By Meenakshi Shedde, IANS,
Berlin: Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who left a trail of fans swooning at the red carpet premiere of “My Name is Khan” at the Berlin International Film Festival, says self-mockingly he keeps getting better looking and he would soon “look like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise”.
Mimicking his character Rizwan Khan in the film, he said: “There’s something in my genes. I keep getting better looking – and I just can’t control it. Soon I’m going to look like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. But beyond that I’ve no problems.”
German fans from Berlin, Hannover, Hamburg and Munich thronged the streets even as it snowed for a glimpse of actors Shah Rukh, Kajol and filmmaker Karan Johar at the Friday night premiere, where the film received a thunderous ovation.
“I have never understood the love of my German fans or why Germans love Bollywood so much, but I am very thankful for it. Germany has genuinely opened a window for Indians to Western cinema. I am here to serve the audience, I am servile. My job is to make people smile,” Shah Rukh said at the premiere.
Among his fans in the snow was Elke Kolloge, 50, mother of three who had come from Hannover to Berlin just for a glimpse of her favourite star.
“I just love Shah Rukh, his personality, his honesty. My husband doesn’t like this at all! Luckily my daughter Lisa is his fan too. I have seen all SRK films, including ‘Paheli’, ‘Swades’, ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’. I really hope Shah Rukh gets the Oscar next year!”
(Meenakshi Shedde is Indian Consultant to the Berlin Film Festival and curator to film festivals worldwide. Her email is [email protected])