Shah Rukh Khan & Aamir Khan’s Hits: Bollywood Flashback

2003 (June 15 – 21)

● Although Shah Rukh Khan’s Chalte Chalte, then in its second week, was on its way to becoming a universal success, there was none of the customary celebrations in the superstar’s office. That was because the film’s director, Aziz Mirza, lost his wife to medical complications on 17^th June. Shah Rukh had revealed that the story idea of Chalte Chalte was hers. She had asked her husband, Aziz Mirza, to make a film about the bickerings, quarrels and fights between a husband and wife. In fact, at a trial show of the film more than a month before its release, Aziz Mirza had said, “Many of the fights between Shah Rukh and Rani in the film are inspired from the fights my wife and I have had in real life.”

● Rakesh Roshan was so busy with the post-production work of his Koi… Mil Gaya that he had to watch son Hrithik’s ready-for release Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon at a preview show which started at 7 o’clock in the morning! Besides the film, Rakesh Roshan was also busy because his daughter was hospitalised for pneumonia.

● Shilpa Shetty’s father, Surendra Shetty, who was allegedly involved in a case of extortion, surrendered before the Umra (Surat) police on the morning of 20^th June. The Umra police had received a complaint against Shetty, his wife and two gangsters for allegedly trying to extort Rs. 80 lakh, payable to Shilpa by Pankaj Agarwal, the owner of Praful Sarees, for appearing in an advertisement film for his company.

1998 (June 14 – 20)

● Vikram Bhatt’s Ghulam opened to excellent houses on 19th June. The hit Aati kya Khandala song did the trick, besides, of course, the presence of Aamir Khan in its cast. The trade had heaved a big sigh of relief because no film had taken even a decent opening since many weeks before Ghulam.

● ABCL’s Major Saab was finally cleared by the chief of army staff on 18th June, after four days of tension in Delhi. Objections to several scenes in the film had raised serious doubts about whether the film would be released on 26th June as scheduled. The uncertain situation had sent exhibitors all over India panicking about their release plans.

● Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh assured a film delegation that called on him on 13th June in Lucknow, of reduction in entertainment tax after the cabinet’s approval. The delegation included Shatrughan Sinha and filmmakers Ramanand Sagar and Subhash Ghai. The group appealed for subsidy for new cinemas in the state and exemption of Hindi films shot more than 80% in the state, from entertainment tax, besides reduction in the tax rate from 125% to 25%.

1993 (June 13 – 19)

● Four fans of Sanjay Dutt came cycling all the way from a town near Baroda to meet their favourite hero in Bombay. They called on Sanjay at Film City on 14^th June and told him how they had prayed to the Gods for his release from jail. They had also vowed to come cycling from Baroda to Bombay and meet the actor after his release.

● Yash Chopra’s Aaina opened on 18th June. The opening response was fair and, ultimately, the Jackie Shroff, Amrita Singh and Juhi Chawla starrer remained a city film only.

● On the same day, Kalpana Lajmi’s Rudaali opened to generally ordinary houses. The film won a lot of critical acclaim for both, Lajmi and the film’s leading lady, Dimple Kapadia. Bhupen Hazarika’s music, Gulzar’s lyrics and Santosh Sivan and Dharam Gulati’s camerawork were praised to the skies.

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