"I had a couple of rules actually - that I won't ride a horse and I won't kiss. Both are cumbersome. I don't know how to do both on screen," Shah Rukh said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2012 here Friday.
Ever since the release of Yash Chopra's directorial JTHJ Tuesday, social networking platforms have been abuzz about the kiss scene between Shah Rukh and Katrina Kaif. So, moderator Vir Sanghvi, on behalf of Twitterati, asked SRK: How come he kissed this time!
"I will be very honest. Adi (Aditya Chopra), Yash ji and Katrina, and I say this with all humility and thankfulness to them, that they knew I was awkward, I had issues and I am a very easy actor to work with. They are like my family and they said, 'You don't have to do this' and then they got together and they forced me and then even paid me for it."
"So... When heroines say that 'I wore a bikini because the story demanded me to', I did it (the kiss) because the story demanded it. Believe me or don't believe it," said the 47-year-old actor, who has been in showbiz for over two decades.
Shah Rukh feels doing something as intimate as a kiss on screen, is mechanical.
"It is very mechanical with 100 people telling you what to do. It's very odd. I don't even do photo shoots with heroines if it is not for my film and that is also rude, but I don't want to waste anyone's time. I find it very awkward taking my shirt off and posing. I can do it in character for the film," he said.
But JTHJ was "extremely special because of Yash ji".
"He spoke to everyone and he said 'Shah Rukh, this is a requirement'," recollected Shah Rukh.
The actor was extremely close to the late filmmaker, who breathed his last Oct 21 following dengue and subsequent multi-organ failure.
A Love without life, or a life without love? Time is the strongest tests of relationships? Or something like that! Through Dil Toh Paagal Hai, Yash Chopra made famous the ‘someone somewhere is made for you’ belief. With Jab Tak Hai Jaan, he elucidates the concept of timeless love. Every relationship has its time, it’s believed. If something is meant to happen or not is a trick of destiny, all you’ve got to give it is your honest best.
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JTHJ is the story of Samar Anand (Shah Rukh Khan) tracing his life across a span of around 10 years–one as a young musician in London picking up odd jobs to make an honest yet cheerful livelihood while second as Major Samar Anand of the Indian army, where he’s tagged as ‘the man who cannot die’ owing to his record of diffusing 98 bombs without any bomb suits or safety. While musician Samar is a carefree, extrovert, charming person who makes friends easily as he goes, Major Samar is a recluse, who mostly keeps to himself, playing the dutiful army officer one bomb at a time. Meera (Katrina Kaif) and Akira (Anushka Sharma) play the two loves, who enter at different stages of his life. What circumstances led the effervescent Samar to retreat into a life of solidarity, what’s the emotional baggage he carries and what happens when the lives of the three characters intertwine forms the narrative of Jab Tak Hai Jaan.
Of the two leading ladies Anushka scores over her co-star. Her character as a fiery bindaas daredevil is perfectly written and she makes it to her advantage. The chemistry she shares with Shah Rukh continues in the same vein from RNBDJ.. Not too subtle, not too over-played, she is a complete pleasure to watch. Katrina is comparatively average. While her character has a graph which requires her to be restrained at most times, that is no argument, especially in her scenes with SRK, where she falls immensely flat and looks confused. Coming of the man of the moment, Shah Rukh, looking decidedly dapper in bow-tie as ruggedly composed in army attire, makes JTHJ all about him. Effortless in a character only he could’ve pulled off with so much élan, he adopts Samar’s arrogance and confidence with equal balance, proving exactly why his name is synonymous with romance. There are moments in the film you feel sorry for him having to work against a tide of flimsy material and weak chemistry, but against all odds, he manages to wax coat with SRK charm. There is a lovely casting of Rishi and Neetu Kapoor in a cameo and while the scene was meant to be between Neetu and Katrina, Rishi Kapoor steals it with an endearing grin and a wave of a wine glass.
Of the two leading ladies Anushka scores over her co-star. Her character as a fiery bindaas daredevil is perfectly written and she makes it to her advantage. The chemistry she shares with Shah Rukh continues in the same vein from RNBDJ.. Not too subtle, not too over-played, she is a complete pleasure to watch. Katrina is comparatively average. While her character has a graph which requires her to be restrained at most times, that is no argument, especially in her scenes with SRK, where she falls immensely flat and looks confused. Coming of the man of the moment, Shah Rukh, looking decidedly dapper in bow-tie as ruggedly composed in army attire, makes JTHJ all about him. Effortless in a character only he could’ve pulled off with so much élan, he adopts Samar’s arrogance and confidence with equal balance, proving exactly why his name is synonymous with romance. There are moments in the film you feel sorry for him having to work against a tide of flimsy material and weak chemistry, but against all odds, he manages to wax coat with SRK charm. There is a lovely casting of Rishi and Neetu Kapoor in a cameo and while the scene was meant to be between Neetu and Katrina, Rishi Kapoor steals it with an endearing grin and a wave of a wine glass.
The songs, composed by A R Rahman penned by Gulzar already well received, are magnified on screen. I am not a particular fan of the album in its entirety, but you can’t help enjoying the beats when ‘Challa’ plays (yes, plural!) or tap your feet at ‘Ishq Shava’, packaged very well with tricky choreography, which surprisingly Shah Rukh pulls off quite convincingly. What doesn’t work in its favor is the songs are too close within minutes of each other. Especially in the first half where most of the tracks are stacked up, while ‘Saans’ re-runs in the background score of the second-half make them a tedious watch after a point of which you wish you could reach out for the fast-forward button.JTHJ is a Yash Chopra film of 2012. So the white chiffon sari is replaced with white night gown, Switzerland is traded for Kashmir, but the soul of a Yash Raj cinema is intact. At a gracious run-time of close to 3hours, JTHJ is a couple reels too long, but the filmmaker’s zeal for cinema livens up the otherwise dull moments of the film. This is aptly put together in the end credits of the film, a montage of the film’s making which shows Yash Chopra’s excitement every time he screamed action, or the candid joyful expressions of seeing his actors enact his vision. Beneath a very routine motorbike sequence in the bare terrains of Ladakh, or a simple conversation in a park in London, there lies a Yash Chopra charisma that simply can’t be stripped off or ignored. ‘If you’re not happy, you cannot make anyone else happy’, a character says. Yash Chopra knew this too well. He enjoyed his work, he was happy, he tried to make sure others were happy as well thru his cinema.
For those with pre-conceived notions of this being an out-and-out soppy romantic tale, the screenplay by Aditya Chopra and Devika Bhagat is much more than that. In the midst of a love triangle, there is a story of survival, a tale of letting go, moving on, embracing life as it comes, questioning of faith, challenging of religious beliefs all done without any hum-drums of cheap innuendos, gags or toilet humor, just in shades of pristine white purity. Loaded with references from Yash Raj classics, maintaining an old world sincerity, JTHJ also treads into sub-plots of extra-marital affairs, a barter-trade like relationship with the Almighty, etc. Undoubtedly, the romantic scenes stand out the most, treated with substance and maturity in the experienced hands of Yash Chopra, executing them the way YRF knows best.
JTHJ will possibly not be heralded as a landmark film, it won’t run for weeks together like its other predecessor from the production house; however it’s one of the better romances to come out of Bollywood in recent times. Yes it’s sloppy, yes it’s amusingly clichéd, loopholes/facts hard to look past, but SRK makes it work, one aviator-clad stubble form, one honest act, one engaging performance. Maybe sometimes that’s all there is, Jab Tak Hai Khan.
Our Rating : 3.5 /5
It's not a Friday but two mega films are coming out Nov 13 because it is Diwali, a much-awaited date on the Bollywood calendar. Yash Chopra's last directorial "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" (JTHJ) and Ajay Devgn-starrer "Son Of Sardaar" (SOS) are releasing together Tuesday, leaving audiences a tough choice to make.
On the one hand, there is Ajay, whose last films "Singham" and "Bol Bachchan" raked in the moolah at the box office, and on the other is the deadly combination of Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar.
The films are different in genre - if SOS is a comedy, JTHJ promises oodles of romance and emotions. Trade pundits have predicted that the two films will join Bollywood's growing club of Rs.100-crore grossers.
The movies have been in the news for a while.
Along with their extensive promotions across the country, they have grabbed headlines for a legal issue regarding the screen space allotted to them. Ajay Devgn Ffilms (ADF) filed a legal complaint against Yash Raj Films (YRF) alleging malpractice in connection with the clash of both the releases. ADF claimed YRF used its dominant position in the industry to ask exhibitors to dedicate more screens to JTHJ instead of SOS.
It would be interesting to see how the films fare at the box office.
YRF has claimed to book less than 1,500 single screens out of the 10,500-plus single screens available on an all-India basis for JTHJ, and it will reportedly release the movie on 600 to 650 screens overseas.
Produced by Aditya Chopra, JTHJ has reportedly been made at a budget of Rs.50 crore. The trailers of the movie have the Yash Chopra trademark of scenic foreign locations, candyfloss romance, heartwarming emotions, some thought-provoking lyrics and poetry and, last but not the least, glamorous wardrobe.
There was already a strong buzz around the movie as it marked Yash Chopra's comeback as a director after eight years. But his sudden death Oct 21, following dengue, has spread even a stronger buzz. It is, after all, his last film.
But SOS doesn't seem to be giving it an easy fight.
Directed by Ashwni Dhir, the film is a remake of Telugu movie "Maryada Ramanna", which in itself is a remake of the 1923 American silent movie "Our Hospitality".
The cast of the film boasts of names like Sanjay Dutt, Juhi Chawla and Sonakshi Sinha. In terms of cost, it is reportedly costlier with Rs.80 crore budget and will hit 350 screens in the overseas market.
So, expect fireworks at the box office this festive season.
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif Sunday visited the shrine of Sufi saint Chisti here in Uttar Pradesh to pray for the success of her upcoming movie "Jab Tak Hai Jaan".
People at Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra, were surprised to see Katrina so early in the day.
After tying the "mannat ka dhaga" and praying for the Yash Chopra movie, she returned to Delhi, according to Parvez Jamaal, a functionary of the shrine.
"Jab Tak Hai Jaan", which releases on Diwali day Tuesday, also stars Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma.
Katrina had also prayed at Fatehpur Sikri before the release of "Ek Tha Tiger".
The cast of the film, Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma greeted the guests along with Yash Chopra's son Uday Chopra and wife Pamela.
"We are missing him every moment. I hope everyone enjoys the film. His legacy has been wonderfully celebrated," Shah Rukh said.
Memories of the late filmmaker filled the red carpet with posters from his pictures placed along the carpet.
Guests included the cream of the industry like Amitabh Bachchan with wife Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aamir Khan with wife, Karan Johar, Imran Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Randhir Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor.
"This is a celebration of Yash Chopra's life. He is still alive for me through his films, work and music. I am really looking forward to his film," said Anil Kapoor.
"He was the king of romance. This is a beautiful way to celebrate his life with love, happiness and remembrance. His films show romance for every age. Wish he was around to see this," said Madhuri Dixit.
Sridevi, who had been the leading lady for Yash Chopra's 'Chandni' said: "There are so many memories with him that it is endless of say. It is difficult to express. We will miss him."
Along with Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, other veteran actors included Vinod Khanna, Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu and Jeetendra.
"We are excited to see the film. We thank the family for this premiere. Yashji would have liked this," Amitabh Bachchan said.
Yash Chopra passed away on October 21 after being diagnosed with dengue. 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' was supposed to be his last film.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and
actress Katrina Kaif, who are set to scorch the screen in "Jab Tak Hai
Jaan" (JTHJ), have come together for an ad campaign for beauty soap bar
Lux.
The actors will endorse two new
variants - Lux Peach and Cream, and Lux Strawberry and Cream - in their
first ever endorsement together, said a statement.
The ad will go on air on Diwali, Nov 13, the same day when JTHJ hits the screens.
Shah Rukh came on board for Lux in
2005, and featured in a commercial with Bollywood beauties Hema Malini,
Sridevi, Juhi Chawla and Kareena Kapoor.
This time, the Bollywood Badshah will
feature as a 'bekaboo' (uncontrollable) with Katrina. In the ad,
fragrance of the soap drives Shah Rukh 'bekaboo'.
"I'm happy to be associated with Lux yet
again! The fragrance of Lux will captivate you just as it has made me
'bekaboo'. The fragrance of Lux that stands for love and sensuality
brings out the lover in me," Shah Rukh said at the shoot.
The commercial is shot and directed by
French director Juan Delcan. It's Sufi-inspired music score has been
composed by acclaimed poet and lyricist Gulzar, and sung by Sonu Nigam.
Katrina's look in the ad is styled by fashion designer Rocky S.
"When I think of Lux, I think of fun
and spontaneity. Lux embodies a type of a woman rather than just soap
and of course the fragrance that embodies sensuality," said the
actress.
There are films and then there are Salman Khan films. The former kind needs a good script, good screenplay and decent acting chops to be liked. The latter kind just needs Salman Khan to be his own charming self. The problem with the Yash Raj Films produced Ek Tha Tiger is that director Kabir Khan tries to mix the two kinds of films and doesn’t quite manage to do a good job of it. A bigger problem is that Salman Khan’s charm is completely missing here.
Tiger (Salman Khan) is a RAW intelligence officer who believes in letting his punches do the talking. His latest assignment takes him to Dublin where he meets Zoya (Katrina Kaif), part-time caretaker of the scientist he has to keep an eye on. The two fall in love, but along comes a twist in the tale which turns Tiger’s life upside down. Now Tiger has to choose between his love and his duty towards his country.
Ek Tha Tiger is primarily a love story with huge doses of action thrown in. The action part works, and how! The film has some of the best action scenes in the history of Bollywood. However, they are brought down a notch by Salman’s low-on-energy body language. It doesn’t help that he looks paunchy and too out of shape for some of the stunts. The romance part just doesn’t work – neither the romantic comedy of the first half, nor the intense love story of the second half. A big part of the blame for this goes to the poor screenplay. It completely fails to engage the viewers and it is only during a handful of action scenes in the second half that one feels totally involved in the proceedings.
Since the screenplay is not engaging enough, the loopholes in the story itself become more apparent. And they are so many that they make the intelligence officers (of many countries) look plain dumb. Unfortunately, the dull and poorly picturised songs do nothing to brighten up the proceedings. The cinematography does deserve brownie points to highlight the local flavours of all the countries the protagonists travel to.
Kabir Khan made Katrina give her career best performance in New York and here again she shines as the spunky Zoya. Be it the light moments or the emotional ones, she hits the right notes. The biggest surprise of the film is how well she does the action scenes – in fact she trumps Salman in quite a few. Salman, on the other hand, looks quite uncomfortable playing the sauve intelligence agent. His dialogue delivery is monotonous and his expressions are all wrong most of the time. Like I mentioned earlier, the trademark Salman charm is missing. The supporting cast of Girish Karnad, Roshan Seth and Ranveer Shorey gives the film a next-level respectability, though none of them seem convinced with what they are doing.
Ek Tha Tiger is a film that had everything going for it – two biggest stars, high production values, immense hype, but once again the lack of a good script brought a potentially good film down. This Tiger doesn’t quite manage to roar.
