At Amsterdam during the Samsung IIFA awards in the month of June, Shah Rukh Khan played the part of an emcee, a most impressive one, on stage. Every now and then, he would regale the glitterati in the Tulip City with witty quips, before inviting a couple of celebrities to do the honors by giving away trophies. But King Khan, who’s seldom put a foot wrong in Bollywood in his glittering 15-year career was not there as emcee for the most important award, that of Best Actor. He won it, for his out-of-skin role in Veer Zara.

Winning awards is a lovely habit with this Khan. It is a habit that has set him apart from other celluloid heroes. Bollywood is a place where many a celeb has faded away quicker than clouds can gather over rain forests. But Shah Rukh continues to star with refreshing regularity in box office hits. The good thing about being Shah Rukh is that India’s best film directors line up for him all the time, top actresses would give their left arms to be the leading lady opposite him, sponsors are ever present at his door. Even before he’s hit 40, he’s seen all things absolute—absolute power, absolute wealth, absolute fame. This issue, on our cover, INDIA EMPIRE takes a look at this prince of entertainment.

Former Deputy PM L. K. Advani was supposed to walk down several memory lanes when he visited Pakistan in early June. Instead he ended up creating a bit of history and controversy. Back home, for somehow being charitable to M.A. Jinnah, he was under the cosh from his own party men and from the Sangh. He swiftly resigned as party president but the BJP leadership in its collective wisdom let him stay. Good it did. For come to think of it, a BJP without Advani wouldn’t be half the party it has turned into over the years. We take a look at how Advani yet again has created a political limelight for himself.

Rakesh K. Simha has punched many a hole in the claims of some experts that the F-16 bomber remains the most superior form of fighter aircraft in the world. Before writing the story, Simha researched his subject for months. In the end he’s written an incisive article on what India stands to gain, and lose, in the run-up to the purchase of 126 fighter aircraft.

We have also shed light on the final settlement between the Ambani brothers. It’s a settlement described thus by a newspaper, “The Ambanis did not have a will, but they found a way.” And when they did, it was the most talked about accord in Indian history since perhaps the Shimla Agreement.