Shah Rukh Khan for Sony TV game show

Things have come full circle for Shah Rukh Khan.

The grapevine has it that he has been approached by Sony Television, for a whopping Rs 250 million, to host a game show after the Govinda hosted Jeeto Chhappar Phad Ke goes off the air this October.

The actor who began his career as a TV star in Circus and Fauji has been in dire financial straits lately. Devdas is suffering from lack of funds and Khan also needs money to complete his home production Asoka. He also owes a huge sum by way of tax to the Municipal Corporation of Bombay for the purchase of his bungalow 'Mannat'.

With money-bags Bharat Shah, his usual last resort in times such as these, behind bars and the debacles of Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Baadshah, Josh and One Two Ka Four Shah Rukh had no option but to agree.

Shah Rukh knows that producers wont sign him up for solo films and so he decided to make a solo film of his own Asoka - The Great. This film has attracted a lot of media attention but the distributors seem to be lukewarm.

Surprisingly, it was Chi-Chi Govinda who conveyed to Shah Rukh at the recent Shatrughan Sinha party that Sony wanted him as their new anchor.

Sony plans to start its new show by Diwali and it will be a weekly affair so the show's debut will be in tandem with the release of Shah Rukh's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Gangster Abu Salem spells terror for the film industry

Underworld don Abu Salem has unleashed a reign of terror in the Hindi film industry, threatening producers who refuse to give him the overseas distribution rights of Hindi films.

Salem in the past couple of months has held the whole industry to ransom, threatening major actors, actresses and producers. In cases, where the gangster knows the producer, he has threatened stars to give dates for films which they otherwise would not.

After Manisha Koirala turned down a film, some months ago, she was threatened by Salem's gang to give dates to the producer immediately. Manisha then sought help from the Maharashtra Government for protection from the gang.

Police sources say that Amrish Puri is the latest to be threatened by the gang and has been given security cover.

Fardeen exempted from personal appearance in court

Fardeen Khan, held in a cocaine seizure case, was exempted from personal appearance,on Friday, July 27. Two others accused were remanded to judicial custody till August 1 by a special court.

Judge M S Keny exempted Fardeen as he was occupied with professional assignment. The court had earlier allowed him to visit abroad for film shooting till August 11.

Fardeen arrested on May 6 for attempting to buy a small quantity of cocaine was later released on bail on May 10.

Rachel Shelly's stepping into the spotlight

Rachel Shelley, the British actress, who shot to fame as Elizabeth Russell in Lagaan has become quite a celebrity on the Indian social circuit in London.

At JJ Valaya's fashion show in London Shelley, the star attraction, was a big hit with the select audience.

Lagaan ranks as one of the ten most popular films at the British BO, grossing over 520,000 pounds.

Compiled by Vivek Fernandes
Design: Imran Shaikh