I don't need to apologise to SRK

'I don't need to apologise to SRK'

Aamir Khan reveals the easygoing equation he shares with peer King Khan to Shubha Shetty-Saha

On the 28th floor of a plush South Mumbai hotel (where he's temporarily shifted as he's shooting nearby for Ghajini), Aamir Khan's suite has a breathtaking view of the sea.

The inhabitant is no less breathtaking as far as his achievements are concerned. Aamir is ready to field the questions...

Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (Aamir Khan Productions) was earlier supposed to be produced by some other banner.
Yes, it was being produced by Jhamu Sugandh. There was some trouble there. Abbas Tyrewala (director) told me that it might not take off. That's when I pitched in, not because I wanted to help them out—professionally, I don't help anyone but because I loved the script.

You've said that your nephew Imran Khan (debuting in Jaane Tu) is better than you.
He is certainly better looking than me. He is far better in his first film than I was in mine. He is raw just as I was but he is more unusual.

Your blog speaking about Shah Rukh Khan received a lot of flak. Do you regret that?
I don't regret it at all. It was done in good humour. I am the kind of person I am. Shah Rukh and I share a very good relationship. What's nice about it is that we feel comfortable enough to joke about each other. Some of my fans have felt that I shouldn't have written that. I'm sorry about that.

Did you apologise to SRK?
No, I don't need to. He doesn't need to apologise to me after joking about me. I know he means well. I like that he feels free to joke about me.

At the recent IIFA event you were made fun of. People still can't digest the fact that you don't attend award ceremonies.
I've nothing personal against award ceremonies. Next month, I'll be going to Chennai to receive an award that they give to debutant directors. I value it. Likewise, I recently received the Dinanath Mangeshkar award, because I have high regard for the organisation and the people involved.

How do you decide which award to value?
If it comes from an organisation, which really knows cinema! You see the record of people who have received the awards in the past and you know.

Do you value the National Awards? Are you looking to win one for Taare Zameen Par?
Yes, I do. I do hope to win it. Though there have been inconsistencies and controversies reported around the National Awards, it's an award I like to recognise and respect. The President of India presents them away. It still has credibility.

You are releasing Jaane Tu with Harry Baweja's Love 2050 even though he requested you to postpone it. Why?
Yes, he did request me. But we thought this was the right time to release as colleges are reopening. It's that kind of a film. I wish Harry all the best. I think Harman is very good.

Someone who has always shied away, why are you throwing such a huge premiere party for the entire industry?
I wanted to have a premiere for TZP also but was running against time. This an important moment for our family. There are lot of people my uncle (late filmmaker Nasir Husain, Imran's grandfather) had close associations with. Uncle is not with us but this would have been a happy moment for him. I'd like to invite all his colleagues and my friends.

good that they get on well enough to joke around...