"My next role is of an autistic!"

Shah Rukh Khan does not let the grass grow beneath his feet.

The Bollywood Badshah is not so much dwelling on his new release last Friday as he is into enjoying the thrill of beginning a new film tomorrow. It is being done in LA, with old friend Karan Johar, and guess what — the actor who is accused of having five expressions and playing limited roles, is daring to act an autistic in this film called My Name Is Khan.

His character, Rizvan Khan, suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an autism disorder and is characterised by difficulties in social interaction and behaviour. Half of the film is a true story based on a couple’s life in LA. Karan bought the rights of the story from them and cannot wait to begin shooting with SRK on it.

For the role, Shah Rukh has to gain weight, and that is what he is doing currently. “The role requires me to have a fuller look,” said the actor who has plunged into his character already and is doing research on autism to see how complex these individuals are. “I am reading, watching documentaries, meeting people who are affected by autism and doctors who deal with it. It’s very unnerving and I salute parents who bring up children with any disorders,” said SRK. Will he watch Dustin Hoffman’s Oscar performance as an autistic in the award winning film Rain Man of 1988? He might!

Shibani Bhatija, the screenplay writer of the My Name Is Khan, has SRK detained in LA as a suspected terrorist because he is a Muslim and his impairment makes his behaviour suspicious. Kajol returns to act opposite the superstar for the first time since Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham in 2001. They’ve done several film together including Baazigar, Karan Arjun, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.