Erstellt am 29.01.2006 - 22:38

Filmfare July 2005

There’s just too much to be looked into right now. There’s the editing of Paheli to be wound up the film marketing strategy to be devised, publicity interviews to go through. Shah Rukh Khan goes through it all unhurriedly and patiently while I wait, restless. By the time he’s been through every detail, it’s 5 pm. "Can you give me 10 minutes to have my lunch?” he requests. "I promise I’ll do your interview right after.” I wait, of course

After the Kaal dhamaal song, you’re being called an ‘item’ boy. How do you like your new label?

(grins) ‘Item boy’ is a new term; when I did Ishq kameena in Shakti, nobody called it an item number. Well, ‘item boy’ is short and sweet. Sounds like toy boy, so it’s okay. When you say 'boy’ it makes me feel younger. Call me anything so long as it has ‘boy’ in it. Overall, people have reacted very positively to the number. Some have said, “Bahut muscles hai’; some have said I’ve touched up my biceps on the computer. (laughs) To all those guys who have a good body, I say, this is a trailer — abhi toh sirf ek gaana kiya hai, ab poori film karoonga (This is just one song; watch out, I’m going to do an entire film like this).

Neha Dhupia’s quote, “Only Shah Rukh and sex sell,” has now become famous. What’s your take on it?

I can only talk about what I have sold, I have sold Shah Ruth and that has sold well, no doubt about it. But I can’t say the same for sex because I’ve never tried to sell it myself. I cannot compare the two and say, only I sell, I’m sure other things also sell and one of them could be sex. It’s a very interesting quote though. (chuckles) Now I tell everyone that they should say only SRK sells because I am Shah Ruth Khan and I am sex. When you say SRK, you don’t need to specify that it includes sex as well.

Your desi look in Paheli with a dhoti and moustache has met with mixed reactions. Have people got too used to you as a cool dude?

Sometimes I get to read that my look is repetitive, sometimes I read that I should go back to my T-shirts. But honestly, I don’t get elated when people say I look cool and I don’t get depressed when people tell me they didn’t like a particular look. I don’t think clothes make a man; I believe a man makes the clothes. If I don’t, then I am not man enough. But that’s okay. You can always say I couldn’t pull it off.
Look, I am an actor. I’m really not bothered about what I wear so long as I can do my scene well. I’ve done films that have a good story to tell; I’ve never done a role because I liked the clothes the character was supposed to wear. I don’t care whether you put a mooch or a poonch on me, whether I wear a T-shirt or am bare-chested. All that matters is that I do the scene right. For Paheli, I was asked to wear a dhoti but I refused because it takes too much time and I don’t have the patience for it. I am very clear about such things — don’t make me wear something that will spoil the role for me because I am uncomfortable in my clothes.
For me, the clothes and the look are the least important part of a film. I don’t meet my designers for more than two minutes to discuss the clothes; you can check that out with them. People liked me in jeans and T-shirts because Karan (Johar) designed them that way. The credit or discredit for my look should go to my designers. I have nothing to do with it.

The question everybody’s asking— what made you do the offbeat Paheli?

Karan’s film got postponed. I was on holiday. I heard the story and I liked it. I haven’t seen any of Amol Palekar’s other movies but I do know they’re really fine films. He seemed like a good person, he wanted 45 days and the film didn’t need me to leave the city for a long time, which meant I could be with my kids. My company had no other production on the floors (I wouldn’t have had a release this year if I hadn’t made Paheli). So I said yes. We talk about making different films and then you get a director from a different world of cinema who’s as good in his world as we supposedly are in ours. So I thought it might be a good combination and something novel might come of it. Hopefully it will satisfy both, box office requirements and our company’s desire to make good films. People said I should be a little different, so that’s what I’m doing now

Erstellt am 29.01.2006 - 22:39

It's been reported that there have been problems between Amol Palekar and you on the sets. True?

I have had no problems with Mr Amol Palekar. I feel sorry for him — he wanted to make a small film with a lot of honesty and then he has to read this sh** about himself. It is so unfair.
See, we both come from different worlds and it would be stupid for us to assume that one of us is going to change the world overnight for the other. There had to be discussions as to how this film would take shape. I understand commerce more than him and he understands art more than me. They wanted to make a commercial film and they were very clear about it. This meeting of art and commerce can result in something fantastic or something that’s neither artistic nor commercial enough. To me both aspects are very challenging and exciting. It is exciting as a producer and it’s a chance I am ready to take as an actor.
But yes, this kind of amalgamation is very difficult if there aren’t two like-minded people involved. As an actor, I did offer suggestions sometimes. But of course, he’s the director. He is very sweet and he agreed with what I said 70 per cent of the time. Whether this marriage works or not, one thing’s for sure, we’ve done what Mr Amol Palekar wanted.

Were you surprised by these stories?

No. Right at the outset I told him, “Remember one thing — fortunately or unfortunately, I am so much in the news that people will talk.” They said I ghost directed Farah’s film (Main Hoon Na), they said I was stalling Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades because I didn’t like it. I truly believe Amol Palekar is a good, thinking, patient man, a fantastic person. I also believe I am a good producer, intelligent and very patient. We both understand each other. I told him, “So long as we are very clear why we made this film, we will be happy. We shouldn’t listen to what people say, or get disturbed by articles and undermine the reason we made this film. This is just the beginning; it will get worse. If it’s a hit, they will say worse things; if it’s a flop they will kill you and me.” He had tears in his eyes and I had tears in mine at the end of it.

In a recent interview. Aamir Khan remarked that he wouLd have played Devdas differentLy. What would you say to that?

That he would have played it better too. I genuinely respect Aamir as a friend and once in a while, we meet up and have some very intelligent conversations. He is one actor who always writes to me when a film of mine does well. He will appreciate the film and then tell me where he thought it didn’t go right or could have been better artistically. It is heartening and I really respect him. He has guts, he speaks his mind and he has a thinking mind. He doesn’t say anything without thought.
He is the forerunner of what actors should be like. Personally, I believe he is one of the best actors in our country. I only say ‘one of the best’ because I don’t want to belittle anyone else. He is as honest to his work as I am. The difference is that he thinks a lot and I think too little.
He said he would have played Devdas differently because that is the polite way of saying he is a different actor and I am a different actor. All of us have a different interpretation of a role. He was very gracious in saying that. As a matter of fact he has more craft, thinking power and patience at his disposal. I don’t have that kind of patience.


To move to another remake. Farhan Akhtar is reprising Don with you. Are you ready for the inevitable comparisons with Amitabh Bachchan?

Of course, there will be comparisons. According to me Don is one of the best films ever made. So right now let me tell you this film will not be as good as Amitabh Bachchan’s Don. We are not even attempting that, nor are we trying to prove a point. Don is too popular a film for that. But there is a certain age group, like 14 to 16-year-olds, who have not seen Don. Besides, fans will once again get to hear dialogue like, ‘Don ko 22 mulkon ki police dhoond rahi hai. Lekin Don ko zinda pakadna mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hai.’ And we’re also going to include the Khaike paan... song. It will be a fantastic trip.

Erstellt am 29.01.2006 - 22:39

Teil 3

After the incident in which Rangita Nandy asked your wife Gauri and Karan Johar to leave a trial of Shabd, we hear you refused to attend an award event that was to be organised by Pritish Nandy Communications and insisted they have nothing to do with the show. Have you called a truce now?

Pritish Nandy came over to my house at lunchtime soon after the incident, said he wanted to meet me and apologise. I told him there was no need to apologise because he wasn’t there. Perhaps if he had, matters would have been different. He told me that it was their company policy not to show their films before their release. He said they’d had a bad experience after a trial of one of their earlier films, when word had got out and distributors had backed out. It could be true. Now we know they have a company policy and right or wrong, we accept it. In future, we won’t go to one of their screenings without obtaining their permission.
Ms Nandy (Rangita) also came to see me and say sorry. She asked me if I wanted to see Shabd but I avoid attending premieres. Also, I am very clear that I will not go to a place where Karan (who is like a brother to me), my wife or my friends have been humiliated.
But I am not the kind of person to call up anyone and say, “Isko awards function se nikal do.” Nor do I have that kind of power. I am nobody to influence the sponsors. But I did tell Mr Pritish Nandy I attend award functions according to my availability. I said, "if I am free on that day I may come or I may not; it has nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with who is hosting the show."
Some people were stupid enough to say that I would stop the release of his film overseas. I told him people are talking nonsense, because if I don’t wish anyone well for a film, I don’t wish him ill either. I just don’t think about other people’s films.
Honestly, too much has been made about all this. One is angry, one will be angry, and then the anger will go away. It is sad that the incident happened and it will always remain in my heart because I don’t forget. But it is still too unimportant for me to take a stand against people professionally. I will never hurt anyone professionally.

A lot was made of Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadera dropping in at Mannat for dinner. Did you anticipate such a media furore?

Look, I’m not stupid. I did anticipate media attention. But as I said, why should it be assumed that I am joining politics; why isn’t it assumed they are joining films? Why does it have to be one-sided?
I am fond of people who happen to be in politics but I am not fond of them because they are in politics. I love Shatru saab (Shatrughan Sinha). I meet Mr Vajpayee’s family whenever I am in Delhi. I meet Mr Amar Singh too, on and off. Rajiv Shukia is like family. Sushma Swaraj always jokes with me. Balasaheb Thackeray, Smita Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have always been very nice to me. I am really fond of Soniaji, Priyanka and Robert.
All these people are leaders of the country and State and I respect them for what they do. But I am not involved with how they run the state or the country. I am interested in them as people. I don’t know anything about politics. I’m not going to be your friend because you are in power or not in power.

You’ve been voted the most powerful actor in the industry two years in a row. What kind of power do you think you wield in the industry?

I don’t think it is power in the sense that I can run the industry or do anything for it or that I have changed the face of the industry. I don’t think I am powerful in that sense. (smiles) I can’t control things in my office; how can I control the industry?
But my popularity as a movie star and my effect on the box office over the last few years could have made people wrongly believe that I have to be respected for it, that yaar, woh hi bikta hai. I’m happy I invoke positive respect. When I am with my coactors, I can sense respect for what I’ve done over the last 15 years. When I say respect, I don’t mean people touch my feet or that they get up and give me a place to sit or that they keep praising me or that they’re scared of me. I believe respect is when people can stand at ease and appreciate what you have done. It is good to be powerful in that sense.

Erstellt am 29.01.2006 - 22:39

Teil 4 und Schluss

Have you ever feLt that other actors envy you?
No. The actors I meet on a regular basis are Sanju (Sanjay Dutt), Salman (Khan), Suniel (Shetty), Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan), Hrithik (Roshan) and Abhishek (Bachchan). I meet everyone with a lot of love because they meet me with love. The love Sanju has for me can smother me. Salman always tells me, “The only best friend you have is me.” I believe that. I don’t think anyone who is envious of you would talk to you like that. Duggu (Hrithik) is always so happy to talk to me about acting. Amitji... he’s someone we can envy. Suniel, Abhishek and Uday (Chopra) are all very sweet and nice to me.

Love, respect. success... what more would you like from life at this point?
There is nothing like, what more can I ask for? There is nothing like, everything. I keep saying I have been given more than my share and it’s time to return some. God has given me so much — from a Padmashri award to 11 (or is it 13?)* (smiles) I’ve lost count of my awards — what a wonderful position to be in.

I’ve been put in a position that I am so undeserving of that I know I have to work even harder. The immediate future is what I’ve always worked for. I’m not working for posterity and I don’t go into retrospect. I’ve not kept an account of where I started and where I’ve reached. Whether I want to buy a studio, build a plane or sign a huge deal, I’m not spending time thinking about it.
I also know I’ve got much more from life than I wanted. I’m at peace. But somehow I get the feeling I’m running two days late in my life. I’m always telling my friends that I wish I could catch up on those 48 hours.

NILUFER QURESHI
Filmfare July 2005