Dilwale is one of India’s most anticipated film releases of 2015, and sees Bollywood’s iconic onscreen couple, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, reunited after five years. “Dilwale” also stars heartthrob, Varun Dhawan, who plays Shah Rukh Khan’s younger brother and rising star, Kriti Sanon, who plays the role of Kajol’s sister in the movie. The film opens 18 December 2015.
Directed by hit-maker Rohit Shetty, “Dilwale” is being produced by Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd and Rohit Shetty Productions. It is marketed and distributed by UTV Motion Pictures in the United Kingdom.
Shah Rukh Khan and his co-stars made a whirlwind tour to the UK to promote the film, and the Asian Voice was invited to meet them all at the Montcalm Hotel, Marble Arch, while they were here.
SRK appeared modest, gentle, thoughtful and funny. Kajol was lively and took every opportunity to crack a joke, while Varun and Kriti seemed a bit deferential to their seniors but confident in their place in filmography none the less.
SRK looked dapper and thin, Kajol graceful in a high neck fitted dress with her hair in an up do, and Kriti seemed super tall in a smart dress too. Through the day all the cast changed clothes lots of times for each set of interviews and appearances.
SRK was highly appreciative of the British Asian diaspora and the way it supports Indian film. He said he has been observing it for 25 years. He indicated that the best reward for him and his cast members is for the film to bring a smile to the faces of those who see it; “This is the biggest gift that you can give us.”
Asian Voice asked SRK about the collaboration between Red Chillies Entertainment, the production company founded and owned by Shah Rukh Khan, and Rohit Shetty.
He replied, “With Red Chillies or any of the production houses, there are two ways to work now; one is to do the business end of the film, so Red Chillies does the business end of the film. But online production, you can put it out to the director’s team. Rohit has an amazing team of 200 people that he doesn’t work without- people he’s carried forward over the past 10 films. So you don’t try to change that and say ‘We’ll bring in the creative team.’ Obviously, because I worked with him in “Chennai,” I know the creative team. They’re fantastic. Young boys and girls. So the creative part, the onus of online work is with Rohit’s team, while the back end, the business end, is with Red Chillies.
"As a creative producer, if I was to take myself out of Red Chillies, I’m only creative when I’m working in the film as an actor too.”
Asian Voice also got an idea from the young co stars as to their ambitions. Varun said, “I get to live my dream every day. I always wanted to do a Rohit Shetty comedy. I get to play younger brother to Shah Rukh Khan, which is amazing. I want to go ahead and try and do different things. People now are very individualistic. Some people here have no hair, purple hair (laughter) people have different characters. In future I want to play people who are drastically different from each other.”
Kriti said, “I am just too new in the film industry and I’m trying to put myself out, make myself visible. I don’t think two or five films can show your potential as an actor. At the same time you want to keep experimenting, do different things and kind of shock yourself.”
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“I’m only creative when I’m working in the film as an actor too,” Shah Rukh Khan.
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MEETING THE FANS
Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Kriti Sanon and Varun Dhawan arrived at the Cineworld Feltham in style in a white Rolls Royce and were greeted by frenzied cheers and screams from staunch fans outside the multiplex. While the stars worked their way down the red carpet, taking selfies and signing autographs, the host of the evening, Bend It Like Beckham and Eastenders star, Ameet Channa, entertained eager fans inside the foyer of the cinema.
Once inside, the stars took to the stage to thank fans for their support, before breaking out in a rendition of Dilwale’s hit tracks Gerua and Manma Emotion Jaage. Lucky fans were also treated to Shah Rukh Khan reciting dialogues from legendary films like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and went crazy when he did his signature dance move.
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