New Shahrukh Khan Film Released Nov 13

In the 60s, John Lennon declared The Beatles more popular than Jesus.  Today, according to Google, Shahrukh Khan is more popular than The Beatles.

Google Search results:

Shahrukh Khan: 57,700,000

The Beatles:  47,600,000

Image results on Google for Shahrukh Khan are 29,000,000  which means he must be the most photographed man in the world.  Actually, he's probably the most photographed anything anywhere.  All cameras within a 10 mile radius of him  automatically start shooting photos every time he steps foot outside his door.

(Incidentally, Google searching my name resulted in Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn accounts, a lawyer, and a few mug shots of a person sharing my name who forges checks in Florida.)

Shahrukh Khan is an Indian actor.  Born in 1965, he graduated with a degree in economics and started acting in the theater in the late 80s before transitioning to television then Bollywood to become the world's most famous face - EVER.

Though he quickly became a heartthrob in India in the 90s, SRK escaped my radar until 2000.  It was around this time that my Indian husband and I started dating.  Having lived in California for a number of years he was clearly a SoCal guy, yet I wanted to impress him by learning as much as I could about Indian culture, food, art, etc.  In the process, I learned how to make a kick-ass dal and developed an affinity for Bollywood films. 

Bollywood movies are Indian movies made in Bombay (Mumbai).  Thus Hollywood + Bombay = Bollywood.

Before heading off to a Bollywood flick, here's a few facts you should know:  

1) Bollywood movies are usually 3 hours long.

2) There's an intermission in the middle for you to go and fill up on snacks.

3) There are usually around 6-7 big song/dance numbers.
4) The actors never kiss in the movie.
5) The soundtracks are as popular (if not, more so) than the movie.
6) The actors lip-sync the songs.

My husband, by the way, hates Bollywood movies and considers them the lowest form of entertainment.  To an extent, he's right.  Love story, singing, dancing, colourful costumes... it's total escapism.  But who cares? If you walk away feeling like you've been entertained and are humming a few bars of the lead song, it's all good.

I've read that fortune tellers foretold Shahrukh Khan's greatness.  Something to do with his "lion like hair" or, as my husband calls it, "John Stamos hair."  Personally, I'm mesmerized by his eyes and eyebrows which are shaped like a pair of tilde (~) symbols.  I'm also endeared to the fact that he married his college sweetheart, Gauri, and they seem pretty solid.  That poor woman.  Regardless of her life's accomplishments, she'll be forever be walking in his shadow.

King Khan's new movie, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, will be released November 13, 2012.
I'm fortunate enough to live in the Bay Area where there are a few places that actually show Indian films -- and you can be sure I'll be at the box office on opening week for this one.