It’s Bollywood’s ailing stars who let the show go on

The show must go on – that’s possibly the mantra for Bollywood’s ailing stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan who, despite their injuries and health problems, continue to spin magic on screen.

Not once would the audience believe that Shah Rukh was suffering excruciating pain in his left shoulder when he would have shot for the song “Mar jaani” in recently released “Billu”, for his moves are so perfect in the song.

Just two weeks before his arthroscopic shoulder surgery was successfully conducted in Mumbai Monday, Shah Rukh had said that the pain is so bad that he can’t hug anyone “hard enough”. At that time he was busy promoting “Billu”, one of the reasons his surgery was delayed.

In the past as well, Shah Rukh has had his share of injuries and accidents. In 2003, he underwent a spinal operation in London and he has also been operated upon for his knee. But he never let these become a hindrance in his career.

Even Hrithik’s effortless daredevilry in the battle sequences of Ashutosh Gowariker’s period romance “Jodhaa Akbar” weren’t indicative of the pain he was going through thanks to a knee trouble that cropped up after his stunts in “Krrish” and “Dhoom 2″.

The 35-year-old actor had torn a ligament in his right knee and continued working despite the pain. In December 2007, after wrapping up “Jodhaa-Akbar”, he went to Singapore for a six-week treatment.

After the birth of his second son in May last year, he went in for a knee surgery in the US, but soon after his return Hrithik shot for the title song of “Krazzy 4″.

He hurt his knee again while doing a dangerous car stunt for home production “Kites” in Las Vegas.

Though doctors advised him eight weeks’ rest, the brawny actor was about and running just three days after the accident.

Commenting on his knee problem, a source close to Hrithik had told IANS: “It’s a fact that Hrithik’s knee is a cause for great concern for him and his entire family. The doctors told him that he would never dance again.

“After his second son was born (May 1, 2008), Hrithik went for surgery to the US and spent nearly two months recovering. He was determined to let it heal properly because ‘Kites’ requires considerable athletic movement. Hrithik didn’t take one wrong step until he left to shoot ‘Kites’ in the US and suffered another injury.”

Another actor synonymous with multiple hospital visits is Saif Ali Khan, who was last admitted to hospital towards the end of 2008 following pain in his abdomen due to a stomach infection.

In 2006, Saif had undergone surgery in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. He had complained of pain in the abdomen then too and doctors had diagnosed it as appendicitis. The 38-year-old actor had also suffered a mild heart attack in 2007, forcing him to change his lifestyle and quit smoking.

While discussing the health of these young actors, one mustn’t forget megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who had a near fatal accident when he was in his prime. The veteran was first injured in 1982 while shooting a fight sequence for his hit film “Coolie”.

After that, the Big B has paid several visits to hospitals – the latest instance being his birthday in October last year. He was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after he complained of severe abdominal pain.

Though these stars are bound by a string of health problems, the common trait among them is to work relentlessly. It is their never-say-die spirit that keeps them going and thousands of cine fans entertained year after year.

Shahrukh Khan touched hearts

Though the Bollywood Badshah, home after his successful shoulder surgery, is saying just that about his home production Red Chillies’ last Friday release — Billu.

“The film’s sincerity is touching hearts. Whoever has seen this Priyadarshan-directed film, is talking about it. And whoever hasn’t, should go and see it,” said SRK. “I am getting loads of texts. People are liking the film, especially the last bit.”

It is true, the last 15 minutes of Billu, when Shah Rukh tugs at the heartstrings of the audience with a powerful and emotional dialogue, is replacing lost values in people. To that end, Billu reminds audiences of forgotten simplicities and displaced values in society. “It’s a great risk that Shah Rukh Khan has taken. Hats off to him for making a film where the focus is not on himself, and where the story and performances are the stars,” said trade pundit Taran Adarsh, adding that “SRK could have made a hardcore commercial flick like Om Shanti Om and earned pots of money, yet he took a different path because he believed in the story.”
Trade analyst Komal Nahata agreed, “It’s a sincere product, one that doesn’t have to try hard to keep the story and morals straight. It works on it’s own. It has everything going for it, like good music, story and performances, all of which touch your heart.” Taran revealed, “The film has done well overseas, considering the number of prints released was about 200. Family films, which we call socials, always have a slow start… but over a period they become blockbuster. Look at films like Baghban, Vivaah, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Taare Zameen Par. All started on a slow note, but went on to become box office hits. Billu has the potential and there is one more weekend to come. Just give it some time.”

Girish Wankhede, Deputy GM, Cinemax, said, that the film started well with a 50 per cent collection. “It went onto 80 per cent across all our branches on the weekend, which is very good. People walked out appreciating the film… especially the ending.” Taran added, “There was not a single dry eye in theatres. SRK’s dialogue is so powerful. To hold an entire audience with just his words is laudable. Shah Rukh makes you laugh and cry.” While King Khan himself said, “Even my kids cried.”

Coca-Cola clinches KKR sponsorship deal as PepsiCo loses fizz

Despite PepsiCo’s desperate last minute revised offer late on Tuesday night to Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for team sponsorship, it is rival Coca-Cola that has clinched Khan’s much-coveted IPL sponsorship deal.

Khan, miffed with the way PepsiCo recently terminated his over 10-year endorsement contract, on Wednesday formalised a three-year sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola for KKR.

The deal between the two positions Coca-Cola’s clear lemon drink Sprite as the KKR team’s associate sponsor and pouring partner. Interestingly, apart from ex-PepsiCo ambassadors Khan and Sourav Ganguly, one of PepsiCo’s current endorsers Ishant Sharma will also be seen drinking, wearing and promoting Sprite during IPL matches.

Coca-Cola had moved in swiftly to wrap up the deal days after PepsiCo dumped Khan as its brand ambassador. Khan, on his part, went public on how he was upset with the termination of the PepsiCo deal.

Said Coca-Cola India VP-marketing Venkatesh Kini: “Our entire association with KKR has been conceptualised in an engaging manner, in keeping with both KKR and brand Sprite’s positioning.”

PepsiCo too had been in the race to pick up sponsorship for KKR, and till late last week, had maintained that it was in discussions with Khan to ‘take this relationship to a new phase’. But an official close to the developments said: “Though a letter of intent between Coca-Cola and KKR had been signed, even PepsiCo’s revised offer which came late on Tuesday night for a higher amount of money could not swing the deal in the latter’s favour.”

As part of the deal, Coca-Cola’s Sprite will get branding, promotion and pouring rights for the KKR team, and the brand will be featured on the players’ apparel and helmets. Sprite, official beverage of the team, will have in-stadia presence and activation rights for all seven home matches at Eden Gardens.

A multi-media communication plan involving mass media, in-stadia and in-market activation and digital platforms with brand Sprite is in the offing.

Coca-Cola officials declined comment on the financials of the deal.

With this deal, some of Bollywood’s biggest stars are in some ways, now associated with Coca-Cola. The beverage company recently renewed its contract with Aamir Khan for brand Coke for an undisclosed amount, and its other cola brand Thums Up is endorsed by Akshay Kumar. As per a TAM AdEx report for year ’08, Shah Rukh leads the ranking of the country’s top celebrity endorsers on television.

As reported by ET last week, Sprite has dislodged brand Pepsi to occupy the second slot in soft drink sales according to market researcher AC Nielsen.

Coca-Cola has already sewn a deal GMR’s Delhi Daredevils and is learnt to be in talks with Punjab Kings XI to renew last year’s association as a team sponsor.

Knight Riders sample Coke deal but Pepsi still in reckoning

Cola kings are eyeball to eyeball over Shah Rukh’s knights.

The negotiations with PepsiCo for title sponsorship beginning to look tough, the actor’s Indian Premier League team has begun talks with Coca-Cola for a deal.

“Coca-Cola signed a letter of intent with Kolkata Knight Riders for title sponsorship on Monday. The proposal is for a limited offer for IPL Season II. The Sprite brand (the company’s clear lemon drink) will be used by KKR as part of the promotions,” top sources in both Kolkata Knight Riders and Coca-Cola confirmed today.

The sources said Coca-Cola is expected to pay around Rs 6 crore as sponsorship to the team owned by Shah Rukh, actress Juhi Chawla and her husband Jai Mehta.

Neither Mehta nor Coca-Cola’s official spokesperson was willing to comment.

The Knight Riders has been scouting for a title sponsor ever since real estate major Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), which bagged the deal last season, pulled out this year because of the economic slowdown.

Coca-Cola sources said the decision to leverage its Sprite brand through the Calcutta IPL team came after it displaced Pepsi as the second highest selling soft drink in India, according to a December 2008 study by market research major AC Nielsen. Thums Up, also from the Coca-Cola stable, retains the top slot.

However, Coke sources insisted that the decision to back KKR did not indicate any association with Brand SRK. Rather, they said, they wanted to leverage Bengal cricket icon Sourav Ganguly’s association with the Knight Riders and promote Sprite in the state.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Aamir Khan, our brand ambassador. Our proposal has no connection with SRK, we are limiting ourselves to KKR” said a Coke source.

The Knight Riders clarified that the doors had still not been closed on Pepsi. The beverages major has not renewed its endorsement contract with Shah Rukh, but a title sponsorship for the Knight Riders was on the cards as an amicable “golden handshake”.

“Channels of communication are still open with Pepsi. But it is clear that they are going to be tight with their purse strings. So we decided to check out the market. Coke has shown interest. But no final call has been taken yet,” said another top KKR source.

PepsiCo sources admitted that they were treading cautiously and not without reason.

The sources pointed out that Coke was expected to seal its deal with broadcaster SET Max as an on-air sponsor for IPL season II, like last year.

“And like last year, Pepsi does not want to be in a situation where it spends money on any IPL property, but is unable to leverage that through ads on SET Max. The channel’s on-air deal promises exclusivity to a sponsor in the category,” said a Pepsi source.

This means, even if Pepsi ends up clinching a deal with KKR, it may not be able to leverage the brand and run ads on SET Max during the IPL broadcast.

“We had committed Rs 10 crore a year till 2013 to be IPL’s beverage partner. Yet we could not get a single spot aired on Sony Max, as Coca-Cola picked up the sponsor slot for about Rs 16-18 crore, blocking the entire category,” said a Pepsi source.

Big B, SRK bag most powerful entertainer awards at FICCI-Frames

Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan have been bestowed with first FICCI-IIFA`s `Most Powerful Entertainers of the Decade` awards here.

The two were among the 10 stars who have been felicitated with the `Most Powerful Entertainers of the decade` award at the ongoing annual FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)-Frames exposition on media and entertainment industry.

The awards came in contrast for Shah Rukh as he gave last year`s IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) awards ceremony a miss. Rumours were rife that he skipped the awards courtesy a cold war with Amitabh, who is the brand ambassador for IIFA.

Joining the stars in the league have been eight other actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty.

Hollywood actor and leading social activist Danny Glover and Congressman John Lewis have been given the FICCI-USIBC (US-India Business Council) award.

Celebrating 10 years, IIFA and FICCI instituted “Most Powerful Entertainers of the Decade” award.