To kick-start the new marketing campaign for his IPL team, Shah Rukh Khan -- one of the nine owners of the Kolkata Knight Riders -- attended a conference held at a hotel in Bandra Kurla Complex, in suburban Mumbai.
The revamp in logo and the jersey was collectively termed, 'New Dawn, New Knights' and picking on the same, SRK joked, "I thought they have called me back to promote my last film."
Regarding his team's continuous ill luck on field, Shah Rukh said last year was considerably better than previous sessions as KKR had managed to enter the semi-finals.
The actor was keenly concerned for the successive losses of his team on the pitch but hoped this year they would lift the IPL trophy.
Juhi Chawla, co-owner of the team and Khan's long-time friend, was also present and having an optimistic approach for the team, she cheered, ""We will fly and we will be on top this year."
A lot had been written on the animosity the two friends and business associates reportedly shared at one point in time. So was the welfare of the franchisee the only reason the actors came on a common ground? SRK was visibly annoyed when this was pointed out and accused the media for subscribing to tabloid journalism which made for scintillating headlines. He said there were no ill-feelings between Juhi and him and felt it embarrassing to justify something which didn't "exist" in the first place. He assured there was no fallout and he is eternally grateful to Chawla and her family who have stood by him ever since his struggling days when he first came to Mumbai from Delhi.
"Please be by my side always," SRK sweetly told a visibly flushed Juhi. "Even when sometimes I don't behave too well in public."
Juhi, who was delayed to the event by a few minutes, candidly told media persons that when she knew it was a Shah Rukh Khan event, she didn't quite expect it to start on time.
When talk eventually came to Valentine's Day, Bollywood's brand ambassador of romance promptly said, "I'm quite superstitious about Valentine's Day."
The actor's next mega-project includes Yash Raj Film's untitled next alongside Katrina Kaif.
Photograph: Pradeep Bandekar
