Mere superhero

SRK tells Sarita Tanwar who the superheroes he looks up to, are. And why kids should follow them, too

He's playing a superhero in his next film. But those who have known Shah Rukh Khan for years now, already think he is a superhero! Anyway, the superstar reveals who his inspirations are and what kind of traits children should take away from these super lives.

pic/ Sameer Markande

Batman
Batman is the coolest. And what a costume! He has all the coolest gadgets on his belt and has a cave under his mansion. He even has a Batmobile and a Batbike. He has an ever-trustworthy friend, confidant and butler in Alfred Pennyworth. He doesn't have superpowers but is a highly trained fighter and a supremely talented detective. Listen up, kids: Batman's alter-ego Bruce Wayne lost his parents in a random murder and this created the Batman. His ultimate weapon is driving fear into the minds of criminals. Even so, it isn't revenge that fuels his mission, it's bringing crooks to justice that does.

Superman
Superman was the first globally loved and imitated superhero. The classical idea is of a messiah, who comes from another planet as an orphan but protects his adopted planet as he grows older. The concept is very American but you see it in Sholay too. Jai and Veeru solve Ramgarh’s problems even though they are outsiders. Superman lives in Metropolis under the alias Clark Kent and is married to award-winning journalist Lois Lane. His only weakness is kryptonite.Listen up, kids: The ultimate boy scout, he wants to help everyone out and if the world needs saving, he is always at hand. Reliability is his key trait.

Spiderman
The best thing about Spiderman is that he sports a mask. The actor playing his alter ego, Peter Parker can breathe easy because someone else can do the stunts wearing the mask. He is a weird superhero. I find his love story very boring. In comics, half the time he is simply talking to himself. Like a confused teenager discovering his spider-like powers, he debates with himself about how much of his personal life he should make public. I like his web-slinging. I also like the story of his origin. How a socially awkward kid became a reluctant superhero and embraced his powers. Listen up, kids: This guy can crack a joke at the most trying of times. And you can’t go wrong with a guy who lives by the dictum: With great power comes great responsibility.

Wonder Woman
My favourite female superhero. I’m not a fan of Catwoman and that’s probably because I don’t like cats. Wonder Woman is a goddess (quite literally) come down to earth. She uses her tiara and arm bands during combat, she can fly and even has a lasso that can make people tell the truth if they touch it. Under all that, though, she’s quite human. She has dreams, pains and aspirations like any other girl. I like her costumes, which undergo changes quite often. Quite unlike an almost superhuman-like Lara Croft, played by Angelina Jolie.Listen up, kids: Though she was born into a warrior clan as a goddess, Wonder Woman fights for peace and justice and to protect her adopted home, Earth, with perfect humility.

Wolverine
His skeleton is laced with a metal called adamantium. His powers include invulnerability (he cannot be harmed), super-strength and claws that come out and retract at will. He comes across as a tortured soul but is a natural born leader. His powers are the result of an experiment by an evil scientist.Listen up, kids: While Wolverine is not the most follow-worthy of heroes, he’s the perfect example of a loyal friend and a strong leader.

Neo
I wonder if he can be called a superhero. His powers exist in a world called the Matrix where programmes and supercomputers are masters of the game He exists in a world constructed by computers and programmes. I like his fight moves. And he can fly! I
didn’t like the glare and grind of the machines but loved the way he fights with his arch nemesis, Mr Smith. I think he is the closest one can come to the superhero of tomorrow. Listen up, kids: Neo gives hope to a human race that has lost all faith in ever achieving freedom. Very few superheroes have that heavy a burden to carry. But he carries it well.

Read more »

Posted in: Mid Day

Mere superhero

SRK tells Sarita Tanwar who the superheroes he looks up to, are. And why kids should follow them, too

He's playing a superhero in his next film. But those who have known Shah Rukh Khan for years now, already think he is a superhero! Anyway, the superstar reveals who his inspirations are and what kind of traits children should take away from these super lives.

pic/ Sameer Markande

Batman
Batman is the coolest. And what a costume! He has all the coolest gadgets on his belt and has a cave under his mansion. He even has a Batmobile and a Batbike. He has an ever-trustworthy friend, confidant and butler in Alfred Pennyworth. He doesn't have superpowers but is a highly trained fighter and a supremely talented detective. Listen up, kids: Batman's alter-ego Bruce Wayne lost his parents in a random murder and this created the Batman. His ultimate weapon is driving fear into the minds of criminals. Even so, it isn't revenge that fuels his mission, it's bringing crooks to justice that does.

Superman
Superman was the first globally loved and imitated superhero. The classical idea is of a messiah, who comes from another planet as an orphan but protects his adopted planet as he grows older. The concept is very American but you see it in Sholay too. Jai and Veeru solve Ramgarh’s problems even though they are outsiders. Superman lives in Metropolis under the alias Clark Kent and is married to award-winning journalist Lois Lane. His only weakness is kryptonite.Listen up, kids: The ultimate boy scout, he wants to help everyone out and if the world needs saving, he is always at hand. Reliability is his key trait.

Spiderman
The best thing about Spiderman is that he sports a mask. The actor playing his alter ego, Peter Parker can breathe easy because someone else can do the stunts wearing the mask. He is a weird superhero. I find his love story very boring. In comics, half the time he is simply talking to himself. Like a confused teenager discovering his spider-like powers, he debates with himself about how much of his personal life he should make public. I like his web-slinging. I also like the story of his origin. How a socially awkward kid became a reluctant superhero and embraced his powers. Listen up, kids: This guy can crack a joke at the most trying of times. And you can’t go wrong with a guy who lives by the dictum: With great power comes great responsibility.

Wonder Woman
My favourite female superhero. I’m not a fan of Catwoman and that’s probably because I don’t like cats. Wonder Woman is a goddess (quite literally) come down to earth. She uses her tiara and arm bands during combat, she can fly and even has a lasso that can make people tell the truth if they touch it. Under all that, though, she’s quite human. She has dreams, pains and aspirations like any other girl. I like her costumes, which undergo changes quite often. Quite unlike an almost superhuman-like Lara Croft, played by Angelina Jolie.Listen up, kids: Though she was born into a warrior clan as a goddess, Wonder Woman fights for peace and justice and to protect her adopted home, Earth, with perfect humility.

Wolverine
His skeleton is laced with a metal called adamantium. His powers include invulnerability (he cannot be harmed), super-strength and claws that come out and retract at will. He comes across as a tortured soul but is a natural born leader. His powers are the result of an experiment by an evil scientist.Listen up, kids: While Wolverine is not the most follow-worthy of heroes, he’s the perfect example of a loyal friend and a strong leader.

Neo
I wonder if he can be called a superhero. His powers exist in a world called the Matrix where programmes and supercomputers are masters of the game He exists in a world constructed by computers and programmes. I like his fight moves. And he can fly! I
didn’t like the glare and grind of the machines but loved the way he fights with his arch nemesis, Mr Smith. I think he is the closest one can come to the superhero of tomorrow. Listen up, kids: Neo gives hope to a human race that has lost all faith in ever achieving freedom. Very few superheroes have that heavy a burden to carry. But he carries it well.

Read more »

Posted in: Mid Day

I hired a spy to snoop on Asif, Veena Malik reveals

What started as a girlfriend's means of keeping a tab on her man may open a can of worms on the spot-fixing scandal. Private detective found that the bowler spent time with models, call girls who acted as a link between him and bookmakers  

Confessions of model-turned-actress Veena Malik, the estranged girlfriend of tainted Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif, has opened a can of worms about the recent spot-fixing scandal which has rocked the cricketing world. While Malik continues to maintain that she is not settling scores with her ex, she alleges that Asif would not have been able to fix matches without the "help" of actresses, models and even call girls.

Eye on you: Veena Malik, former girlfriend of tainted Pakistani bowler Mohammed Asif (left), confessed that she learnt of the cricketing scandal when she hired a private detective to keep an eye on him between November 8 and November 23, 2009

Malik, who parted ways with Asif in March, confessed that she learnt of the cricketing scandal when she hired a private detective to keep an eye on him between Nov 8-23, 2009. This after she was fed up of the bowler's promiscuity, she claimed. "I always knew that Asif was involved with other women even when we were dating. He was the kind of guy who would party all night during his tours with girls. I was particularly suspicious about one person who sent him text messages frequently. I had a doubt that he was cheating on me, and so I hired a detective," said the actress.

Shocking details
But what the spy revealed was even more shocking. "I was aghast when the private detective told me that Asif spent a lot of time with upcoming actresses, models when he toured other countries. Bookmakers may have used these girls as messengers to pass on information to players," said Malik. 

The detective handed over to the Pakistani actress phone numbers, photographs and other details of seven women, who frequently met, called and messaged Asif.

"I was shocked when I was told that most of these women were models, bar dancers, small-time actresses and even call girls from across the world," said Malik.

Asif not alone?         
These women acted as a link between bookies and Asif. In fact, other Pakistani cricketers also got in touch with punters with the help of such models. "An actress whose name cropped up in an MMS scandal and a Kashmiri starlet helped other Pakistani cricketers get in touch with bookies. These girls were 'supplied' to the players by punters," said insiders.

Curious about these women, Malik called some of them after she found the phone numbers given to her by the detective in Asif's cellphone. "Some of these women were models and actresses in India and Pakistan. One of the calls was answered by a South African bar dancer, who hurled abuses at me when I asked her to stay away from Asif," said Malik.   

Asif met the Indian actresses and models during tours to India. However, sources insist that the Pakistani bowler mingled with these girls when he attended an IPL party in 2008.

Indian hand
Malik also alleged that Indian actress Neetu Chandra's numbers were recovered from Asif's call logs. However, Chandra's spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar has denied that the actress had anything to do with the issue.

Malik also said that it was through the information given to her by the detectives that she stumbled upon the involvement of an Indian freelance sports photographer in the match-fixing scandal.

False promises
"I suspected that Asif was involved in the scam and I confronted him. In fact, before Asif left for the Australia tour in 2009, he took an oath putting his hand on the Quran that he will get himself out of the mess and not get involved with betting syndicates," said Malik.

"But during the tour when I called him, I found something suspicious. When I told him that I was praying for the team's victory he laughed and said that Pakistan was not going to win the Australia tour."  

Asif promised that he would never get involved in spot-fixing. "But soon he got involved with Majeed Mazhar," said Malik.

ICC knows it all?
The actress claims that she has provided all this information to the ICC's anti-corruption unit.

However, the ICC refused to give details to this newspaper. "We don't share classified information of cases which are being investigated," said an email from ICC.

On the issue of the girls being used in the betting syndicate, Colin Gibson, head of media and communications, ICC, said, "We don't comment on any investigations being undertaken by the ICC.'"

Read more »

Posted in: Mid Day

I hired a spy to snoop on Asif, Veena Malik reveals

What started as a girlfriend's means of keeping a tab on her man may open a can of worms on the spot-fixing scandal. Private detective found that the bowler spent time with models, call girls who acted as a link between him and bookmakers  

Confessions of model-turned-actress Veena Malik, the estranged girlfriend of tainted Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif, has opened a can of worms about the recent spot-fixing scandal which has rocked the cricketing world. While Malik continues to maintain that she is not settling scores with her ex, she alleges that Asif would not have been able to fix matches without the "help" of actresses, models and even call girls.

Eye on you: Veena Malik, former girlfriend of tainted Pakistani bowler Mohammed Asif (left), confessed that she learnt of the cricketing scandal when she hired a private detective to keep an eye on him between November 8 and November 23, 2009

Malik, who parted ways with Asif in March, confessed that she learnt of the cricketing scandal when she hired a private detective to keep an eye on him between Nov 8-23, 2009. This after she was fed up of the bowler's promiscuity, she claimed. "I always knew that Asif was involved with other women even when we were dating. He was the kind of guy who would party all night during his tours with girls. I was particularly suspicious about one person who sent him text messages frequently. I had a doubt that he was cheating on me, and so I hired a detective," said the actress.

Shocking details
But what the spy revealed was even more shocking. "I was aghast when the private detective told me that Asif spent a lot of time with upcoming actresses, models when he toured other countries. Bookmakers may have used these girls as messengers to pass on information to players," said Malik. 

The detective handed over to the Pakistani actress phone numbers, photographs and other details of seven women, who frequently met, called and messaged Asif.

"I was shocked when I was told that most of these women were models, bar dancers, small-time actresses and even call girls from across the world," said Malik.

Asif not alone?         
These women acted as a link between bookies and Asif. In fact, other Pakistani cricketers also got in touch with punters with the help of such models. "An actress whose name cropped up in an MMS scandal and a Kashmiri starlet helped other Pakistani cricketers get in touch with bookies. These girls were 'supplied' to the players by punters," said insiders.

Curious about these women, Malik called some of them after she found the phone numbers given to her by the detective in Asif's cellphone. "Some of these women were models and actresses in India and Pakistan. One of the calls was answered by a South African bar dancer, who hurled abuses at me when I asked her to stay away from Asif," said Malik.   

Asif met the Indian actresses and models during tours to India. However, sources insist that the Pakistani bowler mingled with these girls when he attended an IPL party in 2008.

Indian hand
Malik also alleged that Indian actress Neetu Chandra's numbers were recovered from Asif's call logs. However, Chandra's spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar has denied that the actress had anything to do with the issue.

Malik also said that it was through the information given to her by the detectives that she stumbled upon the involvement of an Indian freelance sports photographer in the match-fixing scandal.

False promises
"I suspected that Asif was involved in the scam and I confronted him. In fact, before Asif left for the Australia tour in 2009, he took an oath putting his hand on the Quran that he will get himself out of the mess and not get involved with betting syndicates," said Malik.

"But during the tour when I called him, I found something suspicious. When I told him that I was praying for the team's victory he laughed and said that Pakistan was not going to win the Australia tour."  

Asif promised that he would never get involved in spot-fixing. "But soon he got involved with Majeed Mazhar," said Malik.

ICC knows it all?
The actress claims that she has provided all this information to the ICC's anti-corruption unit.

However, the ICC refused to give details to this newspaper. "We don't share classified information of cases which are being investigated," said an email from ICC.

On the issue of the girls being used in the betting syndicate, Colin Gibson, head of media and communications, ICC, said, "We don't comment on any investigations being undertaken by the ICC.'"

Read more »

Posted in: Mid Day