Farah Khan talks about "Happy New Year" & "Shah Rukh"
Everyone is pretty curious about your next film Happy New Year. Tell us, what's the story all about?
It is a very, very nice idea. And an original one, so I'm taking a little more time to put the framework to my script. By the way, it hasn't been copied from any Hollywood film.
But why are you being so hush-hush about it?
I'm a bit wary of sharing information about it because I haven't registered the script yet. When the promos of Main Hoon Na were on air, I heard people of accusing me of lifting their story idea. I wondered, goddamit, where is the story in Main Hoon Na? (laughs) Honestly, if I could find a story in the film, I would happily give the credit to anyone who wants credit for it.
There are rumours that you've roped in Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and ShahRukh Khan for your film. That's a fantastic starcast.
No yaar, I have finalized only Shah Rukh…or should I say he has finalized me? Most of the people I've talked to have given their verbal consent for the film though nothing's finalized. Off the record, they have said they would want to be part of my film but no one has been signed nor have I narrated the script to anyone besides Shah Rukh.
Reports say your film has been delayed and it will go on the floors as late as January 2006. Is that frustrating?
No, I'm not flustered at all. Because it's given me more time to polish my script. We were all very clear that the first film to go on the floor will be Karan's Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna, followed by mine. (I will be working in Karan's film as a choreographer.) So there's a domino effect happening. If Karan's film gets delayed, the subsequent ones get delayed too. But it's okay because we are all friends. Now that Yash uncle (Yash Johar), whom we were very attached to, is no more. I think it's our moral duty to give Karan all possible support.
Shah Rukh is the pivotal element in your films. Do you write scripts with him in mind?
Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I said I didn't. Shah Rukh is the biggest star and I share a great rapport with him so it's only natural that I write scripts with him in mind.
Also, Shah bhai is one of the easiest people to work with. He may not be a great producer for his production house because he always over spends, but he is a dream producer for a director. If you need something that would cost a hundred bucks, Shah Rukh would spend a thousand rupees for it.
As an actor too, he is just brilliant. Sometimes I go to him and say Shah bhai, I have so many problems in the script and you need to rectify them.
You wont believe this – he will do it diligently while I'm away, doing my choreography bit or shooting. He takes care of everything. Why would I not want to work with him?
Infact, I can't imagine a script without him. I know what excites him in a script and unlike other directors, I don't want to de-glamorise or 'de-star' him. I want to capture those moments that have made him a super hero. I like to see him larger than life and that's why kids love him, teenage girls go crazy about him and elder women adore him and now, I hear, even teenage guys go crazy about him (chuckles).
Did you like ShahRukh Khan in Swades?
See, I liked him a lot in Swades but I would never make a film that de-glamorises him. I want to see the Shah Rukh of Main Hoon Na.