SRK mends bridges with Manoj Kumar

Signaling the end of the bitter war that ensued between Shah Rukh Khan and yesteryear actor Manoj Kumar with the release of Om Shanti Om in 2007, Shah Rukh visited Manoj recently and spent nearly four hours with him.

He shared some light moments with Manoj’s grandchildren too. Shah Rukh also went to enquire after the health of Manoj’s ailing mother-in-law, Savita Devi, who is SRK’s late mother’s good friend.

Says Manoj, “Look, there wasn’t ever an epic war between us that we wouldn’t meet again. He made a mistake and apologised for it. My 94-year-old mother-in-law had to be recently operated upon, and Shah Rukh wanted to meet her. My mother-in-law used to make khakras for Gandhiji. She is a former MP from Congress and Shah Rukh’s mother was a social worker, that’s how they met.”

Ask him more about the visit and Manoj continues, “Shah Rukh asked me why I was not making films anymore. I asked him what his problem was if I don’t make any and just rest at home. We joked about it. It was nice to meet him, I hardly interact with present day stars. I’ve just spoken to Aamir Khan over phone. And imagine, I haven’t met Salman since the last 19 years, despite his father, Salim Khan, being one of my closest friends.”

Manoj Kumar loves Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

When Shah Rukh's last film Om Shanti Om released, yesteryear actor Manoj Kumar was furious with him, and threatened to sue him for spoofing him in the film. But on Friday when SRK starrer releases, the senior actor was the first one to call him and congratulate him on his performance in Rab Ne Bana De Jodi.

SRK was pleasantly surprised with Manoj Kumar called on him on the morning of his film's release. The actor told King Khan that his wife Shashi had seen the film at a 9 am show and now they were going to watch the film again.

Kumar has not seen the film yet but he plans to do so this week. Manoj made it a point to tell SRK that the film will be a bigger success than Om Shanti Om.

Manoj Kumar confirms, "My wife saw the movie and completely loved it. Due to some issues, I couldn't go with her. The moment my wife entered home, she couldn't stop praising the movie. We called up SRK and congratulated him on the movie. My wife blessed him. I saw it on television and saw the huge profit it has made, even after the recession and depression the country is going through, the cinema houses are going house-full."

He reveals that he would go watch the film later today and adds, "SRK and I share good relations and I am extremely happy for him. My wife loved his Suri character and complimented him on his sweet look."

Shah Rukh Khan's RNBDJ has done a smashing business worldwide of around 63 crores gross in the first three days of its release. The film's stupendous success can be easily attributed to the overseas market alone. The film is said to touch the $200 million mark overseas. According to trade analyst, "It will be a bigger hit than Shah Rukh's earlier Om Shanti Om and even bigger than this year's biggest hit Singh Is Kinng."