It's official! Fox Star Studios, 20th Century Fox International and Fox Searchlight Pictures have announced that My Name Is Khan the highly anticipated film from director Karan Johar and starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, will open in theaters in India and over 40 countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East on Valentine's Day weekend, that is, February 12, 2010. Other remaining territories will release in early spring/summer 2010.

In My Name Is Khan, Shahrukh Khan stars as Rizvan Khan, an unconventional hero who embarks on an incredible journey across America in order to win back the love of his life. Along the way his unique brand of goodness and humanity touches the lives of many and inspires a nation.

Before you widen your eyeballs let us clear the air and say Gauri is Shahrukh Khan's only wife. Shahrukh Khan who is celebrating his 44th birthday missed a eerie visitor who claimed to be his wife from a previous birth. The lady who hailed from New Delhi would would come down to Mumbai every year and stand outside Mannat with a huge bouquet of lilies on his birthday.

Shahrukh revealed that the lady had been visiting him on his birthday since the last seven years. He said that the lady who had a pretty face would don a white salwar kameez and a red dupatta and bring him lilies claiming he liked them in his previous birth. Shahrukh added that she would come in a luxurious car so nobody stopped her from entering his birthday parties.

King Khan was shocked when this mysterious lady did not turn up to wish him this year. Seems like Shahrukh is living out Om Shanti Om and Karan Arjun and in his real life!

Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan who had a silent year has promised the coming year to be action packed. King Khan who turned 44 on Monday said it was looking forward to making a strong comeback in 2010. Shahrukh had a dull year with only one movie Billu hitting the screens that too with him playing a supporting role to Irrfan Khan.

Shahrukh said that he could not deliver movies this year due to his shoulder injury and even his dream project My Name Is Khan had to be pushed to next year. He added that 2009 wasn't a great year for him as his team Kolkata Knight Riders didn't do too well in the IPL and his injury pulled him down in terms of endorsements. But he was happy as he utilised the free time to introspect.

King Khan said he was feeling more energetic and happy and is ready for all the project lined up for the next two years. He will kick-start 2010 with Karan Johar directed My Name Is Khan also staring Kajol opposite him after eight long years. Apart from My Name Is Khan Shahrukh will also be seen in Farah Khan's Happy New Year apart from dubbing his voice for the animation Koochie Koochie Hota Hain

Bollywood Baadshah Shahrukh Khan turned 44 yesterday. The wrinkles on his face show his age. But the hyperactive actor said that he still feels like a 25-year-old.

Shahrukh said that he really feel 25-26 except for the few physical injuries he has had. He added that he didn't release how quickly his 20-years of stay in Bollywood has passed. He made debut in Hindi cinema through Deewana in 1992, which turned into a big hit. There was no turning back since then.

He is no doubt one of the top actors in Bollywood today. You can look forward to this man for more, as he is still going strong.

Honeymoon Travels director Reema Kagti, and not Shirish Kunder, is now developing Zoya Factor. The film, produced by Shahrukh Khan's production company Red Chillies, is an adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name penned by Anuja Chauhan. Says a source, "Differences arose between SRK and Farah Khan's hubby over the screenplay and script. They had severe creative issues. Both were looking at the script with a different vision." At this point, SRK decided to change his director.

SRK offered the film to Reema as she seemed to understand what he wanted to do with the film. But he forgot to tell Shirish that he was giving the project to someone else to work on. Shirish found out by accident that the film no longer had his name on it. When Farah heard this, she was hurt and upset at the manner in which her hubby has been ousted. Adds the source, "Shirish had started work on the film and was looking for an actor who would play a cricketer. The film was supposed to go on the floors early next year."

Reema maintains, "I am writing the screenplay of the film, not directing it. Vishal Punjabi is directing Zoya Factor." Vishal was the visual effects producer for the SRK starrer Paheli which he had also produced. Meanwhile, Shirish says, "I was never supposed to direct Zoya Factor, only Joker." SRK remained unavailable for comment.

What is Zoya Factor?

It is about a girl called Zoya who was born exactly at the moment when India won the World Cup in 1983. Strangely, Zoya proves to be a girl of incredible luck for cricket matches. Whenever she watches a match, India ends up winning.

Kuala Lumpur, (ANI): Malacca government is planning to rope in Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan to perform at a concert organised to mark UN World Assembly of Youths 60th anniversary celebrations.

Shahrukh was conferred a 'Datukship' title by Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob last December for indirectly promoting the state to the world through six movies.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said that the event will be held at Stadium Hang Jebat in Krubong to enable as many fans as possible to catch their Bollywood idol in action.

"We are trying to get a private company or maybe several more to sponsor the event," The Star Online quoted the Rustam as saying. "It will be worth their while as they can get international publicity if Shahrukh Khan endorses their products," he added.

He said state representatives had recently met the star in India to discuss how to promote and develop the local film industry.

However, Shahrukh said he was not keen on setting up a studio there due to time constraints, but he said he would be glad to assist the state as an adviser.

Going by his on-screen image, you may think that Shahrukh Khan is affable and friendly. Surprisingly, Shahrukh is lonely and hardly has any friend.

Shahrukh admitted that his wife Gauri was right when she said that he didn't have time for friends. He added that it is difficult to make friends in the profession he is in, and that he hardly has any friend.

He do make friendsh with people he works with but busy life throws it haywire. He said that he makes new friends once he moves on to another film. He however added that he shares good relationship with all the people he workes with.

Well, Shahrukh needs to open up and start making friends!

Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan seems to looking beyond just acting in his films these days. With no major hits in the entire year for Shahrukh he wants to make sure that 2010 turns out to be action packed for him as promised to his fans. He is now involving himself more with his movies to make sure that he still reins as the Baadshah of Bollywood.

Shahrukh has three major releases My Name Is Khan, Ra.1 and Happy New Year lined up for nect year. He will be the co-producer of My Name Is Khan which is touted to be the biggest movie in his career. He will also producer Ra.1 where he will be seen as a superhero. Seems like Shahrukh the businessman is taking over Shahrukh the actor

MAX, the Premium Movies and Special Events Channel bring the Baadshah of Bollywood to your living rooms this November. While SRK has celebrated his birthday earlier this month, MAX handpicks the best of King Khan titles for his fans. Starting 16 November, 8 PM block your seats to get absorbed into myriad shades of the actor’s high octane performances! Get ready for the treat of the year, as MAX presents a festival of 10 hit films of the undisputed, the charismatic Shahrukh Khan.

As part of this film festival MAX will showcase films like Chak De (a story that motivated a compulsive losing Hockey team to emerge as a winner on the world platform), Om Shanti Om (a Farah Khan Bollywood spoof that can only result in spleen aching laugher). The platter remains incomplete if Shah Rukh does not romance. To cater to fan demands, MAX dresses up the bouquet for the festival with some of SRK’s cult romantic hits like Veer Zaara and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Be prepared to loose yourself in pure, unadulterated entertainment, SRK style from MAX. Come, be a part of King Khan’s world of love, romance, emotion, comedy, fear, obsession, anger with the inimitable King Khan, only on MAX!

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan seems to have run out of topics to post on his blog. In his latest post Big B said that he had wished Shahrukh Khan on his birthday (November 2) through an SMS but he is still waiting for an acknowledgement. He further wrote wrote that it was pretty strange for Shahrukh not to reply him back.

Amitabh wrote “Nov 2 was Shahrukh’s birthday and I may have been the very early wishers to him, but he still has not acknowledged. Mobile must have crashed with the number of wishes he had continued to receive throughout the day. Maybe I should send him a reminder. Most unlike him. I wished Gauri and him for their anniversary a few days back and they responded. But why not now!??”

The two giants of the Indian cinema who have starred together in movies like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Mohabbatein are always said to be in competition with each other. Both of them have publicly denied this and said that this is a creation of the media. Well we hope Shahrukh acknowledges Big B's wish better late than never.

Here is the shocker of the year! The leading actor of director Farah Khan's next film is not Shahrukh Khan. It is Akshay Kumar. Titled Tees Maar Khan (TMK), the film is a joint production between the actor's Hari Om Productions and her company (owned jointly with husband Shirish Kunder) Three's Company.

This casting is interesting because Farah is Shahrukh's rakhi sister and Akshay is his arch-rival. Both her previous films had her mooh-bola-bhai in lead roles. Her third film, Happy New Year was to feature him too but he kept sending her back to the writing boards as he wasn't happy with it. When it became clear that in 2010, SRK would finish Ra1 and Don, she dropped the project and approached Akshay for TMK.

And though Farah and Shahrukh are not working together, she remains very fond of him. Apparently, she met SRK yesterday at Mannat to apprise him of the latest developments of her film and to let him know that Akshay was her lead hero before Shahrukh heard it from anyone else.

Clearly, there is stress between SRK and Farah. The unwritten rule has been broken. Until now it was understood: If Farah Khan (or Karan Johar) made a film, it would star SRK. But by casting Khan's dushman, she has proved what was only being speculated so far - that all is not well between them. It is believed that the actor was not happy with the script and asked her to rewrite it a few times but she felt these were just delaying tactics and he wanted to start the superhero flick Ra1 and the action-thriller Don 2 before her film.

She felt hurt that he gave her the run-around instead of being direct with her. Things have been brewing beneath the surface for quite some time now. Farah has been missing from most parties at Mannat. She has been slowly distancing herself from the clique.

Also, Farah felt that Shahrukh had treated Shirish badly by offering him The Zoya Factor to direct for his home production, and then passing the film off to someone else without even informing him. SRK had also given the nod to Tees Maar Khan to be directed by Shirish initially, then later had second thoughts about it. Shirish was also in talks with Shahrukh Khan for another film (Joker) but that didn't work out as well.

Shirish Kunder says, "Yes, it's true that Akshay and I are co-producing Tees Maar Khan and Farah is directing the film. The production company that Farah and I have formed is called Three's Company Production Pvt Ltd. I had written this film with Akshay in mind and was initially planning to direct it but when Farah and I formed our production company, we mutually thought it best that she direct this film while I take the responsibility of a producer. Akshay and I shared a great rapport while working on Jaan-e-Mann and I have been looking to work with him again. This project gives me that opportunity."

When quizzed as to why Farah didn't take Shahrukh for her next project, Farah says simply, "I am very fond of Shahrukh but I have to be there for my husband. Shirish needs my support today and he's family."

Farah's brother Sajid Khan's directorial debut starred Akshay Kumar. His second film, which is in the making, also stars Akki. Akshay was also the lead star (along with Salman Khan) of Farah's husband Shirish Kunder's directorial debut Jaan-E-Mann

We have heard that Shirish Kunder is co-producing a film Tees Maar Khan with Akshay Kumar which Akshay is starring in and Farah Khan is directing. Are you aware of it and if you are, are you okay that Farah's next film won't be with you?
"Yes."

Trivia
SRK is known as King Khan. Until Akshay acted in Singh is Kinng, challenging his rival. Now that Shahrukh's My Name is Khan releases, Akki will be seen as 'Khan' in Tees Maar Khan.

They say Bollywood is one big family. And attending premieres of each other's films certainly a part and parcel of the ways of the tinsel town. In a latest, Amitabh Bachchan has confirmed that Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan will grace the premiere of Paa, where Big B plays a 13-year old boy afflicted by the rare disease progeria.

Bachchan writes on his blog, "And now for the bad news. The London and Dubai premieres stand cancelled. Several issues have cropped up and it would not be prudent to go ahead with it, under such uncertain pressures and circumstances. But Mumbai is on ... at the IMAX Wadala on the 3rd of December and Aamir and Shahrukh have both assured me of their presence there, today, as I begin to send out letters and requests to block said date from the Industry."

In the same post, Bachchan praised the regional press for their incisive questions and informed fans that he's going to Chennai to 'get an idea of the mechanics that go behind a final product - background and sound and effects and titles and sub titles.'

Sure, there's a lot that goes behind making a film. Especially, when you have the biggest star of Bollywood in it.

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.

This seems to have become a national issue. Farah Khan working with Akshay Kumar for her next directorial venture appears to be nothing short of Sonia Gandhi suddenly deciding to join BJP (sorry, couldn't think of a better analogy). Pretty much making all around headlines, the news of Shirish Kunder turning producer for Tees Maar Khan which stars Akshay Kumar, is directed by Farah Khan and doesn't feature Shahrukh Khan anywhere in close vicinity, has been the hottest recipe of the season. Over to Shirish Kunder who bares his heart out and tells us all about the past, present and future of his debut production.

Really, is it that big an issue which is being made out currently? Just like an actor has all the right to work with any director, same holds good for a filmmaker too, isn't it?
Forget the entire point around a director looking at working with his/her favourite actor. The point here is why are some sections of media hell bent on calling this as a war or something. It isn't as if Farah isn't working with Shahrukh Khan at all. Her Happy New Year is still happening with him and it is pretty much a part of the plan. It's just that in the time available to her, she is plugging in another film that happens to be with Akshay Kumar. However, why is everyone trying to find a controversy here? It isn't as if Farah has dropped plans for Happy New Year and has replaced that with another film.

Perhaps all these talks stem from the fact that Farah Khan has been known for her affection towards Shahrukh. Also, she is believed to have stated around the release of Om Shanti Om that she would work mainly with Shahrukh, as apparent in her first two directorial outings (that include Main Hoon Naa).
Maybe, maybe. In any case, it was me who was supposed to direct Tees Maar Khan first. It's just that when Farah read the script, she jumped on it. She said - 'Wish, I could make this film'. The moment she said that, I gladly handed over the script to her. It's as simple as that.

Really, was it that simple?
Yes, really. See, anyways Farah and I were looking at getting a production house started and Tees Maar Khan seemed like a good opportunity to do that. What better way to do that than split responsibilities and have it as an entire in-house affair. I couldn't have definitely handled both production as well as direction departments. This is why I decided to get the show running by donning a producer's hat while Farah picked up the directorial reins. Tees Maar Khan is anyways a very Farah Khan kind of film!

What makes you say that?
You must have seen Om Shanti Om and Main Hoon Naa. You would certainly be aware about the language that she talks. Her films are meant to be complete masala entertainers that cater to all segments of audiences and Tees Maar Khan does exactly that. I am so convinced that we have the best case scenario here.

Was it equally challenging to convince Shahrukh Khan as well who must certainly have been hoping to feature in each of Farah Khan films? Or was he not required to be kept in loop?
When I was writing Tees Maar Khan, I always had Akshay Kumar in mind. So there is no question of Shahrukh feeling upset or anything. He knew about the film from the very beginning so obviously there were no questions to be asked when Tees Maar Khan was announced with Akshay. Now if someone out there wishes to get 1 and 1 together then we can't help that, right?

Well, this 1 plus 1 stems from the hot topic making the rounds that you and Farah went ahead and signed Akshay quietly because Shahrukh had roped in Reema Kagti instead of you for his film The Zoya Factor.
Yes, even I read about this from papers. However, the fact is that I had nothing to do with The Zoya Factor. I wasn't even aware of a movie like this till I read about this so-called controversy. I have been so involved writing Tees Maar Khan that there is nothing else on my mind for all these years.

This is something that makes one wonder that how do you intend to stay away from direction for so many years. Your Jaan-E-Mann came 3 years back and now that you have got into production for Tees Maar Khan, it would be at least one more year before you get behind the camera yourself. Isn't the director in you craving to call the shots?
It is, it is (laughs). But then kya karen, we also have to set up our production house. Even that is important. Maybe when things settle down, I will fulfil my love for directing movies.

Perhaps you could get your first love of editing movies come in handy for Tees Maar Khan. After all before turning a director, you had edited quite a few flicks in the decade gone by?
(Laughs) Yeah, if time permits then why not? If I get involved in a project, I really get hands on. Like in case of Jaan-E-Mann, I had even done the background score. Though I really don't know how much time I will actually get for Tees Maar Khan. Running a production house is a full day job yaar!

So when do you get the film on floors?
That should be in March 2010.

And how about the leading lady?
We are still hunting for her. She could be an established actress or a new girl. We are open to both.

After a royal wedding in Khandala, Shilpa Shetty oops! Shilpa Kundra and hubby Raj Kundra will be holding a grand reception in Mumbai. It will be a star studded night at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai where all the big names of Bollywood will come to wish the couple. Shilpa and Raj have not left any stone unturned to make this reception grand in what has so far been called 'wedding of the season.'

The guest list includes Amitabh Bachchan and family, SRK and family, the Kapoors, Rekha, Farah Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar, the Deols, Sushmita Sen, Salman Khan and the liquor baron Vijay Malya. Shilpa has invited Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne and popstar Jermaine Jackson for her grand reception.