Inteview Of Shah Rukh Khan on Chak De India

Shah Rukh Khan interview about Chak De India
You won't see him cry, you won't see him clean shaved, you won't see him romancing his co-stars and you won't see him bash up bad guys. King Khan, as he is fondly called is back in his third off-beat role after Swades and Paheli where he plays the coach of a women’s hockey team in what's considered to be one of his most challenging characters he has ever portrayed onscreen. Here’s an exclusive interview with Shah Rukh Khan on his next big release Chak De India.
Chak De India appears like a very non-SRK film with you having no romantic liaisons or tear-jerking concerns.
I have known the director (Shimit Amin) for years. He is a very simple, hardworking and talented guy. He has worked with me in the film Asoka. He's a very sweet, unassuming kind of a guy and to choose a film which is on sports and which is normally neglected is daring. Apart from Lagaan, Hip Hip Hurray and Iqbal we haven't really made sports film now. It’s something that I wanted to do when I was younger but I didn't get a chance. So when I am old and grey and over the hill I am glad someone like Shimit thought that I could sort of fill in to a sports film. Field hockey has been a personal favourite sport of mine and I have been wanting my kids to learn it. I do feel I am no one to really comment from the outside that the state of Indian Hockey is not good but I have always felt that if there is anything I can do via the medium I love, that is acting, I will go to any extent to do it. Plus the fact that Yash Raj was producing it made it even special because they are all friends and family to me.

Also this time your character doesn’t have a lover-boy image.
Yes. I play Kabir Khan. He is a coach and an ex-Indian hockey player. He is having some problems in his life and wants to overcome them without being cynical and disturbed. He decides in his mind and heart that he is going to do something positive about it. It's a film about achievement in the face of failure and it's a film that looks at failure in a positive way. The idea is to take on some kind of a challenge and try to overcome that obstacle which had stopped you earlier so I would say the character is quite aggressive when he wants to be. It’s a mix of Jaideep's writing, Shimit's outlook, Adi's belief and my mannerisms and style – all rolled into one.

You don’t look the regular Shah Rukh in Chak De India
I have reached a stage where directors do not want me to look the same old Shah Rukh Khan. Shimit wanted Kabir Khan and that's how I look. A tough coach and a determined coach. I think the producer, director and the writer all thought that may be with a beard and shorter hair I would look different and I was fine with it. Only it’s very scratchy when you wake up in the morning. Even after a bath, you don't feel clean. I hope I don't have to grow a beard for another role for the next couple of years.

The entire hockey team in the film comprises of new actors.
Earlier I thought that working with newcomers would be a bit of a hassle because they would not know their lines. You know you become a little patronizing and a little kind at times, a little agitated and irritated too because things are not going the way you think they should go. But I think the whole production team had worked very hard with them and I do not want to take any credit away from these girls. I think they are very hardworking and wonderful. They have put their heart and soul into the film. They have practiced and learnt hockey, they have learnt the lines, they know the scenes they knew everything and at the end of it all after having worked for 18 years as an actor I thought I got a lot to learn.

Among the girls in the team, many of them must have been your fans.
We had a lot of readings before we started the film and couple of meetings so that we got easy with each other apart from some of them liking me. It's a little embarrassing because some of them were five to six years old when they saw my films. Then you suddenly realize, god! you are old and you've been in this industry for long. It was also important for me to be comfortable with them and not treat them like kids because the whole purpose of the character of Kabir is that he doesn't treat them like kids or girls he treats them like grown up, tough people. I think that little bit of being fans and stalwart compared to the others got over very fast in the reading and meeting stage and then we were all co-actors and co-actresses, just working together and having a great time.

You are known to be a sporty person. Did you play hockey in school?
Yes. I used to play a lot of field hockey in my school days. I was good at it but when I went and played for the film I was horrible. I was really awful. I had no stamina left. I think the technique of hockey has changed, Astroturf itself is very tiring. As shameful as it is to say but I thought I would be able to beat the girls but they kicked my butt as they were really good. I am no good at playing field hockey I realised. I realised while playing with them that it would be better if I use my status as a super star and not practice at all and tell them that I can pull it off by acting so I did that because I knew that no matter how much I practice, I would never be good at it but I have given it my best shot and hopefully it looks good enough.

What was your experience of working with Shimit Amin?
I think Shimit is a very sweet director. He's very quiet and very unassuming. He is an amazing technician because he himself is very skilled at editing which I think is half the battle won for a director and knowing fully what he wants, where he wants and how he will edit it. A sports film has to be shot in a very special way and normally it required somewhere between two to six cameras at times to shoot the film, so its very difficult to keep track of all that unless you happen to be a good technician. I think he has had a lot of education in world cinema and not just Indian cinema. He loves Indian cinema. Thus his exposure to both kind of cinema gives him an edge over a lot of other directors. He's young and he's made a wonderful film in the past Ab Tak Chhappan and he's a friend. I have known him for years and he is very comfortable to work with. A really sweet guy, he doesn't get angry, is great by nature and knows his job. He's an ideal director to work with.

Hockey as a sports option is not very common in schools today. Do you think it's a good game for the children of today?
I just hope the film can educate people to understand that even though Hockey is played with a stick and white ball it's not pool, it's not billiards, it's a different sport. It's a national sport. I would tell kids to give it a shot if they like it and go ahead otherwise there is always soccer, cricket or a Taekwondo.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the words Chak De India?
Chak De strangely to me is a line from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. I remember we used to say Chak De Phate in DDLJ. I hope Chak De India becomes like a sporting line whenever Sachin is playing. Or perhaps when Dhanraj Pillai is going with the ball, somebody screams Chak De India which means score a goal or hit a sixer or get Sania Mirza to win the Wimbledon.

Himesh Reshammiya Exposed On Koffee With Karan

Love him or loath him, but you cant ignore him.... Yes I am talking about the Nasal Wonder Himesh Reshammiya who will make an appearance in Koffee With Karan this Sunday. The singer/song-writer/actor gets candid and here are some excerpts.

Karan Johar: Firstly, congratulations on the super success of your film (Aap Kaa Surroor). I know a large section of the industry was surprised. Were you expecting this kind of success?

Himesh: I just believed in God, destiny and somewhere, I think everyone just prayed for me. That is something that worked for me.

Karan: By everyone, you mean who, large sections of the industry were not praying for you...

Himesh: No, no... Only that one percent of people just felt that this can not happen, a singer not a very good looking guy...

Karan: As in, not conventional looking... not hero material?

Himesh: I think you are being nice to me. But it was something that was unprecedented when the film started. People did say, 'Paagal ho gaya hai.' I understand. But when the film was declared a hit, people realised.

Karan: There were particular people, who were somehow targeting you. Is there anyone kind of person that you felt resentment towards?

Himesh: No. I do not feel resentment towards anyone because when you try something which is unprecedented then people are going to... until you prove it. When the film released, it was declared a hit. Many people called me and congratulated me. They said that they felt it wouldn't work so it's just that I was doing something new, something different. It takes time to accept something that is unconventional.

Karan: Have you heard that behind your back, there are other singers who are making fun of you
Himesh: Yes, of course. Why not? But, you know, when they meet me, kitne composers ke saath milne ka mauka milta hain pehli baar. Phir woh opinion badal dete hain.

Karan: But you keep very quiet about your wife. You don't talk about her?

Himesh: Because she is a very simple girl.

Karan: It's not that you feel that your image gets affected?

Himesh: No, the first time when I was asked whether I was married, I said yes.

Karan: And you have a son?

Himesh: Yes, I have a son.

Karan: What's his name?

Himesh: Swayam.

Watch Himesh Reshammiya on Koffee with Karan on Sunday 29 july

Inteview Of Abhishek Bachchan

You're tech-freak.One gizmo you can't live without.....
My Mobile.(I'm such a good brand ambassador!)

One dish that you can make without ANY help....
I'm superb in the kitechan .Zaffrani Chicken

The one thing that irks you about Bollywood
Just that...the name

Do u think your sex appeal has upped post-marriage?
Have you met anyone who thinks I'm sexy in the first place...

Describe Ash in Five Words
Five?

Ok,three...
(Pause.He thinks)

Okay,one..
Wonderful!

On a scale of 1-10,rate Ash as an actor.
I don't think it's possible to rate actor,it depend on the role,na?

Which would you say has been her best performance till date?
Guru

And other?
I guess...it's still to come

Your all time Favourite song
Dilemma by Nelly

Your favourite holiday destination
Home

Who would you like to be stuck on an island with?
Ha ha ha isn't it obvious?On second thought,may be dad,he'd definitely find a way out! He's very persistent.

The Indian actress you find Hottest
I married her!

Your favourite Amitabh-Jaya movie
Abhimaan

Party time for u is ...
Chilling out at home.