'They stop me at London airport King Khan

'They stop me at London airport cos my name is 'Khan''

Tuesday, October 23, 2007 23:59 IST

King' Shah Rukh admits to Shubha Shetty-Saha that he is a victim of stereotype with the way he's treated at international airports

You have flu and you are still working…you are obviously a workaholic...
I know. But what to do. I can't do anything beyond work. Except when I am spending time with my kids, doing anything other than work gets to me. Socialising is a problem, sometimes even holidaying is a problem.

Is that why you have clubbed the premiere of 'Om Shanti Om' in the UK, with a holiday with your children?
We thought why not make it a celebration for all of us. It would be the first for Deepika. Kids are also having holidays from the November 1 and we will go a little early and stay on in the UK till the 12th. And in that weather, you can actually wear a suit and look good!

Do you let go so easily in other spheres of life too?
I have never cheated anyone or my work. I have done my best, whether I was unwell, tired or unhappy. It has always worked for me. I truly believe in the tagline of this film, 'Like in films, in real life, at the end everyone is happy, if not it is not the end.'

Do you get superstitious when a lot is at stake?
I get superstitious about God, about saying prayers for my kids. I feel if I haven't prayed right, it is not working right. I truly believe that self belief comes from believing in God.

But for God to help you, you need to help yourself. Every one of us will find someone better. I can always look at Laxmi Mittal and feel bad…why don't I have ten mansions….but instead of accepting that the person is better than you, you will say, he is lucky, which is so not fair.

I am constantly compared to youngsters, but if I let that disturb me, it will only trouble me. I am compared to Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan. I only say, 'yes, I think Amitabh Bachchan is better.' There can be no further questions.

If I have a fat nose, it is only wise to accept it. I accept all my faults, I am shorter than a lot of people, but why should I wear heels and show that I am not? I am not jealous. I have no sense of anger, pessimism and negativity.

Your next film with Karan Johar 'My name is Khan' is about how people with
Muslim second names are treated differently internationally. Have you had any such personal experiences?
I am the wrongest person to even think about this. It is really stupid even to imagine that such kind of differentiation happens in India. It is most secular and there is no difference between a Khan and a Kumar here.

But yes, internationally, if you have a Muslim surname, you might be considered a terrorist. At London airport, every time I go, people recognise me, but they see my second name, and they give me an extra checking.

Earlier, my assistant Subhash used to be stopped, because of the way he looks, so I used to say ok, I will take your bags, it is better for me, but these days, I am the one who's stopped, so its okay, he carries my bags for me. (Laughing) but if you ask me, between us, he's the one who looks more like a terrorist!