‘You retire when you don’t get work’: Shah Rukh

King Khan, who turned 43 recently, says there’s no stopping yet He talks about his dreams, plans and family…

Rukh Khan who celebrated his birthday last week. And when he switches on the charm offensive you can’t but agree.

Funny, down to earth and unflappable — Shah Rukh has the right mix of star power and vulnerability. He is in his prime now and is looking forward to his upcoming releases, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Billo Barber with infectious enthusiasm.

“A week ago, I got a call from the office of Yash Raj Films saying that they were keen to start the promos of Rab Ne…, but were holding on to it because they wanted it to be a birthday gift for me,” says the actor. “I was touched, because I thought it was a very sweet gesture.” But he does not believe in starry birthday bashes.

“We’re just normal human beings,” he says. “We eat the same food. We get up and go to work as other people do. Of course, my work is a bit weird as at 43, I wear make-up.” And he thinks he has done pretty well and does not seek more gifts from providence. “There is nothing more I want to ask for.

When I met Richard Gere, I asked him how his kids were and he told me they are healthy. I was surprised because generally we say they are good and mischievous but he told me that if you ever ask for anything for someone, ask for health. So when I pray on my birthday, I just ask for the good health of my family and everyone else. My family prays for me and so I don’t need to ask for anything for myself.”

Ruminating on the past is not an SRK trait and he has no problems in confessing that. “I’ve always been on the rise,” he says. “And the ride has been great. When I retire, I will sit back and ponder over what was good and what was bad. I am too busy working now to think about all this.” Do actors ever retire?

“In the entertainment business, you retire when you don’t get work,” he says stoically. “You don’t decide when you don’t want to work. That’s a reality that every star faces one day.” But then there is Amitabh Bachchan who has broken all these rules. “He is worldclass,” says Shah Rukh. “I think he is the only human being on earth who can be like this. He is an amazing exception.” Of course, retirement is the last thing on Shah Rukh’s mind now. He is looking forward the release of ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

“It is very close to our hearts because Adi has made a film a long time after Mohabbatein,” he says. “It’s a funny, entertaining film. It has the Yash Raj style. The story is of a common man you will identify with. This is a total antithesis of the Raj and Rahul characters I have done before.

My wife and kids loved it too.” Shah Rukh does not think it’s odd to work with actresses who are less than half his age. “If you want to pair heroines opposite me in song and dance movies, they will certainly be much younger than me,” he quips.

And they are taller too. “Yes,” he says, laughing. “When I was shooting for a song with Deepika and the other girls for Billoo Barber, Priyadarshan asked me if he should tell Deepika to take her shoes off as she was looking too tall. I told him she’s already barefoot!” Though Shah Rukh is considered a youth icon of today, he does have some reservations about modern youth. “Television and Internet exposes them to a lot of things that we never even knew,” he says. “Sadly, in the process, the youth have lost the power of imagination and it has also curbed their creativity.”

The superstar says he does not sign films for money. “What’s important for me is telling a story,” he says. He also dismisses rumours that he will leave Mumbai in some years. “I will always be here because this is home now,” he adds. “I will work here, live here and will die here in Mumbai!” Will son Aryan emerge as a rival 10 years down the line? “No, I don’t think so,” laughs Shah Rukh.

“Like other youngsters, he can only try. I don’t even know if he wants to be an actor.”

SRK croons for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

This is not the first time that King Khan has lent his voice for any flick.

The song that he crooned for Josh is still refreshing in the mind of the people. After ‘Apun Bola Tu Meri Laila’, SRK croons ‘Haule haule se dawa lagti hai’ with singer Sukhvinder Singh and newcomer Anuksha Sharma for Yashraj banner, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

It was the idea of director Aditya Chopra that SRK will sing a particular song in the film and when he passed this idea to Shahrukh, he was overwhelmed with the proposal and at once grabbed the bright opportunity. He very passionately landed his voice. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is touted to be another big hit of Shahrukh.

Aditya and Shahrukh have been strongly bonded for the last eight years and their combination has given uncountable hits.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi New website!

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ has a great new website with an out-of-this gallery, giving us more than a glimpse of the most anticipated film of 2008. Loads of SRK’s ‘cool avatar’ pics there…

Check out the fabulous SRK pics in the gallery section…

Also, read the Story Synopsis, listen to the Music, watch the Promos and get cued on the Cast and Crew of the film…

Here the link: Click Here

Shah Rukh Khan: Man Uninterrupted

Did you know that Shah Rukh Khan does not use soap or shampoo? That he has never seen a sunset? That he has a bathroom as big as a living room ? If not, then read on…

You are now 43 years old. Tell me three things you didn’t know at 23 and at 33.
At 23, I didn’t know that I would be an important film person, I didn’t know that there is so much goodness in the world, that looks at me with such kindness, and I didn’t know how bad an actor I was. At 33, I didn’t know that I could play a school kid in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, or a college kid actually, and pull it off. I didn’t know how beautiful my children would grow up to be and I didn’t know that at 43, I would still look like 33.

How have your fears changed from the time you were in your twenties, through your thirties and now in your forties.
At 23, I was fearless, I had nothing to lose. At 33, I was very conscious materially about the work that I did, I used to get scared of flops and hits. At 43, I only fear for my kids. If my son is jumping on the trampoline, I’m worried. I again know what fear is.

Do you ever actually intend to fade out into the sunset?
Sushmita Sen has told me many times that I should sit on my terrace and watch the sunset. I don’t know what a sunset is. I have never appreciated its beauty nor have I derided it. I have no essence of sunset unfortunately and I also don’t believe in fading away. My father used to say that ‘Shama bujhne se pehle, last me flicker hoti hai, glow hoti hai.’ I think I’ll go off like that. I’d like to make the last century in my retiring test match. I also think actors don’t go away, actors are just very courteously shown the door. We are employed, I truly believe, by the people who watch us, not by the producers, distributors and the directors. And for a certain time our employers are very happy with us, and one day, the employers don’t throw us out. They just stop giving us important work.They will show me the door very decently.

Actors often say that competition makes them more responsible. What does it mean to you?
Nothing, nothing at all, very early on in life I had decided that and I have written it in my book too. I will give you an example of sports because I like sports. I call it the race thought. I have told this to Abhishek and Hrithik too and whenever they feel down they message me to tell them about the race. It is quite simple. If someone runs a race in 9.5 seconds and I run it in 10, even if I want to beat the person I have to still beat my own time. I have to go 9.9, 9.8, 9.7, 9.6 and 9.5, all those are my timings, so in the end the competition is with myself. The race is not about running fast enough, the race is not about running hard enough, the race is about running long enough. Also as I have become a better person, calmer, quieter, nicer, mellow, maturer, I have never thought of competition. And so I have no competition.

When something good happens to you, who do you run to tell it to?
Nobody really. If at all I do, it’s to my children because I feel that they are avatars of my parents. I know that’s untrue, but I believe that. There’s an old song which says that ‘when you finally come knocking there’s nobody home’ and that has happened to me. I have gotten over this desire to tell any one. Now my attitude is ‘Ye khatam ho gaya incident, lets move on.’ Right now my son, my daughter and I, we count our medals and have fun but they have more than I had when I was their age. But then schools have become more liberal with awards too.

When you need a bouncing board, who do you go to?
If it’s about films I go to Adi (Aditya Chopra), Karan (Johar) and Farah (Khan). Otherwise my thoughts are all here in my laptop. I just put it down there, then read them back as if somebody is telling them to me. I write a lot, just thoughts, now this is going to be a part of my book. Creative thoughts, I tell my team. I don’t really discuss my thoughts with anyone. Not even my family. I am quite reclusive about my thoughts.

You always say you are shy…
I’m very shy. I think 90 per cent of what I do as an actor stems from the fact that I am a shy person. At my own home, at my own parties, I’m out of place. Maybe, being the second child, I just turned out a little more shy. I am shy of women, and I’m shy of new people. If somebody asks me a personal question, I still blush. I have to take my kids if I have to go to a toy store. I can’t go anywhere alone, shop or travel alone, but put me on stage, before 10 lakh people and tell me to talk about life, and if I know an audience wants to see me, and know me, I can easily do it because I’m then someone else. I’m just an employee of this fantastic super star, not as talented as some other people, not as good looking as some other people, not as tall as some other people, but he is good, I like working for him.

When does SRK the star sleep and when does the man wake up?
Whenever I’m by myself. I am a very simple boring type of guy just like Sunder Sahni in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. That space has been given to me by my family and my friends, they allow me to be boring. The star awakens when you put a camera in front of me. We are genuinely two different people. I say one thing and I believe it, and I have another thought about the same point too. Its not that I am dichotomous, or I am hypocritical but I just believe both the points of view. Mahesh Bhatt always told me that “you are schizophrenic” and yeah maybe I am. I am a controlled schizophrenic on the loose. Now as I am getting older I can understand it.

How do you avoid the ivory tower syndrome? Do you even want to?
When you don’t have an ivory tower, you want to build one around yourself, I actually have it, and so I am at peace with it. I just do my work. My work requires me to spend a lot of time with the people that I work with, so I am really a little out of touch with other people. But that does not mean I am out of touch with reality because I know where I have come from, what I am, what humility and education my kids should have. My shadow should never overpower the personalities that they have later on in life.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and not liked what you saw?
I’m not very vain, once I have worn my make-up, I don’t even look in the mirror. I am not extremely in love with myself, neither do I hate myself. I don’t even comb my hair if I am not shooting. Once I bathe and shave, I don’t comb my hair. People at one time used to think that I am a metrosexual male. I don’t even understand that. I’m not given to anything that is vain, in terms of beauty treatment or whatever. I don’t even use a soap or shampoo.

How has the perception of fatherhood changed for you?
Like I just said I fear for them and for me, like I never thought of life ending for me suddenly, but I think of it now. I am like ‘I hope these guys get enough of me’. I truly believe the cliché that there is nothing as satisfying as being a parent. I was driving two to three hours every morning for the last few days and one of the thoughts I had was, “Ghar aacha hai, aache picture bhi bana li hai, stardom bhi hai, paisa bhi hai, awards bhi hai, sab kuch hai and phir bhi karta ja raha hoon and never has the thought come to me that I should stop this because with all this is another thought that “mein yeh rokoonga to karoonga kya? The word actor defines me. This is what I am. But then a thought came to me that what if I stop working right now, I just dedicate myself to waking up in the morning, getting my kids ready for school, dropping them to school, wait for them to come back, spend a little while with them, study a little with them, try to put them to sleep, play games with them, I can lead the rest of my life like that. That’s what fatherhood means to me. My kids complete me. I love the purity of kids untouched. I like their rudeness and I like their goodness. They are so politically incorrect and they are so pure.

How do you see the difference between lonely, alone, loner? Which defines you?
Lonely is nothing but a state of mind. You can feel lonely when you wish to, you can call upon lonely whenever you want to feel sorry for yourself. Lonely is your best friend who does not even need a phone call. It’s the fastest deliverable commodity as an emotion in the world. You can prolong the period, you can shorten it, and you can bring it back. Some people also use lonely as an artistic expression. I think it is really a tool of self pity with a nice word.I don’t know if it’s the right way to put it, some people by nature are aloof and listen to a different drum beat, they dance to a different music and they are happy. Loners are happy people. Lonely can be unhappy because you wish it to be. But loner is a guy who is not dancing to the music that you hear. So loner is nice, and when I want to intellectualise it, I can be an intellectual loner. I call it reclusive.

Alone is a good space. It is not lonely and it is not dancing to a tune. I think alone is something that you should utilise, as meditation, as self-analysis. I like being alone, a couple of hours a day or an hour a day. I do that in my bathroom. And not necessarily doing the things you do in a bathroom. My family knows about it, it’s a joke that Shah Rukh spends lot time in the bathroom. My bathroom is like a living room. My wife has made it like that. She says you are going to sit there hiding from all of us, then you might as well as well sit in a chair. I just relax and read a book. Sometimes I take a telephone, or a video game. I just sit down and I empty my mind which is also known in modern terms as unwinding. Alone is just to be. It is very important for some kind of a creative process also. Its also great to re-energise yourself. Alone is good, lonely is pathetic because it is self-inflicted, and loner is intellectual reclusiveness. Of these three I am mostly ‘alone’. And to turn a phrase around, ‘At the top it’s always like this, not lonely, just alone.’

Animation fails to make SRK-Salman bond

The great divide between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan has been in news for quite a while. Now, it seems this realistic battle is all set to hit celluloid as well.

News is that Karan Johar, who is making an animated version of his directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai called Kuchie Kuchie Hota Hai has roped in Sanjay Dutt to do the voiceover for the character that Salman played in the original. However, the other actors — Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji — will dub for the animated version.

Some industry people say Sanjay dubbing for Salman could be a result of the SRK-Salman fight as Karan and SRK are close friends and King Khan is in no mood to reconcile with Salman. However, Karan says the inclusion of Sanjay was due to the changes made to the character Salman originally played.

Karan says, “It is true that Sanjay Dutt is lending his voice to the character that Salman played in the original film. In the animated version we made certain modifications to Salman’s character and so after those changes, we realised that Sanjay Dutt was best suited to lend his voice for it. It was not due to any other reason.”

Whatever may be the reason, SRK and Salman are definitely not sharing screen-space, not even in animation.

The Mesmeric SRK persona

Shah Rukh Khan’s fan following doesn’t stop growing. Those who come in touch with Shah Rukh Khan, just once is enough to get mesmerised by his charm and magnetic person. Here’s one more… ;

Composer Rahul Seth, who composed a jingle for a radio ad for King Khan, has joined the band wagon.

SRK gave his voice for the jingle that was recorded at his house Mannat. “He’s so humble, it’s overwhelming to see a superstar like him, getting involved in every aspect of his work.That’s amazing,” recounted Rahul who has also dubbed for the Hollywood super-star Will Smith for the Hindi version I am Legend.

Rahul happens to be the nephew of renowned author Vikram Seth. The composer is now look forward to working with SRK once again.

Looks like SRK continues to cast his spell on everyone!

Shah Rukh Khan: Future perfect

Can the stars be more favourable for this man? Noted astrologer Bejan Daruwala’s Ganeshaspeaks.com predicts what the coming year holds for SRK. Read on…

From being a normal TV actor, Shah Rukh Khan has risen to the helm of Bollywood. Having been bestowed by the title of Datuk in Malaysia recently, SRK has proved his national as well as international popularity and fame.

Let’s see whether the coming year brings him more fame (if that’s possible) and success…

Astro analysis: The Lord of the tenth house Venus, which signifies art and acting, is situated in the fifth house making it immensely powerful. The situation of Rahu is in Kendra ie the tenth house indicating strength. As Saturn is a slow moving planet, Khan is progressing in his career gradually. Presently, he is under the influence of major period of Saturn and also sub period of Saturn.

So what’s in store?

On the career front, 2009 is a very progressive year for Khan. Any business related assignments or films that he takes up from April 03, 2009 to October 03, 2009 will definitely bring him greater fame. He may start a new venture which might bring him success. He will also become more calculative and logical but may take some rash decisions.

In the second and the third quarter of 2009, his career seems to be very bright. He will be able to establish himself as a successful businessman as well in the coming year. He may get financial gains through business as well as films.

The last quarter of the year 2009 may not give him any great gains. He will come up with a big business project. But, its launch may get delayed due to some difficulties but finally the project will make good money.

Radio One thrills Shah Rukh Khan Fans with an all day playlist

Fans of Bollywood’s reigning King Shah Rukh Khan, had a special treat this Sunday, November 2nd, as Radio One 94.3 FM, for the Fataafat Generation, thrilled them with a day-long playlist of Shah Rukh songs, movie history, tv history, stage shows, trivia, gossip and conversation.

The playlist included songs and dialogues from all time great Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to new releases Om Shanti Om and Chak De India. Listeners could call in to share star stories, wish Shah Rukh a Happy Birthday or request favourite songs.

Through the day RJ’s shared anecdotes from the stars extraordinary life, some inspiring, others humourous and outrageous, while Ghanta Singh regaled listeners with some excellent mimicry of the star.

Says Vehrnon Ibrahim, National Programming Director, Radio One, “This is Shah Rukh Fataafat. Tune in anytime of the day, and instantly you will be immersed into a rocking celebration of the life and times of Bollywood’s biggest star on his special day.”

SRK Launches $2.1 Billion Boulevard in U.A.E.

The development project, a tribute by ‘King Khan’ in response to the love and affection shown by the people of the U.A.E. to Indian cinema, Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard will be located on the Dana Island in Ras Al Khaimah.

This is the latest in the series of endorsements and signature developments that are coming up in Dubai with names such as Brad Pitt, Boris Becker and Tiger Woods continuously doing the rounds.

Khan will work closely with Los Angeles based architect Tony Ashai in the design concept of the beachfront community comprising 10 residential towers, it was announced during a press conference here.

Announcing the project with T.S.A. Group, Shah Rukh Khan said, “Indian cinema has enjoyed strong emotional ties with the U.A.E. and Arab cine-goers for decades. The Arab world is Hindi film industry’s strongest foreign market.

“Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard is my tribute to the love and affection shown by the people of the U.A.E. to Indian cinema. I have lent my name to the project and I intend to share and transfer my passion for design and living spaces into this world class community that residents will be proud of.”

Scheduled for completion in 2012, Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard will have residences including specially designed studios, and one-and two-bedroom apartments and townhouses. It will also have beach front features piers and boardwalks besides marine sports and leisure facilities.

Shafi Toffic, President of T.S.A. Group, said, “With a fan base of over three billion people worldwide, Shah Rukh Khan is the most successful name in the movie industry globally. It is our honor to be associated with him to develop a premium, resort-style community on Dana Island, Ras Al Khaimah, a fast developing tourism and lifestyle destination offering peaceful pristine surroundings.”

Tony Ashai, Principal, Ashai Design Corporation, U.S.A., commented, “This project is very special to me because of Shah Rukh Khan’s involvement in the concept and design.”

Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard will be part of Dana Island, which will eventually house several hotels, a shopping centre and commercial complexes spread across 6.3 million square metres.

T.S.A. Group will showcase the boulevard at Cityscape Dubai 2008 running here from October 6 to 9. Rakeen is the master planner and development arm of the Ras Al Khaimah government in the UAE.

The top-secret script of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is out!

Aditya Chopra’s films are shrouded in secrecy and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is no different. From the leading lady of the film to the story, it’s all closely guarded.

There have been rumours that the story was kept hidden even from the crew of the film. No one had even seen the script, besides the three lead characters — Shah Rukh, Anushka Sharma and Vinay Pathak.

But the thing with secrets is that they always get out. Just as it did with the story of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. A source from the industry tells all: “It was a very earthy romantic film about SRK who is married to Anushka Sharma. There is a big age difference between them and they are not what you’d call a perfect couple. They are merely stretching their marriage with no real romance in between them. They are two very different people. There’s a reality dance show called Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi — which is the main backdrop of the movie. The show is on the lines of popular television show, Nach Baliye.”

The source continues, “Anushka wants to take part in the dance competition but she can’t because her husband is a old and not hip and happening. She fears that if she dances with him, she will lose the show and become the laughing stock among all her friends, who are taking part in the same. Shah Rukh over hears his wife’s problem and decides to go in for a makeover. He then watches some movies and changes his image completely and comes back to the show and woos Anushka off her feet. All the way through the dance competition, she keeps on falling in love with this new and improved Shah Rukh, without once realising that the man she is dancing with, is her real husband.”

The spokesperson for Yash Raj Films simply says, “No comment!”