Salman, John quiten egos

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

Thursday, August 24, 2006

What some of the biggest filmmakers couldn't achieve, a Bollywood show promoter has managed to pull off. He's brought sulking Salman and jovial John together again.

England, ahoy!

The Rockstars show in UK and USA in May this year was mired in controversies. The chief one being the huge ego problems between Salman Khan and John Abraham.

The situation got so bad that on returning, Sallu refused to sign new films with John and refused to shoot for the ones currently starring the warring actors, namely like Salaam-E-Ishq and Babul. But now, problems have been sorted and Sallu and John are coming together for three shows in Oslo (Norway), Bolton and Glasgow (UK).

Other stars that are part of this show include Zayed Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif (Esha Deol has been replaced by her). Priyanka Chopra is the new addition and will perform in the Bolton and Glasgow shows. Says Mohammed Morani of the Morani brothers, "Esha is shooting in Ooty and her dates were not available for this tour."

We are family

The Moranis, Sohail Khan Entertainment and GS Entertainment are the event organisers from India. We asked the UK-based promoter, Farhath Hussain, how he'd managed to achieve the task of bringing Salman and John together.

He modestly says, "It's not me but the stars who got together and decided to have more shows. I had heard about some problems happening on the last Rockstars shows, but these things happen on every tour.

Now everything is back to normal and we are like one big happy family. The stars asked me on the last Rockstars tour in the UK why I wasn't organising more shows, so I agreed. The film industry is like a family and I am lucky that I'm part of the family. I spoke to everybody and everyone is very happy. Mark my words, these shows will create history this time!"

On being asked why he was planning another Bollywood show when the last one was not exactly a money-spinner, he replies, "It's a brilliant package.

Everyone was shocked that I was taking up the Rockstars shows again, especially when it hadn't done well the last time. But the demand is unbelievable. There were many reasons the shows didn't work out: we overpriced the tickets and they were held during exam time and the football fever."

New packaging

Farhath is evidently excited about the upcoming shows. He says, "The UK shows in Glasgow and Bolton will be completely different as they will include Priyanka and Katrina in a different package. It's called Just Chill With Rockstars (August 27 and 28), while the Olso one (August 26) is called Rockstars. This will be our third show in Norway in 16 years."

Commenting on why he'd stopped doing shows until recently, Farhath says, "There were some financial problems which have been sorted out. I had gone to Dubai and done the Dubai Heat show there, but now I have moved back to London."