SRK: “If I keep repeating myself over and again, it hurts me as an actor”
Shah Rukh Khan, unarguably the best romantic star to ever descend on earth, has been charming the audience for close to three decades now, but his allure is such that the charismatic actor still remains irresistible even after so many long years. After starring in more than 70 films and winning accolades from all corners of the world , the 51 years old megastar still oozes out the versatility and confidence to go from a psychological thriller film ‘Fan’ to action spectacle like ‘Raees’. The stupendous success of ‘Raees’, which has inflamed the box-office all over the world, proves that Shah Rukh’s superstardom can never take a beating. The rousing success of his latest outing definitely calls for a celebration, and the Badshah of Bollywood has all plans in place for a big bash. But before the swashbuckling actor goes into a party mood, he sits down with the media in his swanky vanity van and fields all questions sportingly. Excerpts…
When you make a film from the bottom of your heart and the audience accepts it wholeheartedly, how does it feel as an actor?
First of all, I consider myself fortunate enough that I always get so much love from my audience. When a person works for a very long period of time in this industry, he engrains himself into his audiences’ minds. I feel extremely blessed that people constantly pray for me and my wellbeing. Children love my films and youngsters look up to me as an actor. Historically, if you see, my films always witness good opening. People throng theatres to watch my films. I feel pressure to meet their expectations and deliver what they are looking for. Secondly, if I keep repeating myself over and again, it hurts me as an actor. And, on the other hand, if I try something new, like I did with ‘Fan’, and it does not work, I feel heartbroken. It is discouraging. But if I try something new and it works with the audience, then it doubles the happiness.
Since I have been working in this industry for many years now, I begin to get an inkling whether a certain film will do well at the ticket window or not. ‘Raees’ is being liked by one and all. People are going to theatres, watching the films and appreciating it. So now, I am relieved from the sense of responsibility for this movie. I am happy that I have made the audience happy.
Amitabh Bachchan recently tweeted saying he liked the film and you did a great job in ‘Raees’. What do you have to say about that?
I am very happy because Amit Ji (Amitabh Bachchan) has praised my performances in two or three films. It feels good when the actor who you have grown up watching, who himself has been the ‘angry man’ lauds your performance. For him to say ‘tumhara mujhe gussa bahut achcha laga’, made me extremely delighted.
We have a scene featuring him in ‘Raees’. It is a tribute, an ode to actors from that genre, Amit Ji being foremost. I have grown up watching Dharam Ji, Amitji, Rishi Kapoor Saab and Shashi Kapoor Ji. So, if anyone from them admires my performance, I feel that I must have performed really well. Now, I am sure that Raees is a good film.
You always say that you always remain in a particular zone. Which zone do we see yourself in now?
I am in a zone of celebration now. My entire team is just busy preparing a guest list for the bash. If you people wouldn’t have been here I wouldn’t have been drinking coffee and probably would have been drinking juice (giggles).
Do you think that clash of two big-budget films should not happen so often, as they do eat into each other’s business? Secondly, if a certain filmmaker has already blocked a release date for his film, others should not come on the same day?
I think I am anti-marking a release date. It’s nice to have a plan. We were always the first one to start doing that. Yash Ji (Yash Chopra) always used to have a Diwali fest (to release his films). It’s not said but you kind of know that Yash Chopra will come on Diwali. Having said that I feel you should not mark your dates before you have started your film. I don’t do it and maybe I suffer because of it and maybe that is the reason I come up with a lot of movies. My point is, I prepare myself for the film. Of course, we have an end date of shooting, there is post-production and we plan things like that. I would love to have Aanand L Rai’s film in 2018. I didn’t have a date for Imtiaz’s film, but somebody called me the other day from office and said we are coming on 15th August. I asked, ‘are we ready for 15th August. Imtiaz said, “yes, we are ready’. So, I released the say. We have finished the film. I have only four days’ shooting left. The film is over and we are ready with it, though the film has no title, ironically.
But, having said that, I think promotions and all may have also have become expensive for some people. I can’t take that high moral ground and say, ‘oh everybody should’. Perhaps we can afford because we make bigger films. But again, the promotions for ‘Dear Zindagi’ were very minor compared to what it is for ‘Raees’. This also is not a big budget film. It is actually quite a medium budget film. So, I think everybody should keep that in mind. I think planning of promotions creatively is very important. How much to do, that’s up to everyone, but how creatively suits the film is very important.
You have completed 25 years in this industry. How do you look back at your journey so far?
I think it has been great. Whenever I pray for someone, my children or people I feel close to; I hope they all get my life. You do go through ups and downs in your career. I think professionally also I have been blessed so far. I don’t think I have had many downs in my career. Strangely, I will be remembered for my work. Everything else will take a second seat. I think I have enough strength mentally and physically to go on doing some interesting stuff.
You have a great position since a long time. Beyond films, is there any other way you would like to make a difference?
There is nothing beyond films, but if you’re talking about capacity then I would like to help people who are less privileged and I do that and I will continue to do so. For me it’s a very personal part and I like to keep it personal. I have a, old team of people doing what we need to do. I have lot of people behind the scenes.
Being a public figure what do you think is more important, having an opinion or expressing it?
Neither of them affects. I think the platform where you speak is important. Just because I am a public figure doesn’t mean that I have to know about everything happening. At times, I get confused as to what should I say. Being a public figure one should be responsible. You don’t have to give importance to everything people are saying about you.
You are currently looking for scripts that have more of action. So can we expect a shift from king of romance to king of action?
I was good at action when I was younger as I was physically very fit. Unfortunately, I wasn’t offered such films. I did ‘Baazigar’ and ‘Darr’ to begin with. It’s proven through ‘Raees’ that substance and popularity go hand-in-hand. This one required action and next one, Imtiaz Ali’s, has no action. So whatever the film needs I would like to do and give my best.
How has been your children’s response after watching Raees and which one is their film of yours?
AbRam really loved ‘Raees’. His reaction is exactly like how the public’s reaction is in theatres now. He is dancing on ‘Laila Laila’. Whenever I am hitting people in the film, he’s like ‘Go Papa, Go Papa’ (laughs). When my kids were growing up their favourite film was ‘Baazigar’ instead of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. AbRam likes ‘Ra.One’ a lot.
Interview by Mohnish Singh for BizAsiaLive.com
Twitter: @Mohnishmania
Facebook: Facebook.com/mohnishmania
