Posted:
Koffee with Karan: Shobha De and Vijay Malliya
Karan: He truely lives life king size... He's unapologetically flamboyant, he is extremely stylish and always dynamic... He ruled on land and now rules the skies... Please welcome the king of good times, Dr Vijay Maliya...
Enter Vijay maliya (no hugs, only handshake 😉)
Karan: Alright, as I said rules the sky, is that true, very true according to me, your fantastic airline, I have to tell you this in person...
Vijay: Thank you, that's really nice to hear... it's really gratifying considering the hard work all of us have put into it... and we are nearly about to rule...
Karan: (laughs) nearly, when you say nearly what does that mean?
Vijay: well, you know, we are only 21 months old so you know an airline takes time... i think we have achieved the near impossible by inducting 23 new aircraft, all brand new into service in 21 months so I think 2007 is going to be really exciting...
Karan: and I'm sure it is and congratulations for all your achievements... Your achievements bring me to you, your persona, the man you are... i mean most people who are industrialist or in the business world have a certain image... You are not one of those very serious industrialists who have a very serious kind of look on his face... Your whole perception is so different, flamboyant... how do you react to that?
Vijay: well, you know at the end of the day I have to repeat yet again that I've always lived life on my own terms, I've not been shy, I've not tried to hide anything, I'm totally transparent, I am what I am... and there is nothing wrong with that... I don't want to split personality, i don't want to be a hypocrite... I just be myself... and as far as the showmanship is concerned, i am the brand ambassador of my brands and the brands are on life style platforms, so what's wrong with that... (smiles)
karan: of course there is nothing wrong with that... I completely love the fact that you are like this but you have this party image and at times do you find yourself defending that to people who expect you to be a little more serious...
Vijay: you know seriousness is no guarantee for success... if you don't have a party or you are more subdued, certainly is not a recipe for increased takeover value either... But if I like to party, I don't party alone, I party with people who also like to party and there are many out there and as I said it's all on that lifestyle platform which is becoming increasingly relevant in aspirational India today...
Karan: Your foray into politics a few years back what drove you to politics?
Vijay: you know when I was 40, I said I have coma a long way in my life, i've had my fair share of success, i've also had my failures but i've never looked back, i've always treated my failure as a stepping stone to success; i've made mistakes but the net balance rate was pretty good... and i said what do i do now , should i give back something to my country , to my state and how do i do it... it's very clear in India you don't have a voice that 's heard adequately unless you are fortunate enough to be sitting in parliament... and so i decided to run or parliament in 2000, i failed miserably and of course invited all the criticism that has become synonymous of Vijay Maliya... In 2002, I defeated the city BJP candidate and got elected to parliament, I was most excited and even though for the last three four years I've been a back-bencher, I've always tried to stand up and speak about the need for accountability in governance... I think one of the key problem our country faces is that we are not as poor as the people think... The central government really allocates a lot of resources to the states for the betterment of the poor, for developmental projects but no body is responsible for how that money is spent, where it went and how the projects actually evolved and that's what I've been trying to hammer, accountability in governance and it's part of parliamentary record... (🥱)
Karan: and what do you think your parliament vibe is, because you are clearly unusual from the rest of them and you look unusual, you feel unusual and you are unusual... What do you think the vibe is when you walk into parliament?
Vijay: (laughs) no actually, it's quite interesting... first of all, i went in with my suit and my tie and stuff like that and clearly eyebrows were raised...
Karan: you feel too well dressed for parliament?
Vijay: I certainly felt too well dressed, over dressed...
karan: (laughs)
Vijay: so i decided let me also go with the flow so i bought myself some indian outfits, kurta pajama ... I've good friends in tarun and Gudda, they sort of designed me some stuff and so I dressed appropriately but when i am in parliament, the atmosphere particularly in central hall is one that is completely seamless; all party affiliations are to be forgotten, barriers and conflicting point of views are out of the window and it's like an elite club there with everyone can walk up to everyone, everyone is very approachable, they talk to you and it's quite remarkable and the amount of compliments I've got on Kingfisher airlines from fellow parliamentarians is absolutely amazing... (🥱)
karan: well, that's fantastic and i hope the airline continues to rock!
Karan: Now I'm going to introduce my next guest tonight, (looking at vijay) someone who is very dear to you as well and a friend of yours... Alright, you can call her opinionated, you could call her judgemental ... She's a successful columnist, author and social commentator... Please welcome the very glamourous Shobha De...
Enters Shobha De
Muah Muah everyone... 😆
Shobha: (to Vijay) looking wonderful, vijay as always...
Vijay: (to Shobha) you are stunningly gorgeous as always...
Karan: Welcome back to KWK... Shobha has been on this show before... how does it feel to be back on the show?
Shobhaa: Actually wonderful! The kind of response I'd got the first time round all over the world where there are Indians and Pakistani's and people monitoring Indian television it was always "we saw you on Koffee with Karan!", so it says a lot about the host, a lot about the show and maybe a little about me!
Karan: Alright, I like that! You've known Vijay for how long Shobhaa?
Shobhaa: over 25 years! I imagine...
Karan: It's been a good friendship?
Shobhaa: It's been an interesting friendship! It's had its ups and downs but it's never been a boring or a static friendship! Which I think is what keeps a relationship on its toes and it makes sure you don't take each other for granted...
Vijay: Absolutely! But I remember only the ups! Not the downs!
Shobhaa: Selective memory!
Vijay: (Laughs)
Shobha: but karan , I knew Vijay before he became Vijay Maliya iconic, larger than life and a very very recognizable brand in India as he is today and for me that's really the Vijay I continue to remember with great affection, great fondness and that's the Vijay I love and always will...
Karan: (to Vijay) do you have something nice to say to Shobha as well...
Vijay: one thing about Shoha is that she is very direct, straight from the heart, she says it like it is and that's what I love about her...
Karan: Well, on that note, I will take a break!
*Break*
Karan: "The Queen of Opinions" … is that a good way to describe you Shobhaa?
Shobha: It's not bad! Empress might be better! But he has a copyright on that already!
Vijay: No! I can say that to you!
Shobha: His super super yacht is called the Indian Empress or I would have happily stolen it for myself for tonight!
Karan: (to Shobha) What do you think of the actors in parliament who are trying to make a mark politically?
Shobha: Well, most politicians are actors in parliament anyways...
All laugh...
Shobha: so the actors would be in perfect company except that they would make better actors and probably be more convincing in what they are doing...
Karan: any one favorite MP you have?
Shobha: I'd say Hema Malini, I've got my money on her... The lady is very intelligent, she has a track record which is admirable... she takes her role in parliament seriously enough... I think she is a good role model for a lot of people who might want to take the same path...
Karan: and so stunning...
Shobha: and stunning and if you look good while you are walking to parliament and you flank politicians who look like the back side of buses and no one would carry their picture if they didn't have two lovely ladies on either side and I think it works for everybody...
Karan: (to Vijay) do you think they are doing a good job?
Vijay: I think they are doing well... but as Shobha said these guys have their own means, they are not dependent on politics for livelihood, and people ho don't have to depend on power, opposition are best suited to get things done in this country...
karan: you believe that...
Vijay: i really believe that...
Karan: (to Shobha) you are perceived as somebody, of course you are a columnist, author, a social commentator, you've done so much, you write all the time but yet the perception is still page 3, celebrity socialite, the whole perception is larger than life...
Shobha: I think the smart thing to do, and I know Vijay has done that exceedingly well, is to convert whatever the perception is, turn is around and make it your equity and leverage that... There can be a Harvard study on how he has done that, and I mean it very seriously... In my case, it is a downer if I'm constantly seen as a glamourous person who is on page 3 often but the fact remains that I work harder than most people I know and my productivity speaks for itself... but that doesn't matter, i don't want to be apologetic about it... i want to say i am on page 3 and so is Ratan Tata and Sachin Tendulkar and so is Dr Maliya and a whole lot of other people who are no longer being defensive about the fact that they can also have a life beyond what they are suppose to be doing... (🥱)
Karan: I love spotting myself in the papers in the morning, I almost get disappointed when I'm not...
All laugh...
Karan: (to Vijay) when there are terms like elitist industrialist, elitist politician, does that bother you at all?
Vijay: No it doesn't bother me, I wonder it should... America is proud of Bill Gates... India should be proud of those who create wealth, there is nothing to be apologetic about...
Karan: we love the underdogs in this country, don't we and that's always a problem for people like you...
Vijay: yea, but at times when that underdog is a political underdog, he is more wealthy than the industrialist who is a lot more transparent about his wealth...
All laugh...
Shobha: I also think that is a part of the hangover you've been left with, the pseudo socialist hangover that we glorified for 60 years of how it is wonderful to be poor, it's about time we change that...
Shobha: if you got into politics Karan, it would make a lot of difference...
Karan: I don't know how qualified i am but how about you?
Shobha: not an option so far... I think I'm better off being an independent voice... i think I'm more effective being that because the minute you get into politics, you are aligned to someone or the other, you are following more or less, someone else's agenda and there is no getting away from that so i think i'm better off being the person i am and giving who so ever the credit, the credit that is due and also keeping the others on their toes when that is needed... so I prefer my position...
karan: fantastic... and on that note we are going to take another break... Politics on KWK, who thought that would happen... Stay tuned, we'll be right back!
* Break*
Karan: In conversation with Dr Vijay maliya and Shobha De... I think it is a fantastic combination because more than anything else, both of you have been associated with each other professionally as well...
Shobha: we were, briefly... but I think it is best to remain friends and keep business out of our relationship...
Karan: I believe that... no partnership with friends, doesn't ever work...
Now, have you ever said anything in your column that might have offended him?
Shobha: you better ask him... I don't know... I could have said something that I feel strongly enough about...
karan: would you hold back, because you know Vijay so well, if you had something to say about him?
Shobha: if it had no impact on public life, then I won't... because then it has no relevance to anybody... it's a private moment and if i have access to a private moment, that may not personally appeal to me, i don't have the right to go public with it... But since he is a public figure, if he is to do something really aweful in parliament, yes i would write about it...
karan: (to Vijay) talking about journalism, what is it your take on this big boom of the electronic media?
Vijay: there is one thing that Indian media desperately needs, and that is sense of responsibility... Everyone wants a scoop and editors seem to reward journalist who comes with scoops... now there are two sides to every coin, some times these scoops can be factually completely incorrect, purely speculative in nature, and let's say there was an article on one of the business moves that I was making... if i was indeed making such a move but chose not to talk about it for a variety of reasons, maybe it was premature, the speculative journalism could actually cost me a deal because people in the west don't respect this kind of speculative journalism we have in India... They, in fact, great offense at speculative articles, at reporting that is not factual, so I think media in this country needs to be a lot more responsible and must verify their facts before they either put pen to paper...
Karan: (to Shobha) do you agree, do you endorse that?
Shobha: pretty much... on behalf of my fraternity, my colleagues, and I've been in this business long enough to know what i am saying... there is a downside of course and that's largely due to the fact that it is so competitive today... like there is a new channel, like it is like channa, every second day there is a packet of channa and its a new channel and they all want, whatever you might throw at them which is why you see a whole bunch of non-entities who have nothing to recommend, every second person you meet, turns around without even a sense of irony and says but oh you know I'm a celebrity... you know it's kind of an obsession to be famous... and i guess the pressure on the channels and newspaper is how do you compete, how do you get scoops and the hunger for scoop is not something new to India alone, you'll see it everywhere whether it is a tabloid culture or a paparazzi which is coming to India by the way, Vijay... we haven't seen anything yet... People are going to start getting married because they are getting paid for the coverage, they are going to start getting divorced because someone else is paying them an exclusive to cover the divorce... We are right at the beginning of the tabloid cycle of journalism... The next level in the west was reality shows, which have just about come to India.. Rakhi Sawant is a house-hold name and she has done some great things for her career, she was no body and today people are waiting to throw lakhs at her to come and perform in Orangabad or wherever...
Karan: Orangabad... i like that... & on that note we are going to take a break...
* Break*
Karan: still in conversation with Dr Vijay Maliya and Shobha De... Now since I come from the movies, and I'm a part of the film fraternity, people might be interested to find out how you perceive us... how you perceive Indian cinema, movies currently, where we are heading?
Vijay: well, first of all i don't see too many movies so i'm not qualified to really comment but then one inevitably hears about the super hits and then one feels sort of compelled to see them so i go out and buy a digital DVD and that's how I spend my time on planes on my long flights...
Karan: so you've never been to a cinema hall ?
Vijay: i don't go to cinema halls that often...
Karan: and you don't watch our movies too often either...
Vijay: i do, as I said those that have made it, i definitely try to watch them... Just flew back from US two days ago and got hold of a DVD of Munnabhai and watched it and of course laughed my guts off...
Karan: it was fantastic and I guess every Indian must see Munnabhai... it's one film, even if you watch hindi cinema or don't watch, it's a much watch in that respect...
Karan: (to Shobha De) you of course, I'm sure make it to the movies every friday...
Shobha: I'm compulsive, you know wild horses can't keep me away... completely hooked, also because I believe movies are the single most compulsive aspect or component of popular culture, in ways they impact our lives, in ways that most of us won't recognize on an obvious level this subliminal pop culture that I've been monitoring for so many years and therefore it's very important to know which movies are hitting the right notes and which have got their finger on the pulse, so i watch movies because i find movies great education and a great indicator of what India is thinking or what film-makers would like India to think which is even more significant... so yes, I watch almost every movie, also I think of it as a great stress-buster...
Karan: bad movies can be stress-busters as well...
Shobha: you are sitting there, laughing at them or getting angry and now your anger is directed at the film-maker so it is great...
Karan: which is the last film that angered you?
Shobha: it was Bhagam Bhag... it was really terrible but I'm told it has become a hit... I went to see it because I like Govinda and he is a wasted actor and I felt perhaps he has somehow redeemed himself in this film but anyone could have done this role... it was sort of Jonny walker routine, it was dreadful... The film that i really enjoyed apart from Guru, was the one which Vijay has produced called 'The forrest'... and i felt Javed Jafferi, again very under-utilized good actor who hasn't found his niche, but like Mithun Chakerbaty, I hope someone gives him his break, perhaps you in your next film and we see a very different side of Javed...
karan: yes, he has done some good work... he is trying to make a comeback, i think...
Shobha: he deserves better roles and I think he was very good in 'the forrest'...
Karan: Well, more of your opinions but now on my rapid-fire...
All laugh...
Karan: Shobha, I'm going to start with you... Vijay, I ask quick questions, I expect quick quick replies and then I decide win the very heavy coffee hamper...
Rapid- Fire:
Karan: Which actress should win the following pageant titles:
Ms Fashion faux pas
Shobha: Kajol
karan: oh dear... Ms hype?
Shobha: Malika Sherawat
karan: the first word that comes to your mind when I say the following words:
infidelity
Shobha: KANK
karan: viagra
Shobha: Salman Khan
Karan: one hindi film in recent times that you wished you had written?
Shobha: Omkara
Karan: wonderful adaptation
Shobha: fabulous adaptation
Karan: which actor or actress or celebrity would be the perfect choice to endorse the following product?
hair remover
Shobha: Ajay Devgan
Karan: nasal drops
Shobha: Himesh Reshmiya
Karan: G strings or thongs
Shobha: malika again
Karan: sleeping pills
Shobha: Sanjay Dutt
Karan: from the film fraternity, according to you, would be the perfect celebrity wife?
Shobha: Ashwariya
karan: the perfect celebrity mother?
Shobha: Jaya
Karan: the perfect single woman?
Shobha: Sushmita
karan: the perfectly mis-match couple?
Shobha: I would have said Vivek and Ash in the old days...
Karan: the first word that comes to your mind when I say the following names?
Laloo Prasad
Shobha: tomorrow's leader
Karan: Rakhi Sawant
Shobha: incredibly original
Karan: Saurav Ganguly
Shobha: comeback kid, more than that a very intelligent captain...
karan: Ekta kapoor
Shobha: productive, smart, sassy, clever, successful...
Karan: if a fatwa(?) was declared against you for your writings, your reaction would be?
Shobha: wow, i'm in great company (?)
Karan: which celebrities would you give the following books:
Mommy dearest
Shobha: Sri Devi
Karan: the argumentative Indian
Shobha: Shah Rukh
Karan: start late finish rich
Shobha: Simi
karan: a politician or leader who you think we all need to send flowers to, Gandigiri style?
Shobha: Amar Singh
Karan: very quickly then, choices:
Hrithik, Amir, ShahRukh, Saif, Abhishek, who's the better actor?
Shobha: Hrithik
Karan: Lage Raho Munna Bhai or Rand De basanti?
Shobha: lage raho, no debate there...
Karan: DON2 or Dhoom3, the sequel you are more excited about?
Shobha: they should leave us with the memory...
Karan: Ash, Rani, Kajol, Kareena, Preity, the better actress?
Shobha: Kareena
Karan: Rahul gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi, the potential future?
Shobha: Rahul because he is the future, Priyanka is the future we might have preferred but I don't see it happening...
Karan: Alright then, thank you very much Shobha... as expected, you did exceedingly well... Alright Vijay, are you ready?
Vijay; I am...
karan: the living business tycoon in India whom you admire?
Vijay: Sunil Mithal
karan: current bollywood actress whom you won't mind on all twelve months of your calendar?
Vijay: Ashwarya Rai
Karan: alright... if there was a film made on your life, which current actor would you want playing you on screen?
Vijay: Hrithik Roshan
Karan: and who would you want as your leading lady?
Vijay: Sushmita Sen
Karan: if you were made prime minister, the first change you would initiate on the following issues:
probation
Vijay: add dispense with probation wherever it existed...
Karan: corruption
Vijay: i'll pass a law that makes corruption the most serious punishable offense...
Karan: one announcement we are most likely to hear: Vijay Maliya sells his ferrari and becomes a monk OR Vijay maliya to support nationwide probation OR Vijay maliya to direct a bollywood film?
Vijay: the third choice is the easiest of the lot... All laugh
Karan: the current actor who has all the qualities to make a great prime minister?
Vijay: Amitabh Bacchan...
Karan: one current actor who would be the worst choice for prime minister?
Vijay: Govinda
karan: one word you would like to use to describe the person behind the persona:
Lakshmi Mithal
Vijay: ambitious
Karan: Mukesh Ambani
Vijay: Meticulous
karan: Anil Ambani
Vijay: on the fast track...
Karan: 10 years from now, Vijay maliya will be?
Vijay: # 1 in whatever he does...
Karan: the first word that comes to your mind when i say the following names:
Sonia Gandi
Vijay: inspirational leader
Karan: Manmohan Singh
Vijay: solid economist
Karan: Meneka Gandi
Vijay: rash environmentalist
Karan: Laloo Prasad
Vijay: populist
Karan: very quickly then, Rani, kajol, Ash, kareena, preity, the reigning queen according to you?
Vijay: Preity
Karan: Wine or women, which is easier to give up?
Vijay: women
karan: Shahrukh, Saif, Hrithik, Amir, Abhishek, the better actor?
Vijay: Shahrukh
Karan: Rahul or Priyanka, potential future politician?
Vijay: Rahul Gandhi
Karan: the first words that come to mind when I say the following:
Infidelity
Vijay: good luck!
Karan: Viagra
Vijay: disappointed that you need it...
Karan: alright, thank you , that was your rapid fire round and I think you did exceeding well as well... we're going to announce the result right after I take a break...
* Break*
karan: We just finished the rapid fire round and I'm a bit confused so I'm going to give a tie-breaker question:
Karan: (to Shobha) a rumor you had heard recently that you believed?
Shobha: that in fact Ash and Abhishek are not going to get married next month...
Karan: (to Vijay) a rumor you heard recently?
Vijay: that Ash and Abhishek are in fact getting married...
Karan: (laughs)... now this makes it even harder... Since both of you planned this, I'm going to give both of you the hamper... Congratulations to the proud winners of the coffee hamper... We haven't changed the last two segments of the show... We did the rapid fire and now we go for a bit of a survey... For you Shobha, we went to popular journalists, editors of magazines, people who have known you, and have judged your work... And we went to the younger kids, all the party boys and girls from the film fraternity and asked them how they perceive Dr Vijay Maliya...
A survey is shown... many compliments about Shobha De...
Kajol, Saif, Priyanka, John, Ritesh, Abhishek, Bipasha, Hrithik, Fardeen, talk about Vijay maliya... Bipasha asks him to give her free tickets! All appreciate his airline, and calendar...
Karan and Vijay talk about his calendar...
They sign the coffee cup and place it on the coffee wall!
********************
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
