A GOOD INVESTMENT: Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol at NASDAQ and (above) in a still from the film

Global Indian Shah Rukh Khan rings NY stock exchange gong with co-star Kajol

MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; February 3, 2010)

Moments after A R Rahman picked up his two Grammys in LA, on February 1 at 8.30 a.m. (New York time), Bollywood had yet another defining moment in global history. The King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan and his co-star Kajol from Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan, rang the gong at the New York stock exchange — NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations). The only Indian who has received this honour prior to SRK is Infosys CEO, Narayan Murthy.

Elated, Shah Rukh said, “I have usually stayed away from stock exchanges because I’ve always felt that they were scary places. I’m here now and I like it. When Kajol and I entered the NASDAQ today, I was told the market is green (flourishing). I can’t tell you how happy the news has made me.’’ Happy that MNIK was given this platform — the first for any Bollywood film — SRK joked, “I don’t want to sound cheesy, but I get the feeling that the stocks of My Name Is Khan that open on February 12, will keep rising in the weeks to come.’’

Humbled by the honour given to his latest film, Karan Johar said, “This is truly a moment of integration between the West and us. SRK is a global icon and he has a reach that is far beyond the space awarded to most others. Ringing the gong at the NASDAQ More >