At 43, King Khan explores
new avenues
By
Robin Bansal
New
Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) He earns over Rs.1.5 billion ($30 million)
a year through endorsements, over Rs.10 million to grace an
event, Rs.10 million per TV episode, more than Rs.150 million/Rs.
15 crores per film and has now launched a Rs.109 billion real
estate project in the UAE. Actor Shah Rukh Khan, who turns
43 Sunday, is much more than a Bollywood superstar.
With
his dimpled cheeks, toned frame, impeccable dressing sense
and unmatched wit and humour, the actor has enthralled audiences
worldwide for almost two decades now with films like "Baazigar",
"Darr", "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge",
"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Dil To Pagal Hai"
and "Chalte Chalte".
King
Khan, as he is fondly called, wears the diadem of the actor
with the biggest pocket in tinsel town - rumoured to be around
Rs.16 billion (Rs.1,600 crores) with his maximum earnings
coming from commercial endorsements.
Shah
Rukh, the actor-turned-businessman, who earns more than Rs.300
per minute as per experts, has successfully diversified into
newer avenues with the same charismatic appeal with which
he rules Bollywood, just as his fan following has spread over
the rest of Asia-Pacific and into Europe, North America and
Africa.
After
a colourful 2007 with two hits - "Chak De! India"
and "Om Shanti Om" (OSO), Shah Rukh has left the
theatres devoid of his presence this year. But the actor continues
to be a phenomenon worldwide.
He
made a quick profit of Rs.400 million/Rs. 40 crores across
the table by selling the world distribution rights of "Om
Shanti Om" to Eros International for Rs.750 million as
against the production cost of Rs.350 million.
The
profit that he earned from the deal was apart from the remuneration
of Rs.50 million that he took as the lead in the movie.
His
further business commitments to his Indian Premier League
(IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders and his stint on TV as the
host of reality quiz show "Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez
Hain" this year have kept him off the big screen.
Shah
Rukh has also been kept busy with his ongoing world tour -
Temptations Reloaded.
"It's
very important for every actor to diversify and Shah Rukh
is doing the same - exploring possibilities in other fields.
He has all the qualities of an all-rounder. If he is cutting
down on movies, it's a good thing. This way, his fans would
get to watch him do more quality cinema," trade analyst
Taran Adarsh told IANS.
"This
is a fantastic phase for him. After Amitabh Bachchan, he is
the only actor who has an incredible career graph and I'm
sure that he'll be seen on the big screen for a long time,"
he added.
The
actor is one among the few to have a huge fan following in
Bollywood. Even his colleagues can't stop raving about him.
"I'm
a huge Shah Rukh fan. I've always been one and even he knows
that. I admire him since his earliest films and I'd like to
see a lot more of him on the screen," Priyanka Chopra,
who starred with him in "Don", told IANS.
Actress
Eesha Koppikhar was all praise for the actor having achieved
superstardom without having any godfather.
"Shah
Rukh is a great performer, a lovely actor and a wonderful
person. He comes from a non-film background and despite that
he has achieved the success and fame that he enjoys today.
He is a true achiever," she said.
Filmmaker
Aziz Mirza, who cast Shah Rukh in four out of five of his
movies, said: "Shah Rukh has always believed in quality
cinema. He is a workaholic and he does everything with dedication.
He is an excellent actor."
Although
Shah Rukh was not seen on the big screen for most of 2008,
he kept hogging the headlines, the latest for getting the
Malaysian honour 'Datuk'.
His
forthcoming releases are "Billo Barber", "Rab
Ne Bana Di Jodi", "My Name is Khan", "Dulha
Mil Gaya", a sequel to "Don - The Chase Begins Again"
and a voiceover in animation film "Koochie Koochie Hota
Hain".
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