An Exclusive Interview With Shahrukh Khan

I’m always happy with what I do. I’ve never been happier.

What’s the secret formula behind your success?
Don’t rest on your laurels. After Friday is over start to plan something else, not necessarily better. Just move on. Earlier when I went out on the roads they called out Deewana, Baazigar and Badshah. I never slowed down to hear them say that. I quickly moved on. Nowdays everywhere I go, even when I go to drop my son to school, people shout out the dialogues of Devdas. I quickly want to move on so they can call me something else on the road.

People like Mr Yash Chopra are willing to wait to work with you again?
Yes. The last thing Yashji and I did together was a music video of the Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poetry. He’s very keen. We’d have started his film in May if my surgery had been postponed to Feb-March 2004. When I went down again he came to London after surgery and kindly offered to postpone his film.

So the dates would need serious adjustment?
Yashji, Karan Johar and Ashutosh Gowariker can easily adjust my dates among them. Even Farha’s film (Main Hoon Na) is my own production, so no problems. Anyway it’s a matter of only 3-4 months. By God’s grace I’m okay now. That’s because of all the children who prayed for. All innocent people love me and wish me well. I feel very happening because I’ve titanium implanted in me. It’s more precious to me than platinum or gold.

Did you enjoy the enforced layoff?
I’m always happy with what I do. I’ve never been happier. I’ve a unique way of dealing with life. I never fight it. I take it on its own terms. I first go with the flow and then I overtake it. So far I’ve never had to fight against fate. I find even the surgery and the scar and stuff like that very cool. I’m a firm believer in the cult of techno-advancement. I believe, with a chip planted in me after surgery I’m even more special than I used to be. If I fight it then I’d get depressed. So I’m enjoying it. Over the years I’ve been collecting books that I one day hoped to read. I’ve just read the whole history of Russia, I’m specially fascinated by Rasputin, and I’m reading up on Islam and the Middle Eastern crisis. I’m also learning film editing on my own. I needed this time off. I needed to look after my health, also to be with my kids.

  Would you have to go slow for a while even when you’re back?
There‘re certain medical restrictions which I might have to work within for a while. I’ve never reached the set at 9 in the morning. It’s always 11. But once I’m there the work has to be completed. I don’t think anyone has ever had a complaint against me.

  From the look of it Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades would be a strenuous film?
I’ve never done a physically strenuous film except Rakesh Roshan’s Koyla and Mani Rathnam’s Dil Se. In Mani’s film there was lots of running around to do in various corners of the world.

  You’ve the most remarkable circle of friends in an industry which is known for its fairweather mentality.
Yes, I’m very lucky with my friends. Yashji, Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar aren’t in my life because of the work. People like Karan and Adi were my friends from before we came into movies. Neither me nor they have ever been in a situation where we need to work together to remain friends. Once I finish work with any of my friends, we don’t need to quickly move on to the next project just to keep relations alive. Nor like some of my other colleagues, do I say, ‘Now you work with someone else because we need a break from each other.’ I’d never do a film for friendship. That’s a compromise I’d never be able to live with. I guess my friends are friends because somewhere we’re likeminded.

  As expected you walked away with every popular award for Devdas?
That happened for the first time in my career. I love the awards. Is Devdas my best film? I don’t know. I’m equally proud of many of my other films. But yes, Devdas showcased me very effectively, like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I’ve worked equally hard for each film. People ask me if I worked specially hard in Devdas. I didn’t except that I drank on duty for the first time. But then for Asoka I rode a horse and learnt sword fighting . That was tougher than drinking. But yes, Devdas has a certain enigma attached to it.

  Did you think your last film Chalte Chalte would be a big success?
It was a nice film. You know I was getting bigger than the characters I was playing. Devdas was a hard act to follow up. Films like DDLJ and KKHH gave me a larger-than-life image. In each film I was expected to make an "entry", the way heroes did in the 1970s with the camera panning the shoes first. Now it’s time for me to behave like that character in mythology who decided to become a mosquito to fight the rakshasa. I played an ordinary character in Chalte Chalte. It was a very Hrishikesh Mukherjee kind of film. It was really about nothing, about people who are normal. I didn't even want to be noticed in Chalte Chalte. Adaawon se mein maar khaa gaya nahin to main bahut achcha actor hota. Seriously it’s very difficult to keep up with the ever-expanding dimensions of my characters. I’m tired of playing larger-than-life characters. What after Devdas? Hitler? Mussoulini. I don’t want fall into the image trap. Funnily enough a lot of people think Devdas is a historical character. Ke aisa aadmi kahin rehta tha. My doctor in London didn’t know about Devdas. I gifted him a DVD. But it has done wonders for all of us abroad. Like Lagaan, Devdas does ring a bell among foreigners.

  What’s your basic philosophy of life?
If you love something let it go, it will come back to you. Right now I’m following the same philosophy for my career. When it comes back, it will come back. I’m not rushing into anything. My kids are my primary responsibility. I don’t want not to be able to play with them again. I’ve done enough work. I’m okay. Whatever has to come my way, will. I wanted to get into a situation where I do one film at a time. I loved every moment of Devdas because it was the only film that I was doing at that time. Now after Farha Khan I’ll finish Karan Johar’s work. I want to finish every film in 50-60 days so I can work on my looks, accent, etc.

  What’s Main Hoon Na about?
It’s called Main Hoon Na. So it’s obviouly about me (laughs). Farha is the first lady director in my career. Deepa Mehta wanted me. But she came to me for dates month before shooting. Farha is very close to me. So it doesn’t matter whether she’s a lady or a man. She’s been responsible for my stardom to a large extent. She taught me a lot. We’ve both learnt from each other. I’ve corrected her dance steps and she’s corrected my expressions. She’s truly hard working, focussed and talented. God bless her. I’m glad she’s making her first film for me.

  No stunts for while?
It will depend on how I feel when I have to do it. I’ll know only I do something rigorous. Right now I’m supposed to be on the road to recovery. For a year I’ve to take thing easy. I’ve my good and bad moments. Mornings aren’t good. Till about 2 in the afternoon I feel a lot of pain. Then when I bend down or if I play with my kids I get some pain in the neck. But it’s okay. Insha Allah, the pain will disappear one fine morning. For now I’ve to go to London every month for a checkup.

  What further production plans?
I’ve one film Farha Khan’s Main Hoon Na on the floors. Insha Allah, that should be over by November. It’s a contemporary version of the conventional commercial film. Though a woman is making it , it isn’t a chick flick. It’s got great locations, songs and situations. It’s a much bigger , more expensive and difficult film than Chalte Chalte. Difficult, in the sense that I’d be more bothered on the Friday when it’s released. It isn’t formulistic but still interesting. Fortunately Venus is our partner in the production. Both Chalte Chalte and Main Hoon Na were started when we were going through a financial low. So we had to rope in partners.


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