Undisputed king

After the release of his much-anticipated ‘Chennai Express’, the reigning king of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, talks to Rajiv Vijayakar about patriotism, the younger generation, and his choice  of films.

Shah Rukh Khan saunters in well past midnight into Mannat, his home-cum-office — the hectic last-minute promotions of his new film Chennai Express are in their final leg. There are so many scribes to oblige, so little time on hand. But for the King Khan, sleep is the last thing in mind. He has just begun a screening of Chennai Express for his friends downstairs, and is full of beans.

Since the release clash between his film and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara has been averted, with Chennai… coming up on Eid and the other film on Independence Day, we ask what he has to say on the festival and the patriotic occasion.

“Well, this time, Eid is going to be very special. Not only is Chennai Express releasing, but it is the first Eid of my most important production, my third child AbRam,” he replies.

Though he is quite religious, the actor regrets that he has not been able to observe roza fully because he is on medication after his shoulder surgery. Arising from that, why is he not taking sufficient care of his health?

“Well, I did take five weeks’ rest as advised,” he smiles. “I slept a bit more, but it is against my nature to sleep more than four to five hours a day. I have been doing that for the last 25 years. I think I am fine,” he shrugs expressively.

Patriotic vein

As for Independence Day, he declares that he has great hope from the young generation. “We inherited the babu mentality from the British, but these guys will not be corrupt, as we will see about 15 years down the line.”

Analytically, he goes on, “I know for a fact that today’s young Indian is concerned about the country rather than about himself or herself. They are naughty, hot-headed, intelligent but simple, and they are over-informed. But they will continue to have their own problems and issues as well. Every generation has its own issues — like in Amit-ji’s (Amitabh Bachchan) time it was necessary to destroy or beat up the corrupt establishment, while in the ‘90s it was also about pyar mohabbat se samjhaana.”

The definition of patriotic cinema has kept changing for obvious reasons, he observes. “I have done such films too, like Chak De! India, which I think is the best patriotic movie in recent times, and not because I was in it. Sports-based films have those strong patriotic angle, like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag now.”

Coming to his new film, he says that his director Rohit Shetty is the only one today who has a distinct and big brand. “Like the great legends of the past, you know exactly what to expect in a Rohit Shetty film — there are cars flying in the air for kids, some emotional moments for women, action for the masses, songs and dances, and of course, comedy. So the challenge for me was to see whether I could mould myself to his school of cinema. I play a North Indian, somewhat timid, and a bit stupid too.”

Shah Rukh expresses irritation at a remark he had heard from a scribe the other day about how he feels about doing an over-the-top film. “I do not understand these terms — masala, parallel, over-the-top, under-the-top, edgy and so on. A film is a film is a film! It is a world into which you are taken and that touches emotions of some kind within you. Chennai Express, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Cocktail or Aashiqui 2 are all different worlds that you have loved wandering into, right?”

Where did the germ of the idea of Chennai Express originate? “I loved the idea that right at the beginning of a film a train begins to move and there is a kind of reprise of a sequence that was seen at the end of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) — of my pulling up a girl into the compartment,” he smiles. “I really find it extremely sexy — in the right sense of the term — and cute that two people in love have difficulty communicating because of language issues. And such a situation is common in India because of our diversity.”

His filmography

About his choice of films today, the actor says that he has always done the films he felt like doing. “If I am happy about a film, I do it, and I think that is respected by my fans — for over 20 years now. When I signed Baazigar and Darr, my friends told me that I was stymieing my chances of becoming a hero. But after DDLJ, I became a romantic hero. I have done every kind of film, including the so-called offbeat ones like My Name Is Khan and Swades.

I do not think that I have left any of those labels for films undone. In fact, it was Aditya Chopra who recently pointed out a strange fact to me — that I had done just four pure romances — the rest of my so-called romantic dramas also had other elements.”
Coming up next is another home production Happy New Year, with old favourite Farah Khan at the helm.

“The film is a story revolving around that theme. I liked the idea.”Shah Rukh agrees that he has been collaborating with a lot of South Indians in his films, whether as co-stars, filmmakers or other associates. “I have enjoyed working with them all, from the brilliant cameramen to co-actors, and in this film, Rohit, Deepika Padukone, Priyamani and Satyaraj. They are so hugely talented and such wonderful people to work with.”

Finally, he is happy that the one feedback he has received from his fans is that his film is a clean comedy and a family entertainer. “When we do comedy, as when I am hosting awards shows, there can be a slip into something not really wholesome for all, but Rohit has avoided that and delivered a movie that will be completely entertaining.”