‘The real ‘me’ has got lost somewhere’



After working 15-hours a day for more than two decades, Shah Rukh Khan says, his original persona has lost somewhere 
in the middle...

RAHUL, Raj, G-One or Mohan Bhargav - which character resembles most with the personality of Shah Rukh Khan as a human being? - a profound question from a college-going girl turned King Khan quite philosophical and the candid SRK confessed that he faces personality conflict these days.



“I am working tirelessly for last 23 years. Everyday, I wake up in the morning and start working. I don't stop for 15 to 18 hours. With shooting, promotional events, television programmes, awards functions and dance tours, I feel like the real Shah Rukh has got lost somewhere. I don't understand when I start acting in real life as I don't stop acting on reel,” confessed Shah Rukh.



This thoughtful confession from a Mega Star was also a reflection of the mood with which he began his day on Wednesday. His ‘tweet’ early in the day said - ‘Been a long time since I spent some time with myself. Enroute to Nagpur...the tour begins for the DON 2.’



In Nagpur, SRK addressed a press conference at Cinemax Theatre, and then came for a ‘Coffee With Shah Rukh’ event organised by Lokmat Media Group at Hotel Centre Point, Ramdaspeth. Here, he interacted with members of Lokmat ‘YuvaNext’, ‘Sakhi Manch’ and a large number of school students (most of them his die-hard fans) who gathered to see him. As Lokmat group works for several social causes, issues like ‘Save Girl Child’, and ‘Education’ and ‘Sports’ were elaborately mentioned during the event and SRK's views of these issues made the event very engaging for all.

“I have a special attachment and respect for women. I lost my father at a very tender age and my mother looked after me. After her, my elder sister, then my wife and now my daughter - all these women have made my life very beautiful,” he said, before he signed a ‘Save Girl Child’ placard for Lokmat Sakhi Manch.



Being a sports person at heart, it was quite obvious for Shah Rukh to speak about sports activity, especially, football, as Nagpur recently hosted second season of NPL football tournament. “I am glad to know that football is being promoted by corpote houses of Nagpur, in this part of the country. I used to play football during my college days. I dream of a day when India will qualify for FIFA World Cup. Star players will emerge from such League tournaments,” Shah Rukh said with a promise that he will come to Nagpur for NPL’s next season.

SRK answered many questions that he frequently faces (how did he feel playing negative role in DON series). He also spoke about his heroines and attributed 60 percent of his success to them. “Right from Juhi and Madhuri to Kajol and Rani, to Deepika and Priyanka, everyone is special for me. And Gauri is the ‘specialest’,” he said receiving an enthusiastic applause from his listeners.

Shah Rukh amply demonstrated why was he such a heartthrob as he danced with a school kid on DON 2 title song. Before he left the event, he advised students to study hard ‘as education is the only way to make country a super power.’ Earlier, Jyotsna Darda, President of Sakhi Manch, welcomed Shah Rukh.



Cutting of the same article appeared in The Hitavada on December 15, 2011



King of a different throne



While accepting his devoted fan following right from villages to cities as ‘Maai ka Ashish’ (mother’s blessings); icon of ‘Jas’ singing Lakhbir Singh ‘Lakha’ says, he sings on ‘Maai Ka Adesh’ (mother’s order)



(Lakhbir Sing Lakha (in safron turban) with Nagpur based Jas singers)



HIS voice has a magical depth and ‘Khanak’ that gives an experience of spiritual connectivity to his listeners. When he starts singing, they start singing along, and when he raises ‘Jai Mata Di’ call, they respond in louder and louder voice.
Such is the impact of Lakhbir Singh Lakha’s Jas singing that devotees sway to the tunes of devotional songs sung by him.

“It’s all because of the grace of ‘Matarani’,” when he says, one realises that he is absolutely right. Otherwise, for a kid born in a middle class Sikh family at Jamshedpur, it is a distant dream to become an icon in this different style of singing.

Jas singing is immensely popular all over India, especially amongst the devotees of Goddess Durga. Overnight Jagarans and hours and hours of Jas singing is common scene in North India. Nowadays, this tradition is gaining popularity in Maharashtra and adjacent region, too. Lakhbir Singh Lakha is one of the biggest crowd pullers in India. Even his Wednesday’s concert in Pardi Bhavani temple was attended by more than ten thousand devotees.

“I used to sing prayers in schools, then started singing devotional songs in temples. In college, Iwas interested in music, but, my family’s instant need was some income from me. Hence, I joined Tata Steel Company’s Security and Intelligence Department,” he said. Lakha continued to sing as ‘Kavadiya’ (devotee of Lord Shiva) and Jas singer during his leisure time in various temples for 19 years, until he was noticed by Founder of Super Cassette Industries Gulshan Kumar.

“He was real ‘Johari’, who always searched excellent voices. Gulshanji invited me to join T-Series, and everything was changed,” says Lakha who now resides in Mumbai and enjoys the status amongst India’s top five Jas Jagaran singers. Not only His style directly catches the attraction of common devotees.
“Being faithful is very important for singing devotional songs,” he mentions.

“I am always in search of good words, and if I like some Bhajan, I request its writer for the permission to sing it,” says a singer-composer Lakha has a special connection with Nagpur. “I have many fans and budding Jas Singers who follow my style in Nagpur. I have some very good writers, too. I sing their bhajans in many of my concerts,” he smiles.