Rockin’ with Shah Rukh Khan
anuradha choudhary
He is in vacation mode. His first in ten years. No, Shah Rukh Khan is not taking a break to find out who he is. He is simply taking a break to let the world catch up with him. Things are pretty quiet at the Dreamz office. The office runs like a well-oiled machine thanks to SRK's leadership doctrine. Truth be told, he is nursing his injured back. And so, of course, I ask:
You have been ill for a long time. What is the problem?
In layman's terms, it is a slipped disc in the cervical vertebra. Doctors call it a slipped disc. They say that if it continues to move, it could injure the spinal cord. That could lead to further complications. No one really knows what will happen. There is no record of a spinal cord injury. But the risk is always there.
What do the doctors say?
The doctors say nothing. The worst case scenario is that I will have to undergo an operation. And the best case scenario is that I will get better on my own.
What are the risks associated with the operation?
It is a micro-operation; it is performed from the front, near the throat. It is said to be 95 percent safe. There are no after-effects. For the doctors, it is a small matter. An operation lasting three and a half hours, almost bloodless. They remove the affected disc and replace it with a titanium disc.
How will it affect your career? Will it limit your mobility?
Not at all. All rugby players have to go through this. And they keep playing. All the dancers in Las Vegas have it. Ninety-nine percent of the people who have had surgery are absolutely fine. If I don't get it done, I'll have to worry all the time. If I want to do stunts in movies, I'll have to have surgery. It's just that I'm trying all the alternative therapies at the moment.
What else happens?
Right now I am on holiday. But it is a waste of time. Because I cannot do what I want to do. All my plans have been shattered. It has become a forced holiday. Of course, I am spending a lot of time with my children; I even built a birdhouse with Aryan. But I cannot really devote much time to the children. Because I am in pain. I am looking at things positively. Maybe this was meant to happen; maybe it was time for me to rest a bit. When I completed the last schedule of Devdas in January, I said that was it. I am not taking up any more films. I explained this to the producers and directors. Of course, most of them thought that I was saying 'no' to them in my own way.
You spend a lot of time in your office these days.
I never used to worry about running the office. I always considered myself a creative person. But if I can run an office creatively, that would be great. We have reduced costs. Earlier, if we had a problem, Yash (Johar) and Aziz (Mirza) would take care of it. Maybe this vacation is God's way of telling me that I have to finish the things I started. Whether it is my children, the legal issues with my house or managing the office.
How do you feel about Devdas?
It taught me that you should do well whatever you start. Devdas went through all kinds of problems: financial, scheduling, thematic. But it taught me that if you set your mind to something, God will be with you.
How relevant is Devdas today?
Two things are relevant in a film: its entertainment value and its story. I think Devdas has both. OK, the film is set in the 1940s, the lead actor wears a dhoti, it's about an alcoholic. But this is just part of the story. It's about a guy who loves a woman and can't forget her. And that is relevant at all times. I never gave my son Arabian Nights. I felt it was irrelevant today. But Harry Potter is actually Arabian Nights. It's about sorcery, magic. There are dragons, flying carpets. It's a modern version of that. Likewise, Devdas is a modern version in terms of its portrayal.
Can the modern aspirational youth identify with a man who gave up his life for love?
My mother used to tell me the story of a crow who wanted to drink water from a cup. She kept throwing pebbles in it until the water level rose. Now my son watches films like Batman, Superman, Spiderman. He knows words like 'fundamentalist', 'reprimand' and 'view' at the age of four, which I didn't know at his age. But still, his favourite story is that of the crow. When I tell him the story, I might add things like the crow calling Batman and asking 'What should I do now?' That makes it a little more interesting and understandable.
That's how I feel about Devdas too. His simplicity, his timelessness is his trademark. The fact is that Devdas never dies. Why is it that someone like Sanjay Leela Bhansali or Shakti Samanta gets up one fine morning and decides to remake it? There are so many other great films. But you won't see so many people doing them so often. So there must be something in it.
I haven't met anyone who didn't like the TV ad. If Devdas fails, it will be easier to say it wasn't relevant; people didn't accept SRK in a dhoti or Madhuri as a nautch girl (dancing girl). Alcoholics are no longer accepted. But these would be just excuses.
There are many popular TV serials and films that I watch. But I don't find them relevant. Plus, how many houses are like what is shown in K3G? Or how many families? How many lovers are like those in DDLJ?
For me, Devdas is the end of love stories. I have played an obsessed lover, a nice one, an evil one and a romantic one. And now I've played Devdas. (Grins) For someone who doesn't even like love stories, I've played an awful lot of lovers. Personally, I wouldn't watch any of the romantic films I've acted in.
What?
Really. Wohi love story to hai.
How important is box office collection for you?
Not very much. Once you have done so many films and been doing it for years, these things don't matter. The collection is for the young. I read interviews where actors said, "My film has collected more than his film." I won't talk like that. Hopefully Devdas will be the film of the year. I can safely say that I have been part of every film that has made an impact on Indian cinema in the last few years. For me, that is important.
You weren't excited by K3G's super-grossing?
It's not my job to worry about box office receipts. Besides, K3G was always meant to be a big hit. It would have been a hit with or without me. Karan Johar is perhaps the most intelligent director in the country in terms of commercial cinema. And I like the fact that he makes no apologies for it. See, you can't make a Rs 50 crore film unless you are sure that it will fetch you Rs 100 crores. If you are making a Rs 5 crore film, you can take a risk, like with Asoka.
You think it would have been possible without its lead actors?
Some people in the industry have said bina actors ke picture nahin chalti. But why would he make a film without top actors?
Firstly, I would like to ask - would these actors have worked together for any other director? Is there any other director for whom Hrithik and Kareena would say, "We knew the script. It was not ours. But we did it anyway and it turned out better than we expected." Is there any other director for whom Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan would come together again? Is there any other director for whom Kajol would do that one film? Is there any director to whom Shah Rukh would say, I don't want to hear the story, I'll just do the film?
Go on.
As a producer or director, I would never work with so many stars. I see it that way because I couldn't pull it off. It's a case of sour grapes for me.
The credit for K3G goes more to Uncle Yash than to Karan. He could have played it safe. He could have made a film with Shah Rukh and Kajol. It would have been a great opening after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. It would have been cheaper, less of a hassle. And even if it had made less money than K3G, it would have been talked about more.
Which do you prefer to do - K3G or Asoka?
I enjoyed both. There are certain filmmakers and friends I enjoy working with. Personally, I enjoy working with Karan far more than many other directors. I am not leaving out Santosh (Sivan). He is in the same category but at the opposite end of the spectrum.
I would not be able to exist as an actor if I did not do both kinds of films. Just seeing my hair and costumes in Asoka made people feel - kuch alag kar raha hoga. That is half the battle won. The only thing I could have added in K3G is that I am an expert in such roles. I can never do just one film a year. There should be a minimum of two films. I have to do a One 2 Ka 4 as well as a Devdas. I have to do a Josh and a Darr. Just to make ends meet.
What challenges you as an actor?
I worked three shifts a day. I shot for Asoka from 6 am to 9 am. Then I shot for K3G from 9 am to 6 pm and for Devdas from 7 pm to 5 am. I did that for four five days in Film City. It was a real experience. People might say that this is no way to work. But just imagine, I was split into so many personalities for so many days. I just went on the sets and slipped into different characters. Mahesh Bhatt says I suffer from a split personality. Maybe I do.
Are you proud that you can do in a jiffy what would probably take other actors a lifetime just to recreate?
I know a part of me gets very excited knowing that I can play three characters in a matter of hours. It changes something in you. For Devdas, I actually used to drink. I got drunk. I didn't sleep as I was shooting whole nights. I washed my face and went to Asoka. And I look so good in all the films. If you see the drunk scene in Devdas, you might think bahut prepare kiya hai. But I just did it. Maybe my acting is good. Maybe I have a strong subject. All I know is that during those days, I was leading a great life as an actor.
Were you disappointed with Asoka?
No, that was the level of the film. It would have been nice if it had been exceptionally successful. When you make a film, you always hope that it will cross a certain level. I want every film of mine to be a Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, but that is unrealistic. It is equally foolish to think that my son will look like Clint Eastwood or Robert Redford. Gauri is not a Michelle Pfeiffer. Nor am I Brad Pitt. Our son will be a combination of us. It is exactly the same with Asoka. See, Halo is a wonderful film, but it is not a Sholay. Similarly, Asoka is much better than the 192 films released last year. It is in the top 10. Business-wise, the other 182 films may have done better. They may not deserve it, but that is the reality.
Do you feel that the audience is bringing you down?
What can you say? If they don't like it, they don't like it. I think Pulp Fiction is the best. But nobody in my family liked it. That doesn't take away its brilliance. I could say I'm more intelligent because I understood the film. But that's not fair either. Then the film should have been given an intelligence certificate. It should say 'Only allowed for people with IQ above 140'. It
would be foolish to get depressed by comparing Asoka with Lagaan, K3G and Gadar. For me, Asoka is like Aryan. For me, he is the most beautiful child in the world. My take on Asoka is subjective, I love him. For me, it is the best film ever made in the history of Indian cinema. I am not pompous and I am not defending him. I could never be disappointed with Aryan. The other day he came on stage. He just stood there and waved at me. He didn't do his dance. His performance wasn't the best, but he waved at me. Asoka is like that, he waves at me. One day Aryan will wave at me and the 6,000 people in the auditorium will turn around and say, "Hey, that kid was the best." And if that doesn't happen, it doesn't mean I'll love Aryan any less. Ditto Asoka.
Does the failure deter you?
If it stopped me from loving my Aryan, it would stop me from doing Asoka. It doesn't. I will do another film. If the money doesn't come in, I will have to wait. I sold Asoka well, it made money. Though it didn't make as much money as Gadar or Lagaan.
Shouldn't you do Lagaan?
Yes. But we didn't get a producer. Things didn't work out. The people who made it had more courage; I look at it without envy. I hoped it would have happened to me, I believe in that kind of cinema. I wish I had done Lagaan. I would be as proud of it as Aamir is at this moment. Since I didn't do it, I can't share in that pride. A good thing is a good thing. I just want to hug Ashutosh and Aamir because they made us proud. I wanted to hug them when they got the Oscar nomination. It was a pleasant shock. Somehow I knew it wouldn't go through. But there was a 10 per cent hope. After all, they chose our Miss World and Miss Universe. They could have given it to us too. But I think the impact of the other films was greater. If someone had to win, then No Man's Land was the best choice. Just three months ago I was reading about Bosnia. What happened there is tragic.
I look at it like this: OK, I didn't get my bungalow. But I still have my five-bedroom flat. But the guy down the street got his shack; his property was bigger than mine. It's nice to go to the Sansui Awards. It's wonderful to go to the Filmfare. It's really good to get the National Award. It's nice if you get BAFTA, Cairo or a French award. But if you're able to sit in on the Oscars, that's the ultimate.
That's true.
Five years ago, when Govinda said in an interview that he wanted to win an Oscar, quite a few people were grinning. But Lagaan proves why not. Maybe Govinda just realised it a little earlier. Who knows, had the film been in English, Aamir would have been in the Best Actor category. As an actor, he is no less than anyone in that category. I think Denzel Washington was much better in his other films. But he won for Training Day. I think that happens everywhere, including at Filmfare. I don't think we will get another film to the Oscars very quickly. That's why I think Lagaan is special. This is the one year when we were begani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana. After many years, we finally woke up to something other than cricket and only cricket.
Apparently you are writing an autobiography.
I don't know if I will ever get it published. I love writing. Mahesh Bhatt prodded me to put my thoughts on paper. Basically, I collect my thoughts. They are selective memories. The other day I met my first teacher's daughter, Mrs Bala. She wanted to know if I remembered her mother. I wanted to show her everything I had written about Mrs Bala. I remember everything about her from the time she kissed me on my cheek to the time she spanked me. If I respect women today, it is because of her. There are so many memories. I want to collect them. In many ways, it is like the TV show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai. You delve into the past. I write when I feel like it. Of course, I am writing only about Aryan at the moment. I don't know how many people would want to read that. But it is good practice.
Is there anything else you want to do in films?
I don't know. Tell me what you want me to do. I am relaxed; I don't need to prove anything to anyone. I am running the lap of honour; maybe another race has started somewhere. But I have won my race. The lap of honour is a matter of gratitude. And I am grateful to my audience. I feel I have reached a stage where I have become a pure actor myself. I have become more of a poetic actor and less of a produced actor. Maybe Devdas did that for me. I am not competing with anyone. I just want to act now; I have stopped thinking about what works and what doesn't. Ultimately, I feel there is a purity in my acting. A newspaper made fun of me when I said that I am now returning the love that the audience has showered on me. They wrote that I shouldn't take myself so seriously. But after ten years at the top, I feel I deserve to take myself seriously. Because I know I'm special. And no matter who you give the award to, I'm the best actor.
Does losing an award bother you?
No, it doesn't. I just think that the guys who don't give me the award are the losers. Because the Filmfare trophy looks best in my hand. I know this thought of mine is very childish. But there is a child in me. Of course, right now they are slaying me with Critics' Awards. The first time I saw a lot of film trophies was at Hema Malini's house. I thought, will I ever win so many awards? The dream has come true. The first time I really craved an award was while watching the Filmfare ceremony. Vidhu Vinod Chopra had won an award and he brought his mother on stage to receive the trophy. And I said to myself, one day I will bring my mother on stage to accept the award. But she died before that. It is this unfulfilled dream that makes me crave awards. Maybe if I had brought her on stage, I wouldn't care so much about the awards. I don't want the awards because I'm competitive. I want them because I love my mom so much. Maybe I feel that by winning awards, I'll become so big that she'll easily recognize me from heaven. I want to be like the Great Wall of China. I want to be the only thing visible on Earth from space.