Shah Rukh Khan’s ladies!

The ‘Billu’ release is in many ways a landmark for Shah Rukh Khan, who plays a movie superstar in the movie. ‘Billu’ depends heavily on the famed SRK charisma and star appeal, to make it big at the box office.

SRK movie posters, costumes and other artifacts are reportedly been used extensively, to add to the sheen. And the content is all about reconnecting with your old friends! So, in more ways than one, ‘Billu’ reflects on SRK’s life and times as a superstar.

If a man’s greatness can be measured by his enemies, a movie star’s glory can definitely be gauged from the glint on the eyes of his leading ladies. Here is a parade of SRK’s heroines, right from the ‘Deewana’ days to ‘Billu’.





Divya Bharathi

With due respect to Manjula Avtar (‘Fauji’) and Renuka Shahane (‘Circus’), we crown Divya Bharathi as SRK’s first on-screen lover. The pair looked awesome together, in ‘Deewana’ (1992). Remember the song, “Aisi Deewangee…”!




Deepa Sahi

SRK fans remember Deepa Sahi for that steamy bed-room scene with Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Maya Memsaab’ (1992).




Urmila Matondkar

Urmila played Shah Rukh’s girl on screen for ‘Chamatkar’ (1992). The reunion happened in ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2007), in which Urmila did a guest appearance.




Kajol

Kajol is considered by most SRK fans as one who complimented the Khan’s ebullience with her bubbly charm. Together, they weaved magic in films such as ‘Baazigar’, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ (1995), ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (1998), and ‘Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham’ (2001).



Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa shared screen with the Khan in his first blockbuster, ‘Baazigar’ (1992). Though the pair looked electrifying on-screen, they were never seen together again, until Shilpa’s guest cameo in ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2007).




Juhi Chawla

One of Shah Rukh Khan’s personal favourites, Juhi Chawla shared screen space with SRK in ‘Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman’ (1992), ‘Kabhie Haan Kabhie Na’ (which also starred Suchitra Krishnamoorthy), ‘Darr’ (1993), ‘Ram Jaane’ (1995), ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’ (2000), ‘One 2 ka 4’ (2001), ‘Paheli’ (2005) and ‘Bhootnath’ (2007). She is also SRK’s partner in film production.




Raveena Tandon

Raveena and SRK did a Romeo-and-Juliet in Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Zamaana Deewana’ (1995). The pair never met again, on screen!




Sonali Bendre

‘Duplicate’ was the film that had Sonali Bendre opposite Shah Rukh. The song, ‘Mere Meh**** Mere Sanam’ became a super hit. Sonali also did a guest appearance in the SRK starrer, ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’.




Karishma Kapoor

Karishma had her day with SRK in ‘Dil To Paagal Hai’ (1997); she landed the Filmfare award for the Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the movie.




Madhuri Dixit

A superstar in her own right, Madhuri Dixit hit it off well with SRK, right from ‘Koyla’ (1996). They came together again for ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ (1997) and ‘Devdas’ (2002).




Manisha Koirala

Manisha was Shah Rukh’s leading lady in Mani Ratnam’s 1998 take on NE terrorism, ‘Dil Se’.




Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan shared some quality screen space with the King Khan in three super hits: Mansoor Khan’s ‘Josh’ (1999), Aditya Chopra’s ‘Mohabbatein’ (2000) and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Devdas’ (2002).



Kareena Kapoor

Kareena’s first on-screen date with SRK was in Santosh Sivan’s ‘Asoka’ (2001). She also did Karan Johar’s multi-starrer ‘Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham’, the same year. She reprised Helen’s item song in the ‘Don’ remake of 2007. Kareena will be seen dancing with SRK in ‘Billu’.



Sushmita Sen

Sushmita played ‘Chandni’, SRK’s love interest in Farah Khan’s ‘Main Hoon Na’ (2004).



Rani Mukherji

Rani began her “SRK run” with ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998). She went on to star in super hits such as ‘Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham’, ‘Chalte Chalte’ (2002), ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ (2003), ‘Veer Zaara’ (2004, ‘Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna (2005), ‘Paheli (2005) and ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ (guest appearance).



Preity Zinta

Preity debuted with the SRK starrer, ‘Dil Se’ (1998), and went on to star in SRK super hits such as ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ (2003), ‘Veer-Zaara’ (2004), ‘Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna’ (2006), ‘Om Shanti Om’ (guest appearance) and ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ (guest appearance).



Priyanka Chopra

Another of SRK’s fav heroines, Priyanka reprised Zeenat Aman’s Roma act in Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Don’ remake of 2007. The performance was received well by fans and critics. Priyanka will also be seen doing an item number in ‘Billu’.




Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone made her debut with the SRK starrer, ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2007); she will be seen with SRK next in ‘Billu’.




Anushka Sharma

Anushka is the latest of SRK's girls. In 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', the Punjabi lass romances a 40+ SRK, only to find out that he is younger than her. In heart, that is!

Making Of 'Khudaya Khair' (Billu Barber)

Thank You Priyanka, with love from SRK

By Subhash K Jha

Shah Rukh has been taking more than a passing interest in the music for the films he produces. And Priyanka Chopra would vouch for that.

If she declares from rooftops that she is Shah Rukh Khan's biggest fan then it with reason. The man just floors his ladies, without trying to be be charming.

What he did for Priyanka Chopra in Billu Barbar would certify as pure magnanimity and generosity, both as a considerate co-star and producer.

Shah Rukh decided to give away a large portion of his duet in Billu Barbar to Priyanka.

Says the film's excited music composer Pritam Chakraborty, "Shah Rukh took very close interest in each one of the songs. He isn't a musician. But he has an instinctive ear for music. It takes him just a few seconds to approve or cut down a track."

With the songs meant for Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, Pritam faced no problems. "Shah Rukh loved his songs with Kareena Marjana and Deepika Love mera hit hit. They were straightforward dance songs with shared grooves between Shah Rukh and Kareena/Deepika."

The Priyanka song needed special treatment. And Shah Rukh made Pritam re-work and re-record the song.

Divulges Pritam, "Shah Rukh's song with Priyanka Khuda-ae-kher is not an item song. It's a love ballad that the pair playing Bollywood superstars, emote to in front of the camera.

Being a love song Shah Rukh felt there wasn't enough of the female presemce in the vocals. He made me re-record the song with more for the female vocalist (Dominique) to do since he wanted Priyanka to have an equal number of lines."

Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta who play a rustic couple will later be seen enacting the same Shah Rukh-Priyanka ballad exactly the way the village couple had seen the stars do the song.

From sharing Akshay Kumar on screen in Andaaz to sharing the same love song, the Priyanka-Lara Dutta rivalry sure has come a long way.

Laughs Pritam, "It was entirely Shah Rukh's idea to give Priyanka more lines in the song. He's a very generous entertainer. If you see him on screen he never tries to steal the limelight from his heroines. Even Khai ke paan banaras wala had a lot of Priyanka in Don although it was entirely Shah Rukh's song."

When told about Shah Rukh's gesture, Priyanka stays silent for a while. She then sighs and says, "What do I say? Now do you know why he's my favourite?"