Please let me be me: Shah Rukh
Arnab Banerjee
New Delhi, December 4, 2006
HindustanTimes
He is back. Yet Again. Breaking his stand on doing only- one- film- a- year, he hogs headlines as there was a flurry of shutterbugs and scribes at the special press conference he addressed at The Oberoi's in the Capital.
But this time the 'Badshaah' is making more news for what seems to be making history - He replaces the Big B in the Star televisions's game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, a rip off of the popular American show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
While the organisers are tight- lipped about his remuneration, insiders reveal it 'has to be' the double the deal between the channel and the erstwhile host the Big B, who raked in close to 140 crores.
Charming and his wittiest best, the Don, as he is fondly referred too, has that secret up his sleeve but doesn't find it in any way, a 'downslide' from the humungous Karan Johar -Yash Chopra films that he is known for doing. A tete-a-tete with the King Khan.
What attracted you to the game show KBC?
Samir (Nair) had spoken to me about doing the show some time back and we had been in discussion for a while. I just thought it would be something different from what I have done so far.
Any apprehensions about replacing Mr Bachchan?
Mr Bachchan has been an icon. He is one of the greatest star actor hosts India has ever known. But please… comparisons are odious and as such should never be brought in. He is someone I have grown up watching and have been a great admirer of.
I think this whole business of replacing Mr Bachchan is blown out of proportion by the media. I was told that Mr Bachchan wouldn't be doing the show anymore and that they(STAR) wanted a replacement. If it hadn't been me, it would have been somebody else. Besides, he (AB) is family to me and I wouldn't think of 'replacing' him in any other way.
But the constant comparisons must be irritating? How do you keep your cool?
With due respect to Mr Bachchan and to the show organisers, I think while it is perfectly logical to look for comparisons here because of the huge popularity of the show when Amitji hosted it, I would request people to think intelligently and not get swayed by emotions alone, and allow the show to go on.
And I am sure, the show is much bigger than all of us and there are going to be even better hosts after me who would carry it forward.
Mr Bachchan gave the show his own individualistic approach with his chaste impeccable Hindi and personality into the show. What can we expect from SRK?
Please… please.. let me be me…that's all. I think I am going to add to the show my won personality. Of course the game format remains the same – the prize money, four life lines, four options for answers et al. I would like to add some masala, the way one mixes masala to our kind of movies - into the show.
How did your family react to the news?
My son Aryan asked me when I mentioned in passing at night the day Samir asked me first to do the show. Do you know what his reaction was? He told me categorically that I should do the show only if Crorepati uncle (that's his term of endearment for Mr Bachchan) doesn't host it anymore.
And sure enough, he was relieved when I told him so that Amitji wouldn't be doing it, hence I am stepping in.
Are there any preparations on from your end?
I have been burning the midnight oil preparing questions (laughs).. No, that's not it… just kidding. I think I am going to read up a lot, visit the net, browse through a lot of information, dig out stories from some past year's newspapers to be ready with the questions. In any case, it's the research team at Siddharth Basu's Synergy Communications which does all the ground work.
So there's not going to be any homework from your side?
I wish it were that easy. You make it sound as if I don't deserve to be just doing that( laughs). Let me see, we haven't started shooting yet and I am sure I am going to do my bit too to add to the show's ratings.
Is television a come-down for icons like you?
I don't think television is any way less. In fact there's more hard work doing television than doing cinema. It's very paying as well. While not going into details about my pay package, let me tell you that it is very satisfying (grins).
What else did you think before accepting the offer?
I thought it would be one opportunity to interact with the countless fans I have across the country since otherwise the kind of lifestyle we (actors) lead, it's really not possible to get closer to the common masses.
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'There's no question of my moving on…'
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