Only the other day we heard Shahrukh was elated his Devdas was to be India`s official nomination for the Oscars. So was his passionate director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Didn`t we hear him say, "we`ll speak to the Lagaan guys and do all that needed to be done to impress Uncle Oscar."

But what is this? Most people, audience and critics alike, seem to have dumped both Shahrukh`s portrayal of Devdas and Bhansali for this costume drama without much soul. Sad. Most people feel that the SRK and Bhansali combine is hardly in the Oscar league. The comparison with Aamir Khan is instant and the verdict clear.

Sample this: Bhansali set out to make a classic and ended up making a movie. Aamir set out to make a movie and created a classic instead.Critics anyway never thought highly of the film.Poor Shahrukh and Bhansali! The going is bound to be tough for the, what with their own countrymen poop-poohing their chances!