Farah Khan on Om Shanti Om and bare chested SRK

How do you react to the immense hype around your second directorial venture Om Shanti Om?

I'm excited about it. Surprisingly, I'm not scared at all. Maybe once the release date comes closer I'll get the nervous pangs. But still I don't think there is anything to be scared about since I've seen the film. Shah Rukh and I didn't expect Om Shanti Om (OSO) to get so hyped. We didn't expect that Main Hoon Na is remembered so well.


Main Hoon Na was an unapologetic masala Hindi phillum, what is the vibe of OSO?

This one is also a Hindi phillum. But unlike Main Hoon Na that had multiple tracks, OSO has a single track which is extremely dramatic. The best bit about OSO is that first half of the film is set in the 1970's Bollywood. This has made the texture of the film very refreshing. My team had a great time looking for references. If we had to shoot a hospital scene then we made sure we created a hospital out of a 70's film. The junior artistes in the film are also from the 70's. I think OSO will bring back the fashion trends of the 70's: the bell bottoms, the side locks and the curls. That's also the reason why my new girl, Deepika Padukone with a bouffant looks different than all the other girls in a mini skirt and a bra top. We're very confident about the retro look of our film that's why we have also sold the OSO fashion line to Shopper's Stop and Siya.


And what's with the huge poster of a film called 'Dreamy Girl' throughout the first half of OSO?

Oh that? I wanted to project Deepika as a huge 70's superstar aka Hema Malini so we decided to take off on the film Dream Girl. The making of Dreamy Girl is the funniest bit in the film since we've shown Deepika romancing the likes of Rajesh Khanna and Sunil Dutt. We've done some major computer generated imagery to make sure that happens. We've also made SRK wear white shoes and pants like Jeetendra and made him do all sorts of things like crawl on the floor for a song.

And you also made sure SRK gets a six pack for a shirtless song sequence?

See, SRK will do anything that is required for the film. He really worked out for OSO because he has two distinct looks in the film depicting 1977 and 2007. Since he plays a superstar of 2007 he had to look like a star of today. I told him during Main Hoon Na itself that I want to shoot a bare chest scene of his since he was playing an army officer. But we couldn't do that since he had just had a back operation. But he promised me that if he ever does a bare torso scene he'll do it for my film. For OSO he asked me to give him three months since his reasoning was that if he doesn't have a six pack he won't bare his chest. By the time we shot the scene he had eight packs. He worked so hard on his body that his constant joke on the sets was that 'Please let me go back to acting'.


Yeah well they say in the industry that SRK can never say no to you?

Well, I can't get him to do everything. I mean, he's not going to do anything stupid just because I'm telling him to do it. It's just that we share the same kind of irreverent humour and love for the same kind of movies so somewhere he trusts my judgment. I don't think anyone else could have made him stand quietly while Satish Shah spits on his face. He didn't do it blindly for me but he did it because he knew it'll work. There is no god baazi with SRK. We don't act like two eccentric geniuses making a film, we want to enjoy the process of making a film and so we have fun. In OSO we have both gone quite mental.


Why did you opt for Deepika Padukone as the leading lady?

I needed a new girl so that I could present a new pairing with SRK. Moreover since my heroine is a superstar of the 70's I couldn't have cast Aishwarya Rai or Rani Mukerji who are big stars of today and tell people to imagine them as the stars of 70's. I needed a new face for my character, Shanti Priya. Also Deepika is a classic beauty who has the poise of a South actress. She's also a fabulous dancer and after doing her screen test I was convinced she'll work for the film. I really felt as if I was launching my own daughter.


How did you manage to rope in literally the entire industry for a song?

Yeah well that one has turned out as the mother of all item songs. I don't know what others will do after this song. We approached 34 actors and 30 turned up. It took us six days to shoot the song. All the heroines came for SRK and all the heroes for me.


I believe Mithun Chakraborty caused a stampede?

You heard right. He caused a traffic jam. There was a queue of people just to see him. Ecstatic fans even asked SRK to click their pictures with Mithun da. He happily obliged.


SRK is also the producer of the film, what is his verdict about OSO?

He's already shown most of the film to everyone on his dirty laptop with its dirty sound. He's quite happy with it. We've gone through the phase of writing down the mistakes on paper. It's the biggest film out of Red Chillies and we realize the expectations.


You have a mini film empire in your home turf itself with husband Shirish Kunder and brother Sajid Khan also making films. How do you cope with it?

It's great. I'm more creatively involved with Shirish's films since we live together. Sajid does his own thing. We've always been a film crazy family so it's all good.


You're expecting triplets, how is that going?

Oh my babies are quite happy on the film set. They never trouble me when I'm shooting. Only when I'm in the house do they make me puke and feel all drained. I'm sure all three of them will also get into film-making since they are already film babies.


There are rumours that you're quitting choreography?

That's true. I can't do another wedding song. Only if an international song comes my way, I might think about it. I won't choreograph even for Shirish now. He's quite pleased with this decision since we fought a lot during Jaan-E-Mann.


Any recent film that you wish you had directed?

Rang De Basanti. I was totally blown over by it. Not only did it have a superb story, it was also technically awesome. I like well made and well shot films. Most of our films look like Gujarati TV serials.


What's next?

Next year I'll take a break since my babies will need me. I'll start my next film in 2009. Shirish will start his film, Joker with Akshay Kumar in 2008.

Harneet Singh, Screen India

Om Shanti Om's Music on iTunes

It is for the first time that a Bollywood film’s music album will be available for full downloads on mobile handsets and digital media including itunes across 23 countries including India, Singapore, UK, US, UAE, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Music company T-Series, which holds the music rights of the film directed by Farah Khan, will facilitate the service through its mobile content partner Hungama Mobile.
T-Series will simultaneously launch the music on CDs on the 18th of September.

The announcement will be made in Dubai over the weekend, followed by an announcement in India early next week. T-Series confirmed the development.

“It is true that the music of Om Shanti Om will be released across platforms,” Bhushan Kumar, chairman & managing director of T-Series told Business Standard.

Apart from tie-ups with all the leading telecom service providers in India, Hungama has partnered with several service providers across countries where the music will be made available.

Some of the carriers are UAE-based telecom service providers Du and ETISALAT, UK-based Vodafone, European mobile phone network provider O2, Singapore’s Singtel and US-based Verizon.

Hungama already has tie-ups with around 150 telecom service provider worldwide.

Neeraj Roy, CEO of Hungama Mobile said, “Our aim is to release the music across digital formats globally. Since Om Shanti Om is a much-awaited film starring Shah Rukh Khan, the music will have a massive appeal even overseas.” He added that the price points for music download on handsets will be in line with the respective markets.

For instance, download per song will cost 2-3 dhirams in UAE, while it will cost 1.99 pounds on the O2 network. The downloading price in India is around Rs 25 a song, with additional download costs on mobile handsets.

The additional cost is usually 10 paise per 10 kilobytes and the average size of each song is 500 kilobytes. However, itunes will cost 99 cents.

The pricing for internet downloads varies, as the user can either download the entire album or a few songs.

T-Series and Hungama were the first to introduce fully downloadable songs in India for the mobile handset. This was done for Hrithik Roshan starrer, Krrish. However, Hutch was the only service provider back then.

The mobile music market in India consists of ringback tones, polyphonic tones, truetones, fulltrack downloads and caller ID tunes. It is estimated to be 60 per cent of all digital sales in the world for the next two years, according to PricewaterhouseCooper report.

Aminah Sheikh & Shivani Shinde, Business Standard India

The SRK Effect

“Yeh chakki-belan chalane wali Bharatiya nari hai. Yeh kabhi knicker wicker pahan ke hockey ke maidan par utar sakti hai kya?”

The ‘sports administrator’, who spoke these infamous words on screen, had to eat his words in the end when the ‘Chak De’ girls came home triumphant with the hockey world cup. The movie, it seems, didn’t just end up with the usual feel good factor and a tax-free tag.

The SRK reel effect in ‘Chak De’ seems to have rubbed off on the real as more and more girls seem to be taking up active sports.

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Chak De India’ has got the goody girls hooked on to sports. “It’s a revolution,” says Anjali Shah of Premier Indian Football Academy (PIFA), adding, “The number of inquiries and enrolment of girls in the game has gone up by 50 per cent this year.

In fact for the very first time, women above 20 years also want to learn the game and play for the country.” PIFA is all set to form a woman’s football team after four women insisted on learning the game and forming a woman’s team.

PIFAis on the lookout for 15 women to complete their women’s football team. And as far as hockey is concerned, the sport has suddenly received a huge momentum.

Ignatius D’Souza, sub coach of the Bombay Hockey Women’s Association informs that four Mumbai schools namely St Paul Convent High School at Dadar, Pawar Public School in Bhandup, Canossa Convent in Andheri and St Teresa’s Convent in Santacruz have introduced hockey in their sports curriculum.

Even colleges are fast catching up with the game. Nisha Nair, the girl who plays Soi Moi in ‘Chak De India’ is an ace hockey player in real life as well.

She along with Ranjan Negi, the one who taught Chak De girls to play hockey, encouraged the Poddar College girls to form their own team. Nisha says, “I felt great when Poddar College actually formed a girls’ hockey team. Things are changing. Everybody around me seem to have suddenly grown fond of sports. It feels great.”

Way to go Shah Rukh !

Riddhi Doshi, DNA

Music Review - Om Shanti Om : The Power of Love and Music

Om Shanti Om is easily one of the most complete scores by Vishal-Shekhar and Javed Akhtar.

Expectations. Expectations. And some more expectations. This is how one looks forward to the music of Om Shanti Om from which one expects nothing but the best. And why not?

After all:
a) This is the biggest ever film starring Shah Rukh Khan.
b) This is the second directorial venture for Farah Khan who made a smashing debut with Main Hoon Naa.
c) The film has created huge buzz accompanied by immense hype ever since it was launched.
d) Vishal-Shekhar and Javed Akhtar saab are expected to bring on table a massy popular score.
e) Last but not the least, the film travels decades which makes one look forward to variety in the soundtrack.


Farah Khan: I am re-introducing Shah Rukh Khan

Are these expectations met? Well, very much as each of the seven unique tracks bring on a variety that makes Om Shanti Om a winner all the way.

It is a truly unconventional beginning to Om Shanti Om as instead of an expected 'Beat-one-Beat-two' beginning from Vishal-Shekhar, one gets to hear a rather serene 'Aankhon Mein Teri' which turns out to be an extremely soulful hear. On hearing it initially, it is the sheer 'different' factor due to which it takes some time to follow the composition. But once you have heard it closely with lights switched off and no interference around you, 'Aankhon Mein Teri' turns out to be an irresistible piece of melody that lingers on for hours.

There are number of factors which go in making 'Aankhon Mein' a song that would be remembered for time to come. First and foremost it is the re-discovery of Vishal-Shekhar who create an unconventional tune that breaks the norms which they had themselves set for them. Furthermore, Vishal himself writes lyrics for this track which turns out to be a unique experience since it shows the sensitive romantic side of him. But the biggest of all is K.K. who showcases once again that he is THE most versatile singer who we have in the Bollywood musical scene today!

Well, those who love the dance numbers coming from Vishal-Shekhar don't have to wait for long with the arrival of 'Dard-E-Disco'. This is the very track which is much talked about for Shah Rukh Khan.

Khan's 'perfect-six-abs' and unlike 'Aankhon Mein' which grows immensely only after a few hearings, it is an instant hit from the word go. Reminding of the style, rhythm and the funk of 'Kaal Dhamaal' [Kaal], 'Dard E Disco' is a 'jump-on-the-dance-floor' number which has a Persian touch to it even as overall feel of the song stays on to be Western.

From the title of the song, one would have expected 'Dard-E-Disco' to belong to the 80s era with a Mithun hangover it but that's not the case as the song turns out to be pretty contemporary. Sukhwinder Singh is in his element for this track that has some spicy writing by Javed Akhtar. Marianne, Nisha and Caralisa come together for backup vocals who give the song a perfect disco feel. Later in the album arrives the 'remix version' which makes for a justified presence due to the song's theme and keeps the entertainment alive.

One would have expected the graph of the album to at maximum stay steady after 'Aankhon Mein' and 'Dard-E-Disco' but it shoots up amazingly with 'Deewangi Deewangi' which hooks you within first one minute itself. A sure shot chartbuster which could well have been the opening number for the film's promotion, 'Deewangi Deewangi' is what qualifies as a trademark number which could have been lapped up by Yash Raj Films or Dharma Productions.

The coming together of Shaan, Udit Narayan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan and Rahul Saxena (heard in Indian Idol) ensures that there is not a single dull moment in this instant-attention-grabbing track. Boasting of the innocence in melody that was witnessed in the 70s and now presented in the 21st century 'avtar' with a fusion of 'qawalli', 'bhangra' and western arrangements, 'Deewangi Deewangi' that also incorporates the sound of Om Shanti Om will definitely light up the screen when it is played. It's 'Rainbow Mix' only confirms the thought as it helps in consolidating the sound of the song.

If you have ever been in love, you wouldn't have missed out the dancing-couple-on-a-glass-floor gift item that has a sweet sounding tinkling sound which compliments their moves! This is the sound that marks the beginning of 'Main Agar Kahoon' which reminds one of the 60s era when songs like these were in vogue. Picturised on the likes of Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor, they were mostly sung by Late Mohd. Rafi.

This is the very reason why Sonu Nigam has been roped in to croon 'Main Agar Kahoon' which required the kind of rendition which would succeed in getting you nostalgic about the music of the era gone by. With Shreya Ghoshal in tow who is just the right fit for a song belonging to this genre, 'Main Agar Kahoon' gives a completely different flavor to the album by bringing some 'thehrav' to it after a rocking outing experienced in the last few songs.

Names like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Richa Sharma are good enough reasons to expect a quality offering from Vishal-Shekhar in the song 'Jag Soona Soona Lage'. Written by guest lyricist Kumaar, this painful yet mellow track about separation has it's beginning borrowed from the opening sound of 'Main Agar Kahoon'. Both the singers are highly competent in this beautifully written number that shows an altogether different facet of the composer-duo. A track which has a thorough Indian base to it and makes for a passionate outing, expect it to make multiple appearances during the film's narrative.

It's time for the world of 'Tohfa Tohfa Tohfa' [Tohfa] as 'dhols' and 'ghunghroos' come together in unison to create the sound of late 70s and early 80s. With a Lakshmikant-Pyayelal patent all over 'Dhoom Taana', it is only consolidated further as Shreya Ghoshal sings the song in a style that was made famous by yesteryear singer S. Janaki in Jeetendra-Sridevi-Jaya Pradha films. Roping in of Abhijeet too seems to be done with a purpose since it only brings the nostalgia of Kishore Kumar in spite of no conscious effort by the singer to do so.

All through this vintage song, the 'dhol' beats accompanied by the chorus of 'Dhoom Taana' is hard to be missed though there is a shift in mood mid-way with rock-n-roll. Just recently there was news around Deepika Padukone shaking a leg with Sunil Dutt, Jeetendra and Rajesh Khanna, courtesy SFX. Well, 'Dhoom Taana' seems to be just the candidate for that setting! A winner which should definitely have the house on fire as it unfolds on the big screen. Especially watch out for the crescendo towards the song's end.

Finally comes a track which seems to be set in accordance to the reincarnation theme of the film. Set as a tribute to 'Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha' [Karz] with even the lyrics taking a cue from the classic track by Lakshmikant-Pyarelal, 'Dastaan-E-Om Shanti Om' is set in exactly the same story telling mode. The styling of this Shaan rendered track follows the same mode as one expects a high voltage dramatic narration when the song is on.

High on orchestra, 'Dastaan-E-Om Shanti Om' is an elaborate number which has a lot to convey through it's lyrics by Javed Akhtar. With its 'mukhda' based on the film's theme music, the song makes an appearance again towards the end of the album. In it's 'remix version' as 'Dastaan - The Dark Side Mix', it is pepped up further with additional arrangements.

Another remix track which takes the album towards its completion is 'Om Shanti Om - Medley Mix' which basically is an amalgamation of all the tracks from the film presented in a 'club-mix' avtar. A good way to wind up the album. Finally comes a minute long theme piece which is titled 'Om Shanti Om - Themes'. Played on a piano, it leaves a lasting impact even as one can revisit the sound in at least half the tracks in the album.

Credit must go to Farah Khan who mixes the commercial elements of the movie with an inherent class which she wanted to lay out in the soundtrack for Om Shanti Om. This is why a fine balancing act is done in the album with hardcore massy tracks like 'Deewangi Deewangi' [best of the lot], 'Dhoom Taana' and 'Dard-E-Disco' presented along with touching tracks like 'Aankhon Mein Teri', 'Main Agar Kahoon' and 'Jag Soona Soona Lage'. And then there is always a 'Dastaan-E-Om Shanti Om' to bring the nostalgia of 'Ek Haseena Thi' [Karz'].

Source: IndiaFM

Overwhelming Response to Om Shanti Om's Promos

It’s not even a week since the first look of ‘Dard-E-Disco’ was out and the song, especially due to ‘perfect-six-abs’ of Shahrukh Khan, is already the talk of the town. Composed by Vishal-Shekhar and written by Javed Akhtar, ‘Dard E Disco’ is a ‘jump-on-the-dance-floor’ number which has a Persian touch to it even as overall feel of the song stays on to be Western.

“I am thrilled with the kind of reactions the song is fetching. As the teaser suggests, this is my way of re-introducing Shahrukh Khan”, quips Farah Khan, director of this year’s most awaited film Om Shanti Om.

Re-introduction it certainly is, considering the fact that after ‘Kaal Dhamaal’ [Kaal] where he danced in designer sleeveless vests with Malaika Arora, Shahrukh Khan has shed his inhibitions further and gone the Monty route, even if it is only half the way!

“Well, full credit to Shahrukh for attempting something like this which showcases him in an altogether different ‘avtaar’”, talks Farah fondly for her superstar friend, “The idea was to give him a much leaner look, while refraining from making it all look artificial.”

“Shahrukh has a good physique but when you are required to remove shirt for the camera and the entire world is expected to watch you, extra care has to be taken”, explains Farah about the effort which went behind the makeover of 40 years plus King Khan.

She adds, “We never wanted a beefy look for him, that wouldn’t have worked. Instead, what you see is a body which befits that of a swimmer. Also, it was not just the physique part on which we concentrated. Even his hair has been done differently to give him a real makeover.”

A contemporary track with Sukhwinder Singh in his full elements and Marianne, Nisha and Caralisa coming together for backup vocals, ‘Dard-E-Disco’ is a true-blue dance number, as expected from Vishal-Shekhar. Still, one can’t help but ask Farah whether a situation like this was absolutely required in the film?

Justifies Farah, who is dabbling between paying visits to doctors and supervising media campaigns for her November 9 release, “As we all know, the film has Shahrukh Khan as junior artist in the 70s followed by being a superstar of 21st century. These are the times when every superstar is removing his shirt with a physique to die for. It is imperative for the character played by Shahrukh Khan also to dabble in something similar”, she smiles.

Meanwhile first promo of the film has reportedly settled down with the audience too. “It was always expected that it would be very well received across multiplexes. People were clapping and cheering aloud while it was played first. You have to be there to witness the noise level when the promo was on; one could barely hear what was being played on screen”, informs Farah about the crowd reaction.

“What further thrilled me was the response from theaters across UP and Bihar. After being elated with the tremendous response, distributors have not stopped calling ever since”, cheers Farah.

JoginderTuteja, IndiaFM

The most-ripped body in Bollywood

A recent Rediff India Poll reveals all !

It's interesting how times have changed. We asked our readers, a few days ago, about which of our superstars is the studliest, which man has the best body.

We highlight the three most popular choices:


1. Shah Rukh Khan

Now, Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar don't even make it to the top three, thanks to the new Om Shanti Om song and a post-40 Shah Rukh Khan startling the world by turning out to have the most-ripped body in Bollywood.
This is one helluva sculpted body is surely making every other Hindi film actor sweat.



2. Salman Khan

It's probably because of the fact that he doesn't need the slightest provocation to whip off the shirt, but Sallu's chest has left an imprint on our collective memories. Among the best looking heroes out there, Salman's body always scores high.



3. Hrithik Roshan

Beefcake is the word for this muscleman, with tremendously oversized biceps and a puffed up chest. While that narrow waist might not entirely match up, this man fills out a singlet pretty darned well.

Source: RediffIndia

Shah Rukh Khan's 'Chak De' continues relentless box office run

While making the movie, probably, neither Shah Rukh nor director Shimit Amin or writer Jaideep Sahni realized that they are making a landmark film. I call it landmark because with subtle sophistication, the movie ends up packing in lots of lessons.

To begin with, the film has many positives. Lessons in team building and leadership qualities make for superb management case studies. Similarly, virtues of patience (the final scene when Balbir Kaur tells her mom, "Bebe, gussa karma accha nahin hota") and putting nation above individuals ("Mujhe states ke naam na sunayie dete hai, na dhikaie dete hai, Sirf ek mulk-a-naam sunayie deta hai, I-N-D-I-A") make for lovely school text book lessons.

The film holds up the mirror to our society in many places. For instance, when Molly Zimik is not pleased to be addressed as a guest and questions, "Apne hi desh mein mehman?" - the alienation of North-East comes to the fore. Or insensitivity of North towards the varied cultures and languages of the South makes Nethra Reddy remark, "Tamil or Telegu mein utna hi fark hai jitna ki Bihari or ….". Or Our Gennext's cluelessness about places like Jharkhand reflect sharply on the current scenario and corrections to be made.

The magical power of Chak De can be gauged by the cheering and clapping in the theatres. Mr Narayan Murthy, Chief Mentor, Infosys technologies is the latest to join the Chak De fan club. After watching the movie, he comments, "I wish more and more of our leaders see 'Chak De' and learn these precious lessons".

Source: SAWF News

SRK flaunts six-pack look, charms Sania Mirza

Despite having turned up two hours late to promote the Sunfeast Open Tennis Championship, the superstar immediately began to work his magic - first on his co promoter tennis champ Sania Mirza.

"These people are absolutely wonderful, take pictures I'm touching her," he said.

And then, he also had a word for all the women in the room who were waiting for the superstar to arrive. "I love women. And it's true I love them the most, I love all of you, " he quipped.

When the conversation turned to sports and tennis, he let Sania take centrestage.

"I can assure you one thing, as athletes and I think I speak for all of them, when we step out on the court or on the field, we are giving our hundred per cent. We are human, we cannot win everything," she said.

Shah Rukh too chipped in with his opinion here. "They are fantastic but we need to encourage them and accept that it's sports. I think we mustn't forget that sports is about winning and losing. One can't win all the time," he said.

The talk once again veered to SRK's fit new six-pack look. In his usual sporting manner, he gave a witty reply to the shirtless hype. "Now they are asking for pant-less Shah Rukh, which i am kind of thinking about," he said.

Pants off...err...hats off to that!

Heres the link to watch the video:

Click Here To Watch

Source: CNN-IBN

I can act without taking off my shirt : Shah Rukh Khan

Notwithstanding his six-pack abdomen which is in the limelight, Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan feels he is capable of acting without taking off his shirt.

"In 'Om Shanti Om' I play a hero of today. I felt that everyone in the film world looks cool these days and we went for this look," Khan, who attended a event with tennis star Sania Mirza to promote an upcoming tennis tournament, said.

Khan said he had received praise from fellow actors like Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan for his new look. But Salman had also told him he was looking too thin.

The star said he had great respect for sportspersons and had taken up an exercise regimen after shooting for his recent hit "Chak De India", which centres round the game of hockey.

Asked if he had any regrets about not doing the Oscar- nominated cricket-based movie "Lagaan", Khan said, "After watching the film, I thought only Aamir (Khan) could have done justice to it. However, I did manage to do 'Chak De'."

Khan parried questions on whether there had been renewed interest in hockey following the success of "Chak De India".

"I want to make it clear it is not because of the film that we are doing well in sports. Instead it is because they (sportspersons) are doing well that such movies are made," he said.

With more sports-based movies expected from Bollywood in the near future, this could become a new genre in the film industry, he remarked.

Source: EconomicTimes

‘SRK is a director’s dream’, says his Guru

Excerpts from the interview :

He left his hometown in the West and settled down in India, to teach acting. After setting up an acting school in Delhi and teaching the nuances of the profession for over 36 years, world renowned acting teacher (popularly known as the ‘theatre guru’) has now shifted base to Mumbai, because, according to him, “Mumbai is the ultimate destination; Mumbai is Bollywood.

Speaking of actors, one of his most-famed students happens to be the King Khan of Bollywood — Shah Rukh Khan — among others like Shiney Ahuja and Kunal Kapoor.

So, when he was training Shah Rukh way back in the early 80’s, did he realise the potential that SRK had?

“He had an unmatched zest to learn, he was extremely committed and put in a lot of effort, just like he does today for any project. He’s a director’s dream,” smiles Barry, as he remembers how SRK’s work in theatre was “energetic, lively and witty.” But is the ‘actor’ in him misjudged because of his ‘star’ status? “The actor versus star debate will always plague big artists. But Shah Rukh has proved his worth as an actor,” says Barry.

Nicole Dastur,TNN