Is Shah Rukh Khan Suffering From A Mid-Life Crisis?

I can only sympathise with this writer, since she seems so out of touch with movies, and still wrtiting abt a movie star..

also bcos she havent seen Chak De India, one of the most spirited films made on women and ofcourse women in sports inspite of being a woman in India..

bt anywys Deepti ji, i can help a lil in reducing ur agony and worry if Shah Rukh Khan is suffering frm Mid life crisis..OSO shows SRK as two characters, and in the second half he plays a young actor, a cool dude, a macho young actor as u name som ther, (although ajay devgan is no longer young, and vivek oberoi no longer macho) and this make over is just for that character..letsay he tried to get into skin of the charcater, and in this case the abs of the character..

bt plz..plz..next time when u r writing abt som subject do som research on it..and ofcourse, watch Chak De..it will help u.

He's still a hack of an actor

OOO, what do you call the SRK equivalents of Brangeloonies, Dee? :D

But I think the song is a spoof. At least, I hope its a spoof condidering its called Dard-e-Disco and has him in a miner's hat. BWAHAHAHAHHA!!!!

Thanks Priya for commenting but I've had enough of old dudes playing as young guns. Its horrid habit that Bollywood should get over. As it is I've had enough of these pseudo patriotic movies like Lagan, Range De Basanti and now Chukh De India.

Give me movies like Omkara or Shoot Out At Lokhandwala or even the remake of Godfather- Sarkar any day.

As it is Shah Rukh has his patent ways of acting that is down right dreary.

But you are welcome to your viewpoint:)

Amrita, my eyes scorched when I saw his navel! He looked so....so.....unmanly in that song- all waxed and gleaming. I'm still reeling with shock. What happened? At least you can laugh I am shedding tears of blood.

There is no way in hell I can defend that man ever again.

Ah... you brought back sweet memories of school. My first floor class 12 classroom looked directly into CJM. :-)

And yes, despite having been SRK's junior at school, I've never really liked him much ... he is such a terrible actor. But I saw Chak De recently, and I must admit, he has put it a great performance.

dee... OMG! I am SO with you. I saw that video today too. I was holding my infant daughter and laughed so hard she started howling.

SRK looks positively... um... yuck.... I mean, OK he worked hard to get into shape, and yes, he's now cut.. with six-pack abs and veins popping out from his huge arms. but he's also all oiled up in the vid, and it's downright scary. and not really manly.

I saw the interview he did about this movie on Koffee with Karan, and he only took his clothes off for that producer or director or whatever(totally forgot her name)... anyway, he's feeling a bit shy about it too, apparently.

anyway. ick.

SRK's always been one hell of a gutsy guy...he takes on what people don't expect from him (i.e. the lux ad, Chak De India, Swades, the Kaal song, KBC, etc) and does it with such skillfulness. Going by his interviews and his sensibility, he's not one to flaunt anything...despite having it all. It's not a matter of copying or comparing with any other actor...he worked hard at it...and I find it very sweet that he referred to his son when asked who inspired him to get in shape. We don't know in which context this song should be taken but all I know is that I'd take a shirtless SRK over Salman anyday :)

hahaha lol! wat a video.Suppressing my gay feelings may be he wud avoided the skin exposure.

OK, I have to admit I am a huge SRK fan, but I say "More power to him". I admire him for his willingness to try things that other actors would not. From the beginning of his career when he took on the negative roles he did in Darr and Baazigar he showed a lot of courage.
Also, a 42-year-old man is not over the hill, but is in his prime. He shouldn't be resigned to playing only "older man" roles. SRK is younger than Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, and Bruce Willis, just to name a few very sexy, very bankable Hollywood stars.
I think if you look at images of SRK across the years it seems clear that he has tried out many looks. I think this is just another one and he is only trying this look on for variety's sake and for the sake of the role. He had a very different look in Don than he did in KANK, and then again even another look in Chak de! India.
So, even though I can see why you might see this song as disturbing evidence of a mid-life crisis, I think SRK will come up with many more looks and roles to surprise us before it's all said and done.

Oops you poor fellow,before commenting some one do some research and say.After seeing this article i really want to shed tear for you miss what ever.For your kind information King Khan has bared his chest for his son AAryan and his great buddy Farah Khan(as the script demand it in OSO).So again stop writing these foolish article.Again sorry for you miss.....

Hi Deepti,
Ultimately, our personal feelings and opinions apart, it is important to remember that when you are watching a part of a product (in this case Shah Rukh's song clip from his forthcoming film Om Shanti Om), it is unfair to pass a judgement based on just what is visible to you and perhaps out of context. When you watch the film and view the same song, your opinion may well change because it is only then that you will be able to gauge the actor playing a particular character, within its context.
Also, to make assumptions like, this may be a result of a mid-life crisis etc. is really hitting below the belt and in poor taste.
Are you truly concerned with SRK's personal life and what his inner person is going through?
Well, I believe you aren't because if you were then you would not take advantage of a mere figment of your imagination and flaunt it to the world.
So, please refrain from passing judgement and speculating about Shah Rukh's mind-state.
It is none of your business.
By the way, do enjoying watching Chak De India and Om Shanti Om!
:)

hehe .. nice article...
although it was unresearched ..more of an instinctive than a thought out reaction.

but lol mid life crisis .. haha gud one .
i m sure he must have not done this merely to stand up to stars smaller in fame and stature ( if i may say so ) than him.

but i still agree .. when i saw the video .. i was really taken aback .. hehe it really felt pretty odd .. may be disturbing .. i dunno.
what was farah thinking !!

anyways .. i hope the movie is as mad as main hun na and i hope i get comfortable watching this new avataar of srk by then.

looking forward to the release.

This is bias. Deepti, you have completely mis judge him as an actor and an individual.

Deepti: Great post! About time somebody commented on all the old men lusting after the young, barely legal starlets.

I dunno why but no matter how corny King Khan gets I cannot hate him like I religiously hate some of the other pelvis gyrating, hair gel happy Bollywood heroes. I try instead, like you have in this article, to come with a more deeper, psychological reason for why he pulls stunts like this once a while. And I have my own pet theory.

I think he needs this: this adoration, this attention, the clamor around him all the time. Hence he feels desperate enough to do something like the ocassional booty shakes and navel gryations. Otherwise he is a good actor if he just decides to give a restrained performance. He proved that early on. But his need to please and get the crowds to look at only him and nobody else makes him do such stupid, over the top things. I dunno if its a mid-life crisis (could be) but I find it more of a long standing insecurity, an eagerness to please the masses. In one of his interviews he said without this attention, he would be nothing and this scares him. He said his biggest fear is that he would wake up one day and people just won't care about what he does on screen or off. He said this fear lives with him. I believe him. It shows everytime he does something age-unworthy.

Andy, you didn't say that the Columbus senior classes looked into our primary sections and was of mutual disappointment to both the sides:)

Vikalp, its a stunned reaction ;)

Aditi, after two decades of watching his soppy acting I don't know if he can surprise me any more. I find the recent make over to be rather disturbing.

Rest of Shah Rukh fans, just as you are entitled to your opinions so am I.

Deeptiji,

then what characters u allow hi to do? 42 or over that? when he play his age and maturity and simply one of the best performances ever, thats in Chak De India, U dont go to watch him..bt next film, he does a number as per the script demands, its all abt midlife crisis!

u state two adaptations frm hollywood plus one blatant distortion of facts as ur fav movies..over originals as lagaan or rang de basanti..zahir hai u wont like chak de India too..bt give it a try..its the tune the whole of India is singing right nw and one which even gave hockey in india a new lease of life!

and abt om shanti om, it has got the premise of film industry frm 70s to 2007..and ther r many stars spoofed in it frm shammi kapoor to rajesh khanna to jitendra, and obviously this is a spoof too of those macho young actors who take off shirt these days..

and its not my viewpoint..its a fact.

Personally, I am deeply appreciative of SRK's new look and fit body.

Working out and sculpting your body is no easy task. Its a testimonial of intense hardwork, discipline, will and consistency. It's a great achievement and he has earned the right to show it off.

Way to go SRK!

And I generally disagree with the blog's view points. Notably - the writer forcing us to indulge in her simplistic nostalgia about lousy plays and school day rivalries.

And more importantly - making comments on how actors "should" age and what they "should" be doing when they hit their 40s and so on.

Age is just a number and the general agreed parameters on age have changed with times.

If the writer takes time to remove her nostalgia-tinted glasses and look at the world, she too may perhaps get a dekko.

"Working out and sculpting your body is no easy task. Its a testimonial of intense hardwork, discipline, will and consistency."

And in the case of a lot of bollywood movie stars (don't know about SRK)... steroids..

Only films in which SRK has 'acted':
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
Swades
Chak De

Lagaan was a great entertainer, not as morally bankrupt as Munnabhai films. Even RDB had an entertaining first half.

Like I said before Priya, all these patriotic movies are so impasse. Maybe they make your heart bleed and swell for those three hours but fact is little of the money that these movies make go towards the betterment of the country. So lets not shed any crocodile tears here.

And yeah we had the AK-47 totting mob sympathizer Sanjay Dutt playing Gandhi fan. And his fans wanted to revert the sentence solely based on his acting as Muna Bhai.

What may seem to you as the rise of national pride and love to me seems like naivety and being easy suckers!

I am hoping that Indians aren't that easily swayed by shallow Bollywood that knows that the best way to make money is to use patriotism just like our politicians do 24/7.

And whats wrong with remaking western movies? Bollywood has been doing it all the time, from remaking movies and shamelessly copying Western songs.

Next I know you will be boycotting the very concept of Capitalism that our society has so easily embraced but something tells me you won't want to go back to the Ration lines of yester years so lets drop this convenient animosity against the West shall we?

What seem like facts to you are no more than your own subjective viewpoint for Shah Rukh never came out and said that he went bare chested just to play down the Indian actors who like to rip open their shirts for all the gals and rickshaw walas.

Patriotic films are passe and gangster films are not? The only person in an eternal midlife crisis is Bachchan senior of the Sarkar, Sarkar Raj, Shootout and Babban fame. You seem to have no appreciation for hard work and for the attempt to get into a role - the man is playing a popular star of the current cinema era and will no doubt be spoofing the likes of Hritik and Salman. See Chak De, Swades if you want to see him act his age. Do not complain that he does not act his age if you will not see him in the films where he does.

I have already seen Swades and done a review of it and gave it a thumbs up.

But pardon me for appreciating superb acting in regular gangster movies or even regular movies over dull over reactions as projected in some of these modern patriotic movies.

My favorite patriotic movie is Mother India - no one can show the pain of a mother as was shown by Nargis and the helplessness of a son as played by Sunil Dutt. That was the one movie that tore my heart as it projected the real India.

Rang De Basanti was all about Jeep driving guys who suddenly felt waves of patriotism and decided to blow up their young lives for a cause.

Munna bhai part one was hilarious but part two had me snoozing. They milked the public with the sequel.

How would Gandhigiri counter terrorism? Now that would be a movie I would go and see. Even the movie about Gandhi and his son was far more poignant than these shallow movies.

Chukh De India is a movie about motivation and hard work (so I''ve heard). Nothing wrong with that but I am kind of cynical over three hour patriotism which does not translate to real life.

Hello Deepti!

I read your article & all the comments above. Honestly when I started reading I couldn't help but agreeing with you initially. But as I finished it & read your justifying replies to your readers I don't think I can feel the same way about you.

First of all, the report comes across as an armature personal diary than any well-researched column. Your liking for certain genre of the Hindi films may not go down well with many. But again, that is a personal choice. I'm not commenting about that.

But what I found ridiculous is you are taking things too personally against Shah Rukh. Try to look from a bigger perspective. By saying "Shah Rukh Khan never was a good actor" - I think you are over(re)acting more than he ever managed on the silver screen!

I still fail to understand what is wrong with an actor/star doing an item number that required him to unbutton his shirt...as long as he is having a body to show-off & as long as he can pull it off well! He is surely not among the so called stars those who drop their shirts at every possibility....& he would never join that league ever. Don't panic!

"What seem like facts to you are no more than your own subjective viewpoint for Shah Rukh never came out and said that he went bare-chested just to play down the Indian actors who like to rip open their shirts for all the gals and rickshaw walas." - here I would like to raise a couple of points.

I think what you have written that may be subjected to you as well. Because if you would have done little study on this subject or read out a few newspapers before commenting then you'd know that Shah Rukh himself came out & said that, actually. Here is the URL for your reference.

'Being bare-chested is not my USP'
http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/september/163706.htm

Secondly, when you say "...all the gals and rickshaw walas..." in same breathe, I started having a doubt on your credibility not only as a writer but also as a respectful woman. You need not push it too hard to stand by your points.

That's gross, much more than that item song in question.

Regards

Puja

hmm..so if every so called patriotic film makes my or everyone's heart bleed of swell, sunny deol wud b the top most hero,dont u think?

its not so..bt thers nothing wrong in appreciating a well made, purposefull and balanced film. chak de is one such film..it never even say india is the best..bt how to achieve somthing for india as united..also makes som points on women and women sports in our country..and last bt not the least abt often doubted intentions of minorities in India..it does a wonderful job to bring all this issues on the table in 2 and half hours..and make the viewers feel for it..so whats wrong if they cheered for it? whats wrong the often neglected sports in india other than cricket felt a sudden rejuvenation? its much less crime than som1 so cynical and passing judgement without even watching it..nw thats a crime.

none of the money the films make goes to betterment of the country?? thats naive! thats the naivest thing posted in all this page! hehe..bt i am not that naive. let the producers and directors keep the money..bt the idea and message and purpose they portray in the film goes to the ppl and make them aware, thats enuff for me! and its happening with chak de..if u do read the current happenings in our country..and it also happend with rdb..if u rememeber the jessica lal case.

when i talk abt copying films frm hollywood it applies to all of then..copying creativity and art shows a lack of talent in ourselves..i hate it. so no use of justifying it with bollywood been doing it all the time..
also, when talking abt art and creativity, why u hav to go far to mention capitalism we may adapt frm west? lets look at culture which is closer..wud u agree to show no animosity if western culture is adapted all over? isnt teh answer no?
so the question isnt abt convenient animosity, bt selective animosity..and i prefer to hav that choice. u can drop it if u want!

yeah, and the last point the poster b4 me alrdy gave the answer..when u know u r so out of depth abt the matter..it will b better if u dont hand out so easy points!

nw i can post one more interview, if u like to read a lil more in this issue..

in srk's words..

In Farah's movie, I play a movie star of today. And with all respect, today's stars are so physically fit, that I had to work on myself harder. Especially in the second half, I play this really cool guy. I take my shirt off as the first character too, but as the second hero, I went all out."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi_Times/This_is_as_naked_as_Ill_get/articleshow/2350107.cms


and yeah, the 'all the gals and rickshaw walas..' comment was really gross!

Incredibly malicious and tasteless article which is claiming to be disgusted by a bare chested Shah Rukh. Does this Deepti have any idea of the range of acting of Shah Rukh over the years. He was brilliant in Darr,in DDLJ,Baazigar, Asoka (absolutely amazing and if you are looking for sexy just think of him in the mud bath)- Devdas, KKKG, Swades, KANK (a complex role superbly done and much underestimated) KHNH, and ofcourse Chak De which is not just 'patriotic' but a very human and moving story elevated to a great film by SRK's acting- and on and on- I think not more than a half a dozen out of the fifty plus films of SRK may have been below par but the large majority are just superb and his charisma hold you in the palm of his hand.
Also I thought it was St. Columba and St. Columbus- I dont think there was a Saint Columbus who if I mistake not was the discoverer of America and not a saint.

Sassui Ansari, first of all thanks for the clarification about the name of the school. I will make the changes in the above post.

As far as the rest of content of my post goes it seems you have not taken into account that as a fan I have the right to express my disappointment. Shah Rukh has always been set apart from the rest of the brainless current set of actors because of his well rounded personalty.

For him to fall for this sham of pimping oneself going shirtless to please the masses does not sit well with his dignified persona.

I have always believed that doing the shirtless prancing around does not reflect our Indian culture. None of our boys/men go around shirtless and yet the movies continue to exhibit this kind of shameless display of skin by both men and women.

This mindless exhibitionism is relatively new to Bollywood which till the seventies was not there. Even the movie like Satyam Shivam Sundaram showed Zinat Taman in a very graceful manner. But once parading of the skin took root the thin line between vamps shedding their clothes and actresses also acting like sex goddesses (yet being sati savitries) became blurred.

By the nineties we had guys also showing their brawns instead of relying on good acting courtesy Salam Khan.

Selling your sex appeal without good acting can only take you so far and that is something Shah Rukh should realize.

And BTW I thought he sucked in all the above movies but liked him only in Swades.

I think what you have written that may be subjected to you as well. Because if you would have done little study on this subject or read out a few newspapers before commenting then you'd know that Shah Rukh himself came out & said that, actually. ....

Puja, its is a subjective Opinion which is why the article is under the Opinion tag

Secondly, when you say "...all the gals and rickshaw walas..." in same breathe, I started having a doubt on your credibility not only as a writer but also as a respectful woman. You need not push it too hard to stand by your points.

Why else do Indian male actors go shirtless or female actresses wear short skirts in movies? They play the sex appeal card to draw bigger crowds. To look hot to the audience especially of the opposite sex. Why should my credibility be tested for saying the obvious truth.

As far as rickshaw walas go - its a term coined for people who lead hard lives in the lower strata and use movies as escapism. Bollywood caters to their fantasies and makes them feel light at the end of the day. Nothing wrong with that.

Nor did I read any newspapers before writing this post. I happened to be sitting in a cafe when I was stunned by the video on the Cafe Screen so kindly don't make wild assumptions.

As it is I fail to understand what you are getting at.

I do not get why people feel the need to write in to tell you why your opinion is wrong. that makes NO EFFING SENSE! I mean, people can write in in and give their own opinion, which may or may not differ from yours. but this is ridiculous.

Also, why do people get personally offended when someone they do not know is critiqued. newsflash, people, you do not know SRK and he doesn't give a flying rat's bum if you defend his honor here or anywhere else!

just sayin....

For the record, Sassui and Deepti, the correct name is St. Columba's (named after Saint Columba, some 6th century Irish dude).

It never ceases to amaze me how people feel so strongly about SRK. Or any star for that matter. Get a life, people.

By the way, Deepti, I am a little amused that you feel SSS showed Zeenat in a "graceful manner". RK was the biggest sleazeball of them all, and he publicly declared that people would come to see SSS to see Zeenat's T##'s.

Andy, I kind of liked Zeenat in SSS because she carried the skimpy outfit out quite well but the movie was crappy.

Also I liked Helen in Sholay and Parveen Babi in Namak Halal.

SS, most people don't believe in 'constructive' criticism;)

Deepti, were you around when socials happened between SCS and CJM? Unfortunately for me, none happened during my 13 years at SCS ... but they did happen before and - I've heard - after my time. A real bummer that!

BTW, Zeenat and Helen were in a class of their own and today's oomph girls don't even compare with them.

As far as SRK goes, I did like him in Chamatkar ... but that may be because that was the first SRK movie I saw and the hamming and stuttering hadn't gotten to me yet.

Deepti, were you around when socials happened between SCS and CJM? Unfortunately for me, none happened during my 13 years at SCS ... but they did happen before and - I've heard - after my time. A real bummer that!

BTW, Zeenat and Helen were in a class of their own and today's oomph girls don't even compare with them.

As far as SRK goes, I did like him in Chamatkar ... but that may be because that was the first SRK movie I saw and the hamming and stuttering hadn't gotten to me yet.

dee... what makes you say that? ;)

SS, the whole post is one big pile of 'constructive criticism' peppered with subjective pop psychology;)

And like all constructive criticism it garnered quite a few negative reactions;)

Andy, I passed out in '93 so no socials for my batch either. CJM also went through a lot of changes I believe.

BTW SRK happened to live in my neck of the woods- Rajendra Nagar.

I seem to have a soft corner for all Delhi-walas;)

i think sharukh looks the best ever,he's even inspired me to work out that much harder.
btw did i ever tell you guys sharukh's school teacher (whom he credits for the move chak de) was my school teacher too :),he was the best teacher i had,i still remember his classes

I think Shahrukh's new look is ab-fab.I like him cause he is willing to try new things and put him self out there,It is a huge insult to compare him to the likes of Oberoi and Abraham...I think next to SRK they are all non-starters.I do concede that Shahrukh is guilty of over-acting but that is standard in Bollywood flick,atleast those that I have seen-which are quite a number.However he was brilliant in Kabhi alvida naa kehnaa (i must admit i have watched it atleast 2 dozen times).I haven't watched Chak de india yet but my reluctnace is mostly due to the fact that i find the patriotic films abit of a bore-however i will grag myself to the cinemas to watch it simply because it is anSRK starrer.
He is still really hot and I do miss watching him in a romantic lead....

unmanly in that song- all waxed and gleaming...

Anupallavi, Shah Rukh is a clear case of- 'Bhurape Me Javani Chah Gaee!'

If he wanted to surprise us he sure did but for some of us it was more of a rude shock than surprise;)

Tonia, I happen to be a big Oberio, Devgan and Saif Ali fan thanks to Omkara. Shah Rukh has yet to do a role that can match their caliber.

Shocking to hear that right? But thats my viewpoint.

It is a role Deepti - in a part of a film. If someone was asked to play a Hritik like film star you would brand them a slob if they did not work out to do justice to the role.

Most importantly - if you think Chak de will be a three hour bore fest of nationalistic spirit then you are missing out on great cinema. It is a unique film that exposes all the stereotypes prevalent in out country, never lifts itself up by pulling something down and is an all round team effort led by the coach.

Omkara was a film that tried so hard to be so cool. Vishal scored big with Maqbool - and no other actors come close to Tabu and Irrfan in that film. Saif was okay - over done, Ajay was a sleepwalker and Vivek was a delight in Omkara. But I do not think either of these people match SEK in Swades, Dil se and Chak de India.

BTW - does building a body and going shirtless in one song makes a man sleazy? He is still an honest upstanding, decent family man, that has not changed.

'Bhurape Me Javani Chah Gaee!'
...again your language...*Lol

Don't sound so desperate Deepti!
I feel sorry for you!

Anyway! No one kicks a dead dog after all...

;-)

well, this is only constructive criticism too..and at the end of it deepti learns somthing..that its just a role.. seems she dont want to admit being wrong, and goes on and on to contradict herself time and agian..
and som others rallying around her, why shud ppl comment etc etc, ofcourse a writer and editor at desicritics cant b found wanting on most of the facts, when she is writing abt a subject!


"Selling your sex appeal without good acting can only take you so far and that is something Shah Rukh should realize"

hahaha..that to SRK..the top star in India for last 15 yers! gosh, u r VAIN!

um, priya... sorry dear, but there is not "wrong" or "right" about opinion. so trying to correct someone's taste in films is like trying to make someone eat bitter gourd who doesn't like it!

why are all you people acting as if you personally know SRK and that he needs your validation? personally, I think that is a little weird.

I did correct Ms.Deepti re St. Columba- how come she made this mistake if she was in a convent next door? Was she in a convent next door in fact?

SS, its called lack of occupation or lack of life to get so overly worked up over a celeb they have never exchanged two words with ;)

As it is Small Sq I find it weird that a father would show his pecs to his son as form of father and son bonding. Most fathers take their kids to museums , parks or read them books but Shah Rukh rather show his brawns to his son.

Ansari, dude I don't need to show you my school certificates to prove that I am CJM-mite. Get a grip ...to err is to be human...etc

Neela, when did I call body building sleazy? What I find silly is the Bollywood's obsession with showing heroes shirt less just as the female actors are pressurized to wear the bare minimum by the directors and I am sure these actors have more to offer than showing skin to get popular.

Shah Rukh had proved that point but he too went down that line to please his director and son? Oh please! Selling senseless brawns to your son at an impressionable age?

Shah Rukh was one of the all rounders in his school from him I expect much much more than from other actors.

Deepti - he did that to play a role. Is that not what the movies are about? And how do you know he does not take his son to museums? He certainly plays sports with his kids. He is an educated man and I am sure is educating his kids well.

Are you telling me that playing a role like the lead in Nishabd, writing a book like Lolita is not art? The 70s were the age of cabaret and there will be women shown doing cabaret in a movie depicting that age, the 21st century has heroes going bare chested and a hero of that age in a film will go bare chested to show the type.

When will you see Chak De to see how he has become a role model for women and men alike? Perhaps it is time to do that and stop whining about a 3 minute bare chested number.

"Selling your sex appeal without good acting can only take you so far and that is something Shah Rukh should realize"

"I am sure these actors have more to offer than showing skin to get popular...Shah Rukh had proved that point"

Are you out of your mind Deepti? You have been continuously contradicting yourself! See, he doesn't give a damn for what you think about him.

The world knows his stature in Indian Film Industry & it can not be a fluke! With shirt or without shirt, SRK ROCKS BIG TIME, because he's got brains & heart both at the right places....& that shows on whatever he does.



"...its called lack of occupation or lack of life to get so overly worked up over a celeb they have never exchanged two words with ;)"

I think [EDITED - PERSONAL] & getting complex that he's still so young...haha! You get a life & leave him alone with his success.

Oh! One more thing, time & again you don't have to mention that you had a chance to exchange two words with the mighty SRK.

Cheap way to earn some mileage. ;-)

well, whether or not SRK cares about Deepti's opinions or not, I see quite a lot of people care on his behalf.

You do pick some winners, Dee :)

and the nuts come out to play! :) :) :)

Gosh here we go again ... SRK fanatics at work.

i haven't seen the movie so I don't know but Sharukh shouldnt walk the Shekhar Suman road.acheiving personal goals is something else and behaving like shekhar suman another.not very classy by Sharukh

Deepti..

That was an interesting bit there. But it's a big world buddy! And evrybody here tries out something different! Shah Rukh plays Om Kapoor in the second half of Om Shanti Om. Om is a superstar of the 21st century and that's why he's taken up this look! And must say it's a dream-come-true (unlike yours) for many girls to have seen SRK in this avatar! It's selling as always! Just chill out coz I am sure SRK is not gonna do this act again in any other film - he's intelligent and doesn't need to strip to impress people.

As for your other comments, I am surprised that you couldn't identify with anyone but Raj in DDLJ. I guess Mohan of Swades and Kabir of Chak De are very well etched-out characters too! So is Suniel in KHKN! Do have a look!

Deepti, I have this friend who usually quite a rationale being decides to side with Shahrukh Khan no matter what he does. It is an almost involuntary gasp and smack that emanates from her being as soon as one says something about Sharukh. Her arm just lunges forward in auto-protest. So all these fans who have gathered to question your intentions and "research" (god help them) are acting out of a similar unexplicable impulse.

I personally tend to be lenient towards Shahrukh fanaticism in the face of the much more grievous case of Salman adoration...now that one is absolutely inexcusable! :D

You r so good in om shanti om
You r looking so smart,sexy in om shanti om.

Next: Deepti analyzes the different facets of Ash in the Last Legion

Hahaha...people are now talking to Shahrukh through this thread. This is hilarious!

Sharukh probably is suffering from a mid-life crisis but what serious malady afflicts the crazy fans that care so much about a filmstar that they lose their F-in senses?!! :D

Aaman 58, leave the Ash fans for me please!! :D I plan to do that. Don't put Deepti through Ash's acting. I'll take it on for Colin Firth. At least I have something in it for me :)

Aditi, go for it

My views on this SRK thing are simple. His body, his life. Let him have his fun.

- Deepa

Deepa - agree, his body, his life. At least the man is not killing endangered species, hiding assault weapons, killing people in drunk driving sprees, treating wife/girlfriend like a flavor of the month. starting Narmada protests to get mileage on the eve of film releases, announcing engagements to make films a hit etc. etc.

Deepti has an opinion and I respect all opinions but I do not like opinions that are couched in something else. Why pretend to like Shahrukh and then be outraged at his working on his muscles? Anyone who likes the man and many who do not care for him have gone and seen, appreciated Chak de India. Depti never saw the film - and she says she liked Shahrukh. It is now entertainment tax free - go see it at almost half price!! Then talk about stereotypes that are harmful to females.

Neela! I second your opinion!

Well said!

I did not review Chukh De in my article. I gave my opinion on the song in Om Shanti and Shah Rukh's new look as seen not only in the movies but also in the Pepsi Ad or even in the TOI leadership ad.

I don't care for his new look and as a fan of his I have the right to express my opinion and be as speculative as I like.

As far as Shah Rukh shirtless affair goes I did not mean any sexual connotation as far as his son was concerned. Far from it I was talking about making children 'appearance conscious' at a tender age.

His son, his upbringing but when one makes such statements in public interviews there will be varied viewpoints expressed and mine is one such viewpoint.

When I opine in a public site like DC I expect both positive and negative reactions to my piece of work or commentary; its given and same goes for interviews.

In Shah Rukh Khan case being a celebrity his persona, appearance and even personal life come under scrutiny. It is an accepted fact or else these stars would be suing Bollywood magazines all the time.

I simply don't understand this storm in the tea cup.

Aditi, I kind of liked Ash in the movie (surprise! surprise!!) but the movie had me snoozing. Go ahead, you face the wrath of Aish fans:)

"I don't care for his new look and as a fan of his I have the right to express my opinion and be as speculative as I like. "

How can any fan of Shahrukh and one concerned about the state of women NOT have seen Chak de? That in itself makes this entire - I am a fan - thing very suspect. It is tax free - see it and then come back and tell us you are a fan.

"How can any fan of Shahrukh and one concerned about the state of women NOT have seen Chak de?"

*I* haven't. mostly because I have a life. it intervenes.

please, please, I beg of you... CHILL OUT, YAAR!

This is very strange. Many people seem to think that Chak De India (which Deepti insists on writing "Chukh") is the epitome of SRK films, so much so that you cannot be called a fan if you haven't seen this one film? SRK must be an actor with a very poor ouvre of he is defined only by his latest film, never mind its merits (that's another discussion).

Simply put, Deepti has a right to her opinion. She is outrages by skin show, be it women or men, especially of they are above a certain age. Maybe she is just prudish. But hey it's her blog. It's her opinion. Whatever rocks her boat.

Where she gets into trouble is by trying to answer her shrill critics. Because her anger makes her more and more illogical and incoherent. Of course it also exposes her anti-SRK streak hitherto dressed in "I'm a fan too" clothes!

Yawn..pot shots along with pop psychology, Shan you have the makings of a gossip diva....NOT!!!

"he is defined only by his latest film, never mind its merits (that's another discussion)."

That is the key here - it is not just Shahrukh's latest film, it is a good film! It and he are to be lauded for trying something so different and uplifting. No time to see the film is a fine excuse, but any one who is aware of their surroundings must know that this film pushes the agenda of moving women's issues to the forefront in a much stronger way than one small 4 minute sequence in a yet to be released film pushes it back.

And I agree with you about Deepti's couching her hate in the "I am a fan" terms to make it seem more balanced.

This is not a review of 'Chak De' so what does that have to do with the opinion?

Being a fan does not mean you have to like everything about the person and overlook his flaws or follies.Is that hate? No. It is called being a critic.

Being rational should ideally come with the good sense to see the flaws in the people we love....they could be stars, our role models, our friends or colleagues. Those who cannot identify the flaws and step outside their blind love for their role models have no opinion. They are as indiscriminate and immature in their sensibilities as children.They are the ones most likely to ape someone, copy somebody's vices and follow somebody's lead rather than have their own individuality.

Deepti's article does not have any hatred whatsoever in it. It is an opinion. Her opinion. If you don't have opinions about your own role models then thats your problem. Maybe you should introspect a little and wonder if its your own low self esteem that prevents you from analyzing other people before pledging unconditional awe and fascination.


...Or maybe you are just a teen with nothing better to do than defending Shahrukh Khan on a public forum :) In that case...you'll grow out of it. If you are an adult however, I'm sorry to say, there's very little hope.

I am a teen with nothing better to do, of course.

Here is what Deepti had to say:

"My heart went out to the poor fellow. Could it be that Shah Rukh knows deep within his heart that his time as one of the reigning Pashas of Bollywood will soon be up? Why else would he try to regain his youth?"

Is her head buried in the sand? This year's biggest hit comes from that poor fellow and it is also the most highly acclaimed film critically. Of course my teen eyes will drool over his abs and pecs while my brain absorbs the message that women can succeed at anything if they try. So please continue to shower your sympathies on the poor fellow, while he carries on trying to do his job as an actor - the last I checked that job involved getting into a role, be it to play a has been 40-something coach or a 30 something hot male star of current times.

neela, honey, give it a rest dear. you're on lather, rinse, repeat and you've not said a thing new.

smally - did you write the piece? are you another sock puppet? you have said nothing yet.

My Quote OF THE DAY- you're on lather, rinse, repeat and you've not said a thing new. hehehhehe...small squirrel where do you come up with these phrases?

Incidentally today I happened to see John Abraham and Bipasha on Indian Idol. I couldn't take my eyes off him - he was sizzling hot;)

hmm, neela I assume you mean me, an clearly I did not write the piece... I rant about other things. and I *did* say what I had to at the beginning dear.. I found the video disturbing and icky.

deepti... I stole lather, rise, repeat from the shampoo bottle directions! LOOOOOOL!

#73: Neela:

"This year's biggest hit comes from that poor fellow and it is also the most highly acclaimed film critically."

If Deepti has chosen to criticize Shahrukh's age unworthy flaunting of bodily assets, vulgar displays and crazy dance moves then it shouldn't matter how one of his other films are doing at the box office or how critically acclaimed his acting in one film (out of his entire career span) was. I don't remember seeing any critically acclaimed acting by the Khan. He has always been a commercial puppet.

Khan movies do well because there are teens like you who go ogle at him and not because of "critically acclaimed acting".

So stop the B.S. and grow up. You are not Rahul's Anjali and there is life beyond Karan Johar's flicks...go get one.

I am going to go shampoo my hair. :P

Aditi, I happened to see Shah Rukh Khan in the New - Fair And Handsome Ad. And here I thought I had seen it all from SRK. Seriously, Fairness Cream?? But I am sure his fans would inform me that there is nothing wrong with hating one's dusky complexion and using these creams to become milky white;) Ahhh....the ugly duckling forwarding the beauty myth! Boggles me mind;)

john can't act.besides sometime back i heard him advising an actor on "koffee with karan" not to bulk up but last night when i saw him on Idol he seems to have exactly done that.maybe he suffering from some kind of puberty crisis

and what about that cheap publicity stunt Bipasha Basu kissing Christiano Ronaldo all for promoting their movie Goal.Shahrukh has never fallen that low

Any DC wants to write up the Indian Idol episode, please do so - much promo goodness

kela, Shah Rukh has fallen low enough to promote a fairness cream;)Maybe the celebs can a have a - how low can you go? competition

Deepti

#84

Men these days are taking much care about their looks.It is necessary for them, the generation is changing. in olden days men are the bread winners, so it covered all other things. But the situation is not same now. women also doing well in jobs. they are also getting good jobs.Now they are looking for good handsome guy to marry(like men look for beautiful girls).

Markets cashing this.I know that you know all these. But i don't understand why you are criticizing sharukh for acting in such ads. Aishwarya rai also acting in beauty soap ads, shampoo ads(not only her, many other too). But people are not criticizing them. I am not sharukh fan but i am not feeling like what he is doing is silly or degrading himself.

comments stretching upto 86 is a fair estimate of SRK's imposing presence.
wot say fellas!!!

ravi... what I think she means is that fairness cream is racist... it reinforces the stereotype that light skinned people are more beautiful, smarter, etc. and you'd hope that someone in a position of leadership/power/authority/able to sway public opinion would not feed that monster. it is not the same as doing a shampoo/soap commercial. it is basically saying "I, SRK, believe that fairer skin is better than darker" which is pretty shitty of him.

not understand everything ..... who's right?... who's wrong?... we all have our own opinion... just want say this....... SHAHRUKH IS ONE OF THE BEST ACTORS !!!.. His different looks make him unique ..... noone can be able to change as he does........He is more as an actor !!!!... HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY SHAHRUKH KHAN !!!....

LOL! You go Stella - now watch the Shahrukh haters brand you a teenager with no brains. I am amazed that the haters who disliked a 1:30 shirtless promo loved John - as far as I could tell in ripped-off films like Jism all he did was go shirtless the entire time and let his abs and pecs do the acting! I think some people need to lather-rinse-repeat to clear their head. Any one who says they never saw Sharukh act and calls other posters Anjali is demented. Come out of your Johar induced fog guys. Johar films sell but there is a world beyond them for SRK that includes acting and it is in films like Dil se, Swades, Paheli, Chak De!

No Neela!

The fact is that a woman writing off a shirtless SRK for three minutes is also afraid to give out an impression of coming up too cold.

Mentioning John (shirtless ever but was in a shirt for a change in Indian Idol...ha ha!) might prove not the entire libido is lost from instincts...

Didn't work but...

*yawn!

"Any one who says they never saw Sharukh act and calls other posters Anjali is demented"

Hmm, lets see....on one side we have a cancer researcher, some accomplished DC authors, some editors etc and one the other side we have you Neela a self-professed teen with nothing better to do than defend a Bollywood filmstar. Who should we dismiss? Easy one huh?

And why do posters Moondust, Stella, Neela all seem like the same person? :) Maybe its the use of ad hominem instead of logical argument.

I'm thinking anyone who loses their decency to bring up the author's libido and make personal attacks because their favorite movie star received some well-deserved criticism is a loser in the making.

If it bothers you so much don't stay up late and read stuff on the internet. Study for your exams. Papa cannot pay for one more year at school now can he?....and Shahrukh won't!

Jab bade baat kar rahein hon to bacchon ko beech main nahi bolna chahiye.

As it happens I haven't seen any of Johns movies since I am very choosy about where I spend my three hours. I just happened to see him on the Indian Idol and thought he carried himself well, don't act so paranoid and try to distinguish between dignified persona (that Shah Rukh had previously exhibited) and exhibitionism that younger artists have to indulge to get to the top.

But as Seema said maybe its your age that deters you youngsters from understanding the difference between relying on your personality rather than brawns to reach the top.

Could this new get up be his last attempts at trying to out-shine the contemporary macho young actors like John Abraham, Ajay Devgan and Vivek Oberoi?

"Hmm, lets see....on one side we have a cancer researcher, some accomplished DC authors, some editors etc and one the other side we have you Neela a self-professed teen with nothing better to do than defend a Bollywood filmstar. Who should we dismiss? Easy one huh?

And why do posters Moondust, Stella, Neela all seem like the same person? :) Maybe its the use of ad hominem instead of logical argument. "

Seema - I am all of them, and a cancer researcher and a published author, an editor and a teenager and Anjali. And Papa never paid for my education - you see I have no education, that is why I am not calling other people names and putting them down for being too young or too old. Why on earth does my age matter? Did I ask you for your's or Deepti's? And neither did I ask anyone for their occupation nor disclosed mine. This is the internet and I can be a Nobel laureate or a scum bag as any one pleases. If you and Deepti and your cohort choose to ignore valid comments and instead pick on who I might be as a person, then more power to you. Says a lot for the credibility of the Desicritcs team!!!

Neela: Ah, so basically you can exercise your liberty in refering to the author a hater, other people's dementia etc. and applauding comments that reference her libido but when we do it..."it says a lot about the Desicritics team"!!! How convenient! You can make personal attacks under the anonymity of the internet but when we do it it offends you thus? :)

The reason your age matters is because once you mature up a little, even if you are a fan and an ardent admirer you learn to accept faults. Nobody has to be perfect and if Shahrukh is over the top in one movie while being very good in another, a mature fan will not have any qualms in admitting it. An immature or teenie-bopper on the other hand will immediately take offense to the tiniest bit of criticism :) like you have. We all like some Shahrukh movies and then don't like some very much. Deepti is not reviewing Paheli, Chake de or Dil Se. She is speaking of a certain scene in which she feels he overdid the flaunting. But in your zeal to defend Shahrukh you overlook this. this can only be immaturity.

If someone chooses to criticize our fav. movie stars we don't take it personally. SRK is a public figure and will receive both admiration and critique in equal measure. Being a little older, we see that. You on the other hand have made it a personal issue...and are fighting the author on her opinion, which she is entitled to.

And we will try to buy that you are a teen, and Anjali etc but from your comments we wouldn't pin you as a cancer researcher or editor or a Nobel Laureate (!!!) :D

I agree with you on the om shanti om video.It seems his clan can't stop talking about it,but honestly it looks bad.It seems people here take body building as a part "trying different things" or "taking risks" for an actor then reflects more on their understanding of the craft than on srk's choices.

I don't agree with your mentioning of ajay and vivek in the same bracket.What suits them does not suit srk?

Srk was short sighted for a long while and never tried to push the envelope.He was happy sticking to his clan who are easily the worst filmmakers in India but great marketeers.The words "suck up" has been given a new dimension by these guys.His choices and lack of screening of roles with his clan has often disillusioned me.

On a positive note when he doesn't try too hard and gets a a meaty role,he does strike the right balance,without the theatrical stuttering and stammering.I felt in chak de and swades he managed that.

As an achiever,he is an always and will be an inspiration for me.I think his is one of the great "stories" of our time.

As an actor Aamir khan is the greatest of my generation and arguably one the best of all time.One of the few genuinely world class lead actors we have had.

"She is speaking of a certain scene in which she feels he overdid the flaunting. But in your zeal to defend Shahrukh you overlook this. this can only be immaturity."

Is she? What if the role demands flaunting? Has she seen the film or the context in which this number will appear? Is she judging the man or the role? Is it mature to judge based on 90 secs of a promo? I guess it must be for cancer researchers and writers and editors. I only hope that not all cancer discoveries are based on such frivolous judgments and not all writing is as shallow.

Neela: In order to defend your favorite movie star you are attacking the intelligence, writing skills, credentials and accomplishments of so many women. Is THAT mature?

By the way, a role may demand flaunting but a music video?
:D

Hehe. Who are you kidding?? Yourself??? :) It doesn't matter which film the movie will appear in. If its a tasteless performance its a tasteless performance.

Sometimes the best of films have the worst of song sequences. So what? SRK makes a whole lotta money off of his fans...a little bit of criticism won't kill him. Alright?

Jay:By the way, a role may demand flaunting but a music video?
:D

the music video is from the movie duh.I agree with Neela in this much that his role in the movie probably demanded all that.Sharukh has even said so (if you listen to his interviews).

Deepa : Shah Rukh has fallen low enough to promote a fairness cream;)
yes i agree fair and lovely is too cheap,nivea or garnier maybe ;) ,btw none of them work

Small squirrell : "I, SRK, believe that fairer skin is better than darker" which is pretty shitty of him.
Ma'am you need to get a reality check.A billion people can't be wrong.

I find all this talk about him having developed that 6 pac ab to play a role funny to say the least.Is he playing some kind of kung fu master based in korea?(well since it is srk I am assuming that there will be an NRI angle,have to keep them happy)

I guess by that logic he has been hamming in most of his roles on purpose to "justify the character".

No he actually decided to strip so that he could sit back and laugh at all you morons bitching about.Just look at the LOW levels this convo has dipped into,making insinuations about someone's sex life(or lack of it) etc etc NASTY.

kela... are you done behaving like a petulant child? why did you come back anyway? I wish you were more like the locusts that only appear every, what, 7 years???

ss thats irrelevant,lets talk about the matter here or don't even

Deepthi,

Why is it bad for a 40+ man to have a sculpted body. Why do you think if one is trying to gain a some muscle it is mid life crisis! Look at Brad Pitt. He is 40+ and an equally bad actor. BUT he is easy on the eyes. We all agree that SRK cannot act. So he might as well have a hot-bod since all of us are going to watch him (for various reasons) anyways.

Die Hard, nothing wrong with being fit- look at madonna but yes, I do feel SRK as far more to over than his brawns.

hmm i am sure u will change ur opinion after watching chak de. And for the sake of all of us lets hope his new looks is a one time stunt for OSO

hey deepti lama wat ever u r do u anything about acting or anything u said one should concentrate on acting not on ur looks like body building listen gone r dose days when heroes looked like a coomon man ok na today they must have unique quality u think that aperson if buils body doest not know acting u stupid deepti lama u know nothing salman khan is the example the person has given hits consistently n has a hot body n can act also in todays world one should have good phisique

Why am I suffering from a headache after reading the above comment? Aspirin please!

I have no idea what #107 even says! LOL

I think more than looks or acting someone should know how to write past 4th standard :P

no doubt shahrukh is the god of acting and a god of bollyhood no actor comes nearer to him.he is the best and he will rule the bolly hood forever. some of the actors are jealous on his achivement.trys to put him down.but god is always with him and a millions of fans support and their love
and whoever speaks against shahrukh they are the stone hearted they only deserves to watch blue flims. ha ha ha