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Sourav's back, Shah Rukh tells fans
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) For the 20,000 people here watching Shah Rukh Khan perform Saturday, it was an unexpected announcement by the Bollywood badshah - "Sourav Ganguly is back in the Indian team!" 

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People clapped and roared, seemingly welcoming the news. "Congratulations! He is a good guy," said Shah Rukh, who is known for his keen interest in cricket and cricketers, as he enthralled audiences at the Temptation 2005 show.

People at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the venue of the show, were on their toes cheering for the most successful Indian cricket captain who has been re-inducted into the team for the Pakistan Test series.

Rani Mukerji, Priyanka Chopra, Esha Deol, Zayed Khan and singers Abhijit Sawant, Sweta Pandit and Jassi were among the others who performed at the live show.

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Invitee spectator troubles Shah Rukh

There were thousands of eager fans screaming and waving their hands enthusiastically, as Shah Rukh offered to dance with a few of them on stage.

Only three of them, however, were lucky enough to shake a leg with the superstar. 

Audiences broke into thunderous laughter, as Shah Rukh had a tough time dealing with Harjeet, a garment manufacturer, whom he invited to stage. Harjeet ended up giving a lecture on the merits of drinking alcohol when the actor asked him to do a jig "Devdas" style.

"Drinking alcohol and smoking are bad habits. Please stay away from these. I am not smoking these days," said Shah Rukh.

Two others to share the stage were Minu, a middle-aged teacher for disabled students, and Konika, a school student. Those invited to the stage received his autographed portraits, watches and other gifts from the superstar.

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Security high, confusion higher 

While security personnel were on high alert in and around the show venue, many people failed to get their due seats even after repeated arguments with policemen. 

Despite having passes, many were stopped from entering the VIP enclosure.

"I am from the family of the chairman of one of the sponsors of this event and I have a pass. How can you stop me?" asked an annoyed gentleman.

"I understand you are from chairman's family. But what to do if there are not chairs?" pat came the reply from one of the security personnel deployed at the gate.

Journalists covering the event also had trouble finding their seats. Several confused reporters kept running from one place to another, as there were no separate sitting arrangements for them.

When a reporter approached a police official on duty, the latter said: "We do not have clear instructions. Please help yourself and just find a seat."

 
Shah Rukh is a livewire for Delhi crowds
By Arpana, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) He came wearing a dazzling white suit, shimmered in the spotlight and Shah Rukh Khan soon had thousands of fans eating out of his hands at his first dance show in the national capital Saturday. 

The 20,000-odd people at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here went positively berserk as the superstar performed at the over three-hour-long Temptation 2005 event. "Shah Rukh, we love you," people shouted, while thousands others whistled and jumped with joy.

Girls, in particular, who were just dying to see him, hear him and shake hands with him, were in the end contented if he just looked in their direction or blew flying kisses.

The bright winter afternoon turned into a starry wonder inside the stadium as the sold-out show - which has seen around 40 performances across the globe - kicked off with a galaxy of Bollywood stars. 

The first hit number, "Dhoom macha le", saw Esha Deol jiving on the simple but big stage followed by Zayed Khan who danced and wooed fans with "Mohabbat hai mirchi".

Priyanka Chopra, dressed to kill, then zoomed in with her hit number "Jawani fir na aaye". After Shah Rukh, she was certainly the biggest show-stealer and even sang a medley of her favourite songs. 

Shimmering in black and silver, Rani Mukerjee danced to popular songs from her recent hits - "Saathiya saathiya", "Chalka chalka re kalsi ka pani" and "Gore gore gore mahi ve". 

But King Khan was King Khan. 

With the other stars having set the mood, Shah Rukh Khan made a grand entry with "Sooraj hua madhyam". He followed it up with recent hit numbers like the qawwali from "Main Hoon Na" - for which Rani, Priyanka and Esha gave him company - and "Tujhey dekha to ye jana sanam". 

The crowd, aged from two-year-olds to the elderly, went hysterical with excitement and kept asking for more and more. And Shah Rukh obliged. 

"I love to come back home and dance with my people," said the actor who used to be a Delhi boy and made his acting debut on stage here. 

"Dilli wale do cheez bahut dete hain - ek tali aur doosri gaali!" (There are two things that Delhi residents give in plenty - applause and abuse). He even announced that his 102-year-old 'naani' - grandmother - was there at the venue. 

This was his first show in the capital after he moved to Mumbai. To the sheer delight of his fans, he invited a couple of people on stage, performed with them, cracked jokes and sent them back with a lot of gifts. 

He said: "There are rumours that I am a bisexual and I do not like dancing with men, but today I am going to dance with them." Sure enough he danced with a man - and of course two women as well.

To the delight of many fans, he announced that he had quit smoking. 

He danced magically with characteristic energy, with the play of lights adding to the spectacle. In between he kept changing his costumes. 

There was never a dull moment. Indian Idol Abhijit Sawant, playback singer Shweta Pandit and singer Jassi were part of a surprise package at the show and sang some of their hit numbers.

The show was organised to raise funds for the disabled and hats off to Javed Abidi, executive director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People, who made the impossible possible.

Shah Rukh praised the cause. He finally wrapped up with dialogues and songs from "Mohabbatein", "Kuch Kuch Hota Hain", "Devdas" and the like.

In the end, all the five stars came on stage together and danced. But they weren't about to leave the audience empty-handed. Many went home with stuffed toys and basketballs that the Bollywood celebrities threw at the crowds. 

For others, there were unforgettable memories of having seen Shah Rukh live!
 

Tight security for Shah Rukh Khan's show
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Police have put in place tight security for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's first live show in the national capital Saturday, and will use 35 closed circuit cameras for surveillance of the venue. 

  

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Police have arranged a three-tier security check and metal detectors will be installed at entrances to the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium, the venue for the show "Temptation 2005" that will also feature Rani Mukerji, Esha Deol, Zayed Khan and Priyanka Chopra.

While 18,000 passes have been issued for the show, many others are expected to throng the venue to get a glimpse of the stars in action.

"Looking at the importance of the show and the celebrities involved, we are not taking any shortcuts on security measures. Thirty-five closed circuit cameras will be in operation throughout the day in and around the stadium," said M.M. Oberoi, deputy commissioner of police (central district).

"Over 200 police personnel will be deployed in and around the venue," Oberoi told IANS. 

Qamar Ahmed, joint commissioner of police (traffic), said: "It will be more convenient for people to use public transport than to come in their own vehicles in view of the expected heavy rush."

All proceeds from the show will go to the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP).

King Khan's live show to beat capital chill
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The wait for Delhi residents to catch a live show featuring Shah Rukh Khan is finally over - the stage is all set for the King Khan to shake a leg with the likes of Rani Mukerji and Priyanka Chopra at "Temptations 2005" Saturday.

Shah Rukh, who did his schooling in Delhi and spent several years of his youth in the city, will perform here for the first time at the show that will raise funds for a leading disabled rights group. 

Esha Deol and Zayed Khan will also be part of the concert to be held at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

On the eve of the show, Rani Mukerji Friday talked about her desire to help the physically and mentally challenged. 

"I am very happy to be associated with this cause and I think we should try to give them a better place amongst us. We should also try to create an opportunity for them to be with us instead of isolating them," she told a news conference.

Rani said she felt most Indians are insensitive towards the disabled. "They are highly spirited people and they don't like sympathy and pity."

Throwing light on the lack of concern for the disabled, she said: "When I travel abroad, I find things are planned keeping in mind the disabled. In hotels you find three bathrooms in row - one for males, one for females and one for the disabled. 

"In India also we should create awareness and try to make a space for them." 

Rani said her role in "Black", where she played a deaf and dumb girl, had made her more sensitive towards the disabled. 

Esha Deol said she was happy to be part of Saturday's show, whose proceeds will benefit the National Centre For Promotional of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). 

"I am very happy to be a part of this show. I have performed as a classical dancer for charity shows but this is my first show of this nature," said Esha.

Talking about the show, NCPEDP executive director and leading disabled rights campaigner Javed Abidi said: "Every NGO should try to be financially independent. 

"This is our 10th year and we are also trying to have a independent corpus. We were told there only two ways to raise funds - either cricket or Bollywood. We approached Shah Rukh and he agreed to help us."


Shutterbug scare for Rani
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Bollywood star Rani Mukerji was startled Friday when a horde of eager photographers mobbed her at a news conference here to promote the Temptations 2005 live show. 

After the conference, the photographers created chaos when they suddenly charged towards Rani, scaring the actress. "Please don't jump on me," Rani was heard telling the photographers.

Rani, who remained all smiles and fielded questions patiently during the conference, immediately left the venue and was escorted to her hotel room by a posse of bodyguards. 

Later, when things settled down and the photographers had left, she returned and gave interviews to several journalists. 

Rani will join Shah Rukh Khan, Esha Doel and Priyanka Chopra for the Temptations 2005 show at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here Saturday.