Mixed Signals from SRK

Actor Shah Rukh Khan was well aware that the news of his new-born baby boy with wife Gauri through surrogacy had brought the media to the event originally organised to launch the music of his upcoming film Chennai Express. But on Wednesday evening,in Mumbai,the actor,with his famous wit and some amount of humility,managed to bring the focus back to the film.

It wasn’t easy; the media turned up in huge numbers and the excitement of Khan’s arrival almost turned everyone into fans. They screamed and hooted for the star. Although Khan had been joined by other members of the cast and crew,including his leading lady Deepika Padukone,looking gorgeous in a beige and black gown,director Rohit Shetty,producer Ronnie Screwvala of Disney UTV,Shekhar Ravjiani of composer duo Vishal-Shekhar,among others,the spotlight remained on Khan. When he took the mic,Khan quoted the lyrics of a song from Chennai Express,“Get on the train,baby,” before adding,“and not my baby,we’ll talk about it another time”. The actor then explained that his current personal situation was a mix of happiness and sadness and that he was waiting for the “sad part to get over” before he could talk about the baby.

Following his request to everyone for privacy,Khan turned into the entertainer he is. He attempted faulty Tamil,danced despite his shoulder injury and teased Padukone,who easily towered over him,about her height. “Ask her the questions,” he told the media when she feigned anger about being ignored by press,“at least you will get her pictures since she is the tallest among us all.”

Before wrapping up the event,the actor — looking dapper in a beard and slick hair — even took a dig at the situation he is in. “I would like to thank the industry that accepted me wholeheartedly. They are like family; a surrogate family,if I may say so,” he said with a smile,a cheeky one before posing for the cameras.