Shah Rukh ditches directors for Karan

The love for Karan Johar can make Shah Rukh Khan do anything… even drop movies with two directors.

Munnabhai director Rajkumar Hirani first got the 'no' from Shah Rukh, after he agreed to star in his film, and now Sivaji director Shankar has said Khan has turned down Robot also. It was said that Shah Rukh couldn't get on with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra for the Hirani film, and creative differences made him ditch Robot. But the real reason is that Shah Rukh Khan has done it on pal Karan Johar's say so.

Karan Johar's My Name Is Khan, which initially was to begin production in May, has been brought forward to December; a period in which Shah Rukh would have been doing the other two movies. Karan wants to capture the US winter, which is part of the script, and believes next year might be too late…

And if he begins shooting the film now, then it may be ready for Eid next year (Early October 2008). Karan has seen the huge box office first week collections of Bhool Bhulaiyya and Lagaa Chunari Mein Daag in the UK (both released at Eid) and wants to capitalise on this for next year. A Karan Johar film centering on a Muslim character (Khan) and his wife (Kajol) is a perfect release for Eid in the UK.