First Look: Billoo Barber

Waiting for yet another Shahrukh flick? There is good news - you would not have to wait much to see The King Khan, as his latest flick - ‘Billu Barber’ is expected to hit the theaters in the first quarter of 2009. A remake of the Malayalam film ‘Kadha Parayumbol’, this comic movie has been produced by SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment. It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Irrfan Khan, Lara Dutta, Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani as its main characters. The news is abuzz that Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone will also be seen in the movie, in guest appearances.

While the lyrics for ‘Billoo Barber’ have been written by Gulzar, Pritam is the music director for this humorous movie. It is for the first time that Shahrukh and Irrfan will be sharing screen space. With the likes of Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani in the movie, rest assured that you are going to have a fine taste of comedy. The film is a tale of two friends, a modern adaptation of the platonic relationship shared by Krishna and Sudama. Priyadarshan is expecting to strike diamond with this movie, as it would mark his 75th film as a director.

In the movie, Irrfan Khan plays the title role of Billu Barber (present-day Sudama); Shahrukh will be seen as Sahil Khan (present-day Krishna). The movie revolves around the life of Billu Barber, his wife (Lara Dutta) and their two kids. Billu is a village barber experiencing a slow down in his business, primarily because he fails to adapt to the changing fashion trends. It is during this time that a film unit comes to his village, with superstar Sahil Khan as the hero. Billu tells everyone in the village that Sahil is his old friend. Instantly, the villagers take a keen liking to Billu.

All the villagers want to meet Sahil Khan and believe Billu to be the perfect person, who can help arrange a rendezvous with him. Now, Billu tries to meet the actor, but is unsuccessful in the attempt. This makes everyone suspicious about his claim. Not only the villagers, but even his family members believe that he was lying about his friendship with Sahil. What will Billu do now? Will he be able to meet his friend? Will Sahil recognize Billu? Will Billu's family members and villagers believe him again? The answers are for the viewers to unveil as the movie hits the theaters in 2009.

'Om Shanti Om'

Together, they rocked in 2007 with Om Shanti Om. Now, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Farah
Khan are back again in Billu Barber.

Farah, of course, is getting SRK and Deepika to dance to her tune again.

The film, his home production, is much hyped already and slated for release on February 13. And the Bollywood Badshah and his OSO leading hottie sizzle in a song Love Mera Hit Hai Hit Hai. “It was great fun doing this song,” said Farah who was dragged out of post-maternity recuperation by SRK to choreograph the film. “I didn’t have any sense of deja vu because it is very different from OSO which mostly had retro moves. This song is very hip-hop, it has a futuristic look, and the moves I have given them are like that. I couldn’t say no to Shah Rukh even though my babies were just born.”

Deepika, who has always been an ardent SRK admirer, added, “Working with them is special because Shah Rukh and Farah are the two people I have started my career with. I am glad he asked me. Farah these days has become very selective and will not take up anything unless it excites her, so it’s all the more reason for me to be a part of this song. We relived so many memories, I felt I was going back to the sets of OSO. My costume designer is Manish Malhotra even in this film, and we had the same caterer — Mutthuswami, serving us. It was so much fun.”

Meanwhile Shah Rukh, who credits the success of his previous hit to newcomer Deepika, is happy to work with her again. “It was sweet of her to agree. She is very talented and works hard. Working with the younger lot is really a learning process. They are so much fun, confident, and aware. They are all my future investments,” he laughed. Besides Deepika, there are two more sexy cameos with Priyanka Chopra
and Kareena Kapoor. SRK has created onscreen magic with these three girls before in Asoka, Don and OSO respectively.

Shah Rukh's Rab Ne... finally brings cheer to Yash Raj Films

Mumbai is still not in a cinema-going mood after the terror strikes, but movie buffs - and loyal Shah Rukh Khan fans to be precise - could not have given Yash Raj Films' much-awaited movie "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" a miss. So if not in droves, they came in sizeable numbers for the first day first show to give the movie a decent and honourable opening in the city.

The opening collections here ranged from 70 percent to over 80 percent – and more in other parts of the country. According to initial reports, the collections were cent percent in many centres in north India, especially Punjab, thanks to rapid advance bookings.

Yash Raj Films (YRF), which has suffered monetary losses after successive failures of its recent ventures, could not have asked for more.

In one quick shot, "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" redeemed its prestige. The credit for this, as many in the industry said, should go to the 'jodi' (alliance) of Shah Rukh and the industry's most private filmmaker, Aditya Chopra - the duo that have given one of the biggest hits in "Dilwala Dulhaniya Le Jayenge".

The film is Shah Rukh's first release of the year. Apart from this, it is the first Shah Rukh Khan-Aditya Chopra film in over eight years. They had last collaborated for Mohabbatein" in 2000.

Set in Amritsar, "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" is the story of a mismatched couple played by Shah Rukh and newcomer Anushka Sharma and how the two of them find love in the backdrop of a dance competition.

The trade circles, which earlier were a little circumspect in their opinion about the movie's probable box-office fate post 26/11, have now given the movie a thumbs up, saying it has brought a little cheer to Mumbai's prevailing sombre mood.

YRF has two weeks to cash in on the enthusiasm the movie has generated among the audience before Aamir Khan-starrer "Ghajini" arrives. But by that time, "Rab Ne.." would have consolidated its position at the box-office and be declared a superhit," said I.M Pannu, a trade analyst.