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15 minutes with Shah Rukh Khan
Surinder Jessy gets up close and personal with the icon fo contemporary India
It's 9pm and I am seated in the lounge area of Suite 755 at the Taj Palace in New Delhi waiting for Shah Rukh Khan. He's having a quick dinner in the adjoining dining room and will be with me shortly, I am told. Seated with me is Asha Gill, Malaysia's TAG Heuer ambassador who is sitting in for the interview. Earlier in the day, Asha had had a photo shoot with Khan in this precise living room and the two ambassadors of the House of TAG Heuer hit it off immediately. Not surprising, as both of them are blessed with a great sense of humour, thus without doubt the shoot was inundated with wit and banter.
Ten minutes later, SRK walks into the room with a cigarette and a drink in his left hand, heads right up to me and extends a warm handshake. He is quite aware that I only have a very short time with him, so after a quick round of pleasantries, he makes himself comfortable on the two-seater opposite me and we begin.
Surinder Jessy: "What Are You Made Of?" is the legendary tagline of TAG Heuer. My first question to you is precisely that; what are you made of? You keep a punishing schedule on a daily basis. You never miss your personal- and professional-related commitments, like this TAG Heuer event, for which you have flown in, just for the day, from Australia. You never fail to smile, however tired you are and you are ever obliging. Today alone, you have been up and about since the wee hours of the morning fulfilling your commitments as TAG's ambassador. You have been limping all day and I am told it's because of a knee injury and it's the reason you did not take part in the elephant polo match this evening. However, that has not stopped you from being on your feet all day. You never say no. You oblige every little child that approaches you with autographs, teenagers with hugs and grown-ups with handshakes and picture opportunities. You never seem to tire. So, what are you made of, Shah Rukh Khan?
Shah Rukh Khan: I am made of gratefulness and humility. Because of the niceness, kindness and love my fans and the world have shown me, I always make time for them; to say thank you with a smile, handshake or a hug. Yes, there was a time when superstardom got to me and I was a pompous, arrogant guy. But along the way, Allah, Bhagwan, Buddha, Jesus or whatever name one refers to the Almighty God, showed me the right path and that path is to always say thank you and smile to all my fans and people who love me. These are the people who have made me what I am today and I will always make time for them.
What I have and am today is almost unthinkable. As a teenager, I would have never dreamt of this and that is why I will always go out of the way for people who love and adore me!
TAG Heuer is made of durability, precision, accuracy, style, platinum, steel and sometimes gold but I am made of the softer traits in life that keep me going. But then again, I have some form of metal in me too [referring to the titanium disc inserted into his spine after a bad back injury]. Well, I suppose I am the Link watch in the TAG family.
What is your legacy to the world of cinema?
You know, I act today out of selfish reasons [laughs and lights another cigarette]. When my two kids turn 18, I want them to be proud of at least five of my movies. With all the silly things I do on [camera], I don't want my kids - nine and six-and-a-half now - growing up being embarrassed of me. So I am still trying to make the best five movies of my career so that they can be proud of me.
Seriously, I don't work for posterity. My legacy to the youths of India and the world is this - simplicity, hard work and honesty will get you to achieve your goals and dreams. There are no shortcuts in life. You have to learn to respect things that happen outside your life and appreciate every little bit God has blessed you with. You don't need to be good-looking or extraordinarily talented or have a family lineage to be successful in life. It's special to be ordinary. It is hard work, good attitude and honesty which will take you to heights you never imagined you could scale and achieve.
The world has become so very competitive, so it's important that you be the best in your field and you can only achieve this through sweat and tears. I am living proof that hard work, sincerity and diligence did pay off. And that to me is my legacy to today's young generation. I came into the world's biggest cinema industry as an outsider. I had no experience, knew no one and had no money. I had with me some talent but, more importantly, what I had was the determination to gain entry and excel in this field. And for that I thank God and my late parents who instilled in me the basic principles in life.
I am in the process of writing a book now. It's about the much cliched hard work and honesty of which I am living proof and maybe this will be my legacy.
What is your biggest and most impactful contribution to India today?
I believe I have given respectability and legitimacy to being a yuppie. Somehow I think I have instilled a thought process among the yuppies in India - work hard, play hard and give lots of respect to others, and that it's okay to wear designer shoes and drive a sports car, for as long as you know that you've earned that luxury through sheer hard work and honesty.
I am a capitalist. Watching the sunset can wait till you are in your 50s and 60s. Material gains are important when you are young and energetic. Luxury in the form of nice cars, clothes, watches, jewellery and so on... is important in life. You should work hard and enjoy the money you earn. Treat yourself to whatever makes you feel good.
Spirituality is important in life but it can come later in life. You can be a poet later on in life but for now, you should write jingles and make money. Spiritual dedication should be reserved as we grow older and are comfortable financially. Once we have enjoyed and have fulfilled our material wants and needs, then we can dedicate life to other pursuits.
So I think, my biggest contribution to India is that it's okay to be a yuppie but you don't have to be a snob in the process of it all. Respect and being sensitive is an important part of being a yuppie. I wear Louis Vuitton shoes but that does not make me a snob. And I believe I have been able to instil this among middle-class Indian society today, especially among young fans.
While your popularity lies in your ability to make commercially-viable movies, you are, I believe, one of the most understated character actors. Do you plan to take on other more serious roles in non-mainstream movies?
I would love to do that and I have done one or two art movies, namely Swades and Paheli, which bombed in the box-office. And as I said earlier, I want to make some movies that my children will be proud of one day. But you know, at the end of the day, the reality is this - the idea of making a movie, directing a play or a dance, publishing a magazine is to entertain your audience. Art, in every form, has to be appreciated and only then it is a success. It's really no use to create an art form that will not entertain or be appreciated.
Movies fulfil dreams, create a form of escapism, entertain, and educate as well and honestly, I love the whole idea that that's what a movie does for people. I am an actor and my job is to entertain my audience.
So really, I love the superhero part, I love to dance on top of moving trains, I love clowning around, being cute and sweet because all this entertains people and makes them laugh. They walk away from the cinema hall with a good feeling and I have helped create that good feeling. Now, wouldn't you feel good if you have made someone else happy?
I owe my living today to my fans and I will carry on making movies that will please them. To please myself and my ego, I may make one or two other art movies in the future.
What's your personal best film to date?
My personal best is always the next one. I don't get attached to my movies. I am always looking forward to my next one but then again I love Dilwale [Dulhaniye Le Jayenge], Ashoka, Duplicate, Swades, Kabhi Kushi [Kahbi Cham] and of course Don. I just love Don because it made me the macho man I am not [laughs, lights yet another cigarette and sits up right throwing on a macho look and laughs again].
What's your routine like when you're not working?
When I am not working, I am a slob at home. I play with the kids, spend time with Gauri, my wife, read and spend as much time as possible with my Playstation 3.
As a Muslim actor with global appeal, do you think you can serve as a unifier of sorts to counter existing perceptions of Muslims?
It's too large a subject for me to handle. As a Muslim and a believer of God, I have been brought up to respect all religions and believe that every religion teaches the same thing. I oppose anybody who clubs together violence and religion.
Islam, Hindusim, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddism... are disciplines. They are about goodness and logic. They serve as a guide in our lives. There is no such thing as the right and wrong religion. My wife is Hindu and we live in a home where the Quran is placed at the altar. My children are brought up in both faiths and we live a beautiful life.
Terrorism has no religion. Mohammad or Buddha did not teach anyone to kill, to be cruel, to condemn. Those who use religion to disturb the peace of others should have their heads examined including the heads of state who link religion with terrorism.
In my own little way, I try to create joy and harmony through the various faiths and it is my hope that others do that, too.
At this point, TAG Heuer officials walk into the sitting room and tell me that my 15 minutes are up but the ever charming Khan very quickly adds: "She's come all the way from Malaysia; I am sure I can spare a little more time. After all, Malaysia is one of my favourite countries."
Is it really one of your favourite countries?
Yes, in fact my favourite country outside India.
Why?
It's a country filled with wonderful people. One of my greatest friends comes from Malaysia and he is [Tun] Dr Mahathir [Mohamad]. A great man with great vision. I really like him. He was the first person who made me believe that I had a great fan base outside India. Until I met him, I thought that I was only great in India. I will never forget the day when I was walking along down the street in his then new administrative capital Putrajaya. He was Prime Minister then. He was so obviously proud of it and while we were walking, lots of Malaysians started gathering around. I thought they wanted to speak with him or shake his hands. He looked at me and said this: "Shah Rukh, all these people want to meet you and not me. Your movies are a great hit here in Malaysia and I too am a great fan of yours."
It was only then that it dawned on me that I was reaching out to people outside India as well. I made him a promise then that I would one day shoot an entire film in Malaysia. And I finally did that with Don this year [2006]. Before that I had shot several song routines... in Langkawi and he came to see me there.
I genuinely like him, he is a sweet gentleman. I know he's currently going through a lot in Malaysia. People are saying all sorts of things about him. Putting his politics aside, one has to learn to like people beyond the work they do.
** TAG Heuer is located on the Explore Floor of Starhill Gallery.
https://www.ytlcommunity.com/starhill...p?newsid=28561
Surinder Jessy gets up close and personal with the icon fo contemporary India
It's 9pm and I am seated in the lounge area of Suite 755 at the Taj Palace in New Delhi waiting for Shah Rukh Khan. He's having a quick dinner in the adjoining dining room and will be with me shortly, I am told. Seated with me is Asha Gill, Malaysia's TAG Heuer ambassador who is sitting in for the interview. Earlier in the day, Asha had had a photo shoot with Khan in this precise living room and the two ambassadors of the House of TAG Heuer hit it off immediately. Not surprising, as both of them are blessed with a great sense of humour, thus without doubt the shoot was inundated with wit and banter.
Ten minutes later, SRK walks into the room with a cigarette and a drink in his left hand, heads right up to me and extends a warm handshake. He is quite aware that I only have a very short time with him, so after a quick round of pleasantries, he makes himself comfortable on the two-seater opposite me and we begin.
Surinder Jessy: "What Are You Made Of?" is the legendary tagline of TAG Heuer. My first question to you is precisely that; what are you made of? You keep a punishing schedule on a daily basis. You never miss your personal- and professional-related commitments, like this TAG Heuer event, for which you have flown in, just for the day, from Australia. You never fail to smile, however tired you are and you are ever obliging. Today alone, you have been up and about since the wee hours of the morning fulfilling your commitments as TAG's ambassador. You have been limping all day and I am told it's because of a knee injury and it's the reason you did not take part in the elephant polo match this evening. However, that has not stopped you from being on your feet all day. You never say no. You oblige every little child that approaches you with autographs, teenagers with hugs and grown-ups with handshakes and picture opportunities. You never seem to tire. So, what are you made of, Shah Rukh Khan?
Shah Rukh Khan: I am made of gratefulness and humility. Because of the niceness, kindness and love my fans and the world have shown me, I always make time for them; to say thank you with a smile, handshake or a hug. Yes, there was a time when superstardom got to me and I was a pompous, arrogant guy. But along the way, Allah, Bhagwan, Buddha, Jesus or whatever name one refers to the Almighty God, showed me the right path and that path is to always say thank you and smile to all my fans and people who love me. These are the people who have made me what I am today and I will always make time for them.
What I have and am today is almost unthinkable. As a teenager, I would have never dreamt of this and that is why I will always go out of the way for people who love and adore me!
TAG Heuer is made of durability, precision, accuracy, style, platinum, steel and sometimes gold but I am made of the softer traits in life that keep me going. But then again, I have some form of metal in me too [referring to the titanium disc inserted into his spine after a bad back injury]. Well, I suppose I am the Link watch in the TAG family.
What is your legacy to the world of cinema?
You know, I act today out of selfish reasons [laughs and lights another cigarette]. When my two kids turn 18, I want them to be proud of at least five of my movies. With all the silly things I do on [camera], I don't want my kids - nine and six-and-a-half now - growing up being embarrassed of me. So I am still trying to make the best five movies of my career so that they can be proud of me.
Seriously, I don't work for posterity. My legacy to the youths of India and the world is this - simplicity, hard work and honesty will get you to achieve your goals and dreams. There are no shortcuts in life. You have to learn to respect things that happen outside your life and appreciate every little bit God has blessed you with. You don't need to be good-looking or extraordinarily talented or have a family lineage to be successful in life. It's special to be ordinary. It is hard work, good attitude and honesty which will take you to heights you never imagined you could scale and achieve.
The world has become so very competitive, so it's important that you be the best in your field and you can only achieve this through sweat and tears. I am living proof that hard work, sincerity and diligence did pay off. And that to me is my legacy to today's young generation. I came into the world's biggest cinema industry as an outsider. I had no experience, knew no one and had no money. I had with me some talent but, more importantly, what I had was the determination to gain entry and excel in this field. And for that I thank God and my late parents who instilled in me the basic principles in life.
I am in the process of writing a book now. It's about the much cliched hard work and honesty of which I am living proof and maybe this will be my legacy.
What is your biggest and most impactful contribution to India today?
I believe I have given respectability and legitimacy to being a yuppie. Somehow I think I have instilled a thought process among the yuppies in India - work hard, play hard and give lots of respect to others, and that it's okay to wear designer shoes and drive a sports car, for as long as you know that you've earned that luxury through sheer hard work and honesty.
I am a capitalist. Watching the sunset can wait till you are in your 50s and 60s. Material gains are important when you are young and energetic. Luxury in the form of nice cars, clothes, watches, jewellery and so on... is important in life. You should work hard and enjoy the money you earn. Treat yourself to whatever makes you feel good.
Spirituality is important in life but it can come later in life. You can be a poet later on in life but for now, you should write jingles and make money. Spiritual dedication should be reserved as we grow older and are comfortable financially. Once we have enjoyed and have fulfilled our material wants and needs, then we can dedicate life to other pursuits.
So I think, my biggest contribution to India is that it's okay to be a yuppie but you don't have to be a snob in the process of it all. Respect and being sensitive is an important part of being a yuppie. I wear Louis Vuitton shoes but that does not make me a snob. And I believe I have been able to instil this among middle-class Indian society today, especially among young fans.
While your popularity lies in your ability to make commercially-viable movies, you are, I believe, one of the most understated character actors. Do you plan to take on other more serious roles in non-mainstream movies?
I would love to do that and I have done one or two art movies, namely Swades and Paheli, which bombed in the box-office. And as I said earlier, I want to make some movies that my children will be proud of one day. But you know, at the end of the day, the reality is this - the idea of making a movie, directing a play or a dance, publishing a magazine is to entertain your audience. Art, in every form, has to be appreciated and only then it is a success. It's really no use to create an art form that will not entertain or be appreciated.
Movies fulfil dreams, create a form of escapism, entertain, and educate as well and honestly, I love the whole idea that that's what a movie does for people. I am an actor and my job is to entertain my audience.
So really, I love the superhero part, I love to dance on top of moving trains, I love clowning around, being cute and sweet because all this entertains people and makes them laugh. They walk away from the cinema hall with a good feeling and I have helped create that good feeling. Now, wouldn't you feel good if you have made someone else happy?
I owe my living today to my fans and I will carry on making movies that will please them. To please myself and my ego, I may make one or two other art movies in the future.
What's your personal best film to date?
My personal best is always the next one. I don't get attached to my movies. I am always looking forward to my next one but then again I love Dilwale [Dulhaniye Le Jayenge], Ashoka, Duplicate, Swades, Kabhi Kushi [Kahbi Cham] and of course Don. I just love Don because it made me the macho man I am not [laughs, lights yet another cigarette and sits up right throwing on a macho look and laughs again].
What's your routine like when you're not working?
When I am not working, I am a slob at home. I play with the kids, spend time with Gauri, my wife, read and spend as much time as possible with my Playstation 3.
As a Muslim actor with global appeal, do you think you can serve as a unifier of sorts to counter existing perceptions of Muslims?
It's too large a subject for me to handle. As a Muslim and a believer of God, I have been brought up to respect all religions and believe that every religion teaches the same thing. I oppose anybody who clubs together violence and religion.
Islam, Hindusim, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddism... are disciplines. They are about goodness and logic. They serve as a guide in our lives. There is no such thing as the right and wrong religion. My wife is Hindu and we live in a home where the Quran is placed at the altar. My children are brought up in both faiths and we live a beautiful life.
Terrorism has no religion. Mohammad or Buddha did not teach anyone to kill, to be cruel, to condemn. Those who use religion to disturb the peace of others should have their heads examined including the heads of state who link religion with terrorism.
In my own little way, I try to create joy and harmony through the various faiths and it is my hope that others do that, too.
At this point, TAG Heuer officials walk into the sitting room and tell me that my 15 minutes are up but the ever charming Khan very quickly adds: "She's come all the way from Malaysia; I am sure I can spare a little more time. After all, Malaysia is one of my favourite countries."
Is it really one of your favourite countries?
Yes, in fact my favourite country outside India.
Why?
It's a country filled with wonderful people. One of my greatest friends comes from Malaysia and he is [Tun] Dr Mahathir [Mohamad]. A great man with great vision. I really like him. He was the first person who made me believe that I had a great fan base outside India. Until I met him, I thought that I was only great in India. I will never forget the day when I was walking along down the street in his then new administrative capital Putrajaya. He was Prime Minister then. He was so obviously proud of it and while we were walking, lots of Malaysians started gathering around. I thought they wanted to speak with him or shake his hands. He looked at me and said this: "Shah Rukh, all these people want to meet you and not me. Your movies are a great hit here in Malaysia and I too am a great fan of yours."
It was only then that it dawned on me that I was reaching out to people outside India as well. I made him a promise then that I would one day shoot an entire film in Malaysia. And I finally did that with Don this year [2006]. Before that I had shot several song routines... in Langkawi and he came to see me there.
I genuinely like him, he is a sweet gentleman. I know he's currently going through a lot in Malaysia. People are saying all sorts of things about him. Putting his politics aside, one has to learn to like people beyond the work they do.
** TAG Heuer is located on the Explore Floor of Starhill Gallery.
https://www.ytlcommunity.com/starhill...p?newsid=28561
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