SRK trains his guns at Cruise

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The tussles among the Khan trio for the top slot may now be a thing of the past. And that’s because the baadshah himself is moving on to other battles. When Don 2 has its overseas release, Shah Rukh Khan will not be competing with Aamir or Salman, but Tom Cruise, whose Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol will be out at the same time.

During the last few years, SRK has been giving serious competition to Tom in the popularity stakes, even pipping him in a fans’ opinion poll. Then in 2007, when Om Shanti Om was released, it had a bigger opening worldwide than Tom’s Lions for Lambs. “OSO managed to garner over $19 million while LFL had a collection of about $10.3 million — despite being released in over 45 markets. This was the time that the world media acknowledged that SRK was a force to reckon with, not just for Indian and NRI audiences, but for the global audience as well,” says a veteran trade analyst.
SRK, though, has shrugged off all comparisons, saying modestly, “Well, Tom gets paid a lot more than I do. So he’s obviously the bigger superstar.” Close associates, however, think its time SRK started taking his global image more seriously. “Shah Rukh needs to take himself more seriously, start thinking bigger. But yes, he has been taking advice from friends on a possible Hollywood project, and something may be finalised with Leonardo Di Caprio — the script of which is being penned by Mushtaq Sheikh,” says a close aide of the actor.
Hollywood projects aside, SRK is also taking steps to ensure an increased presence in the global arena for Ra.One and Don 2. “SRK knows that Christmas is the time when the global audience watches films in a heavy volume, and by releasing Don 2 at that time, he could make a dent in the MI profits,” our source adds.