A TRAIN RIDE WITH SRK

Shah Rukh Khan had one mission in mind when he got onto a train to promote his film Raees -to get closer to his fans. But he didn't anticipatethat his stardom would spell troublefor his admirers, inside as well as outsidethe train.

For many, it would have been a dream-come-true to know that theirfavourite star wasjust a couple of carriages awayfromthem. But it soon turned into a nightmare, with bulky bodyguards cordoning off an entirecarriagefor the star, thefrenzy around his presence in the train, and the inability of passengers to get on oroff.

Trainshave been an intrinsic part of Shah Rukh's movies (Chaiyya chaiyya, Di/wale Dulhania LeJayenge, ChennaiExpress). Perhapsthat was the reason he decided to takea trainfrom Mumbaito Delhi to promote his new film. After starting off on theright note, thetrain ridegot engulfedinto controversy due to the death of a fan onVadodarastation, and injuries suffered by others.

As the fans went berserk and got out of control, actorSunny Leonewho was on board, rightly described the train as 'a tightly packed sardine can'. That it truly was.

Forme, thejourneybegan much before the5:40 pm start.To many, the ideaof taking a Delhi-Mumbaiflight, only to take a train back, may seem senseless, but it made total sensewithShah Rukh forcompany.

I channelled Kajol from Di/wale DulhaniaLeJayenge, runningagainst time to make it on the train. Only,Shah Rukh was not waiting at the gate and I was instead wading through a maddening crowd.

Theeuphoric tunes of Udiudijaye, thegarbatrack from Raees, added to the jubilant mood. Luckily, the actor, who is infamous for being late at events, was on time this time.

His plan involved waving to the crowd at nine stops, Vapi,Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota and Mathura.

Everywhere it was the same fan frenzy - peoplejumping on to tracks, climbing on the top of the train, banging on windows - without thinking of theirown safety. Other people huddled togetheron stairs, and up some poles as well. The craze was there for all to see, with people's shoes loitered all around the platform as they ran amok lookingforSRK.

It left us pondering on theextentto whichfans can goforthe screen idol.

Inside thetrain, wehopedand prayed that no onewould be hurt.Sunny, peeping out of the window with curiosity, was heard muttering: "I don't want anybody to get hurt. Oh, there's a guy with a stick Please don't hit anybody. I will start to cry."

Alas, everyone's fear came true with the news of one fan - a relative off afemale journalist travelling in the train - dying at thestation.There are conf icting theories about the death: some claim he had a cardiac arrest, others that he was suffocated to death due to the stampede-like situation.

Thefun of thetrainridesoonfaded away, casting a pall of gloom.

SRK has been blamed forthe mayhem, but we saw him on his toes trying to pacify his team. He appearedshaken as he stepped in for a chat with scribesvery late at night. There was no stardom to beseen as he spoke to usstraight from theheart.

Consoling thejournalist who hadjust lost a loved one,Shah Rukh organisedfor members of his security team to accompany herandhermotherback to Vadodara. Could this major publicity event have been planned better? Probably.

Is SRK to blame? Probably not.

SugandhaRawal

Dev Patel Heads To The Oscars

Dev Patel said hefelt an "overwhelming sense of gratitude" for receiving an Oscar nomination (Best Actor in a Supporting Role) for his film Lion.

The Indian-origin British actor is up against actors like Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) and Jeff Bridges (He// or High Water) for the trophy, which will be given away at the 89th Academy Awardsceremony in LosAngeles on February 26.

What makes the moment so much more "poignant" is that he hasjust wrapped up shooting another film in India.

"This enthralling country holds such a deep place in my heart, and it is where Saroo Brierley'sjourney was born," Dev said in a release.

"(The film) reaffirms the message that love is not dictated by the colour of your skin, not by race, gender, sexuality, social status or origin. It is a message I am proud to be spreading during these uncertain times," he said.

"This will forever be one of the most memorable experiences of my life," he added.

Meanwhile musician AR Rahman has missed out on a nomination in the Original Score category. He was longlisted in an initial list of 145 scores, with two nominations for his work in Pele: Birth of aLegend, a biographical film about the early life of Brazilian footballer Pele.

BATTLE OFTHE BLOCKBUSTERS: KAABIL VERSUS RAEES

It's a box officeclash that has been widely spoken about - but there are high chances that Kaabil and Raees will both do exceedingly well as they are both eminently watchable f lms.

Both films are releasing this week.

Both are love stories. Intense love stories.

In Kaabil, Hrithik Roshan loves his wife to death, and he is ready to go to any lengths to avenge the wrong done to her. The last 20 minutes of the film are so 'heart-in-the-mouth', you would be advised to hold your bursting bladders until the last drop of blood is shed and avenged on screen.

It is by farSanjay Gupta's best work, more emotional and dramatic than any of the violent sagas he has narrated in the past. Hrithik gives his finest, most searing and passionate performance since Kaho Naa Pyaar Haiand Guzaarish. His intensity is disturbing, even haunting.

Raees is also a love story. And it's got nothing to do with Mahira Khan. Shah Rukh Khan's characterof a man of illgotten power and wealth from Gujarat in the 1980s, is in love. With himself.

Since I believeShah Rukh in real life truly loves himself, the merger of the actor and the characteris so brutally complete, it's like watching mirror images of two identical souls - one off camera, the other on it - dressed in very different clothes.

Raees is also about how two heterosexual men can be bonded spiritually even while being on separate sides of the firing line. This is perhaps the first time in his entire career as a leading man that Shah Rukh has found a co-star who is compelling in his own right.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, when pitched against Shah Rukh, truly defines what 'The Clash Of The Titans' means. He does with Shah Rukh what a Rishi Kapoor orVinod Khanna could neverdo with Amitabh Bachchan.

The two actors keep us ruthlessly rivetedto the screen. The movement of the plot is almost maniacal, to match the energyand mutinous passion of the two men at each other's throats.

More than anything else, the two films this week provewhat Hindi cinema has known all along. Nothing can replace the cult of superstardom. The mysticism, magic and magnetism that Khan and Roshan bring to the screen, have to beseen to be believed. Don't pick one between Raees and Kaabil. Go see both.

B-TOWN QUESTIONS WORTH OF POPULAR FILM AWARDS

After veteran Rishi Kapoor's revelation about "buying" a Best ActorAward for Rs 30,000 once upon a time, Bollywood celebrities like Raakhee, Subhash Ghai, Taapsee Pannu and Prasoon Joshi have raised questions on the credibility of popular film awards. Here's what they had to say:

Raakhee: When I was told I was getting the award for Best Actress in an awful film called Be-lmaan, I said I wouldn't accept it. Not whenjust a few years earlierthey refusedto give me the award for what I thought was a commendable performance in Sharmeelee. They chose to giveAsha Parekh the Best Actress award that year forKati Patang. Shockingly, they didn't even giveSachin Dev Burman the Best Music award forhis soulful

Hrithik Roshan

music in Sharmee/ee. In fact, Sachin and his son Rahul Dev Burman hardly evergot awards.

Tapsee Pannu:Awards, for me, are wonderful television shows. The trophies look good on your living room shelves. That's about it.

TillotamaShome: I wouldn't know about popular awardsbecauseI've neverbeen nominated forany, let alone won. If I did win ever, I'd feel accepted as part of this wonderful fraternity. Never mind. We unsung artistesare like wild f owers. We will grow even through the cracks.

Paresh Rawal: Popular awards are worthless and useless. They are big marketing events with no substance. A glaring omission was my film OMG - Oh My God! which didn't get any nominations in the popular awards. There are innumerable such sins of omission. Awards are as useless as a tail on a teddy bear.

Subhash Ghal: Popularawards lost their credibility long ago when they were turned into star-studded stage shows and commercial events for television channels. Filmfare was thefirst awards function to turn commercial when they tied up with a gutkabrand.The rest followed. Earlier, all the awards were for excellence and not for commercial branding. Unlike the Oscars, which we still respect for maintaining authenticity, I attend our popular awards in thespirit of a festive gathering. I only feel excited when I see the awardsforbestdebutants.That means we have new talent coming in. SaurabhShukla:There are too many awards.And an excess of anything leads to boredom. If you eat too much chocolate, the craving isreplaced by nausea. You can't get excited about Holi if you had to play it seven times a year.Awardsare a celebration of talent. If you have too many choices they are no longer exciting.

Satlsh Kaushlk:Too many playersspoil the game.These aremorelike reality shows than awards functions. I miss the days when therewas oneawards function, the Filmfareawards, and the whole industry used to wait for it.

Prasoon Joshi: They are a kind of reality television. They are designed to entertain viewers. Award functions are like consumerproducts. If we come to terms with this, it is easy to comprehend the presence of so many brandsfunctioning within the awardsspace.As long as we recognize today's average awards function as a consumer item, we arefine. India to that extent, is unique.However, I feel National awards are a little different as they are not marketing tools.

Shallendra Singh (head honcho of Percept Ltd): It's a buffet out there.You eat everything. But you don't respect or enjoy anything.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

PRIYANKA CHOPRA or KENDALL JENNER in OLCAY GULSEN?

+ Shareyourviews with us on our Facebook page /lndianLinkAustralia

Ashleyjudd In Kolkata

Hollywood actorand acclaimed humanitarianAshley Judd went straight from the Women's March in Washington held to coincide with US President DonaldTrump'sinauguration, to Kolkata to mingle with children from red light areas.

The Divergent and DoubleJeopardy star was in the city to attend the Kolkata Literary Meet.

Supporting the NGO Apne Aap in combating sex trafficking, Judd was seen tying shoe lacesfor the children and playing with them. She also visited Sonagachi, one of Asia's biggest red light areas, during her stay in the eastern metropolis.

The United Nations Population Fund's Goodwill Ambassador reinforced her message to end human trafficking by posting picturesfrom an outing with the children.

One of hermany tweets from the visit read:"From Kolkata with love.

#CoolMenDontBuySex @RightsforGirls @apneaap #EndSexTrafficking."

At the Women's March Judd had performed a poem written by poet Nina Donovan, "Nasty Woman", to thundering applause.

WHATTWEETY

Us This Week

Bird

TOLD

Can you match the tweetsto the stars who tweeted them? Priyanka Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh Bachchan, Proud moment for all of us. PINK now available on @TheFilmPink #Pink #PinkOnNetf ix

Just a little shout of love for all the praise for my#KaabilETareef team! Thank you !!!

Beyond thrilled & overwhelmed with the amazing response & reactions to #Se renaUnger!#xXx:ReturnOfXanderCage Thank Youfor all the LOVE!

Be warned, Summer bringsVictoria Leeds. #BeBaywatch @baywatchmovie

On train & listening to the new song from Raees. Dhandhe Ka #Dhingana

What's the chitchat between DEEPIKA PADUKONE and ELLEN?

Send in your responsesto win@indianlink.com.au and win asurprise prize

What's the chitchat between LION stars DEV PATEL and SONNY PAWAR here?

Dev: Slumdogstreet stars are a lucky omen for me. Bringthe Oscars on, 2017!!

SUMANA RAO Ashfield NSW

Sumana wins a ticket to new Hindi release Raees

To (F)B or not to (F)B

DEAR AUNTYJI

I was hoping for your advice A few days ago, my husband and I were coming homefrom work at dusk Wesaw a very old lady crossing thestreet and she was nearly hit by a car - asshe was crossing while it was a green light for traffic

When we walked past her, she looked confused, and because she looked 80 years old, Istopped to ask if she was ok She did notspeak much English, and seemeddisoriented In any case we live close to a policestation, and while the lady told us the name of thestreet she lived on, she kept on walking in the opposite direction. Fearing for her safety asshe had no awareness of traffic, we walked with her until we reached the police station. We told the police officers about the lady and it turns out the lady was amissing person She was reunited with herfamily and I was very pleased for her When I came homelater that night, I posted about this event on Facebook and explainedhow we hadhelped an old lady. My brother's new wife told me that I should not havepostedthis on social media, andsaid that when good deeds are done, they should not be boasted about on Facebook I was very surprised by this comment. Everyoneelsetold me that we had done a good deedand god knows what would have happened to the poor lady had we not helpedher I am still troubled by Rayna'scomment. I don't like whatshesaid and I want to bring this up at theAustralia Day BBQ at my brother's place Can you pleasetell me Auntyji how 1 can counter Rayna's argument?

Auntyji Says

Well, aren't youjust a sanctimonious little do-gooder, who after doing a good deed, had to let the world know how wonderful a person you are? Why was it so important for you to put on FB that you had helped someone?Why did you have to broadcast your GoodSamaritan act for others to comment on in order for you to get double thegood feeling? Are you really that starved for attention that you need the comments of others to prolong thefeel-good sentiments inspired by your good act? In this instance, I completely, 100%agreewith Rayna. She is right. When one does a good deed,there is no reason to let everyoneknow about it. In fact, this makesme wonder what your motivation wasfor helping the poor lady. Clearly, you musthavebeen desperateto get home to post on social media what you had achieved.You really should have more class - if you helpsomeone in the future, shut up about it. No oneneedsto know.

Anddon't you eventhink about going to the BBQ and bringing this up.Rayna did you a favour by calling out your hypocrisy. Only afool would now try to argue with her. Hang out more with Rayna,shesoundslikeasmart woman. You could learn from her.

DoyouhaveaquestionforAuntyji?

How do I get him to quit?

DEAR AUNTYJI

I am so angry! Every single day I am getting angrier and angrier. My stupid, stupid husband, who has been promising me that he would give up smoking when he started his new job, is six weeks into his newjob and shows no signs of giving up those cigarettes He has not even tried He has been promising forseven years to give up, and I feel that he isselfish for not considering our future together by compromising his health. Every cigarette compromises his health, and I know that life will become very difficult if he gets sick In fact, when he has a minor cold, he takesto the bed and wants me to wait on him hand and foot He always uses one excuse after another about giving up smoking and I am at the end of my patience My uncle, grandfather and father-in-law all died from smokingrelated illnesses and I am terrified this will happen to my husband as well. Auntyji, my husband is now over 40 and has been smoking for 20 years Can you please give me guidance?

Auntyji Says

You know, even Barack Obama gave up cigarettes because Michelle did not condone this behaviour. Yes, your husband is incredibly self sh and seems to have prioritised his addiction over a healthy future with you. So, what do you do?You can accept your husband with hisfailings, and know that we will all die someday, except in your husband's case, this will probably happen sooner, and will be a painful horrible death. If you accept this then move on - because there are no guarantees in life and your husband could just as easily die crossing the road while texting. On the other hand, it appears that your husband is on a particular death wish, and is taking advantage of your good nature. So thesolution issimple. If you do not wish to be an enabler, pack your bagsand go. Rather than waiting for the inevitable visit to the doctor when your husband starts coughing up his tar-tilled lungs, you may as well escape while you can from this selfish man. You deserve better. Leave now and let your husband hang out with his best buddies PeterStuyvesant and Peter Jackson. No doubt, they will be there to give him comfort when he has to speak through a tube after his tracheotomy.

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