Desi Wear Blog

Indo-Asian News Service

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has announced the launch of his signature real estate development, Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard, to be located in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The 8-billion dirham ($2.2-billion) development will come up on Dana Island off the Ras Al Khaimah coast and will comprise studio and one and two-bedroom apartments.

In an interaction with reporters here ahead of the Cityscape 2008 real estate exhibition, which started on Monday, Shah Rukh said he had a fetish for houses and that was what led him to this project.

“I have a strange fetish for home. It’s close to my heart,” he was quoted as saying.

“Bit by bit, I have built my home where the future of my children lies. While I have done so much for my home, why can’t I extend this to others?” he asked.

The development will be designed by well-known architect Toni Ashai and will also comprise an underwater discotheque, a public square on the beach and a theatre.

The project will cover three million square feet.

The film star has associated himself with the project through TSA International Investments, a leading real estate financial consultancy in the UAE.

Khan already is associated with the UAE’s leading real estate developer Nakheel and owns a house on the posh Palm Jumeirah manmade island off the coast of the Dubai.

Though Bollywood actors have earlier endorsed real estate projects in the UAE, this is the first time that a celebrity himself is developing a property .

Yes, it’s the largest film industry in the world - and I love telling that to all my non-desi friends - but there’s one thing that bugs me about Bollywood. You might be thinking it’s the four hour running times, the over-the-top acting style or maybe the fact that the same love story is told a million times over with different actors/actresses…but that’s all a part of the Bollywood genre.

It’s the lip syncing.

And yes, I know that’s part of Bollywood too – but the industry, in my mind, does not give enough credit to the actual singers or musicians that make the songs. Bollywood movies are musicals, and the songs play a big role in the films success, the real singers deserve more respect and acknowledgment.

It especially gets me when Bollywood fans sell-out stadiums to see their favourite actors “performing live”, with no appearances from the real singers. Don’t get me wrong, Bollywood actors have a lot of talent in acting, and performing, and of course that’s what captivates fans. But after paying $85 for a musical concert – wouldn’t you want to hear live singing, as well as your favourite screen stars? Maybe that’s just me.

I think the fame and stardom that the actors and actresses get is totally deserved – they are the Faces of Bollywood. But I also think it’s about time that the Voices of Bollywood get the same credit!

So we here at DW want to pay respect to the real singers of the Bollywood Film Industry…and the most famous of them all is the legendary “Lata Mangeshkar!“ She has sang in over 980 Bollywood movies and has sung songs in over 20 Indian languages. She is the elder sister of the equally accomplished singer Asha Bhosle. Lata is the second vocalist ever to have received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor. And if that isn’t enough, Lata was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world.

She is by far the undisputed Queen of the play-back singers. We honor her by featuring her in our newly released “DESI VOICE” shirt.

Available HERE only at www.DesiWear.com