Shah Rukh Khan gets 7 million followers, trends on Twitter

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has touched a new benchmark on his Twitter fan following which has risen to seven million. 

The 48-year-old actor has beaten his competitors including Salman Khan (6.38 million) and Aamir Khan (6.16 million) on the micro-blogging site. 



His fans celebrated his 7 million followers by trending #SRK7Million on Twitter. Coincidentally (or deliberately) 'Salman The Real Life Superhero' was also trending at the same time. 
The Chennai Express star is one of the most frequent users of the popular social networking site. Shah Rukh, who joined Twitter in 2010, has posted 6,753 tweets so far.

Aamir Khan talks of violence against women, moves viewers

The thinking actor was back on the small screen on Sunday, March 2. Aamir Khan's television show Satyamev Jayate on its first episode talks about violence against women against the backdrop of Delhi Gangrape case 2012. Aamir requested parents to keep their children below 12 years away from the small screen. 
He spoke about travails of women returning from college, school and offices were that left viewers shivering with fear. 

Soon after delivering a knock-out punch with Dhoom 3, Aamir is shown travelling around the country on a bike in in the show. The show is directed by Satayjit Bhatkal. 

Sharing data with the audience relating to the issue, Aamir said, in 2012, only three per cent of the rape cases had led to the punishment of the accused, while only one per cent rape cases had been able to give justice.

Bollywood biggies booked with multiple projects till 2016

The next couple of years are full of mega releases for Bollywood buffs, with the biggest male stars going all out to line-up prospective record busters. Going by the chock-a-block date diaries of the big boys of Bollywood, a series of big films will continue to hit the screens. All the big heroes are booked till 2016 with two to three projects lined up. 

Deepika Padukone too busy to work with Salman Khan?

You know you're flying high when you don't have time to work with one of the biggest stars of the industry. Deepika Padukone, clearly having said goodbye to 2013 on a good note, seems to have already received more offers than she can handle come 2014. 

3 Idiots nominated for Japan Academy Awards

Aamir Khan-starrer "3 Idiots" has been nominated for the 37th Japan Academy Awards in the best Outstanding Foreign Language Film category. 

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the movie, which released in India Dec 23, 2009, was a blockbuster. It also featured Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan and Kareena Kapoor. 

According to the awards' official website, "3 Idiots", mentioned as "I'm sure, go well", has been nominated with international movies like "Captain Phillips", "Django Unchained", "Gravity" and "Les Miserables". 



The movie, which criticised the education system in India without being too preachy, released in Japan in June 2013. 

The Japan Academy Awards is an annual award ceremony established in 1978 by the Nippon Academy Award Association. 

The 37th Japan Academy Prize will take place March 7 at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo

Aamir Khan's Satyamev Jayate 2 set to go on air from March 2

The second season of Aamir Khan's much-awaited television show "Sataymev Jayate" will premiere March 2. 

Aamir made his TV debut with "Sataymev Jayate" in 2012 and the show dealing with sensitive social issues like female foeticide, domestic violence and child abuse received a warm welcome from the TV viewers after it went on air on Star Plus in May. Some of the episodes recorded the highest ratings. 

Now the 48-year-old, whose latest movie "Dhoom: 3" created fireworks at the box office, is coming back with the second season of the talk show, which will be beamed on the same channel. 

Promos hit the video sharing website YouTube on Saturday and so far it has got over 34,000 hits. 

When IANS contacted the star's representative, it confirmed the news saying: "It's true". 

However, the format will be different this time. 

According to reports, the makers have decided to break the second season into three parts with each segment airing four shows on Sundays. 

Ajay's Action Jackson, Akshay's Holiday to release the same day?

It seems after Aamir Khan's film Peekay's release got postponed to December, the open spot - June 6 - already has takers. 

According to reports, swooping right in to grab the now open date are Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar. It was earlier reported that Devgn's 'Action Jackson' and Akshay Kumar's 'Holiday' were originally slated for a May 1 release. But it seems now that they're both eyeing the same date, and may soon have to fight it out.



This is interesting, considering it was also reported that Ajay had requested the producers of Akshay's film to delay their film's release so avoid a clash. Ajay apparently had a sit down with his film's producers and they all agreed on June 6 for their film's release. Why the sudden change in plans we'll not know. 

Whether it was unintentional or planned, we'd like to see who wins the Bollywood 'reel' off.

Aamir Khan's PK to release on Christmas, his lucky date

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is all set to release his upcoming film 'PK' this Christmas.

Aamir, 48, took to social networking site Facebook to announce the release date of the Rajkumar Hirani directed film. It is his second collaboration with Hirani following the success of '3 Idiots'.

"Hey guys, PK release date is finally locked. This Christmas. My lucky date! Jai Ho!," Aamir posted.

The film was earlier expected to hit theatres on June 6.



It stars Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput, Boman Irani and Sanjay Dutt in prominent roles.

Aamir off-late has become quite active on social networking sites to promote friend Salman Khan's upcoming movie 'Jai Ho'.

The actor even posted a short poem to promote the movie.

"Teri Talaash Main Hum Duur Ja Nahi Saktay, Tu Kitna Paas Hai Tujko Bata Nahi Saktay, Hamain Malom Hai Ye Zindagi Char Din Ki Hai, Magar Teray Bina Ye Char Din Bita Nahi Saktay.

Four days to go! Jai Ho!," he wrote. 'Jai Ho' will hit theatres this Friday.

Topics: aamir khan, rajkumar hirani, p.k., anushka sharma, sushant singh rajput, boman irani, s

Not doing any film with Aamir, says Deepika

Actor Deepika Padukone has denied reports of doing a film with Aamir Khan. 

The industry is abuzz with rumours of Deepika pairing up with Aamir in a film to be produced by Excel Entertainment, a production house helmed jointly by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. 

"I would like to do a film with Aamir. There is nothing happening on that front right now. There is no such thing (on doing a film with Excel Entertainment)", Deepika told reporters at the Stardust cover launch event. 



Deepika has already worked with biggies like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and others. But she has a wish list of her own. 

"I am looking forward to work with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan some day. I am hoping to tick mark that list," she said. 

Presently, Deepika is doing her third film with Shah Rukh in 'Happy New Year'. And then in June she will begin shooting for Imtiaz Ali's film, starring Ranbir Kapoor. 

She has finished shooting for Homi Adjania's 'Finding Fanny Fernandez' which will release in July. 

"The script and role in this film was good. The transformation of me as an actress happened with 'Cocktail' that was Homi's film, so I was excited to do an English language film with him. Also I was getting to work with Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah and Dimple Kapadia," Deepika said. 

In this film, Ranveer Singh too has a role. 

"Yes, he is playing my husband in the film," she added.

Aamir Khan's recipe for India's biggest blockbuster

In the weeks before the release of "Dhoom 3", actor Aamir Khan got a message from his dentist, who was concerned that his patient's new film wasn't being promoted enough. 

That was exactly what Khan, who plans the marketing of his films as meticulously as he prepares for roles, wanted to hear. 

"When people are concerned enough about your film that they ask you why they aren't promoting it more, you know you've achieved what you wanted," the 48-year-old Bollywood star told Reuters in an interview. 




As each big-ticket Indian film tries to outdo previous box-office records, shouting about the latest premiere has become routine. 

Before "Chennai Express" opened in cinemas last year, actor Shah Rukh Khan appeared on popular reality TV shows, toured several cities and ensured newspaper coverage for the film. "Chennai Express" became the highest-grossing Bollywood movie, raking in 2.27 billion rupees ($36.6 million) in domestic ticket sales. 

Six months later, "Dhoom 3" - the third instalment of Bollywood's only action franchise - has surpassed that record, netting at least 2.7 billion rupees ($43.5 million) by employing the opposite strategy. In the run-up to the film's release, the lead stars didn't do any road shows, and hardly any interviews or appearances on TV shows. 

Instead, Aamir Khan was spotted in public wearing a fedora - which his character sports in "Dhoom 3" - for nearly a year before the film's release. Production house Yash Raj Films didn't release the official soundtrack, distributing 30-second video snippets instead. 



"What was really innovative was that they held back on the music. Most movies rely on music videos for free play on radio and music channels, which ensures traction, but they took that risk," said Shailesh Kapoor of Ormax Media, a media research firm. 

(Related story - Q&A: Aamir Khan on movie marketing ) 

Kapoor's firm estimates that 420 seconds of "Dhoom 3" footage were distributed in the form of trailers and song promos before the film's release, compared with 700 seconds on average for big-ticket Bollywood movies. "Chennai Express" handed out 820 seconds of footage. 

"We want you to enjoy this film in the theatre. If I have seen the song on TV 20 times and on YouTube 20 times, when it comes in the film, I have lost interest in those five minutes. But when you are seeing it for the first time, your curiosity is piqued," Khan said. 

The other reason to skimp on music previews, Khan said, was to draw repeat audiences to cinemas with the spectacle of elaborate song sequences. 

"These are the two things you do - you release the songs, you get them popular and you get a big first day. You go on big-ticket shows, you create awareness of a film, and you get a big opening. We got a big opening without that - that means our tests were correct. And 36 crores (360 million rupees or $6 million) is a huge opening. You cannot go higher than that," he said. 

Figures released by Yash Raj Films this week show that "Dhoom 3" grossed more than 5 billion rupees ($80 million) worldwide, a first for an Indian film. 

Aamir Khan often teams up with film producers to brainstorm on marketing strategies. In 2008, the actor ensured that ushers and food vendors at cinemas playing arch rival Shah Rukh Khan's "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" sported haircuts like his character in the film "Ghajini", which released the same year. 



In 2009, Aamir Khan announced a nationwide treasure hunt for fans to find clues to the character he was playing in "3 Idiots". He was also one of the first Bollywood actors to promote films through reality TV shows, a formula he rejected for "Dhoom 3". 

"The marketing team at YRF (Yash Raj Films) was terrified. They were convinced we were doing something disastrous. They wanted to go all out, and I am not blaming them," said Khan. 

Kapoor of Ormax Media said heavily promoting a film like "Dhoom 3" could have increased expectations or given away a plot twist, affecting ticket sales after the first weekend. 

"But since there was so much mystery surrounding the plot and the film, it carried on. It is only now, in the third week, that the content is catching up, and collections are falling," he said. 

Bollywood might need to take a leaf out of the actor's book. For an industry that relies heavily on the first weekend for most of its revenues, marketing is a crucial tool, and not too many films innovate in that department. 

"We need to realize that marketing a film is as important as making it," said Khan. "People think...our story, concept is unique, but when it comes to marketing, we will do the same thing that 25 other people are doing. It doesn't work like that."

Aamir Khan finalises script for his next directorial venture

While the box office is still reeling from Dhoom 3's big win, Aamir Khan sees no stopping. The actor is reportedly contemplating directing his next. 

After directing his first and only film till now - 2007's Taare Zameen Par that won him a National Award - Aamir Khan has reportedly finally zeroed in on a script with his brother Faisal Khan's help. 



Faisal reportedly reads through scripts alongside his star brother - and also suggested Aamir do Dhoom 3 - and using this skill of his, helped Aamir select his next possible Magnum Opus. 

Aamir confirmed these reports saying he's bought the rights already, although he's yet to set a date for this project. But this is about the only development to have taken place as far as the new film is concerned. 

Dhoom 3 box office collection reaches Rs.408 crore worldwide

Aamir Khan starrer Dhoom 3 continues its reign at the the Indian box office and is selling strong after having completed its third week. 

The film grossed around 3.5 crore on its third Saturday from Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions, as estimated early. 

And this mega success is not just at the domestic box office, since Dhoom 3 has made a huge impact in the international arena also. The film has broken all overseas records set so far, emerging the highest grosser ever in a number of key markets such as the United States-Canada, Australia and New Zealand. 



"Dhoom 3- All Languages 3rd Friday Hindi Rs.3.03 Cr Tamil & Telugu Rs.0.11 Cr Total Rs.3.14 Cr Grand Total:- Rs.260.45 Cr," trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. 

In just two weeks, the film has made a business of about 149.47 crore from overseas box offices. 

"#Dhoom3 *Overseas total* till yesterday [3rd week Friday]: $ 24.01 million [149.47 cr]. All Time Blockbuster," Adarsh tweeted. 

The worldwide total of the film, after 15 days, now stands at 413.42 crore. 

However, the spell that Dhoom 3 has cast might dwindle soon, as two films - Dedh Ishqiya and Yaariyan - are all set to release this week and will have an impact on the domestic business of of the film. 

Dhoom 3, which is the third installment in the Dhoom franchise, is produced under the Yash Raj banner.

Dhoom 3 becomes highest grossing film in Nepal

Bollywood hit 'Dhoom 3' has created history in Nepal by becoming the first film to gross Rs.6 crores at the box office. 

The movie - starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Abhishek Bachchan - earned the amount in just two weeks. 

The film has been screened without competition at multiplexes across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley. 

According to sources close to the film's distributor, 'Dhoom 3' is the first film to earn Rs.6 crores in Nepal. 

A Nepali film is considered a hit if it earns around Rs.20 lakhs at the box office. By that standard, 'Dhoom 3' has earned the equivalent of 30 hit Nepali films. 

Last year, around 60 foreign films released in three multiplexes in Kathmandu earned over Rs.20 crores. 

"It is natural that hit artists like Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Katrina Kaif sell well in the Nepalese market", said Tirtha Thapa, a noted film director. 

"The brand name of the Indian film industry sells here, rather than the story," he said. "The artist, acting and quality of a picture make it successful in the eye of viewers." 

Indian films dominate Nepal's movie halls. It is only in remote villages where Nepali films have a high demand, Thapa said. 

In major cities like Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Pokhara and Bhairahwa, Hindi films have an 80 per cent share of the market, according to him. 

The quality of Nepali films is deteriorating though the number of movies produced every year has touched 120, Thapa said. 

A decade ago, Nepali films used to earn Rs.50 lakhs to 60 lakhs but now they hardly make Rs.15 lakhs to 20 lakhs, he added.

I cannot compromise with my emotions, and money cannot buy me: Aamir Khan

One of Bollywood's favourite Khans, Aamir, claims to earn the "least compared to others", and says he "cannot compromise" with his emotions as "money cannot buy me". 

"Till today, I have not worked for money and that is one of my biggest strengths," said Aamir, who is currently on a roller-coaster thanks to the success of his latest release "Dhoom 3". 



He has experimented with films, roles and genres galore in his over 25-year movie career. From loverboy to teacher to villager and now a villain, he has done it all, but it's vital for Aamir to connect emotionally with a project before he gives it a thumbs up. 

"It's not that I don't need money. All of us need money and, according to me, I earn the least amount of money. I earn the least compared to others and yet I am very happy because I do what my heart says. 

"I never work for money. Give me Rs.100 crore for a film and if I don't like it, I will not do it. I cannot compromise with my emotions, and money cannot buy me," added the 48-year-old actor, who started his full-fledged tryst with filmdom with the 1988 romance drama "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak". 

He cemented his spot in the movie business with projects like "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin", "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar", "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke", "Raja Hindustani" and "Sarfarosh". The year 2001 turned out to be a turning point for Aamir, who featured in "Lagaan" and "Dil Chahta Hai" - films as different as chalk and cheese - and proved his versatility. 



Thereafter, he went on to feature in films like "Rang De Basanti", "Fanaa", "Ghajini", "3 Idiots" and the critically acclaimed "Dhobi Ghat". He even acted in and directed the commercially and critically lauded 2007 film "Taare Zameen Par", which dealt with dyslexia. 

No wonder Aamir is known to make films with a no-nonsense quality. 

"It is difficult for me to go out of my sensibilities and work. I can do different kinds of genres, but if my sensibility doesn't match, I will not do it. If it disturbs my values, I can't do that film," he said. 

"If I had a value judgment on 'Delhi Belly', I would not have produced it. It's an adult comedy, it has use of abusive language, but I feel that even that is a colour of life which I would like to enjoy. 

"So, we applied for an 'A' certificate and I went out of my way to tell people that it's an adult film and that if you have any objection, don't come," he added. 

That also makes Aamir, a father of three, a socially aware and conscious citizen. He has, of course, put that realm of himself to judicious use with his TV show "Satyamev Jayate", which gives out startling facts about society's issues. But going beyond that capacity and joining politics to bring about change is not his cup of tea. 



"I am not interested in politics. I feel whatever my strengths are, I want to make use of them. Why does a person join politics? Because they want to serve society. I feel wherever I am today, I can serve society in a better way. 

"I don't have to join politics for that. I am doing 'Satyamev Jayate', which is only about that. I am contributing a lot from here," said the actor, who is now awaiting the celebrations for the success of "Dhoom 3".