Posted:
'My name is not important'
In a chat on 'My Name Is Khan', Shah Rukh Khan clarifies a few misconceptions about him, one of them being his vanity
by Lipika Varma
picture: Getty Images
Shah Rukh Khan is in news these days after he and Karan Johar inked a historic Rs.100 crore deal with a Hollywood studio. Fox STAR Studios will now be distributing "My Name Is Khan", a film SRK and Karan are co-producing.
The movie, in which Shah Rukh plays a Los Angeles-based special needs character called Rizwan Khan, also stars Kajol.
Shah Rukh gets chatting about topics related to "My Name Is Khan".
On co-producing the film with Karan Johar
Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and my Red Chillies can never go in for a deal as we are good friends. How do you expect a 'deal' between friends? I am there on board because I want to be a part of this film, personally and professionally. I requested Karan the same and it was kind of him to agree to my request. We are like a family. Over and above, I like 'My Name is Khan'. I think our getting together with Fox will help us achieve something good for Indian cinema.
On comparisons between Rizwan Khan of 'My Name Is Khan' and Kabir Khan of 'Chak De! India'
It's not absolutely incorrect to compare characters. I play most of my characters off-the-cuff. That is why people don't take me seriously. But I am an immensely serious actor and I give a part of me to every character that I play. I fear one morning when I will wake up I may have nothing more to give. Rizwan Khan is more realistic and very close to my heart. In fact, I am in love with all the characters with the name Rahul and now I am liking all the roles with the name Kabir.
On the title 'My Name Is Khan'
I just joke and you all should be mature enough to take a joke. If I said I am superior I don't mean it. 'Meri jaan ke peeche mat padh jao'. A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, so what's in a name? My name is not important. What is important is my performance and how I carry the character. The title of the film is relevant to the story. It is so silly even to dream of naming a film after your name as that is being possessive and vain. In that case I would have called the film 'My Name is Shah Rukh'. We shouldn't cheapen it by saying that this is a self-serving vehicle of Shah Rukh to be on top of all the Khans in the industry. The film couldn't have been called anything else. When you see it, you will understand that the film goes beyond its own name.
On controversies
Everyone has gone through controversies. We all are educated, sensible and sensitive. No one likes to fall prey to controversies. We like to do our jobs to the best of our abilities. Yes, 'My Name is Khan' has a huge Islamic, Western and Asperser's angle to it. We don't want to disturb anyone. We can make a mistake sometimes. But we have tried to be very careful to make sure we don't hurt the sentiments of any community. I am like Karan's elder brother and I love the films he makes. We have taken care of all the issues. Besides that, if people have an issue, it should be sorted out and the media should help us to make sure that the importance of the film isn't subjugated by some minor controversy.
On the subject of 'My Name Is Khan'
This film is not about terrorism or 9/11. It is not about anti-social elements either. It's about relationships between people, communities, cities, countries and the world. Innumerable negative things are happening around us and the film hasn't been affected by it at all. We have shown an emotional reality in the film which is timeless. It's not based on any event as such.
In a chat on 'My Name Is Khan', Shah Rukh Khan clarifies a few misconceptions about him, one of them being his vanity
by Lipika Varma
picture: Getty Images
Shah Rukh Khan is in news these days after he and Karan Johar inked a historic Rs.100 crore deal with a Hollywood studio. Fox STAR Studios will now be distributing "My Name Is Khan", a film SRK and Karan are co-producing.
The movie, in which Shah Rukh plays a Los Angeles-based special needs character called Rizwan Khan, also stars Kajol.
Shah Rukh gets chatting about topics related to "My Name Is Khan".
On co-producing the film with Karan Johar
Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and my Red Chillies can never go in for a deal as we are good friends. How do you expect a 'deal' between friends? I am there on board because I want to be a part of this film, personally and professionally. I requested Karan the same and it was kind of him to agree to my request. We are like a family. Over and above, I like 'My Name is Khan'. I think our getting together with Fox will help us achieve something good for Indian cinema.
On comparisons between Rizwan Khan of 'My Name Is Khan' and Kabir Khan of 'Chak De! India'
It's not absolutely incorrect to compare characters. I play most of my characters off-the-cuff. That is why people don't take me seriously. But I am an immensely serious actor and I give a part of me to every character that I play. I fear one morning when I will wake up I may have nothing more to give. Rizwan Khan is more realistic and very close to my heart. In fact, I am in love with all the characters with the name Rahul and now I am liking all the roles with the name Kabir.
On the title 'My Name Is Khan'
I just joke and you all should be mature enough to take a joke. If I said I am superior I don't mean it. 'Meri jaan ke peeche mat padh jao'. A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, so what's in a name? My name is not important. What is important is my performance and how I carry the character. The title of the film is relevant to the story. It is so silly even to dream of naming a film after your name as that is being possessive and vain. In that case I would have called the film 'My Name is Shah Rukh'. We shouldn't cheapen it by saying that this is a self-serving vehicle of Shah Rukh to be on top of all the Khans in the industry. The film couldn't have been called anything else. When you see it, you will understand that the film goes beyond its own name.
On controversies
Everyone has gone through controversies. We all are educated, sensible and sensitive. No one likes to fall prey to controversies. We like to do our jobs to the best of our abilities. Yes, 'My Name is Khan' has a huge Islamic, Western and Asperser's angle to it. We don't want to disturb anyone. We can make a mistake sometimes. But we have tried to be very careful to make sure we don't hurt the sentiments of any community. I am like Karan's elder brother and I love the films he makes. We have taken care of all the issues. Besides that, if people have an issue, it should be sorted out and the media should help us to make sure that the importance of the film isn't subjugated by some minor controversy.
On the subject of 'My Name Is Khan'
This film is not about terrorism or 9/11. It is not about anti-social elements either. It's about relationships between people, communities, cities, countries and the world. Innumerable negative things are happening around us and the film hasn't been affected by it at all. We have shown an emotional reality in the film which is timeless. It's not based on any event as such.
Kumkum Bhagya
26