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Shah Rukh Khan doesn't sleep. Or so it seems. He landed in Mumbai on Thursday from Dubai after a show, but
shows no sign of strain or jetlag. Just before Dubai the mega-star was in Berlin for the film festival negotiating the
attention of hundreds of screaming fans.
What we don't know is that Shah Rukh met and bonded in Berlin with American auteur director Martin Scorcese
and his favourite actor Leonardo di Caprio.
Says Shah Rukh, "Lenoardo, Martin and I spent some time together. Martin was gracious enough to remember that
he had met me in Cannes way back in 2002 when I was there for Devdas. He wants to watch Devdas and I've
promised to send it to him. I'll do so right way."
After the glorious performance in My Name Is Khan as a physically-disabled underdog journeying across America
on a whimsical mission, Shah Rukh Khan is all set to play the super-hero flying across the sky to save humanity.
True to its mythological title Ra. 1 which starts shooting next month in Mumbai followed by Goa and London, will
have Shah Rukh combating 10 villains. Raavan according to Hindu mythology, was a ten-headed demon whom
Ram vanquished single-handedly.
In Ra. 1 the modernday Raavan has been turned into ten different villains whom super-hero Shah Rukh, the
modernday Ram will annihilate one after another.
Shah Rukh Khan seemed remarkably relaxed in Berlin on the day after his film My Name Is Khan opened in
Mumbai accompanied by violent protests by the Shiv Sena.
Said Shah Rukh from Berlin, "I missed the opening in Mumbai. But I believe people have liked the film. I'm being
told I'm in character. That's good to hear. Give me a character to be in, and I'm right there. "
The SRK brand of humour was intact when told that My Name Is Khan doesn't look like a Karan Johar film. At his
deadliest deadpan best SRK retorted, "Yeah, even I felt like that when I first saw it. I told Karan, ‘Arrey yaar yeh
tum ne kaisi picture banayee hai?'.
Actually the three ladies in our lives Hiroo Aunty (Karan's mother
Hiroo Johar), Kajol and Gauri have made this film. "
Getting serious SRK said, "I thought it would take audiences a little time to come to terms with the film. But I am
glad it was well-received. "
After playing the under-dog in two successive films Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and My Name Is Khan (we aren't counting
his guest appearance in Dulha Mil Gaya) Shah Rukh will be flying across the sky in Ra. 1. The estimated budget of
the film to be produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies, is Rs 100 crores. And no Kareena Kapoor won't be
joining him in midair.
She plays Shah Rukh's grounded wife and not a super-woman.
Says a source close to Ra. 1, "Kareena was keen to attempt the hi-jinks with Shah Rukh, specially since Agent
Vinod where she had a lot of stunts has again been postponed But in Ra. 1 all the conflict involves Shah Rukh and
the ten villains. "
Shah Rukh along with the film's director Anubhav Sinha and journalist-writer Mustaq Sheikh, has co-written Ra. 1
and will be credited as one of the writers. The film will be in Hindi.
Says the source, "He was advised to make the film in English. But Shah Rukh decided to make it in Hindi. Why
should he pitch his super-hero film to the Western audience when they already have their Superman and
Spiderman? Shah Rukh has no aspirations of cracking Hollywood on their terms. "
The film requires the star to perform never-before heart-in-the-mouth stunts, which he's gearing to do.
Monday, February 22, 2010 12:53 IST