SRK's first interview with Filmfare

Written By Meera JoshiPosted Wed, Oct 31, 2012

Rated

I'm glad the film has done so well. I feel happy for the producer, the director. A hit is a good for the industry as well. But I don't think I've contributed in any way to its success. My performance was awful - loud, vulgar and uncontrolled. I overacted terribly and I take full responsibility for it. But that's what happens when you work without a graph. I didn't even have the script with me. I was to start shooting for the film much later but then some of my other schedules got cancelled and I allotted my dates to this film. I am my worst critic and when I saw myself on the screen I was appalled. Isn't it amazing that that people have liked me in the film? Perhaps that's because I am a fresh face. It's not a performance I'd care to repeat or remember.

Of course. I wish people could say that 'the film's music is good but Shah Rukh is better.' But in Deewana the music scored over everything. Due credit should go to the director Raj Kanwar, for his song picturisations. Rishi Bhai also came up with a good performance as did Divya Bharti, Deven Verma and Amrish Puri. But if the film is remembered it will be because of Nadeem Shravan. A lot of films have been running because of their music. I'd love to be in their shoes now - be as successful as an actor as they are music directors.

The producer has spent so much money on my clothes, my make up, my conveyance, my meals in addition to paying me a fat sum, so it's only fair that I should've contributed my best to the film. I don't want to be successful because of my film; the film should do well because of me. It shouldn't be a hit if it was done by some baboon or the other.

(Smiles) My wife doesn't think I am a good actor. Gauri says I overact all the time and I don't even look good on screen. Normally she doesn't bother to see my work but in this case she made an exception. So far I haven't been able to muster up the courage to go to a theatre and see the film.

(Vivek Vaswani who's sitting with us answers for him) Since he's recently shifted to a new residence his mail is lying in my house. There are already three bags full and more are coming in everyday. On an average he gets 150 letters a day. One of these days he'll have to sit and answer them.

After Deewana I had taken on five more films which are now complete. Recently I signed Pawan Kaul's Jadu. Then there's a film with Ramesh Sippy and another with Manmohan Desai. I hope to complete these by next may, after that I'll take on two others. By the end of '93, I'll have five more releases. That's going to be my strategy. Four to five films a year which will leave me with enough time to do an occasional offbeat film. If the role is good, I'm always interested.

Not at all. If colonel Saab were to call in the middle of the night and offer me a role, I'd accept it; I never discussed money with him during Fauji or with Aziz Mirza (Circus) or Likhji (Dil Dariya, Doosra Kewal). I do one film free of cost every year and if I'm to work with someone I love and respect the question of money will never arise.

Because I didn't want to repeat myself. Though Abhimanyu Roy - the character I play had become quite popular, I wasn't convinced about the sequel. I'm sure my fans wouldn't want to see me doing the same thing again.

I am doing Mani Kaul's telefilm Idiot (earlier titled Ahmaq) in which I play a negative role. If the role is interesting, I'll definitely do even a serial. When Fauji began I was nobody, six and a half hours on television and I became a superstar. Today what little success I've seen is because of television. If by doing a serial I can get even 20 people to switch on the TV, I'll have repaid my debt to Doordarshan. I have learnt a lot working with directors like colonel Kapoor, Lekh Tandon, Aziz Mirza and Mani Kaul.

They were stars. I am an actor and it's an actor who draws the crowds. Besides, I think they were in a hurry to make it in films and left television too early. They grabbed any role that came their way and spoilt their chances. But I stayed put in Delhi knowing that if any producer wanted me he'll come here. After Fauji I got several film offers, but I accepted another serial, circus, instead. Acting doesn't provide my bread and butter , so i could afford to wait and sign films on my own terms.

My talent. Some actors get on by their looks and their physique, some bank on their voice; my asset is my spontaneity, my ability to do a variety of roles. If in one film I play a man on the brink of insanity, in another, I'm someone's kid brother. I work hard on every role - my expressions, my look and my mannerisms. This has at times landed me in trouble too, with producers and directors. They want me to enact the role in a particular way but my argument is that since they've signed me because they think i'm a good actor, they should just let me do things my way. Just because i'm playing a romantic hero doesn't mean that I have to follow a set pattern. I may have just one release to my credit, but I'm not new to the camera, I know how to act, so let me act my way.

Why should it? I don't think any actor or actress is better than I am. No one honestly feels that another guy I better than he. If anyone denies this, he is lying. If you are good, you shouldn't have any problem even if you have 35 stars opposite you, but if you don't have the talent, you'd be lost even in a solo manner. I deliberately chose to match skills with these talented actors because I was sure I'd be noticed. If I am not, I'll admit I made a mistake. (Shrugs) everyone makes mistakes.

Nothing really. How interesting can a role in a Hindi film be? I am trying to do five different roles in a year but next year they may not look all that different. I am trying to develop the character I play, make them individuals that audience can identify with. My role in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and Chamatkar have shaped up very well. I am also looking forward to Kundan Shah's Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, where my character is completely well-etched and I think I've done a great job. In King Uncle and Dil Aashna Hai, I am quite competent. The offers had been pouring in and had I wanted I could have signed 25 films by now. But why should I work with producers that only come to me because I've had a hit? For them I am like a racehorse - they'll back me only so long as I am on a winning streak. One flop and they'll stay away. I will only work with those people who have faith in my talent, who believe that I am one of the finest actors in the country.

Well, there's Aamir khan, I can't call him competition, he a far better actor. If there's a superb actor in a country today it's Aamir. I've heard that he wants to retire after 30 and turn director. I plan to quit at 30 too.

I don't know anything about direction. But I just might try my hand at it. Basically I am a very lazy man. Even now I can't handle more than five films a year. I want to slog for another three or four years and then sit back and take it easy. If I still get good roles, I might do one film a year. Otherwise I'll stop altogether and do theatre or something else connected with films.

I didn't want to talk to any film magazine till my film was released. I wanted journalists to approach me only after seeing my work. Also, I was put off by certain journalists who are so pompous they believe they can make or break a star. If publicity is everything, all those actors who give fantastic interviews would be superstars. But no, Mr. Bachchan, who the press shunned for years, is still the reigning no.1. There's no substitute for good work. Interviews and magazine covers don't make you a good actor. Does taking off your clothes for photographs prove your virility? Are you a macho hero only if you pose for magazine covers with five girls clinging to you? If other want to do it they are welcome, I'll stick to my work and keep my private life as private as possible.

Where my career is concerned, there's been no difference. I'd made a rule earlier, no more than five films a year and I am sticking to it. I will not work for money, but for my own satisfaction. One super hit hasn't made me a star, I am still an actor and I work as hard. Personally, marriage has been a beautiful experience. Its the best thing that could've happened to me. I miss Delhi a lot and visit it every week. But now Gauri and I are beginning to discover Bombay together. We're having a wonderful time. I love my wife a lot and there's nothing more important that that.