Episode 24
May 27, 2005
Shah Rukh: He is a producer, a director, a wannabe costume designer, an awful actor… He is all over the place for no rhyme or reason and thankfully, tonight he is not here on the show. The film fraternity and all of us decided that we have tortured you enough with Karan's presence on this show in the past few months, so we threw him out. And I am here to do the season finale. So where's Karan? Well, let's just say that I put something in his coffee that he does not know about.
Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I am calling upon a guest who has been the greatest inspiration for me in my growing years. I've had the honour of sharing the same cinematic space with him. To millions around the world, he is a living legend. To millions around the world, he is the biggest ever superstar in Hindi cinema. To me, he is Hindi cinema itself. Please put your hands together and welcome Mr Amitabh Bachchan.
Shah Rukh: What did you think of me when you first met me?
Amitabh: My first impression of you was that you spoke fast; you thought even faster, you had lot of energy, that's it.
Shah Rukh: We are going to be rudely interrupted by the person, who is supposed to handle this show.
Amitabh: Can we just get rid of him?
Shah Rukh: No, I think the security is not able to hold him.
Karan: I hope that was not too torturous.
Amitabh: He is doing a marvellous job.
Karan: He is even better then I am?
Amitabh: Yeah.
Karan: Shah Rukh, you have asked everything I wanted to ask.
Shah Rukh: Do you want to go back? (smiles)
Karan: Everyone talks about both of you selling a lot of products. Between the both of you, I think the poor models have just died completely. There is no work left for them. So when this is thrown at you, what do you say, Shah Rukh?
Shah Rukh: I think it's a part of changing times. I also feel who are working in the film industry are being recognised by corporate sector which feels we are good enough to help them market their product. The media has increased so much.
Karan: You have seen Black?
Shah Rukh: Yes, I have.
Karan: What do you think of it?
Shah Rukh: I think it's one of the finest films that I have seen and I was very moved by the technical aspect of the film, cinematic aspect of the film, the directorial touches and also, I think (pointing towards Amitabh), after many years I felt like touching an actor's feet and I went and touched Amitji's feet. I start crying if I talk about it. It was just so beautiful to see him act in a film like that. I think Rani was marvellous. I really feel emotional about the film.
Karan: And I really believe that Mr Bachchan has a huge graph when it comes to his filmography but I think that Black is just on another level altogether. And I think we should ask Sanjay his thoughts on Black and Devdas.
Karan: We were just saying the most beautiful things about Black. How does it feel post Black, Sanjay?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali: It feels very good. It feels satisfying. But there is a big question in my mind - now what? So, I think post Black, my mind is only working on what am I am going to make now. Or am I going to do something better? I don't know. So, I am a little confused right now.
Karan: On record, I think Shah Rukh has said that Devdas is his finest work as an actor. On record again, Mr Bachchan has gone on to say that Black is his most satisfying experience. How does it feel that both of them, two brilliant actors, hold you in such a high regard as a film maker and rate your film as one of their best?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali: I am blessed. I think I am the kind of person who does not believe too much in myself, so for me if they say that, I think it's the time to believe it.
Karan: What was it like working with Amitabh and Shah Rukh? They are from different schools... Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Both of them are similar, I think. I think they are very intelligent actors. They love their work to death. I think, if you take acting out of their lives they would perish. They have a great sense of humour. They are willing to stress themselves to the limit.
Introducing Farhan Akhtar and Farah Khan: Karan: There is a reason Sanjay is still there because we have two more members of our jury who are going to arrive to judge the grand rapid fire round.
We have to now introduce two rocking members of our jury. Both of them are directors. (Pointing towards Amitabh) You've worked with one of them and are going to work with another. The very talented, Farah Khan and the super-talented, Farhan Akhtar.
Karan: Sanjay, your sentiments on being here as a member of this jury?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali: I wish I were not here.
Karan: And you, Farah?
Farah Khan: I want both of them in my next movie, so I will be extremely tactful.
Karan: And you, Farhan?
Farhan Akhtar: Even I want both of them in my next movie!
Introducing Kajol: In this segment, we have someone special who is going to come on. Someone very special to me, someone very special to Shah Rukh, someone who has also worked with Mr Bachchan and has a great equation with him today. One of my closest friends and one of the best actresses Indian cinema has ever seen. She started the show with Shah Rukh and me. She has to be here today at the grand finale. Let's welcome none other than Kajol.
Karan: You know Kajol's coming back after a gap of many years in a film. Now she is working with Aamir. How does it feel, Shah Rukh?
Shah Rukh: Well, it's absolutely all right. I mean, as actors, we all must experiment with different kind of films. Aamir is a fantastic actor and Kunal is a wonderful director and I am sure we will have some great cinema when all of these people come together. Though I wish she would have done our film together.
Karan: Now, I remember calling Kajol when I was casting for the film and Kajol, of course, for domestic reasons...
Amitabh: (to Kajol) I really do admire that you have always placed your home and your child before anything that is commercial or connected with your profession. I think that's very brave.
Introducing Jaya Bachchan: Now we have a guest with us who is extremely special to me. A guest whose pairing with Mr Bachchan is in resulted in tremendous box office success in the past. Well, her 'mother' pairing with Shah Rukh Khan has also resulted in tremendous box office success. More popularly known in the Indian film industry as the First Lady, let's call upon the extremely talented the beautiful Jaya Bachchan.
Karan: If I had to ask you to sum your years with Jaya aunty - the marriage that has been for so many years - what would you say?
Amitabh: She has given me two of the most beautiful and wonderful gifts that I have ever had in my life - Shweta and Abhishek. I think that really sums up my relationship with her and all that she means to me.
Karan: And if I had to ask you how the journey has been being Mrs Amitabh Bachchan all these years, what would you say?
Jaya Bachchan: It has been wonderful sometimes, not so wonderful otherwise, but great fun.
Karan: When you look at the two of them, Shah Rukh, literally, the First Lady and the Lord of the film fraternity, what do you say?
Shah Rukh: I am perhaps too small in every which way to say anything but I think god and everyone around have really blessed them, and the children are the nicest things that can happen to a couple.
Karan: On this very show, we had Gauri Khan and Suzanne Roshan. Both younger star wives and both of them said how they looked up to Jaya aunty, as a star wife who has brought up her children so well. And that's a compliment that I am sure you have received all the time. Abhishek is so loved by every member of the film fraternity and Shwetha is always so well brought-up and always comes across so dignified. When you hear that how do you feel?
Amitabh: We are very proud of the fact that other people think like this about our children. I think it's been a great effort on Jaya's part to sacrifice her film career and spend a lot of time with them.
Jaya: I don't think that it's a sacrifice...
Amitabh: In the sense of time for them, despite the fact that she was acting in movies. I think children are meant to be loved and everybody's child is their favourite and every parent wishes to bring them up in the best possible way.
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