Shahrukh Khan Interview on his 49th Birthday: Part 1

Part 1 of Shahrukh Khan interview on his 49th birthday. Part 2 will be published tomorrow.

Q. How has your birthday celebrations changed over the years?

SRK: There are so many people celebrating my birthday including all of you (media) wonderful people. People are celebrating everywhere. God has been too kind to me for the kind of person I am, to give me so much love. I thank the almighty and everyone who have given me so much love over the years. This is unquantifiable. I can’t express how I feel. I am a very small person compared to the love I get. I just work in films, and because of my profession I get so much love. From yesterday night everyone was celebrating with firecrackers, this is all because of the prayers of all of you. Otherwise, I am not good enough to get so much. Thank you.

Over the years it has been different. Since the time I shifted to Mannat from 1997-98. In the beginning there were just 7 or 8 journalists, with 2 or 3 cakes. Now you people (media) has increased, people outside have also increased. You show so much love, you talk about me on newspapers and television, because of that the love from fans has also increased. It’s very humbling. Every year I think its not going to be the same next year, because everybody is getting used to it, next year since I will be turning 50, it’s going to be more special. I apologise to the police and all my neighbours because these 2-3 days, it’s difficult for a lot of people.

Q. What are your thoughts on turning 49?

SRK: I have always said this, I dont understand age at all. Physically I feel very good, work wise I feel very energised. Tomorrow I might start Fan. I feel very happy just going and working. I dont know what is one supposed to feel when one gets older. Is one supposed to get fatter? One is supposed to have grey hair? (I dye them) Is one supposed to feel less energy? I dont feel less energy. Is one supposed to work less? I work even more. Maybe I am regressive. As I am getting older, I am getting younger. I dont feel it at all. I find it shocking actually.

I meet some people. And because I am a name, I am like a brand, so I say this. Not that I am showing off. But I hope everyones life is like Shah Rukh Khan. I wish this.

Q: It has been a incredible journey so far, how has life changed?

SRK: I don’t feel the difference between the first day and today. Outside obviously, I have got fame, people call me a star, responsibility has increased.. there are a lot of things I do because I need to do them that way. But personally and professionally, my life remains the same. I go to work every morning with the same excitement, even now girls fall on my life in Fauji (his television serial), I still lift them and romance them. I dont see any difference. I have worked with so many actress, they are married and settled now. But I dont see any difference in my life. I still feel like a Fauji-wala who is still working.

Because I have gotten into a lot of businesses, by choice, because of liking those professions. I think my office has now been setup in a way that most of them are run by experts. It’s a fantastic team. Whether it is Kidzania, Kolkata Knight Riders, Red Chillies Productions and Visual Effects. I don’t really need to set any targets in terms of business. I just tell everyone that it should have my personality of being hospitable, being nice, kind and gentle. And hope things go nicely. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. Personally, I would like to spend a little more time with my children. My son is abroad and the other one is very young. I really enjoy that. It’s a genuine personal happiness.

Last night, one director friend of mine asked me.. How do you get your best high? Is it your film, a big hit? My best high is with my children. Professionally there is always a dichotomy. Whether I should do a commercially viable film, because if I dont do that, there are a lot of instances when I have been told that, please don’t do such an off-beat film because people look forward to your holiday kind of film. Happy blockbuster film. If I do that, then people say why dont you do a film that is more intense. So that choice remains. I would like to start doing 2 – 3 films a year, but it takes time. Happy New Year has taken 170 days. I hope Fan takes 70-80, then Raees and the next one. Films do take a little while, but I would like to do 2 to 2 and a half films (a year). I hope I strike that balance. There are days when I feel I should be more involved as an actor, there are other days when I feel I should be more involved as a star. I want to do both.

When I did Happy New Year there was a excuse. I had a shoulder surgery, so I was okay with one film. But now that I am healthy, I would like to do 2 films, but not at the same time as it would unfair to everyone in todays time and age.

Q: ‘Darr’ is one of my favourite films, are you scared of anything in life?

SRK: I am not scared of anything. But I think I am scared for my children. Every parent feels that. I saw a very tragic incident the other day, a Mizoram player got hurt while playing football and he passed away. The way he flips, even my son does that. I was in Indore at that time, and I called him immediately to say “yaar aisa mat karo”. I think the only ‘Darr’ you have is that your children should remain healthy. Otherwise, about my work or fame, I dont feel scared. Even if the fame and work has to go, it’ll take a few years. So I dont feel scared. Yes, sometimes I do feel that I don’t give directors, fans what they expect out of me. So I do feel scared sometimes that I dont live upto expectations. I hope I do. People have high expectations from me, whether it is cricket or films. When I go to watch a KKR match, people expect us to win because I am there. People text saying if you’re lucky, if you are there we will win. I know that I have nothing to do with it, but I feel responsible and I get nervous. That is the only fear I have. People say “whatever you touch turns to gold” so I hope it turns to gold, not because I want it, but because so many people hope it does. To be able to keep up with the expectations and hopes of so many people, who put their desires, their wants and their goals, according to me because they like me so much. When I fall short of it, or if I fall short of it, that scares me. It’s not the expectations of your family or friends, but it is the expectations of millions of people. Sometimes at a party I get angry, sometimes I get extra happy. And I know some of those actions are not right maybe, but some of them are natural reactions but don’t look nice if a movie star does it. So I have to hold myself back and I have to behave much better to respect the fact that I dont fall short of peoples hopes.

Q: Are there any celebrations on Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge completing 1000 weeks in December? 

SRK: I spoke to Kajol a few days back. She told me that 15-20 mins footage which was edited, will be shown or they will be including our interviews. I have not met Aditya Chopra recently, but I have heard the idea that when DDLJ completes 1000 weeks, we will all go and see the film. This is not for me, Adi, Kajol or the late Amrishji, but this is something very different. This is bigger than a film. It define an era. Girls and guys say we married because of DDLJ. There is a love for the film. It is important for us to celebrate it. Also learn as to how it became such a cult success. We haven’t made such a film, no one has made such a film. DDLJ is the second longest running film in the world, a Chinese film has run longer if I am not mistaken.

On reinventing and rediscovering himself. And what success is like for the most successful actor in Bollywood: I think reinvention and rediscovery comes from the creative people who make films for you. I think it’ll come when directors have the faith in me. There are certain things that I do well because I have been doing them from a long time. There is a big of technicality in acting that I know. There is that star aura that I can create in my films. But as an actor I think I need to work with directors who can push the boundaries. Its not about 1 take or 10 takes, its about thinking new for me. I should have the courage to push myself. Like My Name Is Khan, Chak De India, Swades, even some of the commercial films have something nice in them. That is the courage I need to have and I need to get those offers too. Reinvention and rediscovery is something that will happen. I hope I can entertain people for as long as I live, because that is the only desire I have in my heart.

Q: What do you think of being one of the most recognised faces in the world?

SRK: When I was young I used to say I want to be the most recognised face in the world. But I have always said, for my talent and for my work, I have received a lot more. I dont say this with modesty or humility. This is the truth. I see people all around me, actor and actresses keep working, they are better than me, they look better than me, they work as hard as me, and they are equally passionate.. but I wonder why only I have got all this. I think one era of people liked me and kids also do. I keep noticing that more than my films people love me. Which is a good thing, but it is a bad thing for an actor. People love me beyond my films. They give me so much love everywhere in the world. Having said that, at 49, I would still say I would want the whole world to recognise me. I still want that.

Q: People recognise you as a fantastic businessman, a marketing genius. What are the business tips that you would like to give your contemporaries, those who are in the industry and others who are aspiring to be someone like you?

SRK: I have never done any of those things, I believe if you have something that you believe in, you should live your life with it the longest you can. Whether it is a movie or television, whatever part of work that is creative, I think you need to own it, stand by it and die by it. If I have made a movie, I have to be proud enough to say, this is the best one that can be made. You have to believe that, it might not be the best one. If you release a film, you have to inform people that this is the best product, done with the best of intention. I am sorry if it falls short. After a film is released, you can never disown it. I have done 55 – 60 films. Those are my films, it’s my good and it’s my bad. If its wrong I’ll work harder, if its nice I will work even harder to make it even better next time. Marketing and everything else is related to the passion that you have for your product. If you stand by your product then marketing will follow.