SRK's Cricket Dreamz

The $3 million Indian Premier League (IPL), which takes place next year, will have Shah Rukh Khan bidding for a franchise among 90 other bidders.

However, current cricketers like Sachin will not be allowed to bid for the franchise as per the decisions made in the board. Hence players like Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly will play only for home teams.

It is said that apart from SRK, there are many other personalities and top businessmen among the other 90 bidders some of which includes the England based Lord Swaraj, business tycoon Vijay Mallya, Anil Ambani and Hollywood actor Russell Crowe. The floor price for the bidders has been fixed at $50 million.

Shankar with Next Film ROBOT starring ShahRukh Khan

After a blockbuster hit in 'Sivaji', director Shankar is now gearing up for his next venture 'Robot'. Since the director is wielding megaphone for Sharukh Khan for the first time, he is taking extra care in each every aspect of the film.


Sources say that Shankar and his team are currently holding discussions in a farm house near Mahabalipuram to give final touches to the script.


Plans are on to commence the movie this Dusshera. Robot will be produced by Red Chilies Entertainment, a production house of the King Khan himself. The movie with all its techno jazz will be released in Tamil, Telugu and other languages besides Hindi.

BollyBoxOffice-This week

First weekend performance of latest release


How much I have been proved wrong! All this while I had a strong belief (even reflected in last week's column) that whatever be the eventual box office status of RAM GOPAL VARMA KI AAG, the least it would do is get a good box office opening. After all AAP KAA SURROOR is a living example of how hype and curiosity (negative or positive) can bring in audience.


Sadly, it didn't quite happen for RAM GOPAL VARMA KI AAG that neither got anywhere close to flames nor stayed on to show any sparks. The film simply failed after the first show itself and by the time Friday came to a close, it was crystal clear that the film had disappointed one and all. It was always expected that the film would fetch extreme reactions from people (nothing wrong with it) but an all around hostility was something that the cruelest of critic, audience or industry insider had not predicted.


So what went wrong? Was it just the comparison factor or a film being plain bad or any conspiracy? Well, rule out conspiracy because if that always worked then some of the biggest box office gainers from past and present may not have worked. Was it the film being plain bad? Well, let's get it right. Coming from a film maker other than RGV may probably not have fetched such extreme reactions. Yes, the film did disappoint but it wasn't the kind that was unbearable in entirety or didn't have a minute of anything which was redeeming.


In the nutshell, it is clear that it was the SHOLAY comparison coupled with huge expectations from the film maker simply killed the film at the box office.


VICTORIA NO. 203 had it's maximum hopes on picking up by word of mouth. Well, but what can one say about a film that didn't have a word of mouth at all. With as low as 10% occupancy at number of centers on the first day followed by all around negative vibes that it generated, the film has been a non-starter at the box office. With no USP to boast, lukewarm promotion, zero hype and overall being an average product, it is set to be a looser at the box office.


Third release of the week DHOKHA isn't expected to fare any better in spite of good word of mouth by those who saw the film. The sad part is that the film was hardly seen by many which didn't give rise to a kind of spread that Bhatts would have been hoping for positive vibes over the weekend. The film's best aspect is discovery of Muzammil followed by Pooja Bhatt's best direction till date. A good subject treated quite well, the film may just loose out at box office but has good prospects on DVD circuits if marketed better than the way it's theatrical release has been.


Last week's movies


It's confirmed. HEYY BABYY has taken the second best start at the box office this year after PARTNER and is now one of the best openers in the history of Indian cinema. Raking in excess of 27 crore across the country, the film had close to 5.5 crores coming from Mumbai followed by Delhi being strong at 2.5 crores. Delhi NCR was very good too at 1.35 crores while Ahmedabad too crossed the 1 crore mark. In all a recipe that reads a definite hit at the box office.


The film's second week is also expected to be strong due to AAG fiasco though it would be interesting to observe if the film manages to cross PARTNER's 60 crore + total. Reason? DHAMAAL releases this weekend and the film is carrying excellent reports. It may just prove to be too much of a competition but more about that later. Sajid Khan now finds himself in the A league of directors and he should be choosing his next project extremely carefully due to high level of expectations from him going further.


There is nothing at all to say about KAISEY KAHEN since it is a colossal disaster of the highest degree with less than 10 lakhs coming from the box office across the country!


From the past


Talking about disasters, MARIGOLD now sits at the top of the list for Salman Khan's all time biggest box office disasters with the film being pulled out of theaters in one week flat. With no more addition to it's total of 75 lakhs, the film's collections are lesser than some of the soft porn films that are released at regular intervals.


BUDDHA MAR GAYA is another addition to the flops in 2007 with more than 90% fall over the second week. Raking in just 20 lakhs, the film has fallen very badly and is closing at a total of 3 crores. Since the film was made at a shoe string budget, the losses would be minimal and makers can expect the DVD sales and satellite re-runs to compensate for it. Yet another film this season apart from RGV KI AAG that was criticized by almost everyone and everyone (even if most had probably not even seen the film)!


With the third week of CHAK DE INDIA also holding quite strong in spite of competition from more popular cinema like HEYY BABYY, this Shimit Amin/Jaideep Sahni/Shahrukh Khan film is now a Superhit. Less than 50% in the third week has resulted in 8.5 crore more coming in to bring the total to 45 crores. This is for a movie that was stated to be offbeat/unconventional to begin with and had doubts around it's entertainment quotient! Collecting close to 1.75 crore from Mumbai, 1.2 crores from Delhi and 65 lakhs further from Delhi NCR, CHAK DE INDIA is a winner all over.


The film's anthem composed by Salim-Sulaiman is now the sports anthem across India as well as abroad, something that can be witnessed from all the victory cheers around recent cricket and hockey wins for India. Many girls from the film are also being noticed with Vidya Malvade getting a fresh lease in her career and Sagarika Ghatge getting the best of offers.


Taking a 50% fall in collections but still staying into the Top-3 charts, PARTNER has made another 1 crore in it's 6th week. At 61.5 crores, the film is now breathing it's last and should wrap up with another 75 lakhs or so in it's kitty over next 3 weeks. Lara Dutta finds herself into the big league again after critical acclaim in JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM followed by tremendous box office success in PARTNER.


In the future


One sincerely hopes that Ram Gopal Varma's DARLING doesn't get engulfed into the negative fire that AAG has created. A film that looks genuinely well made while reminding of the director's vintage BHOOT, it still doesn't promise to shake the box office with it's opening. All it's hopes lie in word of mouth since the opening isn't expected to be promising. On the other hand DHAMAAL is expected to take a good opening (60%-70%) and if industry insiders are to be believed, it has all in it to show 100% collections by Sunday. Reason? The film is said to be extremely well made and total 'dhamaal'. Expect fireworks from this laughaton.

Chak De script goes to the Oscar Library

Many observers have commented that the Chak De India had two heroes: Shah Rukh Khan and the script. It seems that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences agrees.


The Academy (which among other responsibilities hosts & hands out the Oscar Awards) has requested a copy of the screenplay for the permanent script collection. The scripts in the collection reside at the Margaret Herrick Library and are made accessible for research purposes only; students, filmmakers, writers and actors are among the regular patrons. Screenplays may only be viewed in the library; they do not circulate. Also, no screenplay is allowed to be photocopied.


The invitation is recognition that the screenplay of Chak De India is comparable with the best in the world; and will become an invaluable asset for future generations of filmmakers. As the movie goes from strength to strength at the box office, it is a tribute to the entire team that helped make Chak De India such a universal success , critically and commercially.

CHAK DE INDIA Wallpapers

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Director
Shimit Amin
Producer
Aditya Chopra
Cinematographer
Sudeep Chatterjee
Choreographer
Ganesh Acharya
Music
Salim Merchant, Sulaiman Merchant
Cast
Shahrukh Khan, Vidya Malvade

Jo nahin ho sakta hai, wahi to karna hai...

Kabir Khan (Shahrukh Khan) knows what it's like to come back from the dead. The ex Indian Captain has now come back in the avatar of the Coach of the Indian Women's National Hockey team. A team that exists more on paper and less in reality. The team is a rag-tag bunch of girls with their own agenda. A bunch of girls who have forgotten what it is like to play for the love of the game. Of playing because you want glory for your country. Not because you want a pensioned job or a government flat. They have all forgotten the sharp thrill of just holding the hockey stick, keeping their eyes on the ball and playing for all they are worth. They have played every game but hockey to make sure they get selected every year in the Indian National team. But what does it really mean to play for the Indian National team? To play for India? Mujhe sirf ek mulk ka naam sunaai deta hai-India

The girls have never known the thrilling energy of being Team India. Of giving their all to see their country's name on a trophy. But Kabir Khan, once a captain, now forgotten, does. He knows what it takes to get there. And what it means to return empty handed. This time, he wants to make sure that it's different. He knows there are no second chances. Despite his past, he believes that if only the girls played as one, anything would be possible. Because Kabir Khan believes that it is not that we can't win. It's just that we have never believed we can.

Chak De India is the story of a coach's fight of making his team, Team India by overcoming their diverse backgrounds, by learning to use everything that life hurls on them as a secret weapon. It's a story about honesty, sincerity and integrity. A story to remind the nation of its National sport.

Character Sketch

The Coach

Shahrukh Khan as Kabir Khan
Once the hero of Indian Hockey, the best centre forward in the world, the man a nation found a hero in. And the man it sentenced to hell.
Now he has decided to make a last comeback to the game he once loved, to reclaim his lost honour and prove his point to the nation he still loves. By doing the impossible. Making a rag-tag bunch of loser girls a team. And the World Champions. The only problem is-it is easier said than done.

The Girls

Preeti Sabarwal
Position: Center Forward
Jersey Number: 9
Home State: Chandigarh
Preeti went to the best public schools, but on her way to the U.S. from there, took a sharp left towards the Punjab University and its hockey team for reasons best known to her. Chandigarh captain, she looks like a Princess and plays like the Terminator. The only one she is close to is her iPod. Would you then blame the rest of her mostly rural team-mates for calling her mem? She has a secret, but then, that's a secret.

Komal Chautala
Position: Right In
Jersey Number: 8
Home State: Haryana
The Rohtak Express, also known as chhokra in her village for her tomboyishness, and as chhipkali in the field for her devious dribbling. Born to tough Jats, she has just one regret -that she wasn't born a boy. But she's doing all she can to make up, including not using make-up. Ever.

Bindia Naik
Position: Center Half
Jersey Number: 5
Home State: Maharashtra
Experience corrupts, and too much experience corrupts completely. A veteran of field positions, federation politics and award manipulations, she could make any team's dirty tricks department proud, if she wasn't the department herself in real life.

Vidya Sharma
Position: Goalie and Captain
Jersey Number: 18
Home State: Madhya Pradesh
Just married. And it already looks like she will have to divorce hockey. She knows this is probably her last tournament but can she give up hockey for marriage?

Balbir Kaur
Position: Left Defender
Jersey Number: 3
Home State: Punjab
Known as tataiya, bhootni, rakshas and ghatotkach on any given day depending upon what she has done lately, everybody in the team is terrified of her temper. Fearless, sometimes to the point of being brainless, she is the team's main hope against the giant Australian girls and the ruthless Argentinean zagalonas. Heart of gold, in a body of armour-plated steel.

Aliya Bose
Position: Right Out
Jersey Number: 7
Home State: West Bengal
Sexy Aliya should have been born in the swinging seventies. The world is a winery of boys and she is the taster-in-chief. And she takes her job very seriously. In her spare time she also plays hockey. Unfortunately, she is good at it and so year after year, team managers and coaches have tolerated her.

Gunjan Lakhani
Position: Right Half
Jersey Number: 4
Home State: Andhra Pradesh
his Hyderabadi potti has seen it all, because she knows when to shut her eyes. Playing with seniors Bindia and Aliya has taught her only one thing there are more games off the field than on it. And a smart player knows how to stay out to stay in.

Rani Dispotta
Position: Right Defender
Jersey Number: 2
Home State: Jharkhand
Rani still remembers the time she moved from her jungle village to Ranchi Sports School. And that makes her an expert on how to handle the city-breds, or manhandle them if need be. She knows enough Hindi to offend anyone and enough English to defend herself, especially on the field.

Soimoi Kerketa
Position: Substitute
Jersey Number: 17
Home State: Jharkhand
From Jharkhand Grameen Adivasi Balika Kalyan Kendra Vidyalaya on the edge of Ghamorni jungle, straight New Delhi. Dicey Hindi and devious English confound her as much as hair-raising roads, blood-curdling cars and monstrous skyscrapers. Not to mention the other creatures around her who call themselves girls. But she knows what to do with a stick and a ball. That she knows.

Nethra Reddy
Position: Left Out
Jersey Number: 11
Home State: Andhra Pradesh
The grounds-man's little daughter who grew up in stadiums among players and dreamt of being one herself. All she ever wanted to do was to make her dad proud and finally, she's an inch away from her dream...

Gul Iqbal
Position: Left In
Jersey Number: 10
Home State: Uttar Pradesh
Hockey legend Mohammad Iqbal's grand-daughter. Her family's history is Indian Hockey's history. And nobody ever lets her forget that. Whether she wants it or not.

Molly Zimik
Position: Left Half
Jersey Number: 6
Home State: Manipur
Mary Ralte Position: Substitute Jersey Number: 15 Home State: Mizoram The talented hockey duo from the North East. Their school books taught them that they are Indians but Indians taught them otherwise. The only reason they play for the National team is that it is the only National team they can play for. They would love to belong but not to the team that calls them 'foreign', and definitely not to the people that call them 'loose'. So they stick together and play. For the love of the game and the honour of their people.

SRK -Shankar coming together?

A rumour is flying that Shahrukh Khan and director Shankar would come together for their next.

SRK was highly impressed after with Shankar's directorial skills, after watching Sivaji starring Rajnikanth in the lead role.And apparently Shankar has approached SRK for his next venture, supposedly, a sci-fi flick (it is tentatively titled Robo).

Interestingly, Shankar had considered Hrithik Roshan for the project. It is learnt that Hrithik has opted out because he would commence shooting for Krissh 2.

It is rumoured that SRK has agreed to be part of the movie. SRK will be producing the film for Shankar with the post-production in the USA.