Shah Rukh, Madhuri Dixit say Expo 2020 win will bring more of Bollywood to Dubai

Dubai’s historical Expo 2020 win this week found two new names added to the cheering squad, with Bollywood legends Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit-Nene forecasting an explosive growth in the organic entertainment industry here, ultimately leading to global powerbrokers knocking on this city’s doors.

Speaking on the eve of their ‘Access All Areas’ December 1 concert at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, superstar Khan dedicated the mega event to the emirate’s win as the world expo host city in year 2020, along with an added feather to the weekend-long celebrations for the country’s 42nd National Day.

Khan, who recently filmed for his upcoming film ‘Happy New Year’ at different locales around the city, said: “I was recently sitting with the folks from Meras Holding (concert organisers) and discussing the same with some of whom, who are associated with films.

“When you have 25 million tourists coming to a city, you will need to develop modes of entertainment to attract them. Once that is done, not just Bollywood, but American films and theatre will flourish here.”

Khan stated that the city was already on the right track, with a theme park already planned in the near future, adding: “With some more creative inputs from our film industry and Dubai will soon be a big stage for all of us.”

Dixit-Nene revealed that she was on a flight when she heard the news of Dubai’s win.

“People started cheering on the flight and that energy emotes Dubai’s place on the global map,” she stated.

Talking about the emirate growing into a hub for international cinema, she continued: “There was a time when people flew to Switzerland to shoot films; now it’s Dubai.

“With the close ties we share and the government supporting the industry with the kind of amenities available, the fabric has been woven for us and for Hollywood.”

Quizzed about whether she would like to one day invest in a home like Khan, who owns a palatial mansion on The Palm Jumeirah and the actress stated she was quite keen.

She said: “Shah Rukh already has a home here. And looking at the city around me, it is so futuristic, you can actually picture little cars flying around the skyline like those in sci-fi films.

“I would love to have a home here one day. But I haven’t started to look for options as yet. It will soon.”

Show stopper

The two stars, who will be performing tonight in the company of Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez and Yo Yo Honey Singh, stated the ‘Access All Areas’ concert contains all the ingredients to cook up the perfect recipe for success.

Dixit-Nene said: “The last time I performed in Dubai was back in 1995. The show we have scripted this time around is larger than life.”

In Khan’s own words, the concert, which has been conceptualised by the actor and his creative team, is an interactive, request based event, with the songs selected based on a questionnaire sent out to fans in Dubai.

He confessed further: “You can never get a concert audience like you have in Dubai and I can safely say the 20,000 audience members attending will enjoy the show immensely, and I would like to say a big sorry to the 40,000 who will be stuck outside.”

Both, Khan and his on-stage and on-screen leading lady, agreed that a “face off” between the duo will be the highlight of the event.

The 48-year-old actor revealed: “I was very nervous dancing with Madhuri. In fact, I tease her often that it was me who taught her dancing in our film, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’.

“But this face off we are talking about is this remix of her most famous song, ‘Ek Do Teen’ that has been combined with my hit track, ‘One Two Three Four’ from ‘Chennai Express’. I do her steps and she imitates me.

“And all I want to say is, I do dance better!”

Organised by Duvent, a subsidiary of Meras Holiding, doors to the ‘Access All Areas’ concert will open at 6.30pm with tickets for the show starting from Dh99 onwards.

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