There’s no place like home: SRK

Superstar and family man.. here are some facts on Bollywood badshaah Shah Rukh Khan which even he doesn’t know about. SRK spills the beans on everything you always wanted to know about his very personal life but didn’t know who to ask. Enjoy…

I organise these treasure hunts around the house for Aryan and Suhana. I hide the answers with leading questions. Which is the tallest mountain in the world which has snow on it? Where would you find snow in the house? And they go to the refrigerator, where they find the next clue leading to the next answer.

Actually the treasure hunts aren’t as simple any more. They have become quite difficult.. my son’s friends turn up saying,

“Uncle, can we please have a treasure hunt?” Once they have gone through all the questions, I run out of clues and places in my house.

Time with the kids, I long for that. And if you long for some thing, you’ll always find time for it. What’s the big deal? We get 24 hours out of which we get 19 hours to use as the way want to. And 19 hours is helluva lot of time. At various points, I have to do my time management.. and it happens by itself.. I don’t have to plan it. For instance, in a day I’ve worked nearly 10 hours for a film shoot.. three to four hours for television and five to six hours for IPL. And there was still enough time to play with the kids.. which is a must.. couldn’t live without it.

(As told to Vajir Singh)

So did you know this about SRK?

Can eat chicken (preferably grilled) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Will finish everything handed to him on a plate but doesn’t accept a second helping.

Can spend three-four hours at a stretch in the bathroom.

Contrary to the belief that he likes to party hard and hang out at night clubs, he would prefer to stay at home.. for an entire week.. and not miss the rest of the world.

Loves opening presents, be it a book (he’s a voracious reader), plants or portraits. A hoarder, doesn’t like to junk any of his belongings.

Very particular about the comfortable fit of his pair of jeans. Not brand-fussy, the jeans must fit right.. or he’ll be in a grrrr mood.

Teaches his kids their school subjects.. at times ‘overteaching’ them, taking them to a different level.

His first car was a Range Rover.

Mannat, his house, is equipped with the high-end Crestron, an automated system which is largely used in Hollywood, to control various systems like lights, video, the curtains and music system.

Has got himself the new-fangled Mespresso machine which serves instant bean coffee.

Doesn’t listen to much music nowadays, doesn’t see most movies too unless he’s dragged to the screenings.

And did you know this about Gauri Khan?

She doesn’t like getting presents.. would rather get shoes, bags, whatever for herself.

Contrary to popular perception that she’s shy and aloof, she is a people’s person.. very loyal to her friends.. and vice versa.

Can’t cook. Could rustle up two special ice creams — including a scoop of chocolate with crushed biscuit.. but has stopped even that now.

Is a tea person.

Has inculcated the values of secular faith in the kids.

Was 14 when she first met SRK at a party, he was 17.

Not crazy about chicken, is a sea food person.

Has an eye for art.. bought the works of Chitrabhanu Mazumdar before he became hugely coveted.

SRK loves visiting London, she likes any destination in Europe, particularly Rome for its architecture.

Her man Friday is Parvez, his is Yasin who one day in Hyderabad decided that he would work for SRK, hung around for days and months in Mumbai and finally became his Man Friday.

She’s into all genres of music: classical, trance, pop and rock. Cherishes the memory of a rocking George Michael concert.