A shade hassled, and amazingly sober and serious for Shah Rukh Khan - that’s how the superstar came across at the music launch of his latest production, Om Shanti Om. That’s what comes when SRK has to pack in frenetic media-meets in a very short while. But thanks largely to his wit and speed of thought and speech, however, SRK still made good copy as he spoke on various Khan-daani matters.

On his special fascination for the 1970s, as seen in Main Hoon Na as well as Om Shanti Om:
Actually Om Shanti Om traverses the film industry from the 1970s till 2007 as it is a love story over two births of my character. We are not spoofing the ‘70s, but paying a proper and respectful tribute to it. Hence we have spent a lot of effort in recreating the era. Main Hoon Na was also a tribute in its grammar to the school of Manmohan Desai and others. So we have recreated the bell-bottoms, the side-locks, the dog-collars and of course the music. In the first half we even got a legend like (Laxmikant-)Pyarelal-saab to contribute some authentic ‘70s music for the song Dhoom tana.

Yes, it’s true that the ‘70s does hold a special appeal to me. I was born in 1965 so obviously I have grown up on the cinema and music of the ‘70s and also ‘80s that my parents too adored. For me this era is what pure Bollywood is about, and in fact the word ‘Bollywood’ was first heard in that decade of glory.

On how much Farah shares his passion for the ‘70s, as she is the common point in both films.
She shares it completely. (Smiles) The acting in those days used to be a bit over-the-top, so Farah says that since I always overact I could carry off that kind of acting pretty well!”

 On the meaning of the title and the significance of it being a song from a reincarnation film made in the late ‘70s - Karz:
Ah, that’s Farah sense of humour! In Om Shanti Om, I play Om Prakash Makhija, a struggling junior artiste who is in love with Shanti, a super star. Om’s friend tells him that with a name like that he can never become a big star and get to first base with her. In the present era, I am reborn as Om Kapoor, a superstar who has no talent whatsoever!

He calls himself ‘OK’ for short, since the director uses that expression if he manages a good shot and also because they are his initials! It's very funny, but I had to explain my title at the Dubai music launch yesterday as they were wondering whether it has a religious connotation!

On his six-pack abs for the film:
Farah said that it was a must, as superstars of today are into body-building and I never argue with my directors. Frankly, I have always been keen on this too, but thanks to my back problems I was unable to do something about it till now. But with some back exercises, I managed 500 to 700 crunches every day and also went on a lean diet. I guess that it’s not so difficult if you want to get there.

I have always admired Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan and they both helped out with tips. Now my kids love my look and I am glad Farah went after me!  She always changes something about me, like turning me from a lover-boy to an action hero in Main Hoon Na.

On how a debutante like Deepika Padukone can be convincing as a top heroine when SRK is shown as a struggler:
Oh, Deepika is very talented - and I sure hope that we don’t let her down, because I am a huge fan of her father Prakash Padukone and so cannot afford to fail such a legend’s daughter! By the way, I think that Deepika’s biggest plus point is her height - she’s taller than me! (Laughs)

On the release date clashing with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya:
Yes, business is always affected when two big films release on one day, but I am hoping for the best. The truth is that I am as anxious about Om Shanti Om as any father is about his kid doing well. And I hope all you guys go and see it and like it too. It's a light entertainer - a fun outing for Idd and Diwali. Still, I do believe that both films will make their mark, and I do not seriously consider my film to be the bigger one. Saawariya may star two debutant stars but Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a very big name and Columbia Pictures is an international brand that is stepping into India. I must add that I am also emotionally attached to everyone behind the other film. Sanjay Leela Bhansali gave me one of the biggest highlights of my career, Devdas. I have a very close relationship with the families of Ranbir and Sonam, who are children of my very dear friends Rishi Kapoor-saab and Anil Kapoor, and of course Salman Khan and Rani Mukherji are in the film too.”

On the music of his new film:
Farah has an excellent sense of music and she’s proved that in Main Hoon Na before. I found the music very good and there are two or three songs that I really like a lot, like Dard-e-disco for one. I think that Vishal-Shekhar have really done their best.