Cute

Bollywood actress Kajol finds her actor friend Shahrukh Khan's newly born baby boy AbRam cute.

The boy was reportedly born on May 27 to a surrogate mother.
 "I congratulated him (Shahrukh) personally and met him as well. He is a very cute baby, blessings and love always," Kajol told reporters here at an event yesterday.
 The actress, known for her memorable performances in films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Gupt, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Fanaa among others, has cut down on her work post marriage (to actor Ajay Devgn) and babies.
She was last seen in a prominent role in Karan Johar's home production We Are Family (2010). Kajol wants to work in films but is waiting for a right offer.
"I am very happy in my life, spending time with children. If I do a film then there has to be a good reason for me to do it as I won't leave my children behind. The script has to be good," Kajol said.
Also, the iconic train scene from her romantic blockbuster film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is time and again used in other films. The scene was seen in the recently released 'Chennai Express'.
"That film was so special, it was really a very good film. All we know is we made it with a lot of love. And fortunately it turned out to be fantastic and well-loved film. I am grateful people remember it today," she said.
Her filmmaker friend Karan Johar is making his acting debut with 'Bombay Velvet' and the chirpy actress wishes him good luck.
"I wish him luck. He is a fantastic director and hope he makes as good an actor," she added.
Kajol attended a Surya Child Care hospital event, where she inaugurated the 65-bed expanded NICU.
On the occasion, she expressed that the health and medical issues of children need to be addressed as of the babies born every year, 25-30 per cent are underweight.

SRK In Aapki Adalat After 18 Years

What Shahrukh Khan said about Wankhede Stadium,Shirish Kundar and about all issues.
Part 1 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e0JyAGU0FE
Part 2 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqIO4YCd0_8 
Part 3 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCEj7yrjs5E
Part 4 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru5YuQFV1is

Chennai Express Becomes Record Express

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer " Chennai Express" is chugging on with immense steam at the box office.

The film recorded an opening day collection of Rs.33.12 crore, say trade experts, and it is expected to do well across national and international quarters over the weekend.

Heavy promotions for the Rohit Shetty directorial, coupled with a release on an auspicious occasion like Eid-ul-Fitr Friday, seem to have paid off. Even before the release, the buzz for the movie was strong, giving it a collection of Rs. 6.75 crore in the home country from paid previews Thursday itself.

"We've received an overwhelming response from all quarters and the film is being loved by everyone," Gaurav Verma, director - India theatrical distribution, Studios, Disney UTV.

"Though 'Chennai Express' is playing in highest number of screens for any film, we still ran out of capacity in most locations due to this huge demand at the box office and the film is on its way to create new benchmarks," added Verma.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared that the collective figures minted by the movie on Thursday and Friday in India amounted to Rs. 39.87 crore nett.

Said to have been made at a budget of Rs. 70 crore, "Chennai Express" had a grand release in over 3,500 screens in the country and 700 screens abroad.

The advance bookings for the film were strong, said Girish Wankhede of Cinemax chain.

"It's doing very well. On Thursday, there were 80 to 90 percent occupancy of seats. Advance booking was strong for this weekend. It will do very well in coming weeks also," Wankhede told IANS.

Down south also, the movie has received a good response.

Trade analyst Trinath shared: "This is probably the best ever opening for a SRK film in the state. Even though people voiced about the stereotyping in 'Chennai Express', none had any issues with it and embraced it with a smile."

In the film, Shah Rukh plays a north Indian, who falls in love with a Tamil girl, essayed by his "Om Shanti Om" co-star Deepika.

The number of shows were doubled in Chennai for "Chennai Express" as Tamil movie "Thalaivaa" didn't release there.

"Since 'Thalaivaa' didn't release, the number of shows for 'Chennai Express' were doubled (on Friday). We had about 95 percent occupancy for the paid previews and most shows over the weekend are booked," a multiplex representative in Chennai, said.

Mumbai-based trade analyst Komal Nahta didn't find the film as entertaining as Shetty's previous films like the "Golmaal" series, but he didn't deny that the movie indeed got a "fantastic start" in India.

Internationally too, the film is said to be doing well.

In the Gulf region, it released Thursday and minted $435,000, with 28 screens yet to report. But it is estimated to cross $550,000 by the time all screens report, said a source.

In Singapore, two screens are yet to report, but it made $95,359 on Thursday.

"Chennai Express", an action comedy, had only night show previews in Britain Thursday, numbers are 142,220 pounds with three sites yet to report.

In Australia, the paid previews Thursday amounted to $34,314, while in New Zealand, the figures came to $6,431.

Adarsh shared on Twitter that the movie took a "huge start in US-Canada", earning $2,60,000 (Rs.15, 776,020.00 approximately) out of Thursday night preview shows.

Officials at UTV Motion Pictures, which has co-produced the potboiler with Shah Rukh's Red Chillies Entertainment, are happy.

"'Chennai Express has taken the box office by storm in international markets. The movie is setting new opening day and paid previews records and benchmarks for Hindi movies in most countries," Amrita Pandey, executive director, International Distribution, Syndication and Disney Media Distribution, Studios, Disney UTV, said in a statement.

"In many cinema chains we've added shows and the movie was moved to additional screens and to highest capacity screens. This has been a massive opening to a huge release," she added.

Chennai Express Family Entertainer, It's For Masses: SRK

His health doesn't permit him to take too much stress, but despite that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is aggressively promoting his forthcoming film "Chennai Express" and says that the theme of the movie is such that the whole family can sit together and enjoy it.
Releasing Aug 9, director Rohit Shetty's "Chennai Express" brings together SRK and Deepika Padukone together on the big screen once again after the hit movie "Om Shanti Om".
SRK has spent over two decades in filmdom and has been part of hits like "Deewana", "Darr", "Baazigar" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and affirms that his films are meant for the masses.
"My films are for the masses, similarly 'Chennai Express' is for the masses and needed to be promoted extensively," SRk said Sunday while promoting his film here.


Shetty has been actively making films for the past 10 years and came out with hit "Golmaal" series, but "Chennai Express" is Shah Rukh's first film with the successful director.

He lauds Shetty's films for having variety.
"Rohit's films have a variety... comedy, drama, romance and action... everything. 'Chennai Express' is a comedy film with a love story, but it's definitely not like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' or 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. It's a family entertainer. There's a little action too. It's something that whole family can sit down and watch together," he said.
Shah Rukh underwent shoulder surgery in May this year.
"I've always promoted my films extensively... this time it's less because I am not well," said Shah Rukh, who looked stunning in a black suit.
"I have recently got a surgery done. But I strongly feel that every film requires right marketing and promotions," he added.
After promoting the film off-shore, the 47-year-old reached here Sunday along with Shetty and Deepika.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shah-rukh-khans-chennai-express-a-family-entertainer-its-for-masses/1/298056.html

Different films need different marketing strategies. "It (marketing) depends on the films that what kind of promotions it needs. We didn't promote 'My Name Is Khan' that much. Yashji (Yash Chopra) expired before the release of 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', but we promoted 'Ra One' extensively worldwide," he added.Yash Chopra died Oct 21 last year and his last directorial venture "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" released on Nov 13.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shah-rukh-khans-chennai-express-a-family-entertainer-its-for-masses/1/298056.html

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shah-rukh-khans-chennai-express-a-family-entertainer-its-for-masses/1/298056.html

Shah Rukh Khan: My Hollywood Role Should Make Indians Proud

Not interested in taking up a stereotypical role created for Asians in Hollywood, Bollywood's superstar Shah Rukh Khan says 'to get a role not specific to my colour or the way I speak or act is very difficult'.
He has been active in Hindi films for over two decades, has featured in more than 80 films and won the tag of 'superstar', but the 47-year-old has yet to find a suitable role in international films.
A hugely popular actor in many countries, one whose face has become synonymous with the huge draw of the Indian film industry, particularly the Mumbai-based Hindi film industry, King Khan feels he doesn't have the USP to work in Hollywood.

  Asked what made him think so, he said: "I didn't talk in terms of fan following."
"I think the kind of role I would want to do in a Hollywood film is one that makes India proud. To get a role like that is not specific to my colour, or the way I speak, look or act or my age, it's very difficult," SRK told IANS in an exclusive interview.
"I mean you can't go to a big filmmaking world and say write a role for a 47-year-old actor who is brown, has hair like this, acts this way, dances a bit... the role should be something that Indians should be proud of. It's too specific for me to have a USP."
He however appreciated Indian faces who are doing well on the international arena.
"There are a few young boys and girls, who are doing really well internationally, and I pray they make it big," he said.
Shah Rukh relishes and cherishes all the love and attention showered on him on the home turf and is set to woo his fans with 'Chennai Express'.
In fact, he is right now busy driving the buzz around the comedy drama, coming out Friday, his first film with new age master of comedies Rohit Shetty.
Sharing his experience of working with Shetty, Shah Rukh said: "Rohit is fantastically organized. The best part about him is that he has a group of 200 trained people working under him. Rohit knows what he wants. He always delivers the best."
'Chennai Express', Shah Rukh's second film with Deepika Padukone after the 2007 super duper hit 'Om Shanti Om', has a popular train scene from his 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' (DDLJ).
Interestingly, in 'Chennai Express' the name of Shah Rukh's character is Rahul, a screen title he has donned in a string of hits.
He confesses to being a director's actor.
"I'm a director's actor. I belong to a world which directors create. I enjoy being with them in their world. I want the world to see me as an actor who moulds himself according to the character his director creates for him," said Shah Rukh.
The Hindi film industry, which is celebrating its 100 years this year, has evolved with new filmmakers enlivening the silver screen with new subjects, Shah Rukh said, adding it's not a new trend.
"There's 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Barfi!'... all kinds of films are being made, which is good," said Shah Rukh.
"There have always been all kinds of filmmakers who make films like 'Iron Man', 'Batman' and 'Chak De! India'. It's always parallel. When I did DDLJ, there was 'Maya Memsaab' too."
"I always try to work on a different genre. I feel the industry has given me name, fame and money and I won't ever forgive myself if I won't do anything beneficial for Indian cinema and my fans."
From romantic to villainous and from action to superhero - SRK has delved into a variety of roles.
Asked how he is in real life, Shah Rukh said: "I am a little like all of them. There are parts and portions of me that you see in my characters also. If I play a father, I do it the way I would do it with my kids. If I play a lover, I behave the same way I am in real life. I would say I am a funny person but also gentle and kind."

How SRK's Pathan Father Fell In Love With His South Indian Mother

Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express is a romantic comedy about a man (played by Shah Rukh Khan) from one part of India, who lands up in another part with an entirely different culture and language, feeling like an alien in his own country.
In India, where there are 1683 different spoken languages and where every 2000-5000 kms, the language, clothes and food change so dramatically, he finds that love is the only universal language. While we all know Shah Rukh is a Pathan, went to school in Delhi, has a cricket team in Kolkata and lives in Mumbai, we discovered his strong South connection over a conversation. We bring you an excerpt from the same, where Shah Rukh talks about how his Pathan father fell in love with his South Indian mother.
"My mother is from Andhra and lived in Karnataka and used to speak all four South languages. My grandfather was the Karnataka state chief engineer of Mangalore Port and was the first Oxford- educated engineer, who was highly respected. He designed and built the Mangalore Port. My grandfather once took his four daughters, eldest of whom was my mother, to Delhi for a visit. In those days, there were pillars at India Gate. They had an ice-cream in their car after which the car hit one of the pillars and overturned. My father was the cousin brother of General Shah Nawaz, who was the second-in-command to Subhash Chandra Bose (Mangal, Dhillon and Shah Nawaz were amongst the three biggest freedom fighters). My father and he were Pathans from Peshawar and would walk at India Gate in the evenings. Seeing the car overturned, they turned the car over and took my mother and her family to the hospital. My grandfather and my mother's three sisters became alright, but my mother lost her memory and needed matching blood. As luck would have it, my father's blood matched hers and he gave his blood to her. My grandmother (nani) surprisingly was pregnant at that time and thus, to not give her stress on the phone, my grandfather requested my father if he would go to Bangalore to give her the news about her family and my mother having lost her memory (a Pathan will often do that as my mom's family had no help in Delhi).

When he returned back from Bangalore, he would go everyday and look after this lady who had lost her memory and fell in love with her. My mom, coincidentally, was engaged at that time to someone else. He came to Bangalore and wanted to marry my mother. They were both Muslims and my grandparents agreed. I was born and brought up in Mangalore till the age of five. There were no men in my maternal side except my grandfather. My mother was the eldest daughter and my mausies had got married late. I, too, had an older sister, so I became the first boy in the family and my mom gave me for five years to be looked after by my grandmother, so I was brought up in Mangalore by my maternal aunts and my nani. In the fifth year, I think, she missed me a lot and took me back with her. So, I was brought up by women and spoke Kannada when I was small with the servants of the house. My maternal house is still in Toli Chowki, Hyderabad. After doing 72 films, life seems to have come a full circle with Chennai Express."