Swing it like Shah Rukh

The actor stars opposite Vidya Malvade in a hockey remake of Bend it like Beckham



Aditi Jayakar Kane



After being paired opposite top-ranking heroines, Shah Rukh's choice of co-star in Chak De comes as a surprise. Khan has been cast opposite model Vidya Malvade, who previously acted in flop films like Inteha and Mashooka.

For Vidya, this is a huge break – one because she stars opposite Khan and secondly, because the film is under the Yash Raj Films banner.

Chak De is being directed by Shimit Amin. According to reports, Vidya's role has been loosely inspired from Bend It Like Beckham, as she too is a girl with strict Sikh parents and she rebels against the old school to participate in a sport. Only this time instead of football it is the annual hockey tournament and Shah Rukh plays the coach of the girls' hockey team.

However, this is not the first time Vidya is face to face with Shah Rukh before the camera. The ex-airhostess had done a Santro advertisement with the actor earlier.

When contacted a few months ago, Vidya denied signing the Yash Raj film, presumably required to be discreet under contract. But she had said that it was like a dream come true to work with Shah Rukh in the ad. This time too, Vidya was reticent, saying that she was not allowed to divulge information about the movie. "I'm not allowed to talk. I can't say anything," she insists.

However, sources have revealed that there was an intensive two- month hockey training camp, and now the film has gone on the floors with Vidya shooting at Yash Raj every day for the past few weeks.

(mumbaimirror)