Posts Tagged ‘My Name Is Khan’
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• How long do you plan to work only with Shah Rukh Khan considering that actors have a limited shelf life, unlike directors?
I have never worked without him and I have no clue what the experience will be like. I do my best work when Shah Rukh is on the sets as there is this tremendous sense of comfort when he is around and I feel that everything will be fine and fun on the sets. I think I will be working with him for the rest of my life as we have this special connection not only personally but also professionally. We understand each other very well, he is a member of my family and vice versa.
• Don’t you think that right now the audience wants to watch entertaining films while yours is a serious film?
Well, I don’t know as I never calculate anything as far as creativity goes. I know that I have made a film with my heart, soul and a lot of passion. My entire team- SRK, Kajol, Ravi Chandran, Shibani, Deepa, Sharmistha and everybody else- has really toiled to make it a soulful venture. I firmly believe that emotions are universal and I know that when they connect with the audience, it works. There is no such thing as an entertaining or a serious film; there are good films and bad films. Good films will always find a vast audience.
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• Your last film Kurbaan had a terrorism backdrop and was promoted as a love story, which clearly did not work. Do you plan to have a different strategy for the promotion of My Name is Khan?
There is nothing about terrorism in Khan. It is a soulful emotional journey about a man who is all for love and that’s exactly how we are promoting the film. I certainly have no idea why the rumours about terrorism in Khan are doing the rounds.
• My Name is Khan releases on February 12. Do you think it’s the ideal release date considering its Valentine’s Day week and youngsters would want to see a romantic film?
Absolutely! Khan’s core content is a love story. The entire journey is the love story between Rizwan and Mandira, my protagonists. What better time than the Valentine’s Day week for the release of this love story about two people who go through so much in life for love.
• My Name is Khan will have the biggest release till date, even overseas. Do you think it’s the right strategy?
We have a great partnership with Fox Searchlight and it is their strategy to have a platform release, which is what they call such a release. They believe that My Name is Khan has a market way beyond what’s expected and it is their strategy to break certain boundaries of exhibition for this film. They have full faith in the film and I hope their faith pays off. The real work for any filmmaker stars after he finishes directing a film. I spent two years making the film but most of my efforts for the next two months will go in the promotion, marketing and connecting with the audience.
Premiere league
My Name is Khan will premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 12. It is expected to be screened at one of Berlin’s most important locations, Potsdamer Platz. Incidentally, it is the first Indian film to be premiered in Berlin.
Shah Rukh Khan arranges a weekend screening of James Cameron’s Avatar for his children
Last evening Shah Rukh Khan was the special guest at the screening of James Cameron’s, Avatar at a suburban multiplex.
Shah Rukh was so enamoured after watching half the film, that he came out of hall and went up to the studio officials and requested them to organise a special screening for his two children and family members. The officials of the studio immediately assured him that they will do the needful.
A source said, “SRK has always been quite fond of science fiction and superhero films. Even as a child, he would always watch similar kind of films.This is why he immediately agreed to attend the special screening of Avatar.
He was also keen to attend the screening of Avatar at the suburban multiplex as the first theatrical promo of his new film My Name is Khan was scheduled to release during the screening. Everybody knows about SRK’s love for superhero films so much so that he is right now in the process of making Ra.One, which will be directed by Anubhav Sinha. SRK loved Avatar, which is why he also wants his kids to watch it.”
Earlier this month, SRK’s children couldn’t wait to watch Paa and Amitabh Bachchan had sent some extra passes for them on SRK’s request. “Aryan and Suhana love films and they would love to watch Avatar. The kids could not watch it last evening with SRK as they were busy with their school and studies,” added the source.
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Vijay Singh, Indian CEO of the company which produced Avatar, confirmed the news and said, “Shah Rukh was very excited about Avatar and the scale on which it was made. He requested another screening on Saturday so that he could watch the film again with his family. We will definitely and will decide on the venue and time today.”
| (pic: manav manglani) |
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; December 16, 2009)
Says Karan, “This is the first time ever in the history of Bollywood that the promos of a film will play across such a wide platform. And, this has mainly been made possible because of our synergy with Fox. It is my first production with SRK and also the first time a Bollywood company is tying up with a mainstream Hollywood studio. So, there are many firsts to this venture.” He adds, “The idea of the launch was suggested to us by Fox. Both Shah Rukh and I felt that it was the best way to flag off our campaign. We wanted to create a road block and since Star has such a broad base globally, we both conferred that it would be an ideal way to launch our first promos.’’
For Karan, the film is not just his biggest professional challenge, it is also an emotional journey. One of India’s brightest production talents says, “Shah Rukh and Kajol have never gone wrong in their pairing. For me, combining with these two actors is not only a professional high, it is also an emotional bond. The three of us have done two super-hit films in the past — Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham (K3G). Now, we’re hoping that we can recreate the same magic with My Name Is Khan.’’
The buzz is that this is the most expensive deal to have ever gone through in Bollywood history. Unconfirmed reports say that Fox picked up the film for Rs 100 crore and will release it with 600 prints overseas, making it the widest release
for a Bollywood film on foreign shores. Theatrical trailers of the film have been attached to the prints of James Cameron’s Avatar that is releasing today. Trade analyst Komal Nahta says, “Never before has there been such excitement over a film, nor has there been such a wide release for any Bollywood film so far.’’
Karan Johar worked for 48 hours to perfect My Name is Khan
Karan Johar knows that first impression is the last impression. The first look of his much-awaited film My Name is Khan all set to hit the theatres on December 18 with the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar. As a result, Karan is having sleepless nights just to make sure that the first look creates the right buzz about the film.
Karan did not sleep starting Saturday morning to Monday morning as he was busy finalising the first look of My Name is Khan.
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| (L): Karan Johar, My Name is Khan |
A source said, “My Name is Khan, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, is one of Karan’s most ambitious film to date more so because it is a subject that he has never attempted to make so far. He also cancelled his trip to LA to finalise the film’s first look over the weekend. He reached office early on Saturday morning to start working on the edit and didn’t stop till Monday morning 7am. He must have barely taken an hour-long nap in those two days. SRK too joined him on Saturday night and they had a meeting about how they plan to go about promoting the film. SRK saw some portions of the first theatrical promo and then left the Dharma Productions office early on Sunday morning. However, Karan continued to work and only left on Monday morning after he was satisfied with the first look.”
Karan remained unavailable for comment. He probably was catching up on his sleep after the marathon edit session.
Bharati Dubey | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; November 30, 2009)The actor apologised to Shah Rukh and his family on a talk show on Saturday night. When he was told that Shah Rukh’s children, who were his fans, were upset with him because of his blog, Aamir said, “I really respect Shah Rukh, especially because he is a family man. He takes care of his family. If I have hurt their sentiments, I offer my unconditional apology to Shah Rukh and his family.’’
Aamir denied that he called Shah Rukh the number 2 star. “I had said I consider Sachin Tendulkar as the numero uno, but he does not say that himself.’’
On the remark about calling his dog SRK, Aamir said it was said as a joke. He no longer calls the dog Shah Rukh, but calls him Shaaki.
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“The film industry tries to avoid releases in the first two weeks of January and also in March (exam season),” says an industry source. “The movie business really picks up during summer vacation time and the festive season. Big releases are reserved for Diwali, Eid or Christmas.”
Why this deviation from plan then? Trade analyst Amod Mehra blames it on the backlog. “The multiplex strike changed many a plan,” Mehra says. “Rann was meant to be a Diwali release but could not manage a clearance from the producers. Shah Rukh’s Dulha Mil Gaya was also marked for 2009 and My Name is Khan was rumoured to be a Christmas release. Veer is the only film that was planned for January 2010 and is on schedule,” he adds.
Producer Mukesh Bhatt has no reservations about time of release. “I released Raaz 2, The Mystery Continues in January and it was a hit. Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, another January release, was a superhit.”
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh explains that there has always been apprehension in the industry about releasing films in the first two months of the year. “They believe the audience doesn’t really want to start the new year watching films. Also, up north its too cold to get out and go to a cinema hall,” he says. Having said that, Adarsh thinks any month that provides the viewer with good content will be conducive for Bollywood. “Maybe early 2010 will break the jinx.”
About 25 films are releasing between December 4 and February 12. These which include many small-budget films such as the Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi, Naseeruddin Shah-starrer Ishqiya, Chandan Arora’s Striker and MAMI-award winning Road to Sangam. Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan may clash at the BO with My Name Is Khan and Teen Patti likely to release on the same date. While some exhibitors feel that the release of big films are evenly placed, Mehra believes, “The audience will choose the film they want to watch. They cannot afford to make holes in their pockets and this will affect the fortune of some films.”
Of course, the fact that so many big names have releases within weeks of each other is another issue to contend with. Previously, producers have thrashed out their release dates in an informal manner to avoid overlap of big ticket films. But with the multiplex strike hitting the initial months of 2009 so hard, nobody is in the mood to wait anymore. Ranjan Singh, the marketing head of PVR Pictures is concerned that big releases may cannibalise smaller players. “But if this trend of back-to-back releases in a non-conventional period hits the high notes, all conventional jinxes will be broken and a new trend will be set.”
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 28, 2009)
Dharma Productions’ Kurbaan with Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead definitely got people across the globe to sit up and take notice of it. Rensil D’Silva’s cross-genre flick that is a love story set against the backdrop of terrorism came in for a mixed view from its audience. However, Karan Johar is not shaken. “I know exactly what I’m doing,” says Bollywood’s prolific and progressive producer. He admits that his banner has in the past been associated with candy floss cinema. But from the start of 2009, Dharma is emerging as a formidable force, and has been making dramatic departures from its safe zone. Says Karan, “With Kurbaan, we did make a complete departure from what we have earlier been doing. Whether it was Dostana or Wake Up Sid, we’ve been dabbling in different genres.” He says that even those films were closer in texture to what he has been doing in the past — like a Kabhie Khushie Kabhi Gham or a Kal Ho Na Ho. “But,” adds Karan, “in the case of Kurbaan, we moved away completely to address a serious issue. And, when we did that, we were well aware that we were treading on a new path. Reactions to the film may be mixed. However, it is my endeavour to raise the bar with each film that I undertake. And, to also make globally relevant cinema.” Of the firm view that the West is watching not only our economic progress but also taking interest in our cinema, Karan feels that, “Sometimes such cinema may not exactly get the box office that one hopes for, but that certainly doesn’t shake my faith in this genre of film.” KJo also feels that the synergy between him and UTV Movies with whom he associated for Wake Up Sid and Kurbaan is truly gratifying in that both production houses are invading a similar cinema space. And have a similar thought process. “UTV produced some of the most amazing films in the last couple of years,” says Karan. “From a Mumbai Meri Jaan, Aamir, A Wednesday, Jodhaa Akbar, Wake Up Sid, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and now Kurbaan — it has consistently backed progressive and meaningful cinema.” And while he will delve into relevant issues like terrorism and autism next (in My Name Is Khan), Karan will keep up the quintessential date movie like I Hate Luv Stories, a fun caper like Dostana-2 and the remake of the Hollywood flick Step Mom. No matter what, Dharma is a banner on a mission. They will never veer away from good cinematic content — be it realistic or pure fantasy. meena.iyer@timesgroup.com
By Taran Adarsh, November 24, 2009 – 08:42 IST
The forthcoming biggies will include the first look promos of keenly-anticipated movies. While the promos of RANN and CHANCE PE DANCE have already been unveiled, the first promo of Salman Khan’s epic story VEER will be included with the prints of DE DANA DAN. That’s not all, the first promo of Karan Johar’s much-in-news MY NAME IS KHAN will be unveiled with James Cameron’s AVATAR, which opens globally on December 18.
It must be noted that Fox Star Studios India will distribute MY NAME IS KHAN in India, while Fox Searchlight will distribute the SRK – Kajol starrer in the U.S. and 20th Century Fox will do so in the rest of the world. In fact, Karan was keen to show his close friends the first look of the film last Wednesday at Yash Raj, during an exclusive screening of KURBAAN, “but the promo wasn’t ready,” Karan remarked. The countdown has begun…
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
OMAR QURESHI Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 17, 2009)
Elaborating on the November 20th release, Karan says, “The story addresses the perpetually looming threat of terrorism, the film lends emotion into that graph. It has a point of view. That’s the path. Of presenting this threat in a logically, emotionally, sensitively cinematic manner. I’m quite delighted with the final product.” But there had been a thought in Karan’s mind, some time ago, to cast SRK in the lead role in this subject. “Maybe it was a thought a long time ago. Simply because SRK is emotionally a part of everything I do. Even before I wake up to box office figures, Shah Rukh calls asking, ‘How’re the collections dude? … How’s it going?’ He’s part of Dharma. However, that said, after the way the film has shaped out, Saif and Kareena are ideal casting,” smiles KJo. And how dissimilar is My Name Is Khan from this subject? Isn’t that Karan-directed venture also a ‘terrorism’ subject? “Not at all. My Name Is Khan is totally different in as much it doesn’t deal with terrorism at all. That’s all media conjecture. Wait for that one as well.” What we couldn’t wait for was his response to Kareena’s recent joke that KJo was like a ‘witch’, that everything he said was almost prophetic. Karan couldn’t stop laughing: “We have this strange Karmic Connection and I feel the need to be as protective about her as ever. I love Kareena to death. We fight too. We didn’t speak for a year. I hurt her and she hurt me. But one only fights with those one loves. Now that we’re past the initial hurdles, we’re the best of friends. And you have to see her in the film to believe what she’s capable of. As for the ‘witch’ part, I wish I could prophesise the success of Kurbaan for starters … that’s all I pray!”
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 4, 2009)
Physically, I feel 25-26. But I have no problems in accepting that I’m 44. In fact, if I look good, then the media writes that I’ve done plastic surgery. Honestly, if I sleep well, then I look good. Last night I slept well.
I enjoyed Season II with my cricket team. I was a bit disappointed when we didn’t fare well, but I know we’ll bounce back. I didn’t have film releases with the exception of Billu which was special for me. I got a honorary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire, won a couple of other honours. My Name is Khan will come in February 2010. I had my shoulder surgery that kept me out of action now I’m on the road to recovery. I spent quality time with my kids. I’m finishing my book 20 Years Of A Decade. It was an unfortunate physical year but a good emotional one.
Yes, I have been constantly thinking about what I can give back to people, to society. Allah has been kind to me, He has given me so much. I have just six to seven good friends in the industry. But the media is my friend. You are the ones who remind me of my birthday at least four-five days in advance. You have given me so much love, so has my audience. Now I want to do something in return. I want to bring a smile to the faces of youngsters. I don’t want to start an NGO, but I do wish to do something for the cause of the girl child… The feeling of wanting to give is stronger now than it has been. I think of life as work. I want to introspect as to which direction I should take my life in. I want to do something to save the environment. Honestly, I haven’t done my bit yet but I will start now.
RA1. It is something I’m kicked about. It’s a film that children are going to love. It will have action, special effects and a super hero.
Yeah, Karan Johar gave me a lap top bag and a pair of very expensive shoes. My children are making something for me that will come over the weekend. Parmeshwar Godrej sent me a gift. She does that each year. One of my fans has bought me a piece of land on the moon, one has bought me land in Scotland. I’m accepting gifts till this weekend, so all of you who wish to give me something can do so till Sunday.
