Minister wants PM to see 'Chake de...'

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) A seasoned minister is so excited over the success of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Chak de India' that he hopes to persuade Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to watch the surprise hit of the year.

Prithviraj Chavan, the minister of state for Prime Minister's Office (PMO), does not hide his excitement when he says that he had a 'brush' with the film.

He was handling the sports ministry when the Indian Women Hockey Federation mooted the idea of making a film on the game.

'I was excited when Vidya Stokes, president of the federation, approached us with the idea,' said Chavan, who handled the sports ministry briefly after Sunil Dutt died in 2005.

He had then taken Stokes and others to the National Stadium - where parts of the movie was shot - and asked the authorities to extend all help to them.

'Frankly speaking I did not even believe them when they said that Shah Rukh Khan would be approached for the main role,' he said.

'I am so happy and thrilled at the positive reports about the movie. I must see them (actors) and I will also request the prime minister to watch it (movie),' Chavan said.

Manmohan Singh may not be a movie buff but he watched Sanjay Dutt-starrer 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' at the new digital theatre in the prime minister's official residence. He also watched 'Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose - The Forgotten Hero', a source said.