Karan Johar denies Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol's on-screen comeback

A few days ago, the Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ, 1995) jodi — Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol — made news again. The reason was their reported onscreen reunion in Karan Johar’s next film. But ask KJo about it and he sounds surprised.

“No, there’s nothing. Right now, my entire focus is on Student Of The Year (SOTY). In fact, I haven’t planned a thing (as far as his new venture goes) next. Everything you
read or hear is just conjecture,” says Karan, who last directed the pair in My Name Is Khan (2010).

It has been reported that he will cast the duo in his next romantic film. And since he always works on one film at a time, it won’t be announced before the end of the year and won’t begin rolling before early next year.

“Of course it would always be my biggest honour to work with Shah Rukh and Kajol who, I believe, is the best pair Hindi cinema has ever seen. I would always want to work with them, but there’s nothing on the cards,” insists Karan, who also did a cameo as one of SRK’s friends in DDLJ.

At the moment, Karan is busy with the post-production work on SOTY that doesn’t have any big star in the lead. Instead, the film will mark the launch of newcomers Alia Bhatt (Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter), Varun Dhawan (David Dhawan’s son) and model Siddharth Malhotra.

Rumours says SRK and Kajol are going to do a cameo while Rishi Kapoor will play a gay principal. This is KJo’s latest directorial venture after My Name Is Khan.

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Wankhede row: Shah Rukh has Congress's protection, says Bal Thackeray

Targeting Shah Rukh Khan over the Wankhede incident, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday said the actor did not seem to mind the treatment given by airport authorities in the United States, but was ready to get into fracas in Mumbai, because "he has Congress's protection".

"Surprisingly, US security officers detain Shah Rukh Khan at the airport, frisk him, but he does not lose his cool. He goes there again and again to get humiliated. But he argues with humble security guards at Wankhede, because here he has the protection of the law, and of Congress," Thackeray said in his editorial in the Sena mouthpiece `Saamana'.

"Shah Rukh is a good actor, but his behaviour at parties, public events is controversial. Recently Saif Ali Khan too behaved this way. Perhaps that's why Centre gave him Padmashri. In that case, Shah Rukh deserves a bigger honour. Please do recommend him for President-nominated Member of Parliament," it said.

If Shah Rukh felt that the security guards misbehaved with him and insulted the kids of `a celebrity', he should have complained to the authorities at Wankhede Stadium. The guards would have been punished without any inquiry," Thackeray said.

Thackeray also appreciated the five-year ban on Shah Rukh's entry to the Wankhede Stadum and said that a lifetime ban should be imposed on him. The Shiv Sena supremo said that ban was reduced to five years due to pressure from New Delhi.

"If pressure comes from Delhi, it will be further reduced to five minutes," he quipped.

The editorial also contrasted Shah Rukh with other members of the film industry. "Amitabh Bachchan and his family members, Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan are also celebrities. But one never hears of they getting into brawls under the influence of alcohol."

It also mentioned recent reports that Bachchan helped some Vidarbha farmers repay their debts. "How many actors have done this?" it asked.

"We wish Shah Rukh success as an actor. He should stay away from fights, brawls, bad language and Pakistan's advocacy," Thackeray said.

Sena had targeted Shah Rukh earlier over his remark that he would have liked to have Pakistani players in the IPL.

The MCA on Friday slapped a ban for five years on Shah Rukh from entering the Wankhede Stadium over his alleged bad behaviour at the stadium.

Shah Rukh, the co-owner of Indian Premier league (IPl) team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), had allegedly misbehaved with security personnel and MCA officials Wednesday night.

Shah Rukh claimed the security guards manhandled the children he had brought to the stadium, which provoked him to protest.

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Shah Rukh, Priyanka adopt villages!

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Aamir Khan have adopted villages as part of the Greenathon campaign to work for its welfare and raise awareness about the environment.

The fourth edition of NDTV-Toyota Greenathon raised Rs.8.89 crore for the benefit of 508 villages. While Shah Rukh adopted 12 villages, Aamir adopted five villages. Greenathon brand ambassador Priyanka adopted two villages and her Teri Meri Kahaani co-star Shahid took three villages.

Actors Rahul Bose, Arjun Kapoor, chef Ritu Dalmia and music composer Bappi Lahiri adopted a village each.

Actor Milind Soman also contributed towards Greenathon by running a 1500-km Green Run, starting April 20 from Qutub Minar in New Delhi, across five states.

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Our spirit is solid: Shah Rukh Khan

New Delhi, May 24 -- Finally, Shah Rukh Khan's five-year-long wait has ended. His Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Kolkata Knight Riders, has entered the finals - after defeating Delhi Daredevils - for the first time in five years.

No wonder he celebrated deliriously - with somersaults and a victory lap - at the Subroto Roy Stadium in Pune on Tuesday even in the face of Rajasthan court summons and Wankhede ban. "The spirit and combination of our team is looking solid," says SRK, reinforcing the fact that no controversy will stop him from supporting the team on field. "Gautam (Gambhir; captain) has rallied the forces very well.

In a team game, the entire unit needs to come together. Like all the spheres in life, sometimes a leader puts them all together while at times the combination of 11 people hits the right note." Also, SRK feels over the years, some of the younger players like Manoj Tiwary, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Debabrata Das have matured. "We've sustained with them for years. For instance, Debabrata - like a few other young ones - has been with us for five years now. Also, we have made the size of our team much smaller this time around. So everyone knows that they have a chance to play," says the actor, who said he found it hard to believe that his team has reached the finals.

Beside Indian players, SRK admits that his "foreign players are so wonderfully talented" that management doesn't know who to bring in (the team). The actor says that Gautam is a huge force along with biggies like Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum and Shakib Al Hasan.

"Also, I feel the inclusion of Sunil Narine - whom Gautam suggested - has made KKR a very balanced team. Now, we have very good batsmen instead of, say, just three strong batters. Our batting order is till Brett Lee comes in," he says

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