I want to build a stadium:SRK ;)

'Calcutta special' I am humbled'

Calcutta, May 29: Shah Rukh Khan promised to set aside "a few minutes", but ended up talking to The Telegraph for around three-quarters of an hour this evening.

The Bollywood czar and principal owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took the questions while being driven in a Mercedes from the ITC Sonar to Muktaram Babu Street, in the heart of north Calcutta. He had a brief engagement there before heading to the airport for a flight to Mumbai.

The following are excerpts:

Q: Did you expect the kind of civic reception laid out today? Did the turnout surprise you, albeit pleasantly?

A: I've always believed that Calcutta is one of the biggest sports-loving cities in the country. That's one reason why we chose it over the other choices we had (during the January 2008 auction of franchises). This is not to say that other cities are less'. After the first IPL, which was won by the Rajasthan Royals, I'd told Dada (Sourav Ganguly) and Jay (Mehta, co-owner) that the day KKR would win, there would be a massive turnout'. In my heart, I knew that the city would be out in big numbers. I keep travelling to all the IPL centres and I'm used to people coming over to me and giving their best wishes. However, the feeling in Calcutta has always been special. So, while the turnout didn't shock me, I was pleasantly surprised. Actually, I'm really humbled that we could do this for Calcutta.

Q: The chemistry between you and the state's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, is excellent. What's the secret?

A: I will be honest' I take to 99 per cent of the people I meet. I believe I'm kind-hearted and so is Didi. When you meet people, you get to know that the person is honest and straightforward over issues. When I met her for the first time, we had a couple of security requests'. Requests in terms of getting things smoother. She said that she'd get them done and that is exactly what happened. It rained in the very first match this season (against the Delhi DareDevils) and Didi offered to buy two Super Soppers, to add to the four already there, and to create space for the two new ones. I found that touching. Also, she was pained to see that people had to wait (in the rain). Her kindness towards the public stood out.

Q: On Monday, did you wake up feeling any different, having become an IPL-winning team owner the previous night?

A: Yeah, I was strangely empty and exhausted. A little drained, though not physically'. My family had to leave early as the kids had school and, suddenly, I was all alone'. I wanted to do something and was actually looking for people. Then, I just sat and did what I had never done before ' watched all the news channels over and over again'. It was so nice to see the smiling face of Gautam (Gambhir, the captain).

Q: You were about to jump off the balcony at the Chepauk. Were you that impatient to greet your players?

A: There was a marquee and I had done something similar in a film. I don't think I'd have hurt myself, but those around me were not so sure. They were scared.

Q: Twice in recent days, you got into the cartwheeling mode. Given that you've had a back problem, were you not flirting with danger?

A: I've more than one problem, but so what?

Q: What do you think made the difference this season for KKR?

A: The biggest difference was the calmness brought about by Gautam' The losses to Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians, at the Eden, were critical' The wins over the Pune Warriors India, in Pune, and the DareDevils (in Qualifier No. 1) were big'. But I've found the dressing room to be absolutely normal both after those two losses and the two big wins in Pune. This team never lost faith and the players kept backing themselves when, if you look back, we are a team more used to losing than winning. The reaction of the players was definitely different this season.

Q: There are lessons to be learnt even in a win. Your take?

A: What we've learnt is that you have to play like a team and you need to have a good leader like Gautam. Above all, you need to have a good set of people. The cricket proper and the administrative part are handled by a different set of people. We (franchise owners) back them up. We may talk about cricketing decisions, but don't take them ourselves. We do sit down and we discuss. Sometimes, Gautam says 'Bhaiya, aisa karte hain thoda '' To that, I say 'go ahead if you wish to'. We trust each other's capabilities and we back each other up'. You have to believe in the way each handles his department.

Q: Having won the IPL, what next?

A: The feeling right now is exhilarating. It's fun now and we are all very happy. However, winning the IPL is a thing of the past now. Done, dusted, delivered' We've to start afresh and, hopefully, we will be as obsessive and as happy while trying to achieve the next goal. Each goal will have its problems and the issues will have to be dealt with. Having got used to winning, we'd like to continue in the same way. Honestly, this is a much better feeling than when one is losing.

Q: Were you far too involved in the first few years of the IPL?

A: I've never been far too involved in the cricket part'. I keep hearing this, I keep reading this'. But it's all crap.

Q: But were you investing too much of your energy and passion into KKR?

A: I invest as much as I can. This season for example, I was at all the matches, except one, when I had to be present at the Yale University'. For the past month, I've done no shooting when, normally, I shoot'. I don't think my level of involvement has changed'. The passion remains the same'. I've a passion to get things right. I still believe that there is a long way to go and we, at KKR, will try to get it more right. One win alone doesn't make anybody a champion. One has to do it regularly.

Q: So, should one describe you as the KKR mascot and no more?

A: Indeed, yes' Juhi (also a co-owner) is also a mascot.

Q: I don't want to get into the details of the incident at the Wankhede, but is there far too much pressure on celebrities to behave in a particular manner? Do celebrities get the space they need?

A: (Emotionally) But this is the life I've chosen'. This is what I wanted to be'. This what I work for'. My kids (Aryan and Suhana) told me that as I'm famous, people will want to see me in a particular way'. Two normal guys having an argument would be fine, but not if I was one of them. My behaviour will not be justified because a lot of people look up to me as a role model'. I don't tell my children to be like me when they grow up. Rather, I tell them that I'm hardly a good role model' I hardly sleep' I have a lot of coffee' But there are some good qualities in me. My logic is that if you can take that out of me and not get cynical about the bad ones, then it is good.

Q: What made you issue a very public apology over the Wankhede incident?

A: The reaction of my children' They reprimanded me' There was justification for an argument like that, but I'm a public figure and my children were there when the incident happened' People can say that I'm drunk and that I'm misbehaving, but it will be taken as alleged. However, it will be taken as a half-truth also' People say a lot of things about me and I hear that every time' My children know that I'm not an angry person' I lose my temper maybe once in a year or something' As I've said, my children told me that what happened wasn't nice' I owed them an apology and to everyone else. Next time if something like that happens again, I'll just have to close my eyes and keep quiet.

Q: Was the apology planned or was it something which happened around the time that it did?

A: No, no' I didn't plan my speech. If I did I'd be a good politician.

Q: A TV channel even got hold of experts to read your mind after the Wankhede incident. Surely, you couldn't have been amused'

A: It was really silly'. You had top psychologists sitting like socialites and trying to analyse' Interacting with an anchor, an overgrown schoolboy wanting to be a cowboy'. Talking about how my mind was working and that I was going through a mid-life crisis'. It was all nonsense. Every time, when it comes down to doing the right thing and being righteous, I think we choose righteousness over the right things. And, we keep doing it over and over again. I'm the last guy to break rules, but if I happen to do it, I wouldn't like to get into this cigarette-smoking thing (at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, in Jaipur). I had asked some officials if I could smoke where I was sitting or if I needed to go to a smoking area. I was told there would be no problems, but the photographers picked me out and'. I have, of course, issued an apology.

Q: What does it take to be successful?

A: The two things that one needs to know about success is that it cannot be passed on, it cannot be taught. I can't pass on my success to my son (Aryan) and my best friends. Not even if I make them do the same things and say the same things. Success is a very internal thing. I don't think success teaches you anything, success just happens. Obviously, everyone works hard, everyone has an obsession'. But you have to understand that success is a very individual happening'. The other bit is about the longevity of success. You have to get up every morning and believe in what has been achieved. I always say that don't work for posterity, work for now. Personally, if I like something, I like it. If I want to do something, I do it. It's one life after all. The important thing is that you should not feel ashamed at being happy in the work you are doing.

Q: For somebody who is such a big achiever, do you have something left to achieve?

A: You know, there's always the next one (goal) and you try to get better'. I want to build a stadium, I want to build a studio. I would definitely like to achieve a lot many things more in life and in my line of work.

Q: Right now, what's the big challenge for you?

A: My challenges have narrowed down. Instead of challenges, I just see them as a wish and something that I'd like to do. If I do it, it is fine; if I don't, then it is all right. So, a wish at this point in time is to be able to educate my kids very well'. I'd like them to achieve (glory)'. You know, my parents didn't leave much, but I've done enough for my kids. They should, then, have a higher aim of achieving with goodness, kindness and hard work'. The more rich you become, the more famous and more controversial you become, the challenge then is to maintain your sanity and to have happiness. In my view, there is no bigger challenge than just being happy'. It's not a challenge, but there are small things which I want to do for society'. I've a few ideas but I don't want to talk about them.

Q: The first thought which usually comes to your mind in the mornings'

A: The first thought is 'where is my black coffee'? I get up with a sense of ease, I'm never tense. I wake up wanting to attack the day before it attacks me. In my line of work, I need to do that. My mother used to tell me 'don't wait for life to happen to you, rush into it with open arms and grab it'. Mentally, I'm always ready to attack the day.

Q: Do you sign off for the day with a prayer?

A: I do pray, sometimes in the balcony' sometimes even on the bed'. What I'm particular about is having clean feet while going to bed.

Q: Could we see you in the Rajya Sabha sometime soon?

A: Look, if you get chosen for something, or you yourself decide to get into politics, then it has to be a full-time business. I truly believe that it (politics) is not something that I have been trained to do. My first job is to act. Then, it is sport that I'm most passionate about. I've my hands full with acting and with being involved with sport. You should get into it (Rajya Sabha/politics) only if you can add in some way. Personally, I feel I'm not so selfless at this point in time. As I've told you, I'd like to build a stadium and a studio.

Q: Finally, when do you resume shooting?

A: I'm off to London in a couple of days and will be shooting there for 20-25 days. After that, when I'm back in Mumbai, I'll go on a short holiday.