King Khan Defiant of critics

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
After a month of public voting, radio presenters Raj and Pablo finally revealed the BBC Asian Network Film CafÉ Award winners - the only 'audience voted online Bollywood award' in the UK.

Shah Rukh Khan won the Best Villain award for his controversial performance in the remake of classic Bollywood film Don. His performance in Don received as many criticisms as it did applaud. Shah Rukh was asked if he now felt vindicated in light of the public votes that he received.

Shah Rukh said, "No, you feel vindicated if you believe in the people who give the negative reactions and I never believe in that because it was very clearly a modern day combined with the old Don version and it was targeted at an audience, which may not have seen the old Don. We can just assume that the older audience did not like the film but the younger audiences, who we aimed the film at really enjoyed it. I feel I did a good job and I liked what I did in Don. Shah Rukh was even more defiant towards his critics when he spoke to Film CafÉ about his role in Kabhi Alvida Naa Khena, where he plays an adulterous husband.

"I have been working for many years ...I get surprised that critics get confused between the actor and the role. In Kabhi Alvida Naa Khena I play a guy who is not nice, sleeps with someone else's wife but that's a character. You play a grittier character the critics have a problem with that. It's the ticket paying audience that counts at the end of the day," remarked SRK.

Aamir Khan, voted Best Actor in the awards, spoke exclusively to Film CafÉ to explain why these awards mean more to him than industry awards.

"I'm overwhelmed by the response of the audience. It was a difficult film to do as an actor. I am really moved by the response. Film and award ceremonies are so subjective and I Don't take award nights serious - the film has been made for the audience and they have loved it and that is of prime importance to me."

Rang De Basanti has Done particularly well, winning the overall vote in four of the eight categories.

Other proud winners include:

Best Film - Rang De Basanti with 28% of the vote
Best Soundtrack - Don: The Chase Begins Again with 27%
Best Actor - Aamir Khan in Rang De Basanti with 29%
Best Actress - Rani in Kabhi Alvida Naa Khena with 23%
Best Supporting Actor - Abhisekh Bachan in Kabhi Alvida Naa Khena with 32%
Best Supporting Actress - Soha Ali Khan in Rang De Basanti
Best Director - Rakeysh Mehra for Rang De Basanti and Karan Johar FOR Kabhi Alvida Naa Khena both with 27% of the votes each
Best Villain - Shah Rukh Khan in Don with 44% of vote

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