I think I look like a French lover: SRK

Why such a long gap between Don and Chak De! India?
I might not have had a release for all this while but actually I was overworked. I was shooting for Don, Chak De! India and Om Shanti Om simultaneously, so it was crazy. One day I had to shave, one day I had to grow a beard and then the next day I was told to report with side-locks. Also don't forget KBC. I could have done a film in the time that I gave to KBC. But now I'm free for four months and so I can go on a holiday.

What's the challenge in Chak De!India?
It's too noble to be made into a commercial film. First of all, there is no heroine in the film. Sure there are 16 new girls but with due respect to them they are not regular new heroines like Deepika Padukone whom we are launching in Om Shanti Om. Also, sports film as a genre is not very popular - except Hip Hip Hurray, Lagaan, Iqbal and Hattrick there have not been many sports-based films. Also the hero in this film is not like a hero. I'm not doing what I've done in Veer-Zaara - this film is not a star vehicle. It's not a love story. That apart, when I was told about the film, I instantly agreed. My reasoning was that because it's one of those films, so why not?

I don't think any other actor has worked with 16 new girls in one film before. It's like a record.
It's a world record. Rishi Kapoor used to say that he has worked with 23 new girls. Now I have launched 17 new girls including Deepika Padukone in one year. Beat that!

Was there a lot of gushing on the shoot since all the new girls must be your fans?
All of them were really sweet. It was really difficult to learn their names since anyway I'm bad at names. But I managed to learn their film names. Some of them weren't even born when I started out as an actor so they are more likely to be the fans of John Abraham, Hrithik Roshan or Abhishek Bachchan. I like the fact that they are all non-actors. Since acting is all about reacting and since unlike a Kajol or Madhuri whose reactions I can predict, I couldn't do it with these girls. Their reactions were different and the challenge within me was if I could react to this reaction. Maybe that's why I like myself in this film.

Did you like growing the beard?
I hated it. I don't feel clean with a beard on my face. It just doesn't grow well on my face. Since Adi and Shimit have beards they wanted me to sport one too. I think directors like their actors looking like them so in Om Shanti Om I'm going to be looking like Farah Khan, which is even scarier. Jokes aside, the thing about beards is that when you wash your face, the water stays on it, which to me feels dirty. I kept a razor on hand during the entire shoot and just as Shimit used to announce pack up I would start shaving.

Did playing hockey come naturally to you since you're more of a soccer person?
Actually hockey was my favourite sport in school. As a player, I was best at hockey. I still play the game every Sunday with my kids. My dad was a hockey player. It's a difficult sport and requires a lot of skill but I like it since it gives me a feel of being a sportsman. It's like a modern version of the lathi. We were lucky to shoot the film in Australia on astro turfs.

Name some of your favourite sports films?
Any Given Sunday by Oliver Stone is an all time favourite. I also like Escape to Victory and Shaolin Soccer. My son showed me Goal and Goal 2 recently and I quite enjoyed them.

There have been reports that you aren't happy with the film. Comment.
See, you can't be unhappy with a guy like Shimit Amin who has directed this film. He's very sweet and talented. I've known him since Asoka and more than anyone else; I did the film for Shimit. In fact just last night, Adi (Aditya Chopra), Jaideep Sahni and Shimit told me, "Thanks for doing the film for three geeks." So how can I have an issue with these guys?

You've seen the film. Did you like it?
I wouldn't have done it if I didn't like it. Now how the audience reacts to it is not in my control.

Talking about the audience, can you ever predict a hit or a flop?
(Smiles) You want to know the truth? I can predict if a film is a hit or a flop on the third day of the shooting. And when I say hit or a flop I mean a big hit or a big flop. See, when you make a film you've got to think like a fighter. First you need to convince yourself that it'll be a big hit. If that's not the case then you go by other people's conviction or else you pray ki kuch ho jaaye.

But doesn't the pressure get to you since your films are not just compared with your last films but also to films of all the other actors?
(Smiles) Since the last two years, I've detached myself from my films. I don't want to know how my film is faring, I don't want to hard sell a film after it has released. The pressure becomes too much so I've become detached. Otherwise I'll crack under pressure. I also know that we are dealing with a fairly intelligent audience base. I'd like to believe that it is an intelligent audience that has made me a star. I think the audience understands the level of a film. For example Chak De! India is not a Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. It'll not run and rule for 12 years like DDLJ. I'll be happy if it touches 12 hearts and Inshallah recover its money. I try to do one different film every year and many a times I've burnt my fingers. But I'll keep on doing that till I don't burn my hand.

Since Chak De! India is all about team spirit, tell me - are you a team player?
I'm only a team guy. In fact I'm just a manager and let the guys do all the work. I believe that if you don't trust people at the job they are good at then that job will never be done.

What is your reaction to all these numerous French honours being bestowed on you?
I think I look like a French lover. I'm deeply honoured with all their love.

Will we ever get to read your memoirs, Twenty Years Of A Decade?
(Laughs) I don't know. There are already way too many books on me. But I must complete it. It's been a decade since I started it. Maybe in this break I will finish it.

What's the status of KBC?
It won't happen this year. They want to incorporate some of the elements that we introduced, change some elements, change the sets and the music so it'll be sometime mid next year when it'll all happen.

Harneet Singh, ScreenIndia