As a director and actor, Farhan Akhtar is a happy man these days. His last few films, including Don 2, have done reasonably well, critics' views notwithstanding.
He, however, says, "Right now, I have no plans for directing Don 3, although SRK wants me to get going with the next as soon as possible."
The reason behind this denial is Farhan's acting career on which he would like to concentrate at the moment. However, he is quick to praise the one star that has made all this possible: Shah Rukh Khan.
Admits the Rock On star, "I have a fascination for Shah Rukh Khan. Once he said 'yes' to the character of Don — which Amitabh Bachchanji had immortalised on screen in the 1978 release — he gave his best. With him and the original Don as my storyboard reference, it was easy to create my image of Don. I couldn't have thought of any actor other than SRK to essay the role and once he agreed I was relieved.
"I remember I had taken the blessings of Salim saab and my father (Javed Akhtar), the co-creators of the original Don, before I started shooting the first scene. And while I had quite a few people to bless me and help me through the making, as long as I have Shah Rukh Khan playing the Don, I am sure I can make as many sequels as I can, however not at the moment."
The actor will next be seen as the Flying Sikh in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's next offering. About the role, Farhan says, "The film is based on Milkha Singh. I need to prepare for the character I am going to portray and do my homework thoroughly."
Ask Farhan what he likes better, acting or directing, and he says, "I like directing as much as acting. But I can't do both at the same time. When I am acting I would like to concentrate on it exclusively, the same goes for directing. I believe that when you have the passion and potential to show something, then flaunt it without hesitation. One must live for the day. Just do your thing, even if it is experimental, you always have the chance to succeed."
Farhan also feels that Indian cinema recently has grown with the times and he is a part of it.
"Dil Chahta Hai is a decade old now and yet every time I watch it I feel alive and fresh. The same is with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. My sister and director of the film, Zoya, purposely kept the pace of the film slow so that the audience could take in the dialogues and experience the feelings shared between real friends. It was this 'feel' factor that eventually worked for the film and made it a hit.
"If you ask me to compare films made on friendship, then I feel there should be a DCH or ZNMD every time we feel good cinema is the need of the hour. Last year also saw the re-emergence of action films like Singham and Don 2. So I think I am going along with the times in Bollywood and am sure 2012 will see bigger, better stories."
But directing and acting are not the only fields that Farhan excels in. The actor is an equally good husband and a doting father who loves to spend his free time with his kids and wife.
"I love doing things that my kids and family would enjoy doing. I never discuss films at home, especially when my kids are around. Also, whenever I find time, I love to read."
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
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