Agra – Beyond Taj

The cycle-rickshaw is the best way of getting about Agra. Its smooth gliding motion and leisurely rate of progress are in keeping with the pace of life in this old world city. The rickshaw-boy jungles his way through the crowded bazaars, exchanging insults with tonga-drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists; but once on the broad Mall or Taj Road, his curses change to a carefree song and he freewheels along the tree-lined avenues. Old colonial style bungalows still stand in large compounds shaded by Peepal, banyan, neem and jamun.

The Kite Story

Looking up, you can notice a number of bright paper kites that flutter, dip and swerve in the cloudless sky. If it is a festival then the numbers can be uncountable. In Agra people still fly kites. There are kite-flights every Sunday and heavy bets are sometimes placed on the outcome.

As you approaches the city, you can notice kites stuck in trees or dangling from electric wires; but there are always others soaring up to take their places.

In the afternoon walk through the old bazaars which lie to the west of Akbar’s great red sandstone fort, and don’t’ be surprised to find a small streets which is almost entirely taken up by kite shops. Most of them sell the smaller, cheaper kites, but one small dark shop has in it a variety of odd and fantastic creations. Stepping inside, you can find yourself face to face with the doyen of Agra’s kite makers, Hosain Ali, a feeble old man whose long beard is dyed red with the juice of mehandi leaves.
You can always entice the old man talking, for he likes to talk and is not very busy. He complains that few people buy kites these days in comparison to Agra 25 years ago, when kite flying was the sport of kings and even grown me found time to spend an hour or two everyday with these gay, dancing strips of paper. Now he says everyone hurries, hurries in a heat of hope and delicate things like kites and daydreams are trampled underfoot.

History of Agra

Agra has a rich historical background, which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. The earliest reference for Agra comes from the epical age, when Mahabharata refer Agra as Agravana. In the sources prior to this, Agra has been referred as Arya Griha or the abode of the Aryans. The first person who referred Agra by its modern name was Ptolemy. Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached. Agra came to its own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire. He marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In his later years, Shahjahan shifted his capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi and ruled from there. Shahjahan was dethroned in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb who imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. Aurangzeb shifted the capital back to Agra till his death. After the death of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire could not touch its peak and many regional kingdoms emerged. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city. Taj Mahal Picture This is another photograph of Taj Mahal Gateway in its entire glory. Look on the cupolas or chhatris on the top. The number of chhatris is same in the front as well as the back. There are 13 chhatris each on the both side of Taj Mahal Gateway. The gateway is built of sandstone and stands in the open square. Thirteen Chhatris

]]> http://digitalword.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/taj-mahal/feed/ 0 artistnitin Front View Upper Part of Central Arch Taj Mahal Gateway Thirteen Chhatris http://digitalword.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/honeymoons-in-koh-samui/ http://digitalword.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/honeymoons-in-koh-samui/#comments Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:02:58 +0000 artistnitin http://digitalword.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/honeymoons-in-koh-samui/ ]]> Honeymoons in Koh Samui

Luxury Koh Samui Honeymoons Package

Enjoy 7 days / 6 nights in our luxurious Honeymoon Suite with Champagne and Flowers in your room upon arrival, Thai massage for two in our Beachfront Sala, American Breakfast each morning, and round trip airport transfer included.

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Enjoy 7 days / 6 nights in our beautiful Jr. Suite Beachfront with Champagne and Flowers in your room upon arrival, Thai massage for two in our Beachfront Sala, American Breakfast each morning, and round trip airport transfer included.

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ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURISTS:
Subhash Baoli (2085 m): A splendid walk from the GPO square leads up to the spring with its panoramic views of the snow capped mountains. Satdhara (2036 m): Close to the town, en route to Panjpulla, are the seven sparkling springs of Satdhara rich in mica and noted for its medicinal properties. Panjpulla: Another beautiful spot where the water from a natural tank flows under five small bridges. All these places are located nearby and are a treat to watch. Kalatop Wild Life Sanctuary; Kugti Wild Life Sanctuary are also popular for those desirous of having a little adventure in their lives and who want to be near wildlife and exotic flora and fauna.

HOW TO REACH DALHOUSIE:
Air: The nearest airport is Amritsar which is around 195 kms. Jammu is another airport around 190 kms from this place and is connected to Delhi and Mumbai. Rail: The nearest railhead is Pathankot (80 kms) and is connected to all of the major cities in India. Road: Regular bus services connect Dalhousie with Amritsar 185 kms, Jalandhar 192 kms, Pathankot 80 kms, Chamba 56 kms, Manali 402 kms, Delhi 563 kms, Chandigarh 352 kms, Dharamshala 143 kms, Khajjiar 27 kms, Jammu 188 kms. Local Transport: Taxis and ponies are available and are available for a city and round about tour. Rates are negotiable.

WHERE TO STAY:
The place offers excellent facilities ranging from modest budget hotels and guest houses to luxurious 5 star hotels. Accommodation is generally available. The best time to visit Dalhousie is from mid-May to mid-October. Tourists and honey mooners flock the place during seasons.

SPECIALTIES OF THE PLACE:
Dalhousie is the ideal place for honey mooners with lush green valleys and breath taking snow capped mountains. The sheer natural beauty of the place coupled with fresh and unpolluted air and quiet surroundings are ideal to spend some quality time together without any disturbance. The natural beauty of the place would make you like come back to this beautiful place again and again even after your first visit. So jet set and go to one of the most romantic destination of India.

Related links:
Top honeymoon islands in India – Lakshadweep
Best honeymoon towns in India – Kasauli
Awesome honeymoon spots in India – Dalhousie
Cool honeymoon place in India – Itanagar
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The district of Tehri Garhwal is one of the largest district of state uttarakhand and which lies from the snow covering Himalayan peaks of Thalaiya Sagar, Jonli and the Gangotri group all the way to the foothills near Rishikesh. Bhagirathi which runs through appears to divide the tehri district into two, while the Bhilangna, Alaknanda, Ganga and Yamuna rivers border it on the east and west. Tehri’s neighbouring districts are Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pauri, Rudraprayag and Dehradun. Tehri was a former princely state of British India, named after its capital; area 4180 sq. m.; pop. (2001) 604608. It adjoined the district of Garhwal, and its topographical features are similar. It contained the sources of both the Ganges and the Yamuna, which are visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims. The gross revenue in 1911 was about 28,000 rupees, of which nearly half was derived from forests. No tribute was paid to the British government.

Pauri garhwal, including today’s Chamoli and Rudraprayag (partly) district came to be called British Garhwal until India’s independence in 1947. Tehri, at the meeting point of the rivers Bhagirathi and Bhilangna, became the new Capital of Tehri Garhwal.

Tehri Garhwal has it’s own army and police force. However after the formation of India in 1947 and the subsequent merger of the various states in India at the time, the Garhwal Rifles was merged in with the Indian Army. Soldiers from this unit were among the first to receive the Victoria Cross – the highest decoration for a soldier in the British Army, Services rendered by the British. The ruler at the time of the merger of the states into the Indian Union in 1947 was Maharaja Manabendra Shah.

Tehri Garhwal resembles other parts of the Himalayas where various ethnic groups live side by side. Following chiefly the agrarian-pastoral way of life, native Garhwalis make their living from the hilly land the best they can. Some, like the Bhotia traders, migrate far and wide, although the ancient trade routes with Tibet have been closed since 1950. Most of the indigenous people like Jaunsari, Buksha, Tharu, and Raji are heterodox Hindus and Buddhists, while Sikh migrants from West Punjab have settled in the lowlands since 1947. A few Muslim groups are also native to the area, although most of them have settled recently. The Muslim Gujjar herders also migrate to the hills.

Location and Area Of Tehri Garhwal

Tehri Garhwal is one of the western most district of the Uttaranchal (now uttarakhand) State located on the outer ranges of the mid Himalayas which comprise low line peaks rising contiguously with the planes of the northern India. The district lies between the parallels of 30.3` and 30.53` north latitude and 77.56` and 79.04` east longitude. Uttarkashi from the north, Rudraprayag from the east, Puri Garhwal from the south and Dehra Dun from the west are bounding the districts. On the western front Yamuna river separates it from Jaunsar Pragana of the Dehra Dun district while Bhagirathi rising from the north of the Gangotri in the district Uttarkashi touches the district near village Nagun. Total area of the district is 4421 sq. kms (Census 1991).The district headquarter is located at New Tehri Town since 1.4.1989, Earlier Narendranagar was the district headquarter.

Lights off, pack-up time!

A dam that will light homes and irrigate crop fields has also brought darkness and despair. Shishir Prashant lends a ear to the tales of woe of Tehri dwellers. Of nostalgia for what is lost, of broken promises,of helplessness. November is the month of weddings in the Garhwal hills. But this year, the weddings will have to wait or be held elsewhere. A bigger uprootment is taking place as people are being forced to leave their homes and make way for the swelling Bhagirathi river. It was a chilly night in October when the dam authorities shut down the T-2 diversion tunnel of the dam blocking the flow of Bhagirathi after a group of Congress leaders lost a legal battle over the vexed rehabilitation issue in the Nainital High Court. Following the closure, panic gripped the entire area as the water level of Bhagirathi began rising, inundating vast areas of the town and adjoining villages. The people, mostly poor, had little choice but to bid goodbye to their homes. It was a very high price in the name of development. Turmoil and despair took over as people began dismantling their homes and carting away everything, including window frames, doors, tin sheds, etc. “No one should suffer such misery in their life,” says 70-year-old Balo Devi, who was left alone in Malideval village after her only son migrated to New Delhi for a job. He never came back. But Devi, a widow now, has no idea about her future plans. Although she had been given a piece of land in Pashulok area of Rishikesh, Devi is still reluctant to move out from her village where she came as a bride at the age of 17. “I lived all my life in this village. How can you uproot me from my own home,” asks Devi as tears trickle down from her wrinkled cheeks. Just at a stone’s throw, Rati Mala is also collecting her belongings. A bullock-cart is standing at her doorstep to load the belongings. “All the villagers in our area are dependent on each other. They want me to move to Rishikesh. It will be very tough for me to live there. I want to die here,” says Mala (74). True, all these villagers, who come from a very close-knit community background, are being offered land by the administration in Rishikesh and Haridwar areas, leaving no choice of choosing their neighbours. A dark future lays ahead for these villagers.

Two centuries old

The historic Old Tehri, the former capital of Tehri kingdom, will be celebrating its 190th birthday on December 28. Ironically, by then the town will become a water body in the very Bhagirathi river on whose banks it was built by Maharajah Sudershan Shah of the Tehri dynasty in 1815. In just less than two centuries, the town is being wiped out of the map thanks to the construction of the 2400 MW Tehri project, Asia’s highest dam. And it is not a question of just one town. Along with it, there are nearly 125 villages which are also fully or partially affected by the mega project that had already uprooted a population of more than 1.5 lakh in Tehri and its adjoining areas. Malideval, Sarain, Paddiyar are some of those villages which would take a little less than one month before they are submerged by Bhagirathi reservoir. Very little help is coming from the administration which had issued a warning asking the villagers to leave the area.

Cut off

Pratap Nagar having a population of 1.5 lakh is another block which will be cut off once the connecting bridges like Bhaldiyana get submerged. The area will now become nearly 80 to 100 Kms away from the district headquarters from the present distance of 20 Kms. Says Phool Singh Bist, the local MLA from Pratap Nagar: “The biggest tragedy is that the state government has not announced any plan to reconnect our block. Even if the construction work of new bridges starts today, it will take a very long time.” Ditto is the case with some areas in Uttarkashi district, which are also likely to cut off from the Tehri-Gangotri Highway, a portion of which is getting submerged. “Not only the people of Tehri have suffered. People of Pratap Nagar and Uttarkashi district are also feeling the heat,” says Jot Singh Bist, a local Congress leader, who is fighting with his own government over the rehabilitation issue.

Rehabilitation claims

While the government claimed that most of the dam oustees have been rehabilitated on paper, hundreds of villagers are still waging their last battle over the vexed rehabilitation issue. “All those people you are talking about have already taken the compensation,” says an official of the Directorate of Rehabilitation. Interestingly, the state government took no time in shutting down the T-2 diversion tunnel but is now dillydallying in announcing a new rehabilitation package for the people in Pratap Nagar and Uttarkashi areas. “Before the closure of the T-2 tunnel, the government should have announced a comprehensive package for the remaining rehabilitation work,” says Anil Joshi, a social activist. But Chief Minister N D Tiwari says that it is the prerogative of the centre to announce the new package. “The dam is being built in the national interest. We are seeking Rs 314 crore for rehabilitation from the centre,” says Tiwari.

What remains above

With water level of Bhagirathi reservoir rising menacingly, one can now only see the historic Clock Tower, built in 1887 in memory of Queen Victoria as well as few remnants of Old Durbar, the seat of the Tehri kingdom. These are the only few remains of what have been left in the town. Old Tehri is indeed history now. A big lake is forming around the ruins as bewildered residents of Old Tehri gather at surrounding hills to pay last tributes to their town. “We can only mourn for our dying town,” said a despairing Shashi Chamoli, a mother of three, whose house has already sunk into the deep waters of Bhagirathi. And others, who had been settled in and around Dehra Dun, are pouring out their grief by taking out candle-light marches.

Sweet singori

Gone with the town are some of the precious things, which had been very close to the hearts of these people. “You will not be able to savour the taste of singori mithai, which used to be sold wrapped in green leaves. I will miss singori. It was the tastiest sweets of Garhwal region,” remembers octogenarian Chinta Mani Kala, who remained posted in the town for four years since 1963 as a foreman of a government school. The famous “Tehri nathh” a nose ring, will also be a thing of the past. “There were nearly 10 to 15 goldsmiths, who used to make this unique gold ornament much in demand from women,” said Ranjit Rawat, an old timer. “Tehri nathh was a symbol of richness. Heavier the nathh, the richer you are seen as,” says Hindi writer Vidya Sagar Nautiyal, who also penned a story “Sona” based on this yellow ornament. Some of the old temples like Chhota Badrinath have also submerged. “Those who could not travel to Badrinath temple in Chamoli used to offer prayers in Chhota Badrinath temple,” said Kala while narrating his fond memories of the town. It was Old Tehri town where Swami Ram Tirth is believed to have obtained enlightenment on the banks of Bhagirathi. Once a nerve centre of the economic activities of the Garhwal region, Old Tehri was a favourite market place for nearby villagers from the nearby districts. “Old Tehri was also a hub of utensil-makers, especially of luminous brass,” says Rajiv Bahuguna, a journalist, who grew up in the town at times playing flute on the banks of the eternally-flowing Bhagirathi.

Off with the beard

One of the saddest persons is none other than renowned environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, who has shaved off his beard to mourn to what he called “the death of Bhagirathi.” “They have stopped Bhagirathi at Tehri to fill the reservoir. So the river is dead,” proclaims Bahuguna, who had launched several movements against the Tehri dam on environmental grounds. Bahuguna and his wife Bimla were among the last persons, who reluctantly left Old Tehri two years ago. Most of the people, who were rehabilitated elsewhere, still grumble about the inadequate civic amenities in the places where they reside now. “We were robbed of our homes. But in return, we got nothing,” says Virendra Dutt Saklani, who had settled down in New Tehri perched on the top of a steep hill overlooking the Old Tehri town. Cold winds every evening make life miserable for these settlers in New Tehri where there is an acute paucity of basic amenities like drinking water. Several irregularities in the rehabilitation process came to light. “Those who were influential got the maximum. But for the poor people, compensation was a minuscule one,” says Shoorvir Singh Sajwan, a local leader. For nearly 100 families who settled on the outskirts of Dehra Dun, pangs of dislocation continue. These dam oustees residing in Athoorwala and Bhaniawala areas are facing their second dislocation in less than 20 years. Out of the frying-pan, they are literally into the fire again. These people were given land in these two areas in lieu of their homes in Tehri but the expansion of JollyGrant airport is threatening to uproot them one more time. “Nowhere else you will see people uprooted twice in their life-time,” laments Surya Kant Dhasmana, Uttaranchal State NCP President.

Power and irrigation

The dam will be ready for commissioning in March-April next year, which the project authorities believe would usher in prosperity in the northern region. “Besides, producing 2400 MW of power, this project will also provide water for irrigation and drinking purposes for the people of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi,” says S C Shukla, General Manager THDC, the implementing agency of the dam. Yes, Tehri project may be providing electricity and drinking water to people elsewhere in the country but at whose cost? Is that what development means? Moreover, do we really need big dams? While this debate continues, the moot question is who cares about the woes of the dam oustees.

Forecast that came true?

Going by historical records, Old Tehri may have witnessed several upheavals before the present submergence. The uprising against the Tehri kingdom in the 1940s is one big event that rattled the town as well as its rulers. But the biggest upheaval came when the centre gave its final nod to build the dam that eventually sounded a death-knell for the historic town. King Sudershan Shah, who set up the town in 1815, knew at that time that this town would not survive too long. It is believed that when King Sudershan was laying the foundation stone of the town, he was warned by royal astrologers of an impending peril. They told the king that that Tehri would not survive for more than 200 years. And today, the foretelling by the soothsayers has become a reality.

Birth Horocope of Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan (Hindi: अमिताभ बच्चन. Pronunciation: /əmitaːbʱ bətʃtʃən/ born October 11, 1942) is a legendary Indian Bollywood actor, and one of the most prominent figures in the Indian film industry.

He has been awarded several major awards in his career, including three National Film Awards and twelve Filmfare Awards. He holds the record for most number of Best Actor nominations at the Filmfare Awards. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film producer, television presenter, and was an elected member of the Indian Parliament from 1984 to 1987.

Bachchan is married to Jaya Bachchan and has two children, Shweta Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan. He is also the father-in-law of Aishwarya Bachchan.

[edit] Background

Born on October 11, 1942 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Amitabh Bachchan hails from a Hindu Kayastha family. His father, Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a well-known Hindi poet, while his mother, Teji Bachchan, was a Sikh from Karachi-Pakistan.^[1] Bachchan was initially named as Inquilab, inspired from the phrase Inquilab Zindabad, during the Indian independence struggle. He was re-christened Amitabh which means, the light that would never go off. Though his last-name was Srivastava, his father had adopted the pen-name Bachchan, under which was published all his works. It is with this last name that Amitabh debuted in films, and, for all public purposes, it has become the surname of all members of his current family.

Born in the middle of World War II, Amitabh is the elder of Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s two sons, the second being Ajitabh. Even today, Bachchan emphasizes that he can never be the man his father was. His mother was very fond of stage and was also offered a role in a film, but she preferred to become a quintessential homemaker. She was reasonably responsible for Amitabh’s career because she always wanted him to take the centre stage.^[2] Bachchan’s father passed away in 2003, and his mother—on December 21, 2007.^[3]

Bachchan has a double M.A. (Master of Arts) degree. He attended Allahabad‘s Jnana Prabodhini and Boys’ High School (BHS), followed by Nainital‘s Sherwood College, where he majored in the art stream. He later went on to study at Kirori Mal College of the University of Delhi and completed a Bachelor of Science degree. In his twenties, Bachchan gave up a job as freight broker for the shipping firm, Bird and Co., based in Calcutta, to pursue a career in acting.

He married actress Jaya Bhaduri on June 3, 1973 according to Bengali rites. The couple have two children: daughter Shweta and son Abhishek.

[edit] Career

[edit] 1969-1983

Bachchan made his film debut in 1969 as one of the seven protagonists in Saat Hindustani. The movie was not a financial success but Bachchan won his first National Film Award for Best Newcomer.^[4] The critically acclaimed and commercially successful Anand (1970) followed, where he starred alongside Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Indian silver screen. Bachchan held his own despite playing a supporting role, and won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his intense performance.

Anand was followed by many unsuccessful films such as Reshma Aur Shera (1971) and Parwaana (1971). In 1972 he had a hit with the multi-star road comedy Bombay to Goa. Then came 1973 and the start of the road towards the status he would eventually come to hold.

Bachchan with Rekha in Silsila in 1981

Bachchan’s first solo film to achieve box office success came when director Prakash Mehra cast him in the leading role for his film Zanjeer (1973). The movie was a sharp contrast to the romantically themed films that had generally preceded it and established Amitabh in a new persona – the “angry young man” action hero of Bollywood. The next decade catapulted him to the pinnacle of Bollywood superstardom. He churned out at least one major hit every year,^[5] including Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975) Trishul (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), Don (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Ram Balram (1980), Shaan (1980), Lawaaris (1981), and Shakti (1982).^[6] In fact, in 1978, the top four grossing films of India starred Amitabh Bachchan .^[7] On account of this unprecedented run and stature he enjoyed, he was billed a “one-man industry” by the French director Francois Truffaut.^[8]

Although the above-mentioned films cemented his status as Bollywood’s pre-eminent action hero, Amitabh displayed a flair for more than just action roles. His remarkable comic timing was on display in such hits as Chupke Chupke (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and Namak Halaal (1982). He was also successful as a romantic lead, with particularly notable performances in Kabhie Kabhie (1976) and Silsila (1981). In 1982 he nearly fatally injured his intestines while filming Coolie. His accident received wider world coverage and hit the headlines in the UK something unheard of at the time and many Indians prayed in temples or offered to sacrifice their own limbs to save him. Nevertheless he spent many months recovering and resumed filming later that year after a long period of recuperation. The film was released in 1983 and due to the huge publicity of Bachchan’s accident the film was a box office success.^[9]

[edit] Political career: 1984-1987

In 1984, Amitabh took a break from acting and briefly entered politics in support of long-time family friend Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad’s Parliament seat against H. N. Bahuguna, a well-known politician, and won his MP candidacy by the highest victory margin ever for a parliamentary candidate in Indian history (68.2% of the vote).^[10] His political career, however, was short-lived: He resigned after three years, leaving his term incomplete. The resignation followed Bachchan’s implication and that of his brother in the ‘Bofors scandal‘ by a newspaper which he vowed to take to court.^[11] Bachchan was eventually found not to be guilty of involvement in the ordeal. His old friend Amar Singh helped him during a financial crisis due to the failure of his company ABCL. Therefore Bachchan started to support Amar Singh’s political party, the Samajwadi party. Jaya Bachchan joined Samajwadi Party and became a Rajya Sabha Member.^[12] Bachchan has continued to do favors for the Samajwadi party, including advertisements and political campaigns. These activities have recently gotten him into trouble again in the Indian courts for false claims after a previous fiasco of submission of legal papers by him stating that he is a farmer.^[13]

[edit] The 15-year press ban

Very few are aware of the somewhat self-imposed press ban on Bachchan. Stardust and some the film magazines got together to form an association that banned Bachchan for 15 years during his peak. They decided not to print anything about Bachchan in any of their publications. Bachchan had said that he had banned the press from entering his sets almost till the end of 1989. However, he had nothing personal against any particular magazine.^[14] It has been said that Bachchan had banned certain publications because he disliked what was being published about him and as such he vetoed them in an attempt to get them to conform.

[edit] Slump and retirement: 1988-1992

In 1988, Bachchan returned to films after a three year stint in politics and played the title role in Shahenshah, which was a box office success due to the hype of Bachchan’s comeback.^[15] After the success of his comeback film however, his star power began to wane as all of his subsequent films failed at the box office. The 1991 hit film Hum looked like it might reverse this trend, but the momentum was short-lived as his string of box office failures continued. Notably, despite the lack of hits, it was during this period that Bachchan won his second National Film Award, for his memorable performance as a Mafia don in the 1990 film Agneepath. These years would be the last he would be seen on screen for some time. After the release of Khuda Gawah in 1992, Bachchan went into semi-retirement for five years. In 1994 one of his delayed films Insaniyat was released but was also a box office failure.^[16]

[edit] Career as a producer and acting comeback 1996-1999

Bachchan turned producer during his temporary retirement period and setup Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, Ltd. (A.B.C.L.) in 1996 with the vision of becoming a 10 billion rupees (approx 250 million $US) India’s premier entertainment company by the year 2000. ABCL’s strategy was to introduce products and services covering the entire section of the India’s entertainment industry. Its operations were mainstream commercial film production and distribution, audio cassettes and video discs, production and marketing of television software, celebrity and event management. Soon after the company was launched in 1996, the first film produced by the company was Tere Mere Sapne which failed to do well at the box office but launched the careers of actors such as Arshad Warsi and South films superstar Simran. ABCL produced a few other films none of which did well.

In 1997, Bachchan attempted to make his acting comeback with the film Mrityudaata, produced by ABCL. Though Mrityudaata attempted to reprise Bachchan’s earlier success as an action hero, like most of ABCL ventures, the film was a failure both financially and critically. ABCL was the main sponsor of the The 1996 Miss World beauty pageant, Bangalore and lost millions due to the poor management of the event. The fiasco and the consequent legal battles surrounding ABCL and various entities after the event, coupled with the fact that ABCL was reported to have overpaid most of its top level managers, eventually led to its financial and operational collapse in 1997. The company went into administration and was later on declared as a failed company by Indian Industries board. The Bombay high court, in April 1999 restrained Bachchan from selling off his Bombay bungalow ‘Prateeksha’ and two flats till the pending loan recovery cases of Canara Bank were disposed of. Bachchan had, however, pleaded that he had mortgaged his bungalow to Sahara India Finance for raising funds for his company.^[17]

Bachchan later attempted to revive his acting career and had average success with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998)^[18] and received positive reviews for Sooryavansham (1999)^[19] but most, however, then believed that Bachchan’s glory days were over as all his other films such as Lal Baadshah (1999) and Hindustan Ki Kasam (1999) were box office failures.

[edit] Television career

In the year 2000, Bachchan stepped up to host India’s adaptation of the British television game-show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? entitled, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). As it did in most other countries where it was adopted, the program found immediate and profound success, in no small part due to Bachchan’s charisma. It is believed that Bachchan charged a whopping Rs 25 lakhs (2.5 million Indian Rupees, approximately US$60,000 ) per weekly episode which strengthened Bachchan and his family both financially and morally after the setbacks that he had to cope after ABCL’s collapse. The Canara Bank also withdrew its law suit against Bachchan in November 2000. Bachchan hosted KBC till November 2005, and its success set the stage for his return to film popularity.

[edit] Return to prominence: 2000-present

In 2000, Amitabh Bachchan regained his prominence when he appeared in Yash Chopra‘s box-office super hit, Mohabbatein directed by Aditya Chopra, in which he played a stern, older figure that rivalled the character of India’s current heartthrob, Shahrukh Khan. Audiences appreciated Bachchan’s work, as he played a character whose age approximately mirrored his own and also because his character in the movie very much matched his pre-established image of angry-(no-longer)young-man. Other hits followed, with Bachchan appearing as an older family patriarch in Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Baghban (2003). As an actor, he continued to exploit a range of characters suiting with his profile, receiving critical acclaim for his performances in Aks (2001), Aankhen (2002), Khakee (2004), Dev (2004) and Black (2005). Taking advantage of this resurgence, Amitabh started endorsing a variety of products and services, appearing in many television and billboard advertisements. In 2005 and 2006 he starred with his son Abhishek in the hit films Bunty Aur Babli (2005), the Godfather tribute Sarkar (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006). All of them have been very successful at the box office.^[20][21] His later releases in 2006 and early 2007: Baabul (2006),^[22] Eklavya and Nishabd (2007) failed to do well at the box office but his performances in each of them have been appreciated by critics.^[23] He also made a guest-appearance as himself in the Kannada movie Amruthadaare directed by Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar.

On May 25, 2007 two of his films Cheeni Kum and the multi-starrer Shootout at Lokhandwala were released. Shootout at Lokhandwala did very well at the box office and was declared a hit in India^[24] and Cheeni Kum picked up after a slow start and has been declared an overall average hit.^[25] He then made a special appearance as the narrator in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom which released in June.

On 31 August 2007, he starred in the remake of his biggest hit Sholay (1975) which was titled Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. He played the role of the villain Babban (originally Gabbar Singh) who was played by the late actor Amjad Khan in the 1975 original. The film proved to be a disaster at the box office^[26] and was also poorly received by critics.

His first English language film Rituparno Ghosh‘s The Last Lear premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2007. He received positive reviews from critics who hailed his performance as his career best.^[27]

Bachchan is also going to play a supporting role in his first international film titled Shantaram which is directed by Mira Nair and stars Hollywood actor Johnny Depp in the lead.^[28]

[edit] Health

[edit] 1982 injury during filming Coolie

While filming Coolie in 1982, Bachchan was seriously injured during the filming of a fight scene with co-actor Puneet Issar.^[29] He was in the hospital with a ruptured intestine for months, and at times was close to death. A remarkable outpouring of support and concern by his fans and the nation in general followed. After recovering, Bachchan resumed shooting for Coolie, and it finally released as a huge success owing to its pre-release publicity.^[9]

The director, Manmohan Desai altered the ending for Coolie after Bachchan’s accident. Bachchan’s character was originally intended to have been killed off but after the change of script, the character lived in the end. It would have been inappropriate, said Desai, for the man who had just fended off death in real life to be killed on screen. Also, in the released film the footage of the fight scene is frozen at the critical moment, and a caption appears onscreen marking this as the instant of the actor’s injury and the ensuing publicity of the accident. While filming an action scene,^[30] Bachchan was doing his own stunts. He had to fall onto a table and then on the ground. But when he jumped towards the table, the corner of the table hit his abdomen. He had a splenic rupture and lost a large amount of blood. He was flown out and needed urgent operation (splenectomy) and was critically ill for a while. A rumor spread that he had died from the accident. The nation mourned. Later there were mile-long queues of well-wishing fans outside the hospital where he was recuperating.^[31]

[edit] Illness

Later, he was struck with an illness called Myasthenia gravis. This happened either because of the heavy medication that he took during his Coolie accident or because of the blood transfusion that he had received. This illness made him feel weak both mentally and physically and he decided to quit films. He had become very pessimistic about everything and just couldn’t handle the pressure of a new film’s release every Friday. Before every release he would say, “Yeh film to flop hogi!” (“This film will flop”).^[32]

[edit] 2005 Hospitalisation

In November 2005, Amitabh Bachchan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital’s ICU once more, to undergo surgery for diverticulitis of the small intestine.^[33] This occurred after Bachchan complained of pains in his abdomen some days prior. During the period and that following his recovery, most of his projects were put on hold, including the television show he was in the process of hosting, Kaun Banega Crorepati. India also appeared to come to a standstill, with celebrity after celebrity visiting him to offer well-wishes and prayers. News of the incident saturated coverage across Newspapers and TV news channels. Amitabh returned to work in March 2006.^[34]

[edit] Voice

Bachchan is known for his deep, baritone voice. He has been a narrator, a playback singer and presenter for numerous programmes. Renowned film director Satyajit Ray was so impressed with Bachchan’s voice, that he decided to use his voice as commentary in Shatranj Ke Khiladi since he did not find any suitable role for him.^[35] Before entering the film industry, Bachchan applied for a job with All India Radio for the post of a news announcer.

[edit] Controversies and Criticism

[edit] Barabanki Land Scam

In the runup to the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007, Amitabh Bachchan made a film extolling the virtues of the Mulayam Singh government. His Samajwadi Party was routed, and Mayawati came to power. On June 2, 2007, a Faizabad court ruled that he had illegally acquired agricultural land designated specifically for landless Dalit farmers.^[36] He may also be investigated on related charges of forgery. As he has allegedly claimed he was a farmer.^[37] If he does not qualify as the owner of agricultural land elsewhere, he may also lose a 20 acre farmhouse property he had purchased at Maval near Pune.^[36] On July 19, 2007, after the scandal broke out, Bachchan surrendered the land acquired in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh and Pune. He wrote to the chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, to donate away the lands illegally acquired by him and his son Abhishek.^[38] In Barabanki and Pune. However, the Lucknow Court has put a stay on the land donation and said that the status quo on the land be maintained.

On October 12, 2007, Bachchan abandoned his claim in respect of the land at Daulatpur village in Barabanki district.^[39] On December 11, 2007, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court gave a clean chit to Bachchan in a case pertaining to alleged fraudulent allotment of government land to him in Barabanki district. Giving a clean chit to Bachchan, a single Lucknow bench of Justice said there was no finding that the actor “himself committed any fraud or manipulated any surreptitious entry in the revenue records”. [2][3]

Producer

• Tere Mere Sapne (1996)
• Ullasam (1997)
• Mrityudaata (1997)
• Major Saab (1998)
• Aks (2001)
• Viruddh (2005)
• Family – Ties of Blood (2006)

[edit] Playback Singer

• Mr. Natwarlal (1979)
• Lawaaris (1981)
• Naseeb (1981)
• Silsila (1981)
• Mahaan (1983)
• Pukar (1983)
• Toofan (1989)
• Jaadugar (1989)
• Khuda Gawah (1992)
• Aks (2001)
• Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
• Aankhen (2002)
• Armaan (2003)
• Baghban (2003)
• Dev (2004)
• Aetbaar (2004)
• Baabul (2006)
• Nishabd (2007)
• Cheeni Kum (2007)

[edit] External links

• Amitabh Bachchan at the Internet Movie Database

[edit] References

1. ^ www.sugandh.com/seema/amitabhji/stardust.html.
2. ^ mouthshut.com. Reviews on: To Be or Not To Be Amitabh Bachchan – Khalid Mohamed. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
3. ^ Khan, Alifiya. Teji Bachchan passes away. Hindustan Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
4. ^ movies.indiatimes.com. Bachchan wins his first national award. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
5. ^ ibosnetwork.com. Bachchan’s 1970s box office run. Retrieved on 1 February 2008.
6. ^ boxofficeindia.com. Bachchan’s box office success. Retrieved on 10 April 2007.
7. ^ ibosnetwork.com. Bachchan’s historic 1978 year at the box office. Retrieved on 1 February 2008.
8. ^ chinadaily.com. Truffaut labeled Bachchan a one-man industry. Retrieved on 1 February 2008.
9. ^ ^{a b} boxofficeindia.com. Coolie a success. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
10. ^ Amitabh Bachchan: Stint in Politics. HindustanTimes.com. Retrieved on 2005-12-05.
11. ^ Interview with Amitabh Bachchan. sathnam.com.
12. ^ hindu.com Bachchan has no plans for election
13. ^ afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJuYOasTF-bsTo0AQjW96aD2Kr2w.
14. ^ indiafm.com The 15 year press ban
15. ^ www.boxofficeindia.com/topactors.htm.
16. ^ www.boxofficeindia.com/1994.htm.
17. ^ www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010304/spectrum/main1.htm.
18. ^ www.boxofficeindia.com/1998.htm.
19. ^ in.rediff.com/movies/1999/may/22soo.htm.
20. ^ boxofficeindia.com. Amitabh and Abhishek rule the box office. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
21. ^ www.boxofficeindia.com/2005.htm. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
22. ^ Films fail at the BO.
23. ^ indiafm.com. Retrieved on 26 March 2007.
24. ^ www.boxofficeindia.com.
25. ^ [1] www.boxofficeindia.com]].
26. ^ www.boxofficeindia.com.
27. ^ www.indiafm.com/features/2007/09/11/3020/index.html.
28. ^ ourbollywood.com. Amitabh Bachchan to star with Johnny Depp. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
29. ^ rediff.com. Bachchan injured whilst shooting scene. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
30. ^ www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKWikW11xCQ.
31. ^ imdb.com. Footage of fight scene in Coolie released to the public. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
32. ^ mouthshut.com. Reviews on: To Be or Not To Be Amitabh Bachchan – Khalid Mohamed. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
33. ^ www.despardes.com/India/ent/dec05/3.html.
34. ^ Amitabh Bachchan returns to work. freenewmiexican.com.
35. ^ hindustantimes.in Amitabh voice for Shatranj Ke Khiladi
36. ^ ^{a b} Sanket Upadhyay. “Land row: Setback for Bachchan“, NDTV, 2007-06-01 (Faizabad). Retrieved on 2007-06-03. 
37. ^ “Amitabh’s land records look forged“, Times of India, 2 Jun, 2007. 
38. ^ radiosargam.com.
39. ^ timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Big_B_abandons_claim_on_farmland/articleshow/2453216.cms.

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitabh_Bachchan“

Shahrukh Khan (Hindi: शाहरुख़ ख़ान, Urdu: شاہ رخ خان), born 2 November 1965, is a highly acclaimed Indian Bollywood actor, producer, and recent host of the game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Khan started out his career appearing in several television serials in the late 1980s. He made his film debut with the commercially successful Deewana (1992). Since then, he has been part of numerous commercial successes, as well as delivering a variety of critically acclaimed performances. During his career years, he has won six Filmfare Best Actor Awards, and has had significant box office success, with films like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Om Shanti Om (2007) being some of Bollywood’s biggest hits, while films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Veer Zaara (2004) and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006) and more recently Chak De India are the biggest Bollywood hits in the overseas market. Since 2000, Khan branched out into film production and television presenting as well.

 Biography

Khan was born to Muslim parents of Pathan ethnicity.^[1][2] His father Taj Mohammed Khan was a freedom activist. His mother Lateef Fatima was the adopted daughter of Major General Shah Nawaz Khan of the Janjua Rajput clan, who served as a General in the Indian National Army of Subash Chandra Bose.^[3]

Khan’s father came to Gurgaon from Qissa Kahani Bazaar in Peshawar before the Partition of India,^[4] while his mother’s family came from Rawalpindi, also in present-day Pakistan.^[5] Khan has an elder sister named Shehnaz.^[6] Khan attended St. Columba’s School where he was accomplished in sports, drama and academics. He won the Sword of Honour, an annual award bequeathed to the student who embodies most the spirit of the school. He later attended the Hansraj College (1985-1988) to earn an Honors degree in Economics. After this, he studied for a Masters Degree in Mass Communications at Jamia Millia Islamia.^[7]

After the death of his parents, Khan moved from Gurgaon to Mumbai in 1991.^[8] In that same year, he married Gauri Khan in a Hindu wedding ceremony.^[9] They have two children, son Aryan (b. 1997) and daughter Suhana (b. 2000).

In 2005, Nasreen Munni Kabir produced a two-part documentary on Khan, titled The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan. Featuring his 2004 Temptations concert tour, the film contrasted Khan’s inner world of family and daily life with the outer world of his work. The book Still Reading Khan, which details his family life, was released in 2006. Another book by Anupama Chopra, “King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan and the seductive world of Indian cinema”, was released in 2007. This book described the world of Bollywood through Khan’s life.

Khan’s life-size wax statue is available in Madame Tussauds wax museum, London, installed in April 2007.^[10] Khan has been chosen for the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Literature) award of the French government for his “exceptional career”.^[11]

[edit] Career

[edit] As Actor

Khan studied acting under celebrated Theatre Director Barry John at Delhi’s Theatre Action Group (TAG). In 2007, John commented thus on his former pupil:

Khan made his acting debut in 1988 when he appeared in the television series, Fauji, playing the role of Commando Abhimanyu Rai.^[13] He went on to appear in several other television serials, appearing most notably in the 1989 serial, Circus^[14] (directed by Aziz Mirza), which depicted the life of circus performers. The same year, Khan also had a minor role in the made-for-television English-language film, In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones, which was based on life at Delhi University and was written by Arundhati Roy.

After the death of his parents, Khan moved from Gurgaon to Mumbai in 1991.^[15] He made his Bollywood movie debut in Deewana (1992). The movie was a box office hit, and launched his career in Bollywood.^[16] His performance won him a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. His second movie, Maya Memsaab, generated some controversy because of his appearance in an “explicit” sex scene in the movie.^[17]

In 1993, Khan won acclaim for his performances as a murderer and an obsessive lover, respectively, in the box office hits, Baazigar and Darr. He won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in Baazigar. His role as a young musician in Kundan Shah‘s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa earned him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance. In 1994, Khan once again played an obsessive lover/psycho’s role in Anjaam. Though the movie was not a box office success, Khan’s performance earned him the Filmfare Best Villain Award.

In 1995, Khan starred in Aditya Chopra‘s directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, a critical and commercial success,^[18] which entered its twelfth year in 2007 in Mumbai theaters. By then the movie had grossed over 12 billion rupees, making it as one of the biggest movie blockbusters.^[19]

1996 was a disappointing year for Khan as all his movies released that year failed to do well at the box office.^[20] His first 1997 release, Yash Chopra‘s Dil to Pagal Hai, however, became that year’s second highest grossing movie.^[21] Earlier that year, he saw success with Subhash Ghai‘s Pardes — one of the biggest hits of the year– and Aziz Mirza‘s Yes Boss.^[21]

In 1998, Khan starred in Karan Johar‘s directoial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which was the biggest hit of the year.^[22] His performance won him his fourth Best Actor award at the Filmfare. He won critical praise for his performance in Mani Ratnam‘s Dil Se. This movie did not do well at the Indian box office, but was a commercial success overseas.^[23] Khan’s only release in 1999, Baadshah, was an average grosser.^[24]

In 2000, Khan starred in Aditya Chopra‘s second film, Mohabbatein, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan. The film did well at the box office, and Khan’s performance won him his second Critics Award for Best Performance at the Filmfare. He also starred in Mansoor Khan‘s Josh, which was also a box office success. ^[25] In that same year, Khan set up his own production house, Dreamz Unlimited with Juhi Chawla. Both Khan and Chawla starred in the first movie of their production house, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.^[25]. Khan also played a supporting role in Kamal Hassan‘s controversial film Hey Ram which failed to do well at the box office but won him critical acclaim.

In 2001, Khan collaborated with Karan Johar for the second time in the family drama, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham which was the second biggest hit of the year. He also received favorable reviews for his performance as Emperor Asoka in the historical epic, Asoka.^[26]

In 2002, Khan received acclaim for playing the title role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s award-winning period romance, Devdas. It was the third Hindi movie adaptation of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay‘s well-known novel of the same name, and surfaced as one of the biggest hits of that year.^[27] Khan also starred opposite Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit in the family-drama Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, which did well at the box office.^[27]

In 2003, Khan starred in the moderately successful romantic drama, Chalte Chalte.^[28] That same year, he starred in the romantic drama movie, Kal Ho Naa Ho, written by Karan Johar and directed by Nikhil Advani. Khan’s performance in this movie as a man with heart disease was appreciated. The movie proved to be one of the year’s biggest hits in India and the biggest Bollywood hit overseas.^[28]

2004 was a good year for Khan, commercially as well as critically. He starred in Farah Khan‘s directorial debut, Main Hoon Na. The movie did well at the box office. He then played the leading role of Veer in Yash Chopra‘s Veer-Zaara, which was the biggest hit of 2004 in both India and overseas.^[29] Khan’s performance in the film won him awards at several award ceremonies. In that same year, he received critical praise for his performance in Ashutosh Gowariker‘s Swades, which won him the Filmfare Best Actor Award for the sixth time, although the movie was a box office failure.^[29]

Khan’s only movie release in 2005 was the fantasy film, Paheli. It was a box office failure, but won him acclaim.^[30]

In 2006, Khan collaborated with Karan Johar for the fourth time with the melodrama movie, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. It did well in India and much more so in the overseas market, becoming the biggest Bollywood hit in the overseas market ever.^[31] His second release in that saw him playing the title role in the action film Don, a remake of the 1978 hit Don. The movie was a success.^[31]

Khan’s first release in 2007 was the sports movie, Chak De India. He received good reviews for his performance as the coach of a girl’s hockey team. The movie started low at the box office, but became one of the year’s biggest hits.^[32] Khan’s latest movie, Om Shanti Om (released on November 9, 2007) has taken an excellent start both in India and overseas and was declared a blockbuster.^[32]

[edit] As a Producer

Khan turned producer when he set up a production company called Dreamz Unlimited with Juhi Chawla and director Aziz Mirza in 1999. The first two of the films he produced and starred in: Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000) and Asoka (2001) were box office failures.^[26] However, his third film, as a producer and star, Chalte Chalte (2003), was the first box office hit from his production house.^[28]

In 2004,. he set up another production company called Red Chillies Entertainment and produced and starred in Main Hoon Na which was another hit at the box office.^[29] In 2005 he produced and starred in the fantasy film Paheli, which was a box office failure.^[30] It was India’s official entry to the Oscars for a nomination for Best Foreign Film, but it did not pass the final selection. That same year he also co-produced the supernatural horror film Kaal with Karan Johar and performed an item number for the film with Malaika Arora Khan. Kaal was moderately successful at the box office.^[30] The latest film Om Shanti Om, which he produced as well as starred him, has done very well at the box office.

[edit] As Television Host

Khan was chosen as the host of the third series of the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who wants to be a millionaire?,^[33] in 2007 taking over from the original host Amitabh Bachchan who had hosted the show from 2000 to 2005. On Monday, January 22, 2007, “Kaun Banega Crorepati” aired with Khan as the new host. The season ended on April 19 2007.^[34]

Producer

• Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000)
• Asoka (2001)
• Chalte Chalte (2003)
• Main Hoon Na (2004)
• Kaal (2005)
• Paheli (2005)
• Om Shanti Om (2007)

[edit] Playback singer

• Main to hoon Pagal – Baadshah (1999)
• Apun Bola – Josh (2000)
• Khaike Paan Banaraswala – Don – The Chase Begins Again (2006)
• Ek Hockey Doongi Rakhke – Chak De India (2007)
• Sattar Minute – Chak De India (2007)

[edit] Stunts Director

• Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
• Main Hoon Na (2004)
• Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
• Chak De India (2007)

[edit] Television appearances

• Dil Dariya (1988)
• Fauji (1988) … Abhimanyu Rai
• Doosra Keval (1989)
• Circus (1989)
• In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989)
• Idiot (1991) … Pawan Raghujan
• Kareena Kareena (2004) Zee TV … Special Appearance
• Kaun Banega Crorepati (2007) … Host

Collage Boy SRK

SRK’s DAD

States and Union Territories

Map Not to Scale
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I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.