Article~ Khan makes the Hot Seat more....

Khan's interaction with Hot Seat contestants helps put them at ease.

Every time a contestant walks away with his winnings the first thing that they have commented on has been the ease with which they can play with SRK. From massages to talking about and wishing the contestant's families who are watching at home, Khan does everything in his power to help them calm their nerves.

Having been on the other side as contestant earlier in KBC, many contestants believe SRK understands what they are going through.

"I think even if I wasn't on the seat the other time, I think I can make everyone feel at ease. I am quite easy going by nature. I'm – I think loving is too strong a word - but quite affable. I don't like making anyone tense whether I am working with them or making them sit on the hot seat. I think the hot seat is losing some of its heat and sitting across me it's becoming it's becoming a warm seat. I exude warmth more than the heat," says Khan.

Shah Rukh adds he has a game plan to put all his contestants at ease. Even before the camera starts rolling he first spends a good five minutes chatting to them about their lives in general and other topics completely unrelated to the show itself and once they are well settled he rolls into the game. "I think the whole thought that what if I don't even know the first question what happens always makes the contestants anxious. I think if you cross the first 3-4 questions it becomes an easier show. And that's what I'm trying to maintain in the show. Make people somehow jump over the first 2-3 questions in a speed that makes them think 'wow… I'm through with the first 3… its not that difficult."

Mohit Mahipal, one of SRK's first few contestants, puts it perfectly when he says he felt like he was chatting up with one of my closest friends.


Tuesday, February 6, 2007