Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor dance to the song Chammak Challo from their new movie Ra.One with students from the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre at a charity dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor dance to the song Chammak Challo from their new movie Ra.One with students from the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre at a charity dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor dance to the song Chammak Challo from their new movie Ra.One with students from the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre at a charity dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor dance to the song Chammak Challo from their new movie Ra.One with students from the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre at a charity dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

SRK's got the moves, and so have the kids


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

DUBAI // Shah Rukh Khan thrilled nine hearing-impaired children when he showed them his hip-swivelling Bollywood moves at a charity dinner in Dubai.

The movie star leapt on stage to join the students from the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre who had practised for more than a week to replicate Khan's steps. The star of Indian cinema was in town for the world premiere of his big-budget superhero movie, Ra.One.

"This is extremely touching," Khan told the students on Monday night. "This is the best part of the whole movie that we have made."

As Khan and the audience clapped in time to Chammak Challo, sung by American hip-hop artist Akon in Khan's new movie, the students danced - to music they could not hear.

Then Khan hopped on to the stage, asked for the song to be played again and gyrated to the music while encouraging the students to copy his tricky dance moves.

"The children are so excited, they are flying high," said Mohammed Yunnes, a dance and drama teacher from the Rashid Centre.

"They are big fans so it was like their dream to dance with him. They were shocked when he jumped up and he was shocked that they are hearing-impaired. They can't really hear the music, but they can feel the music so they were actually acting out his dance."

"I'm very happy he came to Dubai - happy to see his smile, his face," said an excited Zia ul Huq, a 14-year-old pupil from Pakistan who impersonated Khan's character in the dance.

Another student, Mehek Mansuklal, 15, danced the part of Khan's lead actress Kareena Kapoor, who also joined them on the stage.

A star-struck Mehek had prepared a large yellow card titled "Autograph please!" and decorated it with pictures of Khan and Kapoor. She was thrilled that both actors danced with her and signed her card.

"I like him because he is cute," said a beaming Mehek. "He is someatimes funny. I see all his movies in theatres and some in my home."

Fans paid between Dh1,000 to Dh2,000 to attend the charity dinner - Khan's last function in Dubai before he headed to premières in London and Toronto.

The event raised Dh30,000 towards building a workshop where children at the Rashid Centre will learn carpentry and sewing.

The money was raised in the auction of an autographed action figure of Khan's character in Ra. One, G.One.

The Dh73 million budget movie tells the story of G.One who uses bolts of electricity to fight off a challenge from the villain Ra.One, played by Arjun Rampal.

Khan, Rampal along with Indian actresses Kapoor and Shahana Goswami signed autographs and shook hands with fans who yelled out their names and crowded around the stage at the Grand Hyatt hotel.

Marium Othman, the director of the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, said she hoped people in the Emirates would spare time for special needs children in the same way the Bollywood actors did during their packed Dubai schedule.

"Shah Rukh is a superstar and Kareena and Arjun are really famous but they still found time to think of our children," said Ms Othman. "People like to imitate actors, so they should also imitate these good qualities."

The money raised at the dinner would be used to construct a workshop for students who have completed their education but needed to develop other skills, she said.

Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

Mobile phone packages comparison
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Star%20Wars%3A%20Episode%20I%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Phantom%20Menace
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Big%20Ape%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20LucasArts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20PlayStation%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Profile of MoneyFellows

Founder: Ahmed Wadi

Launched: 2016

Employees: 76

Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)

Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund