Big B last year, SRK this year for the French Bollywood News, Telugucinema, Kollywood

Bollywood News : Big B last year, SRK this year for the French

The French govt will confer 'Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters' on Shahrukh for his contribution to Indian films.

The French government will confer "Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters" title on Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan for his contribution to Indian film industry, a senior French government official said on Thursday.

"The title is being conferred to recognise the successful work done by Khan in 15-year career span and his contribution to Indian cinema - as an artiste and entrepreneur," Audiovisual Attache - Head of the French Film and TV office, French Embassy in India, Mohamed Bendjebbour said.

The distinction is given to persons who have established themselves by their creativity in the field of art, culture and literature or for their contribution to the influence of the arts in France and throughout the world, Bendjebbour said.

French Ambassador in India Jerome Bonnafont will confer the title on Khan at the inaugural ceremony of four-day French film festival - First rendezvous with French cinema in Mumbai on January 27.

This is not the first time an Indian film personality is being honoured by the French government. In 2005, renowned director Adoor Gopalakrishnan was bestowed with a similar title as Khan, while last year Amitabh Bachchan was conferred with "The Legion d'Honneur", France's highest civilian honour.

"We have the tradition of honouring great film personalities in India. Our government believes that Indian film industry is today among the best in the world in terms of quality," the official said.

The three-day festival will showcase seven commercial French titles, in an attempt to initiate and popularise French cinema in Mumbai, before travelling to other cities.

The Cultural Service of the French Embassy in India is organising the festival, in association with UniFrance, an organisation committed to promoting French cinema across the world.

"Indian cinema and the audience both have matured a lot in last couple of years. This change has coincided with the multiplex boom in India. We thought the time is ripe to tap its potential," said Philippe Martinet, Cultural Counsellor to the French Embassy in India, adding "we also want filmmakers to use France as the backdrop for their movies."

Among the seven films to be screened, would be Roman de Gare (Crossed Tracks), directed by the Academy and Palm d'or awardee, Claude Lelouch. Other films are La Science Des Reves (The Science of Sleep), and the world premiere of Asterix at the Olympics amongst others.

All these films to be showed in the festival would be released in India. Major companies like Polydor and Shemaroo have bagged the title rights for India release.

"We've spent some time conducting non-commercial screenings of French movies in multiplexes across the country and have received a good response," said Martinet.

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Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan says he used to watch French films for the "lovemaking scenes" for which they were famous the world over.

Shah Rukh admitted to having a French connection and said he used to go to the French cultural centre in Delhi to watch their movies since he was told it was the best cinema.

"But I also used to watch it for the lovemaking scenes," he told reporters yesterday before he was conferred the `Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters' title by the French government.

The s more

SRK-conferred-prestigious-French-title

Shah Rukh Khan has been conferred the `Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters' title by the French government.

Shah Rukh Khan was on Sunday conferred the prestigious `Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters' title by the French government at a ceremony in Mumbai.

SRK, who had a good year in 2007 with runaway hits Chak De India and Om Shanti Om, was presented the award in recognition of his 15-year-career in the Hindi film industry, one of the biggest in the world.

The title was conferred to Kh more

French-title-for-Shahrukh-Khan

The French government will confer "Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters" title on Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan for his contribution to Indian film industry, a senior French government official said on Thursday.

"The title is being conferred to recognise the successful work done by Khan in 15-year career span and his contribution to Indian cinema - as an artiste and entrepreneur," Audiovisual Attache - Head of the French Film and TV office, French Embassy in India, Mohamed Bendjebbour told PTI.
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Shah Rukh Khan has no big party plans for New Year.

The star intends to be in Mumbai preparing for Kaun Banega Crorepati, which is scheduled to go on air next month.

“I plan to read all the newspapers and work on the creative aspects of the show,” he said at a recent press conference.

“Besides, I don’t think Sameer Nair and Siddhartha Basu are going to let me go anywhere this year. They have even set up a KBC corner in my house to prepare myself,” he added jokingly.

Every year, the actor spends his New Year at his Delhi home or elsewhere. “This year, it looks like it’s going to be Mumbai.

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Superstar Rajinikanth may play the role of ancient Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in the Rs 50 crore plus movie St. Thomas, which is produced by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chennai. The film will also have actors like Ajith, Vijay and Vikram in guest roles.

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Bollywoood star received a royal welcome at the Britain’s Warwick Castle.

Flanked by armoured medieval bodyguards, actor Shah Rukh Khan, clad simply in jeans and t-shirt inaugurated the ‘Dream of Battle’, a new attraction at the Castle on Wednesday.

Amidst a crowd of fans, the 41-year-old actor was presented a sword before he went on to perform the unique sword-slashing ribbon-cutting ceremony as hundreds of fans cheered on.

Shah Rukh Khan is currently holidaying in London.

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This evening at 6.30pm, Mme. Marie - Paule Serre (Director of Alliance Francaise of Madras) will inaugurate the festival.V. Sriram (Vice - President of Alliance Francaise) will introduce the 6 films to be screened in the festival from Aug 20 to 25.

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The French embassy will honour Saturday legendary Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan with the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest civilian award, for his contribution to Indian and international cultural life.

French Ambassador Dominique Girard will confer the award on Bachchan at a special function at the embassy. Apparently, entire Bachchan clan is expected to grace the occasion. Aishwarya Rai, who just got engaged to the actor's son, Abhishek, is also likely to be seen at the award ceremony.< more

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English model Lily Cole has been featured on the French Playboy cover, wearing nothing but white socks and clutching a teddy bear. The model, who is also a face of 'Marks & Spencers', has posed for a 14 page shoot for the men's magazine, which also features her interview.

"Very intimate, very psychological," The Sun quoted French Playboy's fashion director Alex Aikiu, as telling about the interview. "For us, Playboy isn't Pamela Anderson. It doesn't matter how big your boobs are - it's about what's inside the more