Parents name their children with sky-high expectations. You will find an absolute buffoon named Birbal, and a pip-squeak called Shamsher Bahadur. Very few are able to live up to their names. But then, Shah Rukh Khan is living a life beyond even his own imagination. The two Persian words, Shah Rukh, meaning 'face of a king', symbolises royalty in Bollywood. Now, it's time to extend Kingdom Khan's territory to the cricket field.
Rs 13 CRORE PROFIT
To all those who mocked at and slammed SRK's Kolkata Knight Riders — in the eight-team Indian Premier League, Kolkata finished sixth in 2008 and eighth last year — Shah Rukh could have shown the middle finger. After all, financially, the Knight Riders were easily the most successful franchise in the IPL, making a profit of Rs 13 crore in the first edition itself. But the man has reached a stage where pride becomes more important than money. To remain the king, the king has to win. Kolkata may make Rs 30 crore in 2010, but if the team doesn't win, Shah Rukh loses. In his own words, SRK says he doesn't need money any more because he can make it with ridiculous ease. Talking about the passion that is driving him to run a high-profile cricket team, he said recently in Kolkata, "I didn't buy a cricket team to make money. I dance at weddings and make much more money there. I endorse so many products, from a phone company to cola, I don't have to worry about money. Some things run on passion; I am a sportsperson myself, so I bought a cricket team. I want to pass it on to my children. Movies, I don't do them for money. If I like a subject, I will put money on it and make a film." I was in Kolkata for Knight Riders' matches against Bangalore and Chennai, and as luck would have it, I saw Shah Rukh from close quarters taking rough with the smooth. Kolkata thrashed Bangalore, and got thrashed by Chennai. But something has changed over the last two years. I did not see Shah Rukh breaking into a wild celebration when the going was good (in IPL I, he broke a dozen-odd chairs jumping on them at a fall of mere one opposition wicket), nor did he go all gloom-and-doom in defeat. Shah Rukh in victory blew a few kisses to the crowds, showed a thumbs-up to Sourav Ganguly, and later, shook hands with the entire team and the opposition. Shah Rukh in defeat blew a few kisses to the crowds, showed a thumbs-up to Sourav Ganguly, and later, shook hands with the entire team and the opposition.
WHAT AN ENTRY
And then, there is something that has not changed. Thank God. We don't like our superstars to lose their sheen. I made it a point to see the star's entry into the Eden Gardens and I was not at all disappointed.
A few minutes into the match, cop's walkie-talkies began cracking. Frenzied voices were trying to communicate something in Bengali, "Shah Rukh Khan, Shah Rukh Khan" the only words I was able to decipher. Cops mounted on 7-feet tall horses began clearing the road, they looked so threatening, it was clear they would not spare anyone the whip.
And then, a fleet of cars... one, two, three, wait, that's the police escort, OK, one, two, three... one of them only for King Khan, the second one has his entourage, his friends from Bollywood, and the third one, more entourage, more friends from Bollywood.
It's around 8.30 pm and Shah Rukh has just arrived from Mumbai. He's dressed in a black shirt, and is looking supremely fit.
Eden Gardens, filled to the brim with almost 70,000 people (it can hold 1.10 lakh, but two stands are being renovated), comes to a standstill as Shah Rukh takes his seat in the open galleria. Front row, first seat, but before that, he has an obligation to fulfil.
A single ticket to that galleria costs Rs 32,000, but it's packed. They all want to meet Shah Rukh. The superstar shakes hands with all the ticket-holders, even as his bodyguards ensure nobody gets too close for comfort.
Just then, an attractive blonde appears... Shah Rukh has to slip into Kolkata Knight Riders jersey. She helps him put it on, it's his shoulder again. Despite a surgery, it's throbbing with pain. She hands him his drink as he blows kisses to the crowds, the women are going wild, the jealous men are smirking.
DADA DISPLACED
The prince of Kolkata is in the field, marshalling his men, but Kolkata has chosen its king. He is in the court now, clapping when his army does well, nodding when the opposition gives it back, and now, dignified in victory and defeat.
Post-match, it's time to party at fashion shows put together by Shah Rukh's friend Arjun Rampal. The movers and shakers of India are there, legends like Brian Lara have come all the way from the Caribbean, IPL big boss Lalit Modi is in attendance, power and influence can be smelt miles away from the party hall... but then, that's the life of a superstar, someone who has more than lived up to his name.
Source: http://movies.indiatimes.com/news-gossip/news/SRK-Kolkatas-new-King/articleshow/5710828.cms
Rs 13 CRORE PROFIT
To all those who mocked at and slammed SRK's Kolkata Knight Riders — in the eight-team Indian Premier League, Kolkata finished sixth in 2008 and eighth last year — Shah Rukh could have shown the middle finger. After all, financially, the Knight Riders were easily the most successful franchise in the IPL, making a profit of Rs 13 crore in the first edition itself. But the man has reached a stage where pride becomes more important than money. To remain the king, the king has to win. Kolkata may make Rs 30 crore in 2010, but if the team doesn't win, Shah Rukh loses. In his own words, SRK says he doesn't need money any more because he can make it with ridiculous ease. Talking about the passion that is driving him to run a high-profile cricket team, he said recently in Kolkata, "I didn't buy a cricket team to make money. I dance at weddings and make much more money there. I endorse so many products, from a phone company to cola, I don't have to worry about money. Some things run on passion; I am a sportsperson myself, so I bought a cricket team. I want to pass it on to my children. Movies, I don't do them for money. If I like a subject, I will put money on it and make a film." I was in Kolkata for Knight Riders' matches against Bangalore and Chennai, and as luck would have it, I saw Shah Rukh from close quarters taking rough with the smooth. Kolkata thrashed Bangalore, and got thrashed by Chennai. But something has changed over the last two years. I did not see Shah Rukh breaking into a wild celebration when the going was good (in IPL I, he broke a dozen-odd chairs jumping on them at a fall of mere one opposition wicket), nor did he go all gloom-and-doom in defeat. Shah Rukh in victory blew a few kisses to the crowds, showed a thumbs-up to Sourav Ganguly, and later, shook hands with the entire team and the opposition. Shah Rukh in defeat blew a few kisses to the crowds, showed a thumbs-up to Sourav Ganguly, and later, shook hands with the entire team and the opposition.
WHAT AN ENTRY
And then, there is something that has not changed. Thank God. We don't like our superstars to lose their sheen. I made it a point to see the star's entry into the Eden Gardens and I was not at all disappointed.
A few minutes into the match, cop's walkie-talkies began cracking. Frenzied voices were trying to communicate something in Bengali, "Shah Rukh Khan, Shah Rukh Khan" the only words I was able to decipher. Cops mounted on 7-feet tall horses began clearing the road, they looked so threatening, it was clear they would not spare anyone the whip.
And then, a fleet of cars... one, two, three, wait, that's the police escort, OK, one, two, three... one of them only for King Khan, the second one has his entourage, his friends from Bollywood, and the third one, more entourage, more friends from Bollywood.
It's around 8.30 pm and Shah Rukh has just arrived from Mumbai. He's dressed in a black shirt, and is looking supremely fit.
Eden Gardens, filled to the brim with almost 70,000 people (it can hold 1.10 lakh, but two stands are being renovated), comes to a standstill as Shah Rukh takes his seat in the open galleria. Front row, first seat, but before that, he has an obligation to fulfil.
A single ticket to that galleria costs Rs 32,000, but it's packed. They all want to meet Shah Rukh. The superstar shakes hands with all the ticket-holders, even as his bodyguards ensure nobody gets too close for comfort.
Just then, an attractive blonde appears... Shah Rukh has to slip into Kolkata Knight Riders jersey. She helps him put it on, it's his shoulder again. Despite a surgery, it's throbbing with pain. She hands him his drink as he blows kisses to the crowds, the women are going wild, the jealous men are smirking.
DADA DISPLACED
The prince of Kolkata is in the field, marshalling his men, but Kolkata has chosen its king. He is in the court now, clapping when his army does well, nodding when the opposition gives it back, and now, dignified in victory and defeat.
Post-match, it's time to party at fashion shows put together by Shah Rukh's friend Arjun Rampal. The movers and shakers of India are there, legends like Brian Lara have come all the way from the Caribbean, IPL big boss Lalit Modi is in attendance, power and influence can be smelt miles away from the party hall... but then, that's the life of a superstar, someone who has more than lived up to his name.
Source: http://movies.indiatimes.com/news-gossip/news/SRK-Kolkatas-new-King/articleshow/5710828.cms
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