Saturday October 21 2006 12:57 IST
ANI
NEW DELHI: Shahrukh Khan's 'Don' has been given a thundering applause by his fans across India.
The much-hyped remake of the Bollywood cult classic about a suave mobster was welcomed by fans, a day before Diwali.
Bachchan's 'Don', released in 1978, was a runaway hit, telling the story of a gangster whose death is kept a secret by police because they wish to infiltrate his gang with a look-alike country bumpkin.
The mole finds that he is trapped because the only police officer who knows his identity is killed while his gang also learns the truth.
Viewers in New Delhi have given the thumps up to King Khan's latest flick.
"It is a very good film and Shah Rukh Khan is good. Kareena, even with her small role is impressive. This film will certainly earn a sequel," said Anant.
Raghav, another movie buff who had walked out after the film was over said, "It is a good Shah Rukh Khan film and Kareena has too small a role, otherwise she is good. Priyanka Chopra is good too."
Khan's fans in eastern Kolkata were ecstatic to be able to watch another film casting their hero.
Khan's fans in Kolkata, West Bengal, arranged a procession ahead of the film's maiden screening.
Fans were in the streets, dancing to the drummers' beats and carrying life-size cutouts of Khan.
"As you can see, we are great fans of Shah Rukh Khan. We are carrying his cut outs and posters in a horse cart. We also conducted a worship of the 'King Khan' and we are all headed to the theatre to see his latest flick," said Partho, a fan.
'Don' is a remake and it pitches Khan, whom Time magazine called - in terms of recognition - the world's biggest movie star, with Bachchan, named the best actor of the millennium in a BBC online poll.
Bollywood is often locked in a debate over which of the two is more successful, but the actors have always maintained that they respect each other's capabilities and both are easily the industry's most bankable stars.
Khan's version is almost the same - with even the same soundtrack remixed - but the slick new film is mostly filmed in Malaysia instead of Mumbai of the older version.
The bow tie and dotted shirts of Bachchan make way for Khan's glamorous black leather ensembles and designer suits. And the glitzy trailers have given "Don" a Hollywood's "Matrix" meets "Mission Impossible" kind of feel to the production.
Almost 67 per cent of respondents to a poll on Bollywood Web site www.indiafm.com said Khan could pull off 'Don'.
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