The
excruciating
pain
on
his
shoulder
notwithstanding,
Shahrukh
Khan
is
going
all
out
to
promote
his
new
film
Billu
(the
word
'Barber'
has
been
removed
from
all
posters/billboards).
Tell
him
that
he's
the
best
marketing
brain
in
the
industry
thanks
to
the
kind
of
promotion
he
did
for
Om
Shanti
Om,
he
just
smiles,
"Om
Shanti
Om,
but
Yes
Boss
was
the
film
that
started
it
all," he
recalls.
Although
Billu
is
an
his
production,
with
Irrfan
Khan
enacting
the
title
role,
Shahrukh
hasn't
forced
himself
into
the
story.
On
the
contrary,
he
has
removed
two
of
his
scenes
from
the
film.
Not
many
are
aware
that
Priyadarshan
had
offered
Shahrukh
two
choices
-
a
film
on
heist
and
the
other,
a
story
on
friends.
"I
chose
the
second," Shahrukh
tells
me.
And
the
actor
is
extremely
happy
with
the
way
Billu
has
shaped
up.
"We
had
a
screening
recently
for
family
and
friends.
I
wasn't
expecting
people
to
get
emotional,
but
a
lot
of
people
did.
The
last
20
minutes
did
make
me
moist-eyed
as
well.
I
think
the
film
will
connect
with
the
audiences,"
the
Numero
Uno
star
states.
Financially
too,
Shahrukh
will
make
a
neat
profit
on
the
film.
Reportedly,
he
has
sold
the
film
for
a
fantastic
price
(Rs.50
cr.)
to
Eros.
"The
rumours
just
don't
stop.
Sometime
back
I
was
told
I
was
charging
Rs.100
crores
for
a
film.
I've
never
over-charged
any
of
my
producers.
Now
this
one!
The
truth
is,
we've
spent
quite
a
bit
on
the
making
of
the
film.
Coming
to
the
point,
the
price
is
not
Rs.50
cr.,
but
Rs.35
cr.," he
sets
the
record
straight.
Next
on
the
cards
is
a
film
with
Anubhav
Sinha.
"It's
a
super-hero
film.
I
want
it
to
be
the
best
super-hero
film
made
in
India.
We're
hiring
technicians
from
abroad.
Am
really
looking
forward
to
this
one,"
he
reveals.
Story first published: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 9:08 [IST]