KAREENA-SALMAN ADORABLE COUPLE IN '...MRS.KHANNA', SAYS DIRECTOR

He is 43 and she is 29, but their age difference is no matter. Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor make an "adorable" couple on screen in his forthcoming "Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna", says debutant director Prem Soni.

"The age difference between Salman and Kareena was never a consideration. They make an totally adorable couple and complement each other on screen," Soni said over phone from Mumbai.

"They look good together in the film as there are no loud moments between them. The film has romantic instances here and there, but it has a very subtle treatment. There are cute scenes in the film and both of them have carried them really well," he added.

Newcomer Soni considers Salman his "godfather" and says the superstar was on board the project as soon as he heard the script and even asked his brother to produce the film.

"I had written the script and then fixed an meeting with Salman. His reaction after the narration was overwhelming. All he said was, 'I'm doing it'. That's how the project began," the director said.

"Salman is indeed my godfather in the industry as he is the one who has given me a break," he added.

For Soni, it was a cakewalk to get Kareena to play the heroine. "I went for the script narration to Kareena in Goa where she was shooting 'Golmaal Returns'. She loved the role and when I told her that Salman is doing the film, she said - 'Why would I say no to Salman?'. She instantly agreed," he said.

"Kareena is such a delight to work with. She is among the finest actors these days. She is so effervescent and as dedicated as an actor," he said.

A co-production of Sohail Khan Productions and UTV SpotBoy Pictures, the film also features Sohail in a pivotal role. But unlike popular belief, the film's plot is not based on an extramarital affair, Soni clarified.

"'Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna' is not based on an extramarital affair. It is just a story of three people. The whole extramarital thing is only a perception. For the real thing, you need to go and check out the movie," he said.

Asked about the USP of the movie, Soni said: "Its simplicity. The movie is very ordinary, very simple. It will touch a billion hearts with its real touch and that is what will make the story effective to the audience. We have given it a very contemporary look, but it isn't flashy at all."

"Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna" releases Oct 16, the same day as much-awaited action flick "Blue" and comedy "All The Best", but Soni says he is unperturbed.

"I have no apprehensions. It takes a lot of energy for every filmmaker to make a movie. So there are no hard feelings for anyone. May the best win because they are all of different genres and have their own set of audiences," he said.

SHAHRUKH'S MY IDOL, SAYS SALMAN KHAN

Salman Khan might not like SRK's personal attitude, but he is all praises for the actor's enthusiasm, professional attitude and physical features.

The actor was all praises for his Khan counter part duting his television show Dus Ka Dum.

In one episode of the game show on Sony Television, Salman said, "When it comes to romantic scenes no one can do it better than Shah Rukh Khan. He is proficiently great."

As if this was not enough, Salman went on to say that Shah Rukh has beautiful eyes.

"SRK has such beautiful eyes, it can make anybody go crazy," Salman said, adding, "SRK is the king of romance."

Salman also praised the honesty and dedication of Shah Rukh. He said that no one can be more professional than SRK and that he marvels at his dedication towards work. SRK was his idol when it comes to his attitude for work, Salman added.

SALMAN: BOX OFFICE GOLD

Salman Khan's riding high... and Bollywood is cheering.

It's Salman Khan time in Bollywood. With his full-on action film Wanted becoming a hit, the superstar has millions of rupees riding on his shoulders with three more big-budget films lined up. And all his friends in the industry - from David Dhawan to Vipul Shah - are joy at the actor's success.

Wanted earned about Rs.38 crore (Rs.380 million) across the country in its first week and industry experts feel that the film's good business will help Salman's approaching releases - Main Aur Mrs. Khanna, London Dreams and Veer.

"Salman always knew when and where to strike. He was always very confident about Wanted and this is the reason why he went all out to promote the film," Dhawan, who has worked with Salman in more than half a dozen films, told IANS.

"Forget first weekend collections; it was sheer disaster when Eid festivities began. Audience response inside auditoriums was unprecedented," he added.

Directed by Prabhu Deva, Wanted is a raw action-drama comparable to Aamir Khan's Ghajini.

"Salman may have done one or two bad films in recent times due to which it appeared to some that he was no more in the reckoning. They were mistaken though because he is beyond hits and flops," said Abbas Burmawalla of director duo Abbas-Mustan.

"His strong fan base could sense from a distance that Wanted was a film to watch out for and turned it into such a huge success," he added.

Salman's Yuvvraaj and God Tussi Great Ho bombed at the box office and many believed he was down and out. But the industry doesn't quite believe so.

"Wanted is Salman's one-man show. Yes, everyone involved with the film has done a fabulous job, but it is Salman's pull that got the audiences into theatres. Otherwise director Prabhu Deva was making his first Hindi film while Ayesha Takia isn't amongst the top three heroines that we have today," said Sanjay Kapoor, brother of Boney Kapoor who produced Wanted.

"He gave Wanted his full support and led the entire promotional campaign. He was supremely excited about the film and gave his heart, body, soul and time to its making followed by promotion," he added.

Vipul Shah, who has worked with Salman in the film London Dreams that releases Oct 30, is happy that Salman's three-film stint this year has got off to a good start with Wanted.

"My promotion plan though is not as expensive as that of Wanted. We are going right ahead in creating awareness around London Dreams, but the spillover of Wanted should also help our campaign. Since Wanted is all over, I am sure the euphoria and Salman's presence amongst audiences will continue for many more weeks to come," said Shah.

Filmmaker Suneel Darshan, who has never worked with Salman, is a little guarded before declaring this as a golden run of the actor.

"Wanted has done quite well in India but its fate in the overseas market has been contradictory. With crores of rupees riding on his shoulders in the current season on Veer, London Dreams and Main Aur Mrs.Khanna, all due to release shortly, god forbid if anything goes wrong, it will have severe repercussions on the industry's economy. This is just another interesting phase for Salman...," he said.

Himesh Reshammiya, with whom Salman has had a decade-long association, has a final word though. "Salman was a superstar, is a superstar and will always remain a superstar."

SALMAN KHAN SUCKER FOR SOCCER

Will lead Kolkata's top teams on to the field for a friendly match, as part of Wanted promotions.

Salman Khan will be in Kolkata for a friendly match to mingle with the top soccer teams of the city - East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

It's part of the promotions of Salman-starrer Wanted, which released last week. Producer Boney Kapoor confirms, "Salman will be in Kolkata on September 26 for a friendly soccer match to be played between Kolkata's top teams. It will be called The Wanted Cup and Salman will lead the teams on to the field and will work out with them."

This is also the first time Khan will be in Kolkata during Durga Puja - which is a huge festival there. He is looking forward to the experience. Boney adds, "Salman has a huge fan following in West Bengal. Though he's been there for shootings, this is the first time that he's going to promote a film there. The whole team of Wanted, including Prabhudheva (the film's director) and the cast members, will also be there to cheer the teams."

The match will be held at one of Kolkata's biggest sports stadiums - the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium.

Initially, the match was to be held in the Salt Lake Stadium but now it has been shifted to the RSS because of security reasons. Salman will be interacting with his fans and the media at the event. Khan had earlier been roped in as the brand ambassador of Indian football by the All India Football Federation to promote the game in the country.

INTRODUCING 12 YEAR-OLD BACHCHAN

66 year-old Amitabh Bachchan plays a 12 year-old for the first time in R Balki’s Paa. He will be introduced as a debutant in the opening title of the film.

Director R Balki made the decision as he believes (rightly so) that it is the first time Amitabh Bachchan is playing a 12 year-old and. The Cheeni Kum director said that if there is anyone in India who (possibly) hasn’t seen Bachchan before will not recognize him at all. His character is simply called Auro in the film.

The actor is a school of acting in himself. He was so involved in the film that became the character even when the cameras went off. He looked and behaved like an ill-behaved 12 year-old on the sets. As Auro, he threw tantrums and was hard to control or to discipline. He would run around the place and not sit still till people gave in to his demands.

What’s more is that his character Auro has only 4-5 teeth and that’s because he is addicted to chocolates and ages in reverse. Amitabh Bachchan has been advised not to eat chocolates because of his health issues but he didn’t let that come in the way of his role. He used to relish chocolates on the sets of the film. The reason Auro is a chocolate addict is because he suffers from Progeria and chocolates aides the metabolism of people suffering from this condition.

Balki says that the veteran actor has delivered the finest performance of his career as a 12 year-old and deserves not only the best acting award but also the awards in the child and debutant actor categories.