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Exclusive: King Khan lives his dream
Sunday, October 01, 2006 07:29:19 am
He could easily be called one of the biggest faces of Indian Cinema. TIMES NOW's Reuters correspondent Pooja caught up with the current king of bollywood, Shahrukh Khan in Singapore and got him talking about cinema, the critics and living his childhood dream through the remake of 'Don'.
Dil hai Hindustani?
Shahrukh Khan with his mesmerizing mass appeal has undoubtedly found an echo in nearly every Indian heart.
However, while every Bollywood actor worth his salt is trying to make inroads into the international acting arena, Shahrukh surprisingly has kept away from the Hollywood clamour.
"You do want global recognition. It wouldn't be the whole truth if I said it doesn't matter, but it wouldn't be the whole truth if I say that it's the only thing that matters. The truth is somewhere in between," he says.
"Movies don't change you"
For someone who is known to light up the silver screen with his fervent intensity, it is ironic that Shahrukh thinks that cinema should be taken with a pinch of salt. Khan says after all, the main purpose is solely to entertain.
"A movie is not meant to change your lifestyle – yes, the fashion in the movies can change your way of talking or walking, maybe your hairstyle – but you don't change your upbringing, you thought process. None of us (actors) in any way are saying you should be Gabbar Singh. We just offer you different facets," he says.
In this context, the role of self-appointed critics as judges of what makes a 'worthy' film, has been a sore thumb for the actor. "I always say that we are democratic in processes like choosing a government – but when it comes to culture , we have very undemocratic hold-backs by critics. Suddenly it goes beyond creativity. See, we are just making and telling stories. If it is an 'A' certified film, don't watch it. Nobody's forcing it down your throat. You have to buy a ticket, park your car, enter the theatre, buy popcorn and watch the movie," says Shahrukh.
But despite what critics might believe, Khan admits on his part that he truly believes most of the characters he has played "somewhere down the line have affected a lot of people" and that these roles are taken from real life.
"I'm a role model only to my kids"
The superstar seems also to be consciously making an effort to strip himself of the 'icon' tag.
"I've never thought of myself as someone who can give value judgements on other people's lives. I don't think I am someone who is morally on the highest pedestal, and should be followed as a role model. In my personal life, I genuinely believe that I could be a role model – I'm a good person, I'm a hardworking father of two children. But what I do in my movies is not something to model your kids on," he says, adding "I wouldn't let my son become Mannudada in 'Duplicate' or Badshaah in 'Badshaah'. I'd like him to be a bank manager – or whatever he chooses to be."
Selling dreams and living some
That was what the star might want for his children - but with his up-coming film 'Don' it seems Shahrukh has realised a little childhood dream of his own.
"Very few people get a chance to live their dreams. It sounds strange now, but 'Don' must have been one of the films which might have made me feel like wanting to be – if not a movie star - just a hero like Don. Be cool, sing 'Khaika paan banaraswalla' – and here I am, 28 years after I first saw the film – and I'm being given an opportunity to do exactly that – dance to 'Khaike paan banaraswalla," says Khan.
A tribute
"When a guy from Delhi is given a chance to do this film, it is humbling and a moment of pride at the same time for me. And I offer this as a huge tribute, with all humility, to everyone who made the film – Mr Chandra Barot the director – everyone. And I say at the outset, it is not going to ever, in my heart, be better than the original 'Don' – but it's an attempt to say 'Thank you' to the whole team of 'Don' for making us feel like wanting to be film stars," he says.
It can truly be said that Shahrukh Khan has had no ordinary life. Who would have known indeed, that a young boy from Delhi with no connections would come to be one of the biggest phenomena that the Indian film industry has ever seen – but then, that's show business!
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