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A week before going in for a major operation on his shoulder, a personal SMS from Shah Rukh Khan reads, “It sucks, this injury and the surgery.” He also makes a departure from his high-energy optimism and adds, “Am a bit sad cos will be down for a couple of months at least.” True to his faith, Shah Rukh goes on to say, “But you gotta accept it as Allah’s will. Guess worse could have happened but He kept it less cos He loves me.” Then the bounce is back as he concludes, “Will be well and kicking soon. Love, SRK.”
Like Amitabh Bachchan, when Shah Rukh answers an SMS (mine was a ‘best of luck’ text message to him) he gives you a proper, full-fledged reply. Also to be noted is SRK’s unfailing reference to Allah. A habit he really picked up, with full momentum, after the health-threatening spinal surgery he underwent in London more than five years ago. There’s been a marked increase in his Inshallahs and ‘Allah’s will’ since that scary surgery where chances of a lifelong problem were high but faith and grit saw Shah Rukh back at the top of the heap. He has, since then, been wearing his faith on his sleeve. The same faith will see him through the next few months too.
In the glare of all this superstardom, does anybody remember that Shah Rukh Khan’s star trek really began with a slick TV serial called Fauji? Shah Rukh had flashed charisma as Abhi, the dashing young officer. Just 13 episodes later, he became a heartthrob. Fauji was made by (Rtd) Lt Col Raj Kapoor, Chunky Panday’s mama (mother’s brother). Around the time that SRK will be wheeled into Nanavati Hospital for his surgery, Fauji 2 will take off. The defence ministry has green-lighted a sequel and Col Kapoor hopes to get Shah Rukh Khan to flag it off. The eternal sigh is to discover another Abhimanyu in the process.
There’s a collective sigh going up from the film industry over the rift in the Dutt family. With the widening chasm between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, Amar Singh has lived up to his reputation of being an ace home breaker. Loyalties will now have to be divided between Priya Dutt and brother Sanjay, especially since Ayesha Takia’s father-in-law, heavyweight Abu Azmi, will be opposing Priya on home territory. Obviously, Sanju will not be rooting for his sis this time.
While discussing Amar Singh’s role in creating the great divide between star-brother and politician-sister, an insider turned around and observed, “Usually Amar Singh is the outsider who creates sibling rivalry. But in Sanju’s case two outsiders have been at work — don’t forget Maanyata’s role in this family squabble.”
Unfazed, the new Mr & Mrs Dutt of Pali Hill hosted one year of togetherness with star colleagues instead of siblings. “Directly after his party, Sanju Sir flew to Bangkok by Thai Airways,” exults his director, Soham Shah. His film Luck will be the only Sanjay Dutt starrer to sail through to completion point before the Dutt tamasha begins in the political arena.
“We had daylight until 8 pm and Sanju Sir would ask for his costume at 9 am, report by 10 in the morning and shoot all day. We even wound up shooting one day earlier in Cape Town and now shooting is in full swing in Bangkok,” reports the young director from atop a train where an action scene was being filmed. With changing times, Sanju Baba has become Sanju Sir.
The much-respected Shyam Benegal has also changed. After swearing that Amrita Rao reminded him of the earthy, sensuous Smita Patil — an observation that lasted until his film Welcome To Sajjanpur was released — Benegal is onto a new film. One would’ve thought that a modern Smita Patil would fit the rustic bill but Benegal has signed the Kidnap bikini babe Minnisha Lamba for the role of a village belle!
Incidentally, Ashtavinayak, the producers of Kidnap, are using the bikini route to fame for their new discovery too. In Luck, Kamal Hassan’s daughter Shruti debuts and yes, you’ll get your first glimpse of her when she comes out of the water, Bo Derek style, in a skimpy two-piece!