Bollywood looks to 'King Khan' for year-end boost

Bollywood's first major release since the Mumbai attacks opens in theatres here Friday, with the film industry hoping star actor Shah Rukh Khan and director Aditya Chopra can guarantee a huge hit.

"Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" (Match Made In Heaven) sees "SRK" or "King Khan", as he is known, play Surinder, a soberly-dressed middle-aged man who falls in love with a fun-loving younger woman called Taani (Anushka Sharma).

Opposites attract and the odd couple marry, but their union is strained until Taani persuades Surinder to take part in a reality dance competition and he is transformed.

Khan and Chopra first worked together on the latter's debut film "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (Bravehearts Get The Bride). The 1995 film propelled Khan to Bollywood superstardom.

The film was one of the most successful Indian movies in history and is still being shown in Mumbai cinemas.

Theatre owners owners and film companies are hoping that the Khan-Chopra magic formula can work again.

Bollywood was tightening its belt even before the November 26-29 attacks that killed 163 innocent people and injured nearly 300, with audience figures falling during the past year.

Two big films released for the annual Hindu festival of Diwali did only modest business, while Bollywood was hit by a damaging union strike in early October.

"We are hoping that this film will turn the tables. Shah Rukh is Shah Rukh," said Nester D'Souza, head of business development at the Metro Theatre cinema in south Mumbai.

"We all are hoping that this will rejuvenate interest in moviegoers and they will come back to theatres. For the last two weeks, in spite of the Eid (al-Adha) festival not many people came to theatres.

"There is fear in the minds of the people but for 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' there is a very strong buzz in the market because this film looks promising and has also been promoted well."

Khan, who last weekend was awarded Malaysia's equivalent of a knighthood and has been a vocal critic of the Mumbai attacks, describing the militants as "un-Islamic", has said time has flown since he and Chopra last worked together.

Their previous joint venture was "Mohabbatein" (Love Stories), in 2000.

"This film is a comedy and has a love angle to it. Also, I play a very common man in the film unlike the romantic heroes that I have played earlier in my films," Khan said.

"I hope people love this film as they have loved my other films."

Leading trade analyst Komal Nahta told the Bombay Times this week that "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" had all the ingredients of a blockbuster.

"It is a classic underdog story of a guy turning from zero to hero and a familiar territory that Shah Rukh Khan excels in romance," he said.

"A sureshot formula that is bound to find an instant connection with the masses."

Later this month hopes are pinned on Aamir Khan's "Ghajini", about a man with memory loss who tattoos himself and takes Polaroid pictures to remember events and people, and the animation "Jumbo", with the voice of Akshay Kumar.

Both are released on Christmas Day, December 25.

"Audiences are finally in for a treat. These stars are definitely the crowd-pullers and the year may end on a good note for the industry," analyst Taran Adarsh told the Bombay Times this week.