Shah Rukh is the face of new channel &TV, is hosting a game show
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; January 23, 2015)

Shah Rukh Khan looks fresh and charged up despite shooting the previous night. He’s barely had any sleep, but finds the time to launch a new channel & TV from Zee Network. Witty as ever, Khan is the life of the game show India Poochega — Sabse Shaana Kaun?, that marks his return to TV as a host. The unique show will have people from across India asking questions to the contestants, who have to be street-smart in answering them. SRK presented a sample of the game-show and from what we saw, it is really fun and lively. SRK’s last three TV outings — Kaun Banega Crorepati, Zor Ka Jhatka and Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain? may not have rated well, but it looks like this one will hit the bull’s eye. Excerpts from our chat...

What took you so long to return to TV?
The offers that came my way just weren’t interesting enough. I like the Q&A format in a show. I do the same with my children Aryan and Suhana at home and it’s fun. So when I got the opportunity to do it on a platform like this, I found it interesting. I am going to work round-the-clock and finish this. Right now, the team is going around the country and finding people who can ask questions.

Will the show also give the background of the people who are asking the questions?
Yes, I have asked them to show their background. It will be interesting. For instance, if a housewife says she is a fan of Lata Mangeshkar, we can ask her to hum a little. Some places I am trying to go myself and do an interview with them. I want to keep it as interactive and real as possible, even go live at times.

Your last show didn’t do well. How confident are you now?
For me, more than success, it is important to see how much happiness can be spread. The sets are good, research is good, I am good (smiles) — it has all the ingredients to be a success, not just in terms of ratings but how much it will entertain. For me, it is the most entertaining show. Depending on the questions from the common people, it will be very interesting. For instance, housewives will choose housewives to ask questions. The pyramid will get bigger. There are people from different walks of life — politicians, sportspeople, celebrities, etc.

Has anybody shown you any shaanpatti so far?
Nobody, my reputation is such (Smiles). Everybody meets me with love!

Will we see you in any fiction show?
I enjoy thrillers, I used to watch a detective show Tehkikaat in the early days of Doordarshan. Even Karamchand had a good plot. If something like that comes my way, I might.

Since 24, several channels and producers are trying to procure rights for foreign shows to be remade in Hindi. Will your production house look at acquiring any international shows?
I would like to, I have discussed it with friends from TV. But I think our thinking is very different. I love watching House Of Cards, Fargo and Prison Break. Not that they are very evolved, but that is forward TV specifically for Indian families. What is shown is these serials and the storylines are such that it can be shown in films. In Indian households there are kids, uncles, aunties, grand parents etc, who may not see TV at the same time, even if it’s on. For instance, in the house when you are hearing songs, bhajans and poems, if a naughty song is being played it seems strange. Not that we feel bad to hear it, but it’s a little awkward if your naani is there and the song Sexy, Sexy is playing. It sounds odd. I think it will take considerable time for these foreign storylines to be adapted to Indian TV.

What shows do you watch with your children?
With my son Aryan, I watch Breaking Bad and Fargo. With my daughter Suhana it’s Glee, America’s Next Top Supermodel and Pretty Little Liars. I try to make them see some of the shows I watch which are serious, but don’t really succeed. With two bedrooms, I watch different shows with my son and daughter. If I tell Suhana to watch a show with me and Aryan together she says it’s boring and when I tell Aryan to watch with me and Suhana, he is bored! That’s what I was saying earlier. Only sometimes I get a show for the family to watch together. Most Indian households are single TV households and it is difficult to find a foreign show that can be Indianised for family viewing.

Were you offered Bigg Boss?
I was offered the show a long time ago and I had spoken about it. I didn’t get any offer in recent times.

This year you will have two releases...
I hope so, Fan and Rohit’s film. I will start shooting for his film from May for a three-month schedule. Before that I will be shooting for Raees for 40 days, and Fan is almost over.

Is Rohit’s film a remake of any old Hindi movie?
No, first I read it was a remake of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, then Hum and later Amar Akbar Anthony! Let me tell you it is none of these. In fact the narration that I have got, I haven’t heard or seen anything like it before. It’s a populist happy film but original.

Has Raees been pushed to next year?
Raees was always meant to release next year. It’s an Excel Entertainment, Red Chillies co-production and Excel has Dil Dhadakne Do and Bangistan. Raees will be their third or fourth release.