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'After Raj Kapoor, Shah Rukh is the most agile actor'
Yash Chopra took Shah Rukh Khan, wife Gauri and Farha Khan to Manoj Kumar's house on Tuesday night. Manoj Kumar tells CT that though he has a role for SRK, he can't afford the star
PRIYANKA DASGUPTA
Finally, Shah Rukh Khan paid you a visit...
• Yes, it was a surprise visit and very delightful moment in my life. I was having dinner at quarter to eight when my watchman said Mr Yash Chopra wants to come up. And there I saw an entire baraat coming over to my place. It seemed like family get together for me. The reunion lasted for two hours.
Did you offer him dinner?
• No. But they had mithai, chai pani, sherbet. It was one of the sweetest occasions in my life.
Did you give Shah Rukh the homeopathy medicines to help him quit smoking?
• He did not ask me for the medicines.
Was there any apology tendered to you?
• I did not allow him to say sorry. The moment he tried to raise the topic, I asked him to shut up.
Then, why did you want him to say sorry all this while?
• The fact that he came over to my place was good enough. Those who have an inclination of repentance have a good soul in their body. I always salute good souls.
Considering that this was his first meeting, how did you find SRK?
• He behaves as a very regular and ordinary citizen of this country. He is King Khan for films and for media. But in real life, he is a common man. Even Gauri was wonderful.
What did you talk to Farha about?
• She has given me a duty to select three names for her children.
Have you decided on the names?
• Hmmm. I haven't as yet. I'd like the name Rakshak for a baby boy. For the baby girl, I like the name Gangotri.
Didn't you discuss films?
• No. We didn't talk about watching the film. Shah Rukh is humourous and he was responding to jokes wholeheartedly.
Did he crack any jokes?
• No. I don't remember it. I told Shah Rukh: "Yash Chopraji is here. He has my number for 45 years and hasn't still given me work!" We all burst out laughing at my comment. I told Yashji that apart from being a great filmmaker and a family man, he is also the custodian of love and brotherhood.
Don't you think this matter was dragged too far?
• If there is any misunderstanding between two person, it can't be resolved over the telephone and by media intervention. It has to be a man-to-man communication.
Don't you wish to direct Shah Rukh some day?
• Yes. But I can't afford him. After Raj (Kapoor) saab, Shah Rukh has been the most agile actor in the industry. I have a script for him. It was a role that I had written for myself.
What kind of a role do you want to cast Shah Rukh in?
• Pran was branded villain. But if you give a good role to a good actor, he will deliver. From being the bad man, he played Malang chacha in Upkar with lan. I don't believe in typecasting. I believe in meaningful cinema. I am not against entertainment but against vulgarity. I want to give a sugar coated pill of cinema that appeals to audiences from Amritsar to America. I'd want to cast Shah Rukh in the role of a matured lover who is aware of problems of the society. No religion teaches us to kill human beings. I have a character who is in love with humanity and would want to tell people that we are not practicing religion the way we should. I have four titles for my films:Indo-Pak: A Love Saga, Naukarani: The Indian Maid, With Love from India and India in America. I don't wish to deal with politics in the first film. I shall start making it only if I get permission to shoot in Pakistan. It will be about human relationships. When my house was being constructed, I had shifted to a rented place. While staying there, I found that an apartment is a mirror of society. Through the maid's eye, I want to highlight these issues in Naukarani: The Indian Maid. For With Love from India, I am negotiating with a heroine from Hollywood. India in America will not be a NRI film or a remake of Purab Aur Paschim. Apart from Naukrani, every film will has a character that will suit Shah Rukh.
Will you be approaching Shah Rukh now that you have met him?
• I have not told him that. He is a very big star and I can't afford him. I will not discuss business with him.
Times of India (Calcutta Times)
Yash Chopra took Shah Rukh Khan, wife Gauri and Farha Khan to Manoj Kumar's house on Tuesday night. Manoj Kumar tells CT that though he has a role for SRK, he can't afford the star
PRIYANKA DASGUPTA
Finally, Shah Rukh Khan paid you a visit...
• Yes, it was a surprise visit and very delightful moment in my life. I was having dinner at quarter to eight when my watchman said Mr Yash Chopra wants to come up. And there I saw an entire baraat coming over to my place. It seemed like family get together for me. The reunion lasted for two hours.
Did you offer him dinner?
• No. But they had mithai, chai pani, sherbet. It was one of the sweetest occasions in my life.
Did you give Shah Rukh the homeopathy medicines to help him quit smoking?
• He did not ask me for the medicines.
Was there any apology tendered to you?
• I did not allow him to say sorry. The moment he tried to raise the topic, I asked him to shut up.
Then, why did you want him to say sorry all this while?
• The fact that he came over to my place was good enough. Those who have an inclination of repentance have a good soul in their body. I always salute good souls.
Considering that this was his first meeting, how did you find SRK?
• He behaves as a very regular and ordinary citizen of this country. He is King Khan for films and for media. But in real life, he is a common man. Even Gauri was wonderful.
What did you talk to Farha about?
• She has given me a duty to select three names for her children.
Have you decided on the names?
• Hmmm. I haven't as yet. I'd like the name Rakshak for a baby boy. For the baby girl, I like the name Gangotri.
Didn't you discuss films?
• No. We didn't talk about watching the film. Shah Rukh is humourous and he was responding to jokes wholeheartedly.
Did he crack any jokes?
• No. I don't remember it. I told Shah Rukh: "Yash Chopraji is here. He has my number for 45 years and hasn't still given me work!" We all burst out laughing at my comment. I told Yashji that apart from being a great filmmaker and a family man, he is also the custodian of love and brotherhood.
Don't you think this matter was dragged too far?
• If there is any misunderstanding between two person, it can't be resolved over the telephone and by media intervention. It has to be a man-to-man communication.
Don't you wish to direct Shah Rukh some day?
• Yes. But I can't afford him. After Raj (Kapoor) saab, Shah Rukh has been the most agile actor in the industry. I have a script for him. It was a role that I had written for myself.
What kind of a role do you want to cast Shah Rukh in?
• Pran was branded villain. But if you give a good role to a good actor, he will deliver. From being the bad man, he played Malang chacha in Upkar with lan. I don't believe in typecasting. I believe in meaningful cinema. I am not against entertainment but against vulgarity. I want to give a sugar coated pill of cinema that appeals to audiences from Amritsar to America. I'd want to cast Shah Rukh in the role of a matured lover who is aware of problems of the society. No religion teaches us to kill human beings. I have a character who is in love with humanity and would want to tell people that we are not practicing religion the way we should. I have four titles for my films:Indo-Pak: A Love Saga, Naukarani: The Indian Maid, With Love from India and India in America. I don't wish to deal with politics in the first film. I shall start making it only if I get permission to shoot in Pakistan. It will be about human relationships. When my house was being constructed, I had shifted to a rented place. While staying there, I found that an apartment is a mirror of society. Through the maid's eye, I want to highlight these issues in Naukarani: The Indian Maid. For With Love from India, I am negotiating with a heroine from Hollywood. India in America will not be a NRI film or a remake of Purab Aur Paschim. Apart from Naukrani, every film will has a character that will suit Shah Rukh.
Will you be approaching Shah Rukh now that you have met him?
• I have not told him that. He is a very big star and I can't afford him. I will not discuss business with him.
Times of India (Calcutta Times)
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