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Shah Rukh, Juhi find a fan in Basu

Mohammad Javed R in Calcutta

The Shah Rukh Khan-Juhi Chawla starrer Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani may not have captivated cine buffs all over India, but it has certainly found special audience in West Bengal. No less a person than the longest serving chief minister of India, Jyoti Basu, has ordered his minister for information and cultural affairs, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, to hold a special screening of the film at Nandan theatre.

A couple of days ago, Juhi, had said that the nationwide dismal performance of Phir Bhi... notwithstanding, she was quite optimistic about its success in West Bengal. What even she didn't realise then was that the veteran Marxist himself would be watching her latest release in a special show.

Basu's desire to watch the film was communicated to Bhattacharya after both Shah Rukh and Juhi met the octogenarian chief minister at his Salt Lake residence on January 31. Shah Rukh reportedly requested Basu to watch Phir Bhi... and the latter readily agreed.

When contacted, Basu told rediff.com on the phone that Shah Rukh had indeed requested him to watch his new release. "He was accompanied by some Chawla. I am told she had also won a beauty contest a few years ago. You see, I am too old fashioned to watch today's masala movies. I don't even get to watch TV, but Buddha ( Buddhadeb Bhattacharya) says this lad (Shah Rukh) is currently among the top heroes of the Hindi film industry," Basu added.

He was all praise for Shah Rukh. "I found him quite well-mannered. Time and again, he kept requesting me to watch his latest movie, some 'Hindustani.' I just didn't want to disappoint him and therefore decided to watch it during a special show at Nandan," said Basu.

Shah Rukh too, appeared overwhelmed by Basu's personality. After a Press conference in Calcutta, he admitted that he was thrilled to meet a politician of Basu's stature. "Throughout the meeting, he remained calm and composed. He enquired about Bombay's crime world and was curious to know how the city police was tackling the law and order problem there."

With the first citizen of West Bengal evincing a personal interest to watch Phir Bhi..., Shah Rukh and Juhi finally, have something to celebrate.