“I don’t like America; I love London as I feel at home there,” Shah Rukh Khan gushed when I asked him why he visits the British capital so frequently. “People say English people are very cold and not friendly but I find them amazingly warm,” Khan added. His British fans will get a chance to meet the superstar yet again when he attends the Zee TV Carnival in London next week. Khan is excited about his return: “I love walking in London and meeting the people.”

“To me London is the hub of the world and anyone doing well there is a top notch achiever to me,” Khan stated. “I am not talking about Mr Mittal or Monty Panesar but about every Indian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan who is there. I love the fact that another country like England has opened its arms and invited us with so much love.” Is he planning on moving to his beloved city? There are rumours that he has bought a house in the trendy Primrose Hill suburb. “We are not allowed to buy a house in London but I am planning to open an office there to start making films with English technicians,” Khan revealed.

The King Khan remains in the news. After dominating the big screen for over a decade, Khan has decided to further conquer the small screen. After hosting the Indian version of Who wants to be a Millionaire, he has just signed up to a new TV show. Khan will host the Indian version of the US reality show Are you smarter than a 5th grader, in which adult contestants will be grilled on subjects by bright kids.

The Big B: out in the cold

“Shoebite is a working title, the story of which is unique and challenging,” Amitabh Bachchan states. The mega god of Bollywood is currently shooting the film in the wintry hill station of Shimla. Bachchan and his co-star Sarika play an ageing married couple who go to the resort to rekindle their relationship. How is the Big B coping with the freezing temperatures? Director Shoojit Sircar states: “We’re frozen to our bones but Amitji rehearses rigorously in the freezing temperatures.” Local fans are excited about the superstar’s presence in the area but some accused his security this week of manhandling eager autograph hunters and photographers.

Bachchan’s first English language film The Last Lear looks set for a 2008 release. Is he excited? “Yes, the first English language film and Shakespeare to top it. It is heavy stuff!” he exclaimed. His upcoming Hollywood project, Mira Nair’s Shantaram, with Johnny Depp appears to be on hold. “It has had to be postponed due to the writer’s strike in Hollywood,” the busy B sighed.

Peaceful protest

The wait is almost over! The anticipated and much delayed film Jodhaa Akbar is set for a Valentines Day release. The historical romance features the kissing couple Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai as the lovers of the films’ title. The unseen film has angered the self appointed moral police: a Rajput organisation this week organised a Gandhi style non-violent protest against the screening of the film claiming that it distorts history. Maybe they should see the three and a half hour epic first?

No kissing please!

“I just cannot kiss and I do not mind losing out on roles,” Ayesha Takia declares. The top heavy actress, last seen in the recent Sunday, refuses to smooch or wear revealing clothes on screen as she has “a family and boyfriend”. It remains to be seen whether this coy stance will last as Takia’s films have consistently crashed at the box-office.

Are they worth it?

The battle of the beauty queens continues on the small screen. Two former Miss Worlds, Aishwarya Rai and Priyakana Chopra, are currently featuring in television ads for L’Oreal eyeliner and Sunsilk shampoo respectively. Whilst Chopra profoundly declares that “life can’t wait”, Mrs Bachchan is content as she is indeed “worth it”.

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