Portal partner Juhi Chawla

Other film stars such as Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee and Namrata Shirodhkar will soon join in as well as film makers Santosh Sivan and Aziz Mirza.

The portal is also being backed by one of India's top film producer-financiers and diamond merchant, Bharat Shah, and Kishore Lulla of the movie channel, B4U.

The new portal is aimed at the film crazy South Asian diaspora all over the world for many of whom Indian films have long been not only a source of entertainment but also a way of staying in contact with their motherland.

Ready for the net

One of India's most successful and rich film stars, Shahrukh Khan, graduated into film production and distribution last year.

And now the website launch makes him a new economy age entrepreneur.

But he might be a little late with his venture.

The internet bandwagon has suffered with the recent meltdown in technology - especially internet - stocks all over the world.

I am doing it when I am ready. It's as simple as that. There is no time for creativity

Shahrukh Khan

"The only thing we have ensured is - on Juhi (Chawla's) advice - is that we start on an auspicious day," Khan told journalists.

Shahrukh Khan says many factors will determine if his new venture becomes a big success.

But he has little doubt about the success of the internet as a medium.

"I am sure internet is going to reach every home one day. Like TV is now," he said.