"SRK is not my backslapping buddy"
• You turn 36 on May 25.
Must I be reminded of that? I can't believe I'm inching towards 40.
• But life begins at 40, doesn't it?
That's the biggest lie said by people who can't accept that they are growing old. I'm older, and hopefully wiser.
• Has the film industry made you wiser?
It has toughened me for sure. I only pray that I'm not making the wrong decisions.
• You seem to be making all the right moves.
Right now, I want to expand my production house.
• Were you pompous as a child?
In fact, I had a huge complex because of my weight. Today, I'm so gregarious because I have overcome all my insecurities. I feel good about interacting with people. I can't let my life be like an open book as there are chapters I don't want anyone to read. I have many secrets.
• You go all out for Shah Rukh Khan. Recently, you came back all the way from Miami to attend his first IPL match and postponed your own film to accommodate Aditya Chopra's film with SRK.
Yes. But isn't that a given in any friendship? Shah Rukh is like family for me. I'm quite petrified of Shah Rukh and he knows it. He is not my backslapping buddy. His wife Gauri is the one who is more of a friend. She's the one I can say, 'Oh, Shut up!' to but even in my wildest dreams, I can't imagine telling SRK to shut up.
• But, will SRK do as much for you as you do for him?
I want to reach a point where I don't expect anything in return. I have full faith in my relationships and believe that they will never disappoint me.
• So, you want to be Mr Congeniality?
I used to be like that in school. I had this craving to be loved, maybe because I was the only child. Today, I've made up for those lonely years with rock-solid relationships. I have no shortage of 4 am friends.
• But, don't you miss that one special person to share your life with?
Last year when I spoke about this, Farah Khan made fun of me. Yes, I'm lonely and single but I'm looking for love. I'm waiting for love to happen to me this year. I know I'll find the right person very soon.
• You're looking out both for love and a new home?
Well…my mom wants both. She first wants a house with a sea-view.
• Is Khan about the Muslim identity and the isolation of the mainstream Muslim?
I'm just making a film. I'm not doing it to be radically different. It's a film full of emotions with a bit of my unusual style. But isn't it time I started getting out of the safe zone at 36?
• So, this is a mature Karan Johar speaking?
I don't know if it's maturity or plain common sense. All I know is that while shooting an item song for Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna I was so f*****g bored! My choreographer Farah and I felt I had become mechanical. I needed a change.
• So, no more formula-based films from you?
My Name Is Khan is an exciting project. For the first time, I'm directing a film that has characters and situations I'm not familiar with. I think I'm the wrong man to direct this film.
• So who do think should be directing My Name Is Khan?
Mani Ratnam, Rakeysh Mehra or Raju Hirani but certainly not me. But, I'm hundred per cent sure I can pull it off.
• Can you ever make a film without Shah Rukh Khan?
I wouldn't like to think about it. Of course it can happen. One can never predict where life will take us...
Anupamaa
Pocket Mein Aasman
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