"No one can match Shah Rukh," says Priyadarshan

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and director Priyadarshan have hit it off big time, be it cinema or cricket.

'After working with him I understand why he is who he is. No one can match his energy, enthusiasm and passion for cinema. I'm already planning many more films with him,' Priyadarshan told IANS.

Also, ever since Shah Rukh's Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders won a Kolkata match last month that was attended by Priyadarshan, people have started calling him the actor's lucky mascot.

'Yes, they're saying I'm lucky for Shah Rukh. Thank god. Yes, Shah Rukh has asked me to attend more of his matches. But I've been shooting 'Billo Barber' whereas he has completed his work and has made time for the IPL,' Priyadarshan told IANS.

Many people who attended the match were surprised to see Priyadarshan sitting quietly in the audience.

'Even I was surprised to see myself there, but I went for Shah Rukh's sake. Fortunately, the Knight Riders won the match that day when I was there in Kolkata.

'Or people would've said I'm unlucky for Shah Rukh. Can't afford that image while I've cast him in the most unusual role of his career, and that too after four failed attempts to work with him.'

Incidentally, Kolkata Night Riders are out of IPL matches.

Recalling his own passion for cricket, Priyadarshan said: 'I was a mad obsessive cricket player as a student. Then during one local match I nearly lost my eye.'

Recalling the harrowing incident, he shudders, 'I can never forget that day. The ball just slammed against my eye. I had a hairline fracture and I couldn't see. I thought I had lost my eye. Fortunately, the eye is intact. But the nerves on the eyelid were enfeebled. So one eye is half-closed all the time.'

So has that mishap put him off cricket for keeps?

'No way! I love cricket. Thankfully, I didn't make a career out of it. Otherwise today I'd have been working in a bank. The only reason why I don't play is because I'm making films round the clock. There's no time for anything else,' said the director whose recent hit was 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'.

IANS