You've finished shooting for the first season of KBC, what are your thoughts right now?
I'm feeling a little bad that the first season is almost over. I'm going to miss it.
Were you apprehensive in the beginning?
As an artist, I always do something for myself and then hope others will like it. That's how I approached KBC also. The initial feedback that I got from the core team was that I was making it too light and funny. Chances were that it could go wrong, but chances were also that it could go right. I decided to give it a shot anyway.
How do you explain the intense speculation on the TRP of the show?
I did get angry when a national newspaper carried a page one story on how the show's TRP is falling. I took it personally but better sense prevailed. I took on the show as a challenge and told myself that I'll do it my way.
Did you learn something about yourself during the show?
I learnt that I could reach the shooting in time. Jokes aside, I always knew that I could pick up things fast but KBC reinforced it. I also realised that I can connect with people and maybe that's why I work as a movie star. It's a nice feeling to know that people don't mind me.
With so much interaction with so many people, do you ever feel that you have to always be in a good mood?
I try never to be in a bad mood. I understand that people who come on the show want to take back a good memory. That way, I'm quite magnanimous. Personally, I'm a recluse and I tell myself that I've to be with people for only six hours. So I try to make the most of it.
What's the best compliment you've got for the show?
I think it's what Siddharth (Basu) said, "That boy is a joy to watch. Even friends like Ashutosh (Gowariker) send me nice messages like, "Shah, it looks like you've been doing this all your life." Last night my son, Aryan told me, "Papa, you know, this show is awesome." When I asked him what he meant by it, he said, "My friends in school tell me that they see your show and that my dad is awesome."
So when Amitabh Bachchan says that "SRK is fine" on the show, how do you interpret the word 'fine'?
It's okay. It's not that important either to me or to him. I'm sure he watches the show but because there are rumours of problems between us, the word 'fine' takes on another meaning. To me, a buzz is more important than a singular reaction.
Is it true that there is soon going to be a biopic on you?
Not at all. The guys at Madame Tussauds want to shoot a documentary on the making of my wax statute. That's all. Anyway, biopics are made on guys who didn't achieve much or who are no longer doing anything.
Do you feel like it's time to sit down and sort it out with Samajwadi party leader, Amar Singh?
I've nothing to sort with anyone. It's just that I don't like people coming outside my house and making my family uncomfortable. I don't deserve it and neither does my family.
Why did you say that you're a "demented Pathan" in a recent interview?
What I meant was that I'm capable of handling 20 people on my own. I can even handle 20,000 people because I'm a Pathan. Like the Rajputs, Pathans are considered warriors. My father was a Pathan who fought for the freedom of my country and I have the same genes. That said, I'm courteous to everyone. It's just that I didn't like certain things said about me. It was said that my wife should apologise. My wife will never apologise to anyone on my account. When I came to Mumbai, I told my friends that whatever work I do in life, I'll never embarass my family.
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