Bollywood fans descend on Berlin for Shah Rukh, Priyanka shoot

BERLIN - Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan reveals he dreams of dating as many girls as possible while shooting here for “Don 2″. Priyanka Chopra says she would love to walk around the streets of Berlin she finds so full of amazing energy. Film director and actor Farhan Akhtar said he is crazy about the architecture of the city.

They made these points at a press conference held Friday where Shah Rukh repeated ‘achtung’ (careful) and ‘danke’ (thanks) and said that Berlin was chosen as location for “Don 2″ because the film demanded a more realistic backdrop, unlike some of his other films shot in more fairy tale like environments of countries like Switzerland.

The making of “Don 2″ opens a new chapter in the ongoing love affair between Bollywood and Berlin. “Don 2″ is being made with financial support from the Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg. The Indo-German production is being shot in the German capital and hundreds of Bollywood fans from around Europe have descended on the city.

The entire crew and cast of “Don 2″ are in the German capital to film for about 50 days at a cost of more than six million euros.

The stars began shooting two weeks ago at several famous landmarks in the city like the great Cathedral, and the car chase took the crew through the streets around Checkpoint Charley.

Shah Rukh’s character in “Don 2″ is of a bad man who is very lovable.

German actor Florian Lukas is relieved that he does not have to dance in the film but is very proud to be acting in an Indian film and excited about his role in “Don 2″.

More and more Indian films have been screened at European film festivals in recent times, particularly at the Berlinale, the most popular of all the film festivals held around the world. Dorothee Wenner, Berlinale’s curator for Asian and African cinema, is delighted that Berlin promises not just to be a locale in “Don 2″ but is treated as a character.

Wenner is responsible for first inviting Shah Rukh Khan to the Berlinale in 2007 when “Om Shanti Om” was screened here. “My Name is Khan” was showcased at the Berlinale 2010.

More Shah Rukh Khan fans are expected in the city Nov 2 when the actor celebrates his birthday in the German capital.

(Mehru Jaffer can be contacted at mehrujaffer@yahoo.com )