My Name Is Khan Is Based on September 11 Attacks

Shah Rukh Khan reportedly said that he is free for some time as he is not doing Shanker’s Robot and Raj Kumar Hirani’s next venture. He will now be working on Karan Johar’s next film titled My Name Is Khan.

The shooting will begin by the end of December with a shooting stint in the US where the film is based. It is said that Karan wants to capture the US winter as it is a part of the script.

Sources reveal that the film brings together Kajol opposite him after a gap of over six years. Karan has been making frequent trips to the US to determine the look of the film. Presently, discussions over Shah Rukh and Kajol’s look in the film and the costumes are in the final stages.

An industry source says, "The film My Name Is Khan is about how people with Muslim names are viewed with suspicion internationally after the terror attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. King Khan is extremely excited about this project and has been equating his personal experiences as a Muslim traveller abroad with the film’s subject."

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Shahrukh says shooting of "My Name Is Khan" starts from July 2008

Though it is being postulated that Shah Rukh Khan is all set to take a sabbatical, before he shoots for Farhan Akhter's DON sequel in December 2008, that is far from the truth.

In an informal chat with a leading news channel, SRK was very specific when he said that the shooting of his next project with Karan Johar, MY NAME IS KHAN, will commence from July 2008. It is the same project where Kajol is likely to be paired opposite him.

While on Shah Rukh and his upcoming projects, the workaholic superstar is also tipped to work in a start to finish (one or two schedule film) for his close friend Aditya Chopra. And that may be prior to Karan's, MY NAME IS KHAN.

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SRK and Kajol pair up again in "My Name Is Khan"

They have been one of the most popular hit pairs of Bollywood, starring in superhits "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai".

Now King Khan and Kajol are getting back together after seven long years in a film slated for release in 2009.

Titled "My Name is Khan", the film focuses on the plight of the Muslim community after the Septmber 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US. We just can't wait to see the duo share screen space once again. -










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Shahrukh Khan is jobless, going to start a new project "My Name is Khan"

Shah Rukh Khan created a small stir when he announced that he is out of work for eight months, since he as opted out of the two films he had committed to – Shankar's 'Robot', and Rajkumar Hirani's next, based on Chetan Bhagat's book, 'Five Point Someone'. He stated that he had creative differences with the former, and that Vidhu Vinod Chopra's accusations made him leave the latter.

However, according to sources, these are not the main reasons for his voluntary unemployment. Apparently, he is all set to star in Karan Johar's 'My Name Is Khan', to go on floor soon.

The friendship between Johar and King Khan is legendary, and it is also a well-known fact that SRK is biased towards his friends. In fact, he would have put critics to shame if he had done the other two projects, since they are always accusing him of favouritism.

It is also believed that another possible reason for SRK to break his commitments to the other projects is Kajol – the Karan Johar film brings together the hit SRK-Kajol pair back to screen after a gap of six years.

The source adds, "Karan keeps hopping between US and India, and he is very excited about the project.

Presently Shah Rukh's and Kajol's looks are being worked out and the costumes other details are in their final stages. This usually happens when the film is about to start."

'My Name Is Khan' is about a Muslim man, viewed suspiciously, after the 9/11 terror attack.

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'They stop me at London airport cos my name is 'Khan''

‘King’ Shah Rukh admits to Shubha Shetty-Saha that he is a victim of stereotype with the way he’s treated at international airports

You have flu and you are still working…you are obviously a workaholic...
I know. But what to do. I can’t do anything beyond work. Except when I am spending time with my kids, doing anything other than work gets to me. Socialising is a problem, sometimes even holidaying is a problem.

Is that why you have clubbed the premiere of ‘Om Shanti Om’ in the UK, with a holiday with your children?
We thought why not make it a celebration for all of us. It would be the first for Deepika. Kids are also having holidays from the November 1 and we will go a little early and stay on in the UK till the 12th. And in that weather, you can actually wear a suit and look good!

Do you let go so easily in other spheres of life too?
I have never cheated anyone or my work. I have done my best, whether I was unwell, tired or unhappy. It has always worked for me. I truly believe in the tagline of this film, ‘Like in films, in real life, at the end everyone is happy, if not it is not the end.’

Do you get superstitious when a lot is at stake?
I get superstitious about God, about saying prayers for my kids. I feel if I haven’t prayed right, it is not working right. I truly believe that self belief comes from believing in God.

But for God to help you, you need to help yourself. Every one of us will find someone better. I can always look at Laxmi Mittal and feel bad…why don’t I have ten mansions….but instead of accepting that the person is better than you, you will say, he is lucky, which is so not fair.

I am constantly compared to youngsters, but if I let that disturb me, it will only trouble me. I am compared to Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan. I only say, ‘yes, I think Amitabh Bachchan is better.’ There can be no further questions.

If I have a fat nose, it is only wise to accept it. I accept all my faults, I am shorter than a lot of people, but why should I wear heels and show that I am not? I am not jealous. I have no sense of anger, pessimism and negativity.

Your next film with Karan Johar ‘My name is Khan’ is about how people with
Muslim second names are treated differently internationally. Have you had any such personal experiences?
I am the wrongest person to even think about this. It is really stupid even to imagine that such kind of differentiation happens in India. It is most secular and there is no difference between a Khan and a Kumar here.

But yes, internationally, if you have a Muslim surname, you might be considered a terrorist. At London airport, every time I go, people recognise me, but they see my second name, and they give me an extra checking.

Earlier, my assistant Subhash used to be stopped, because of the way he looks, so I used to say ok, I will take your bags, it is better for me, but these days, I am the one who’s stopped, so its okay, he carries my bags for me. (Laughing) but if you ask me, between us, he’s the one who looks more like a terrorist!

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The Idea Behind "My Name Is Khan"

"Internationally, if you have a Muslim surname, you might be considered a terrorist," said Khan.

CAIRO — Inspired by his own personal experience, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will star a new movie on discrimination against people with Muslim second names in the post 9/11 world.

"Internationally, if you have a Muslim surname, you might be considered a terrorist," the Indian Muslim actor told the Mumbai-based English language Daily News & Analysis on Wednesday, October 24.

"My name is Khan" is directed by renowned Indian filmmaker Karan Johar and features six people with Muslim names who are viewed with suspicion and forced to endure extra security checks in international airports six years after the 9/11 attacks.

Shooting was expected to begin early next year and the film to be released in the summer.

A growing number of Muslims are victims of what some call "traveling while a Muslim".

US rights groups say that racial profiling has been on the upswing since 9/11.

More than 500 people are denied entry to the US daily because of their identity.

"Not In India"

The top Bollywood actor says the movie touches him personally.

"At London airport, every time I go, people recognize me, but they see my second name, and they give me an extra checking."

Khan, who acted in more than 50 movies, remembers that before 9/11 his famous name used to facilitate things for him and his movie crew at airports.

"Earlier, my assistant Subhash used to be stopped, because of the way he looks, so I used to say ok, I will take your bags, it is better for me.

"These days, I am the one who’s stopped, so it's okay, he carries my bags for me," Khan laughed.

He argues that this kind of discrimination does not happen in Hindu-majority India.

"It is really stupid even to imagine that such kind of differentiation happens in India," said the Bollywood star.

"It is most secular and there is no difference between a Khan and a Kumar here."

There are nearly 140 million Muslims in India, constituting over 13 percent of its billion-strong population.

Indian Muslims have for decades complained of social and economic neglect and oppression.

They account for less than seven percent of public service employees, only five percent of railways workers, around four percent of banking employees and there are only 29,000 Muslims in India's 1.3 million-strong military.

The Washington Timesreported on Tuesday, August 21, that institutionalized discrimination against Muslims in India is promoting many to adopt Hindu names and identities just to be able to eke out a living.

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