It took me 20years to be an overnight success: SRK

You have made such an expensive film. The budget is Rs 160 crore, right?

We spent Rs 125 crore plus Rs 10 crore for prints and advertising. Rs 135 crore in all. For most of the publicity, we have partners.

Has scalability, the ability to release thousands of prints across the country and abroad as in Ra.One, helped big stars like you? You are able to mop up revenues before the feedback floats in.

This is the Hollywood model and they know the business. So there must be something good about it. We have released in over 4,500 screens in India and abroad. If you are not a big enough star, you cannot release so many prints. So, I'll say this strange thing: it took me 20 years to be an overnight success. Jo bees sal ka stardom hai, woh pay kar raha hai aaj kal.

Has endorsement , which so many top stars do so frequently, helped stars being selective ?

Absolutely. I joke about it too. I dance at weddings. I do shows. I make no bones about it. I am able to choose my dream because of it. Many years ago the famous comedian Deven Verma told me something at Yash Chopra's house during a Diwali night. He had said in Hindi, "Make movies only for two-three reasons. Ek to karna man ke liye, doosra dhan ke liye. Aur teesra, bas aise hi." (For the satisfaction of your heart, for money, and then just like that - for a friend or anybody).

Stars were traditionally known for their mystique, their elusiveness. By becoming easily accessible, even dancing at weddings, you demystified stardom. How did the idea come to you? Was it instinct?

I can walk on a road and 90 per cent of the people - from a six-year-old to a 75 year-old lady - will not say, hello. They will say, "Give me a hug, Shah Rukh" . Acting and the whole show business is about giving. If you become coy and cloistered, it becomes about taking. That's how I have made a connection.

Now you have spent nearly 20 years in Hindi movies, what do you think are the decisive moments that shaped your career?

Honestly, Darr and Bazigar . The negative thing made me unpredictable as an actor. After these intense films, I just decided to do a very simple, frothy love story. Something which had I refused when I was 26. I did my first love story when I was 30. That was DDLJ. I think it was a huge defining moment. Another decisive moment came when I turned producer with Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, which flopped miserably. I was very disheartened for three days. Then it made me very strong. Sometimes you need to fall down on the canvas to know that you can take a punch and fight the whole fight. Then I did Main Hoon Na, Chalte Chalte, Om Shanti Om - money talks for these movies . Lately also Chak De! India, My Name Is Khan and Swades. I personally choose not to do such films because I feel I have high energy levels. But I think my injuries helped me do films like this. All these three films were made during my most scary operations. Now Ra.One is.

source:TOI