I'm a pioneer in marketing films, not myself: SRK

December 19, 2015

New Delhi, Dec 19: He's as successful an entrepreneur as an actor. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan considers himself a "pioneer" in innovative movie marketing that has set trends aplenty in the over Rs.12,640 crore (approximately $2 billion) Indian film industry and steered his projects to hit status. But he does not agree that marketing skills are an "intrinsic" part of an actor's life.

sharukh"As far as marketing of films is concerned, I will 100 percent claim that I started doing it in this country, especially of the level that's prevalent today. Whether it was 'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani', 'Yes Boss', 'Ra.One' or 'Happy New Year'.

"I'm genuinely a pioneer as far as marketing films is concerned. (But) Marketing myself, no. I don't think actors need to market themselves," Shah Rukh, who has his own film production company Red Chillies Entertainment banner with his wife Gauri, told IANS in an interview here.

Citing the example of Hollywood's "Batman" star Christian Bale, he added: "I don't think it's an intrinsic part of being an actor. You take a Christian Bale...he doesn't market himself. He is Christian Bale, and he's fantastic. And as a matter of fact, he's a very reclusive person. I don't think that's a prerequisite for an actor."

But when Shah Rukh - who has an experience of over two decades in filmdom and was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Edinburgh earlier this year - talks of his hold on film marketing, he doesn't say it for nothing.

His clutter-breaking strategies have been at the core of marketing films like "My Name Is Khan" -- for which actress Kajol and he rang the opening bell of the US Nasdaq stock market; "Ra.One" -- for which the 'Badshah' had a 10-month campaign with tie-ups worth Rs.52 crore with over 30 brands; "Chennai Express" -- for which a game and a karaoke app were launched; and "Happy New Year" -- to promote which the film's cast went on 'Slam! The Tour' and performed across cities in Britain and the US.

SRK's first pitch for his film "Fan", slated to release on April 15 next year, emerged in July this year. The walls of the actor's Mumbai bungalow were painted with messages, and it was only later revealed that the graffiti was indeed a unique promotional stunt for the Maneesh Sharma directorial.

And for his just-released "Dilwale", directed by Rohit Shetty, the 50-year-old Padmi Shri awardee planned a straight 20-day campaign -- an "experiment" that he feels has turned out to be "good".

Still, the actor -- who's known for his romantic roles on screen -- doesn't take full credit for the marketing of his films.

"I don't think I'm an expert in marketing... It's unfortunate that a lot of the credit for my films comes to me. They say, 'It's a Shah Rukh Khan hit'. It's not! It's a hit of 200 people who have worked on the film. I get the benefits because I'm the poster boy.

"For years, I've sat down with some very smart and intelligent young people who come up with out-of-the-box ideas. I'm in a position -- and I'm not trying to be modest here -- to use those ideas and have the resources to build up on them. But I'm not the birth-giver to those ideas," Shah Rukh said.

One of the highest paid actors of Hindi filmdom, Shah Rukh also does not feel "complimented" when people call him a "businessman or marketing genius". "It's not a compliment to me, it's a compliment to the people I work with. And since I'm just the face of it, it's awkward for me to accept that."

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News Network
June 15,2020

Mumbai, Jun 15: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has paid a heartfelt tribute to actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on Sunday.

Taking to Twitter, the superstar recalled the 'Kai Po Che' actor's "energy, enthusiasm, and his full happy smile."

Sushant, who was a big fan of Shah Rukh, was often compared to him as both the actors made a successful transition from the small screen to Bollywood without any Godfathers.

Sharing a throwback picture along with Sushant, Khan also noted how much the late actor loved him and asserted that he will surely miss him.

"He loved me so much...I will miss him so much. His energy, enthusiasm, and his full happy smile. May Allah bless his soul and my condolences to his near and dear ones. This is extremely sad....and so shocking!!," the tweet read.

Sushant, 34, committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday, Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Sharma confirmed. However, no suicide note has been recovered from Rajput's residence, as per the police and further investigation is underway.

As per the latest development, the body of the actor is brought to Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital from his residence in Bandra.

The actor, who rose to fame with the 2008 television series 'Pavitra Rishta,' made his Bollywood debut with Abhishek Kapoor's 'Kai Po Che' in 2013.

One widely loved actor for his simplicity and humble nature, the actor gave hit movies to the entertainment industry, including MS Dhoni's biopic, where he played the cricketer on screen.

The star was last seen in Nitish Tiwari's 'Chhichhore,' alongside Shraddha Kapoor in 2019.

The news of the sudden demise of the actor left a bevy of his fans, and Bollywood celebrities in shock, triggering an outpouring of condolences.

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News Network
June 4,2020

Mumbai, Jun 4: Casting director Krish Kapur, who had worked on films like Mahesh Bhatt's Jalebi and Kriti Kharbanda-starrer Veere Ki Wedding, passed away at the age of 28 due to brain hemorrhage, his family said.

There was speculation that Kapur died in a road accident but his maternal uncle, Sunil Bhalla, dismissed the reports, saying that the casting director fainted at his home in suburban Mira Road here and suffered brain hemorrhage.

According to Bhalla, Kapur breathed his last on May 31.

"He had no medical history. He was healthy and doing absolutely fine. On May 31, he just collapsed and started to bleed. He died of brain hemorrhage," Bhalla said on Wednesday.

Kapur is survived by his mother, wife and seven-year-old child.

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News Network
April 16,2020

New Delhi, Apr 16: Actor Salman Khan on Thursday put out a sharp message to the "jokers" who were flouting government-imposed guidelines and venturing out during the ongoing lockdown, putting at risk countless lives to the deadly coronavirus.

In his characteristic 'Bhai' style, Salman also appealed to people to not attack doctors, nurses and police personnel who are in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.

In a 10-minute hard hitting video shared on Instagram he begins with a "Hello, namaste, salaam, sasriyakaal, Kem Cho' in typical TV reality show 'Big Boss' style and goes on to say 'Zindagi ka Bigg Boss' has begun with the entire country staying in lockdown mode at home.
He said he had taken a two-day "chhutti" (leave) but "This corona, COVID-19 has given everyone a 'chutti'."

Khan said he was staying at his farmhouse in Panvel near Mumbai with his family including his mother, two sisters their children and some other people who had come to visit.

In the video he said that he had sent a friend to get rations for the family from a village around five kilometres away. He recounted that the police stopped him and in the process, his friend took off the mask to speak to the policeman who reprimanded him and asked him to put the mask back on. Salman said that he too chided his friend for doing such a thing.

"Don't go out, don't do social gatherings, stay with your family, the government has said if you are doing namaaz, do it at home, do pooja at home..." the actor said, adding that those who had a wish to kill their families should step out.
"Go out get your ration, nobody is stopping you, go nearby but wear your masks, your gloves, go alone," the actor said underlining that the government has assured that everybody will get ration.

The actor said that whoever does not understand a coronavirus positive patient's pain is anti-human.

He pointed out that doctors, nurses and policemen are putting in long hours to curb the spread of coronavirus and urged people to respect their work and stay inside.

The actor said policemen would not have taken action and hit people if they followed guidelines and stayed inside. "If you weren't going out with friends, police wouldn't have hit you. Do you think police are enjoying it?," he asked.

"Doctors and nurses are working to save your lives and what do you do? You started pelting stones at them? Those who have been diagnosed with coronavirus, are running away from the hospitals. Where are you running? Towards life or death?," he questioned in his video.

The 'Dabangg 2' star appreciated the efforts by the frontline warriors and said, "the virus that started in China is over in China now, but because of a few jokers, the whole of India will sit at home for a long time."

The 54-year-old star said that he was aware of many people who wouldn't come out of their homes earlier but have started doing so since they've been asked to not go out.

"You are putting everyone's lives at risk," the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor said.

Salman concluded by urging people to respect the work of the doctors, nurses, police personnel and those who work in banks, take care to ensure that the disease does not spread further and pray that it does not come to a situation where the military has to be called in to stop people from doing the wrong thing.

Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri took to Twitter to shared the video message. "Very well said @BeingSalmanKhan I hope wisdom prevails everywhere," he tweeted.

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