Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 4, 2020)

Rahul Roy, Anu Aggarwal and Deepak Tijori came together on The Kapil Sharma Show to celebrate 30 years of their 1990 musical hit, Aashiqui. The trio took a walk down the memory lane to reminisce about the good ol’ days. Rahul, who became an overnight sensation post Aashiqui’s release, revealed that he didn’t get any work for six months after it. “But suddenly I was offered almost 49 films and I didn’t know which to take and which to leave,” he confessed adding, “I remember Yash Chopra ji had called me for a narration. I was pre-occupied with other films and couldn’t take up the offer as many of the projects I had signed on were already on floors and filmmakers were fighting for my dates.”

When prodded, the actor replied, “Well, the film was Darr, which later went to Shah Rukh Khan and shaped his career. His character Rahul was written keeping me in mind. I still have the big regret of not signing that film.” Rahul also admitted that back then, opting out of the industry was his choice. “I went out for a good nine years, and that was my choice. So I can’t really complain,” he maintained.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 19, 2019)

Vardhan Puri will make his debut with Yeh Saali Aashiqui that releases this week. Not only is he playing a character with grey shades in his first film, but he has also penned the story and has been a part of the film’s production journey. Even though he is veteran actor Amrish Puri’s grandson, he’s not had it easy so far. In a conversation with BT, he relives the road travelled and what lies ahead for him:

Despite being in and around the film fraternity, how did you skip the paparazzi radar?
My father is not really a member of the fraternity and doesn’t hang out with the film folks. He has a different line of work and his circle has people from the world of finance. My parents are not even social in that sense; they rarely party. Fraternity parties are where you meet people from the industry, but I seldom went to those. I worked at a film studio and was busy learning the ropes of filmmaking. I still don’t have an industry friend though I know people. My buddies are the ones who’ve been with me since my school days. The reason the paps never spotted me was that I was never at the parties. I was behind the cameras on a job. It’s important to find your film; the paps will automatically find you. No sensible casting director in the business casts you because he bumped into you at a bash. He or she will chase you if you’ve knocked it out of the park at an audition. Theatre teaches you to be focussed on the prep and rehearsals, so when the time comes, you don’t have to think too much. I worked on that without compromising on my focus.

With a lineage of strong character actors like your grandfather Amrish Puri and his brother Madan Puri, the industry and the audience expects a lot from your debut film. Do you feel that the pressure you face is different from that of a star kid, like Sunny Deol’s son Karan for instance?
I think it’s a responsibility which I take very seriously. People love them both, especially daadu (Amrish Puri). I want people to love me, too. I can’t be Amrish Puri, I don’t want to be him and I can never be him. We look and sound different. However, our core values, drawn from theatre, are the same. So, our understanding of cinema is quite similar. Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra had once told me that if I ever decide to be an actor, I should refrain from aping my grandfather. He had also told me that the reason my grandfather became successful is that there was no one like him. Gaanth baandh li maine unki iss baat ki. A superstar is someone who lives in the minds of cinegoers forever. Amrish Puri is an eternal superstar who is in people’s minds even now. Sunny sir is a brilliant actor, and I am sure Karan will live up to his family’s name. Our job as actors is to deliver great performances. I will upset my grandfather if I don’t do that. I’m following his principles. He believed in the work he did, which is the reason you will never find his performance below par even if the film was not all that great. Daadu’s taken my family’s name to a certain level and I have to work thrice as hard to keep it up.

You have co-written your debut film and played a big role in getting the project off the ground…
I’ve been a theatre actor since I was five years old. I was trained by theatre veteran Satyadev Dubey, who was also my grandpa’s coach. After graduation, I started working with a studio where I assisted on Ishaqzaade (2012), Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) and Daawat E Ishq (2014). That’s where I decided to learn film acting because it’s different from theatre. I had picked up things while assisting filmmakers and I also learnt it formally, and then, I started auditioning. There were two films that I could have made a debut with, but they didn’t take off. I was upset and emotional with what had happened. Around that time, I met Dr Jayantilal Gada while I was auditioning and he was keen to launch me. I had an idea that I decided to develop with my friend Cherag Ruparel (director of the film). The reason we decided to write and pitch on our own is that no one wants to give you a chance. As an actor, people saw my auditions and were willing to cast me, but they didn’t want to hear my stories. A writer is the most important member of a team; it’s that content that takes the shape of a film. Also, once, Yash ji had told me that if I ever make my acting debut, it should be somewhat like Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Darr (1993). I pitched my idea to my father. He liked what Cherag and I had put together. We met Jayanti uncle soon after and things got going. It may all sound very easy today, but it was a long ride and wasn’t planned. It was destined to play out this way.

Wasn’t production, writing and acting a lot to handle for a newcomer?
This film is my baby. I did a lot of work on this project, not by choice but by chance and majboori. I needed to find something exciting and good to work on when my first two outings didn’t take off. My father is a businessman and he wouldn’t have made a decision purely on the basis of emotions. Making this film was like going to a film school three times over. Handling a 200-member team is tougher than handling babies.

While children from film families do have an advantage when it comes to getting a break, do you think that the story of your struggle might change the perception of those who think the industry is too nepotistic in its approach?
I don’t know about that, but I just feel that this struggle was a real blessing. I wouldn’t have learnt anything if all of this had fallen into my lap. I would not have appreciated things so much. When I was turned away from offices, rejected at auditions I remembered Satyadev Dubey, who had told me that rejections and humiliation teach you the most. There’s no actor who hasn’t faced rejection. I would give three auditions in a day. People were fed up of seeing my face at the auditions every day, but I was persistent. I remember that on one particular day when I didn’t turn up for an audition, one of the casting guys called to check on me. It was funny.

Talking about your debut, it has a strong romantic angle and it taps the grey side of romance. Was it one of your own experiences that pushed you to write this?
Yes, in some way, it does stem from one of my relationship experiences. There was something crazy that I went through, and funnily enough, even Cherag went through something similar. We started questioning the very emotion. Gradually, I realised that one should never give anyone the power to influence emotions so much. Sometimes, we have these forbidden experiences where we fall for people we should not be with. The idea behind this film is to drive home the point that it’s a double-faced world, and one should be careful while choosing a companion.

Do you still believe in love?
Of course, I’m old-school when it comes to that. Main romantic aadmi hoon. If I love someone today, I will think of a life that we can make together; I’d like to marry her. I’m not the one-night-stand kind or a hook-up type of a guy. I have been in love before, but right now, I’m single and gladly so. If I was dating someone, I would not have had the time for her, which would’ve been unfair. I will be happy to tell the world about the woman I’m with. My father and grandfather should get the credit for this. Despite being a busy actor, there’s not one scandal about my grandfather. He loved being with his family when he was not at work. My parents have been together since they were in their late teens. They’re best friends.

Lastly, while you play a cross between a hero and an anti-hero, your grandfather often played characters which were pivotal to the story. Do we see you going that route, too?
I would be lying if I say that I don’t want to lead the cast in my films, but every actor wants to play a great character today, because everything is driven by that. Sometimes ensemble cast films have a lot to offer to actors. So, if a film with a great character ticks certain boxes for me, I’ll be game for it.

MeToo has sparked many serious conversations about the gray areas around intimacy. But teaching consent doesn’t have to be boring. A bunch of educators are using music, films, chai and chairs to explain why ‘no means no’
Ketaki Desai (BOMBAY TIMES; October 21, 2018)

‘Do people think consent is like hard cash? You can’t hold it in your hand and see it, you have to learn to sense it,” sing Shakku and Megha in a colourful and tongue-in-cheek music video that certainly puts the sensual in consensual. The two are lavani dancers, an erotic folk music and dance form from Maharashtra known for thumkas and lip-biting moves rather than lessons in consent.

But it’s precisely the reason why Paromita Vohra, filmmaker and founder of the love, sex and dating website Agents of Ishq, chose the playful lavani route. “You can’t give people a lecture. If lectures worked, people would have understood consent by now. We’re trying to help people, not scold them. When you see the music videos, the lyrics are very unambiguous about consent but what you’re getting to watch is what consent looks and feels like,” says Vohra. Her website, Agents of Ishq also has several resources pertaining to consent, from handy explainers that detail what constitutes sexual harassment to podcasts about people’s personal experiences with consent.

Vohra is amongst many in the country who are taking discussions about consent out of the realm of the abstract and serious, and using art, music, and personal narratives to talk about the issue. Sukhnidh Kaur, a 19-year-old student from Mumbai, is behind a minute-long song about consent that has garnered close to 200,000 views on social media. “Did you have to convince, say ‘babe, it’s just a kiss’? That’s pressure, my friend, and that’s not consent,” she sings.

Kaur is one of the women receiving messages about people’s stories of sexual assault as part of the MeToo movement and wanted to do something about it on a larger scale. “We shouldn’t only find out what consent is when it is breached. I felt like music is an effective form of communication,” she says. In fact, since posting the video she has received messages from men saying they understand now, and even from women who said that they didn’t realise that they had been on the receiving end of non consensual behaviour till they heard the song.

While these social media videos are largely focused on adults, there also some organisations trying to teach kids that no-means-no in a fun and relatable way. Radhika Mittal, director of Super School India which runs sexual education workshops in schools in Delhi, and uses chai and Shah Rukh Khan to explain consent. “If you ask me if I want chai, and I just smile, you will ask me again and not assume I want chai. If you do that with something as small as tea, then why not kissing or sex?” Taking the chai analogy one step further, she says, “Now, say I had tea with you twice last week. What if you come up to me, open my mouth and pour tea in it? At this point the kids laugh and say that would be a crazy thing to do, and that’s when we take it further and talk about how consent isn’t permanent.”

The non-profit also uses Shah Rukh Khan movies to differentiate between ‘cool behaviour’ and ‘ajeeb behaviour’.

For instance, the SRK character in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge would be used to show the gentle, empathetic way to behave, while his stalker character in a movie like Darr or his alter ego in Fan would show them how not to behave.

The YP Foundation, a non-profit that works on sexual and reproductive rights in Delhi, UP, Bihar and Rajasthan, uses role play and games to explain consent to young kids. A child is asked to sit in a chair and the other children have to convince him or her to get off their chair without any physical intervention. Esther Moraes, communications manager at the YP Foundation, says, “This leads to a discussion about what the person’s consent means in that moment, and how the young people would want someone to convince them.”

She adds, “With an older group, we have facilitators role playing a situation relating to consent, like asking a girl out through a text message and her not being sure. Then, we switch our facilitator from that role play with someone from the group. They now have to figure out how to best maneuver this situation in real time.”

Storytelling is handy tool for Ameen Haque, founder of Storywallahs, to explain tricky concepts at sex ed workshops. “The moment you say ‘Now that you have turned 13 so we are having this conversation’, it makes kids uncomfortable. But, in a story we’re not talking about them, we’re talking about Rahul and Aishwarya,” says Haque. He goes on to tell the story of Aishwarya, a star basketball player who becomes friends with Rahul. Misinterpreting their friendship, Rahul posts on Facebook that they’re in a relationship. The story is chockfull of log-kya-kahenge drama and relatable teenage angst. “What we do is stop the story at the moment of conflict, and then open up the conversation about what Aishwarya should do next and why Rahul did what he did. Now, instead of a boring lecture it becomes a two-way conversation, where you can actually understand how these kids think and feel,” he says.

Vohra believes that a creative approach to teaching and talking about consent is part of the solution to the impasse we seem to have found ourselves in as a country. She says, “We need everything that is happening right now with the MeToo movement in our discussions about consent, but we also need things that are restorative, that help others and shows them the way forward. Literature, culture and art have the power to do that.”


LAVANI WITH A MESSAGE: The Amorous Adventures of Shakku and Megha in the Valley of Consent is a playful music video that succinctly explains consent and doesn’t shy away from showing women as people with sexual desires

Shah Rukh Khan says his 25-year journey in films is like his three-and-half-year-old child; beautiful, sweet and innocent...
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 19, 2017)



There is a line of dialogue in his upcoming film, Raees, “Ammi jaan kehti thi koi dhanda chhota nahin hota aur dhande se bada koi dharam nahin hota.” What advice did Shah Rukh Khan’s own ammi give him on his profession? The actor admits that while a chapter in his biography is dedicated to his mother’s advice, the only thing he recalls her telling him on this is never cut your costs and increase your income. “I do that in my profession,” he quips.

He also adheres to the old world belief that when someone works with you from the beginning, you take him along, no matter if he’s outdated and the world has moved on. “I don’t believe in letting people go,” he sips his coffee reflectively.

It’s easy to see that Bollywood’s Badshah is a much loved boss as his Red Chillies team, camped outside his vanity van in the Mehboob Studio parking lot, doesn’t scurry away when he wants to do this interview sitting in the open. The late winter sun is preferable to airconditioned chill inside.

Business, for him, isn’t only about making money, it should touch your life and when you feel like giving up and letting go, you should hold on. Has he ever felt like giving up? “Nooo, what would I do if I gave up? I find even people taking time off strange and shocking. For whatever its worth, I was born to make films and be an actor. I read, write, play with kids, take photographs, have lot of business interests but nothing turns me on as much as acting,” he admits.

Little AbRam who’s accompanied his dad to the studio has been hopping around, playing ball. His father admits that the child has made him kinder and gentler. “I was never mean, but now I’ve become more accepting of the fact that people are different and need to do things at their own time, pace, space and way. I’ve come to understand that they have their happy days and their off-days too,” he says, pointing out that he’s noticed that people have been writing that he is a humble star. “It’s not humility but kindness, with AbRam I’ve come to enjoy people.”

His late night tweets are evocative, even poetic, reflecting his philosophy of life at 51. SRK informs that the tweets are posted late because he doesn’t carry his phone at work and doesn’t look at it all day. “When I read something, I want to reach out to a person but it’s not my nature to say something specific. So I just make a comment on what I feel and assume the person will understand. If he doesn’t its alright, I’ve taken it out of my system,” he grins wryly. “If there is a reference, it will become a headline and I don’t want that. I don’t like explaining myself, giving clarifications, letting people know if I’m happy or disturbed with them. I’ve never liked expressing myself.” Is that why he likes acting, because it gives him a chance to express himself as someone else? “I guess so,” he nods, admitting he uses a lot of his observations of people and puts them in the context of a film.

Rahul Dholakia, in an interview to Mirror, had admitted to being surprised when after his narration, SRK summed up Raees, his character and why Rahul thought he was apt for the part with one line of dialogue from the film, “Baniye ka dimag and miyan bhai ki daring.” The actor points out that the director’s take on Raees is that though he’s in a bad world, doing a bad job, for him it’s business and in the wake of business, whatever he is does is fair.

“In a way it’s the Indian version of the Godfather line, ‘Nothing personal, it’s purely business.’ The moves and decisions he takes may seem wrong to others, but from his point of view he is right,” Shah Rukh reasons, quick to add that he has never been a part of this world, he’s more urban, but he could understand the emotions of the character.

The film is set in the ’80s and there is a Bachchan-esque aura about the character. Was he inspired by the Big B? SRK admits he has grown up watching the veteran star and looks up to him as an audience. “Mr Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor are actors I watched growing up. Yesterday, someone said Raees reminded them of Darr, you’re saying he reminds you of Mr Bachchan, I hope some role sometimes reminds one of me,” he laughs, admitting Bachchan played the common man who fights the system in his earlier films and the film’s first poster did remind people who’ve grown up in that era of Deewar.

He points out that since the film is set in ’85-’90, the cinematic qualities have been designed to remind you of that era. “It’s a world I left behind when I came to Mumbai, became a star and my life changed. Going back, seeing the a bottle of Cantharidine oil and a Ship match box and listening to songs like “Kaate Nahin Katate” made me nostalgic too,” he smiles.

The ’80s also transports one back to Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie and Sahir Ludhianvi’s poetry. He’s reportedly playing the melancholic poet-lyricist in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Sahir biopic. SRK admits he heard the story from Jasmeet Reen two years ago at his office when she had come by with Sanjay. He has also heard a few other scripts but he has not given the okay to any of them. “I’m supposed to meet Sanjay, not just for this but something else he wants to do. We’ve been meeting for the last year-and-a-half. It’s a nice script, everyone has liked it, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it,” he says.

Timing is the problem. In his next film with Aanand L Rai he plays a dwarf. Fan went ahead by nine months because of the VFX and since in Aanand’s film the visual effects are far more complicated Shah Rukh doesn’t want to give dates to anyone and get into the kind of situation where he is today, still shooting for Raees because Fan got delayed. “This film is important for me as a producer and Aanand as a director. I don’t even have the schedule yet. Aanand says we’ll finish in October but I still tell people I’m going to start in January 2018, so I don’t want to confirm dates to anyone else at the moment, I’m just listening to stories,” he says.

It’s interesting to imagine a larger-than-life superstar coming down in height and stature to play a dwarf. Shah Rukh jokes that he’s not made to be larger-than-life because he’s tall. He points out that the film actually celebrates specially challenged people. “It’s not about empathy or sympathy but about equality, accepting them as normal people. Writer Himanshu (Sharma) and Aanand are happy people so it’s a happy film. For me the exciting parts are the VFX, to get into the world and make people happy being special. If I can pull that off, I’d still be larger-than-life,” he reasons.

Of late many of his roles have surprised people, like Fan and Raees. Has he reached a curve in his career and wants to do something different? “I thought I was always curvy, I’ve done a Baazigar, Darr, Chak De! India, Asoka and Swades. Just because I do one Happy New Year and one Dilwale, people assume I’m doing only commercial films,” he grouses, pointing out that he does act in commercial films with the same aplomb, happiness and curveness that he does a Fan. “I’m an actor and I can afford to have fun instead of constantly being judged. Everybody has an opinion, but they don’t see the world from my point of view. I’m not saying it’s a better place or a higher place, it’s just a different place.”

He works 18 hours a day, he’s not cribbing or playing victim. “I get paid for that,” he says. All he wants to do is underline the fact that for him Fan was beautiful and he’d like to do another film like that irrespective of the box-office, and another Chennai Express irrespective of what the critics feel. “I’ve never done a film for any other reason than that it made me happy. Unless I’m happy how can I make the audience happy?” he argues. “I don’t get turned on by an off-beat film or turned off by a commercial film. I’m turned on playing dwarf and I don’t know if it’s curvy. I know we had fun for 10 days in the first schedule and hope it continues for a year,” he says, pointing out that the reason people are talking about a curve is because three ‘different’ films— Fan, Dear Zindagi and Raees came together—but that was just a coincidence and not by design.

Talking of happiness the fact that Salman Khan and he are friends today have made a lot of people happy. SRK jokes that they don’t hang out to make people happy. “I’m happy if people are happy, but I’m okay if they are unhappy. For me, his family looked after my folks when I came to Mumbai and that’s the most respect anyone has given me. The disagreements and agreements will continue. People react to symbolism but life is deeper than memes and tweets. Since both of us are night birds, we get more chances to meet. We are happy when we meet each other, happy when we don’t meet also. I wish him health and happiness,” he says. On Wednesday, Salman was acquitted in the black buck case. Is he planning to visit him? “I’m going to the Big Boss house on the 20th,” he smiles.

Buzz is, he’s playing an army officer in the cameo he’s doing in Kabir Khan’s Salman-starrer, Tubelight? SRK is wary of talking about that role but admits Kabir is an old friend, his wife Gauri’s batch mate, and he’d go to their school sometimes to teach them theatre.

Quiz him about the ban on Pakistani artistes and he remains tight-lipped, pointing out that the IMPAA has issued a clear cut directive when he was in Europe that films which have been shot with Pak artistes earlier, were exempt and Raees is one of these films. “We should just leave it to that and let the powers that be and the people to decide how, when, what they wish to do. I have a three-pronged job—to make a good film, second, through the media inform people to buy a ticket and give the viewer a cinematic experience. It’s unfair to use me to support someone else’s point of view as it harms the three jobs I’m doing. I am here to release Raees and that’s what I should do,” he asserts, adding that in the end it’s what you believe in and think that matters, and not just say or do something to get reactions or trend.

And how would he describe his 25-year journey in films? Just then, AbRam comes dancing along to ask who I am, what I’m doing there with his daddy and why I need to work instead of playing with him. Ruffling his son’s hair, SRK says, “My 25 years have been like my three-and-half-year-old son—sweet, beautiful and innocent.”

Aditya Chopra on Shah Rukh Khan — from the beginning to the present day
Upala KBR (DNA; November 8, 2016)

Tomorrow, writer and filmmaker Samar Khan will launch a book, SRK 25 Years of A Life on Shah Rukh Khan. He has known the actor for the 20 years when he met him on the sets of English Babu Desi Mem. It took him four years to put the book together with co-author Sonali Kokra. Samar says, “The thought behind the book was to show why his directors thought of such iconic characters for Shah Rukh. I had made a documentary called Living With A Superstar on him where he had told me that every piece (of character) he does, leaves a piece behind and today he a culmination of all the characters he has ever played in his life. If I had to know the man completely, I had to talk to the filmmakers he has worked with, so I have spoken to all his directors except Raj Kanwar (passed away) and Shashilal Nair (whom I couldn’t contact).” Read on for an extract from the book. Meet the SRK that only Aditya Chopra knows. In his own words.

“I’ve made three movies with Shah Rukh — Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Mohabbatein and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Three movies mean three characters and three stories. But in my head, all three stories are actually one person’s story. They are just three different versions of the same person. In DDLJ, I made Shah Rukh play this adorable, rich, spoilt lover-boy. He is a bad boy but he has a heart of gold. He is the kind of boy that girls are irresistibly drawn to; the stylish rogue that every girl wants to tame. Initially, I had wanted to make a trilogy based on the character’s life at different stages.

Over time, the stories evolved and changed, but yes, in a way, all of Shah Rukh’s three characters draw from each other and are interconnected. When I thought of how Raj would be 10 years after DDLJ, if he had lost the love of his life, the answer was Raj Aryan Malhotra. That was the starting point for his character in Mohabbatein. With Surinder Sahni, I was trying to portray the Raj that is hidden in each one of us. In our own love stories, we are all Raj and Simran. But just because we don’t have the paraphernalia — the leather jackets and the Harley Davidsons — is our story any lesser? It was a very sudden realisation brought about by a very everyday thing. I saw someone from my office buy flowers and chocolates for his girlfriend or wife.

And it made me realise that deep down, we all try to be the Raj that we see onscreen. Surinder Sahni is that common man who is trying to bring a little bit of the magic of movies in his own married life.

Just like the character of Raj, my relationship with Shah Rukh has also evolved over the last two decades. When we cast him for Darr, to be honest, neither dad, nor I really liked him. He was working on Rakesh Roshan’s King Uncle then and we had managed to get our hands on the reel of some footage. Neither of us were very impressed but somehow, maybe because everyone kept rejecting the negative part, we ended up signing him.

Our first shot with him was the Holi song. I think that very day itself, I knew that this man was going to be a superstar. He had a strange kind of madness in his eyes that was very exciting. I was the first assistant director on Darr.

We became casual friends, but it wasn’t like we were so pally that I’d hang out with him over beer. When I decided to make my DDLJ, I knew I had to have Shah Rukh. Mostly because in those days, Shah Rukh Khan was two people at once. There was the Shah Rukh the actual person and there was the image that he projected. Most of his roles were about this brash, arrogant and aggressive person — all the things he isn’t in real life. A good boy was playing a bad boy. In real life, he was an honest, well-read, kind boy. And that is the side of him I wanted to bring out in Dilwale... I wanted to flip his image over. Also, I didn’t want someone who had done a love story before.

I wanted the reel Shah Rukh to make the transition to the real Shah Rukh in Dilwale... So no one else would do. Initially, Shah Rukh wasn’t excited by the script. He was expecting an action hero’s role and I was asking him to play a soft, romantic character. It’s not that he didn’t like the story; it was just that it was very unexpected for him. I think being Yash Chopra’s son gave me an advantage here. His respect and reverence for my dad wouldn’t allow him to say no to me. But I think that mentally, he came onboard a 100 per cent while shooting Trimurti.

Lots of fans would come to meet the stars on the sets. One day an old lady who had been waiting to meet him, told him, “Tum itne acche ho, acche roles kyun nahi karte?” I think the woman’s words changed something in him.

By then, we had the kind of equation where I knew his dreams and aspirations for the future. I knew his ultimate goal was to become the biggest superstar in the country. I told him that he’d have to become every mother’s son, every sister’s brother and above all, every woman’s fantasy to realise his superstar dream. I told him that in DDLJ, there would be no fight sequences, no blood and chains. He would have just himself to tell his story. That was the day he said yes to the film. In retrospect, I think that old woman was an angel sent by God. By the time we started making Mohabbatein, I think I had started taking Shah Rukh for granted.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi happened under very strange circumstances. The company wasn’t doing well and I needed to make a movie to get the company’s finances rolling. But at the same time, I didn’t want to make a movie just for the sake of it. When I made Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, I could have made a far bigger film with a star-studded cast. But the only story that compelled me was that of a simple man and his simple life. That is when I had the extraordinary-in-the-ordinary epiphany about love. I went to London for three weeks and came back with a finished script. I called Shah Rukh and told him I wanted to start shooting in three months and he said yes instantly.

When I narrated the role of Surinder to Shah Rukh, he got very excited. One day he walked into my office with a pile of notes and started telling me how Suri would walk, how he would speak, his clothes, his mannerisms, everything. I had never seen him do so much homework for anything. I think the contrast in the two characters he’s portraying in the film appealed to Shah Rukh’s own dual personality.

Over the years, as a producer, a director and a friend, I have seen Shah Rukh perform multiple characters and portray all kinds of emotions. But I’ve always felt, and still feel that Shah Rukh doesn’t laugh whole-heartedly. His laughter never reaches his eyes. Somehow, it’s always a bit hollow, a bit fake. I think that maybe that has something to do with the fact that he lost his parents very early in life. I don’t think he ever got over that loss. As an actor, I think he is the best actor in the whole world and that we’ve seen only 10 per cent of his talent. That 90 per cent is still to come and blow us away.

As a filmmaker and a friend, I hope that soon, he is offered roles that tap into the remaining 90 per cent. l hope I can give him roles that tell the world, ‘’You’ve seen Shah Rukh the superstar, now see Shah Rukh the actor.”

FAN dropped on the second day at key centres which basically sealed its fate and the postmortems will happen but the genre of the film always meant an uphill struggle to meet expectations which were mainly there because of a big star like Shah Rukh Khan. It could have succeeded but was never going to be a superstar level hit. The highest grossing thriller till date is HOLIDAY - A SOLDIER IS NEVER OFF DUTY at 112 crore nett and that says it all.

The next best are EK VILLAIN and RACE 2 and the list of disappointments in the genre is huge not just over the last few years but since they started being made in Hindi. The last big hit in the genre was AGNI SAKSHI way back in 1996 and this was mainly driven by Mumbai circuit which had a tax free status.

The last one to do extraordinary business all over was actually a Shah Rukh Khan film DARR in 1993. This is probably the most successful thriller genre film in India ever but the reason it went so far was that other elements that are needed in a Hindi film were blended so well in the film especially a love story and music. Also it was directed by the one of the greats of Hindi cinema Yash Chopra and there no directors of that level today in the Hindi film industry.

Basically the bigger the star, the bigger the risk with this genre. The more popular you are then the higher the expectations go which just can't be met with the genre especially the sort of number that is expected of a Shah Rukh Khan or a Salman Khan starrer. Its difficult to meet expectations anyway and if a few circuits reject the film then the gap between expectation and final result can look huge which is the case with Fan.

The downside of mega stardom is that you can't really go out of the drama, action and love story genre today as box office numbers are reported everywhere and outside these genres you need some outstanding film to put up a megastar number.

It is also interesting to note that the other superstar of the day Salman Khan has no film in the thriller genre in our database which goes back to 1994. Not only Salman Khan but even the legendary megastars of prior generations with great box office records are likely to have filmographies devoid of thrillers.

Mohar Basu (BOMBAY TIMES; January 24, 2016)

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 7, 2015)

Had finalised Pakistani actresses, but faced visa issues. Now, Priya Banerjee has been signed on for Juhi Chawla’s role, and the hunt for the other girl is on
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; November 28, 2015)

While Shah Rukh Khan was obssessed with one girl Kiran (Juhi Chawla) in Darr, Karanvir Bohra’s remake will have two girls! Does that mean he will be obssessed with both the girls? Karanvir, who plays SRK’s role in the film, refuses to give details. He, however, admits that there are changes in the story. While Priya Banerjee, who made her debut with Jazbaa, has been signed on for the role that Juhi played in the original, the hunt for the other girl is on.

Interestingly, before Priya was chosen, Karanvir had finalised two Pakistani TV actresses, Ainy Jaffri and Mawra Hocane. However, visa problems at the last minute led to their cancellation. “There were a couple of reasons why I wanted to cast Pakistani actresses. One is, the story is based in Manali, so I needed girls with the pahadi look. Pakistani girls come close to it as they have sharper features. Secondly, the girl in the film is a poet and I needed that leheza and language. However, close to the time of shooting, the officials started asking for the specific city and location of the shoot. Also, here there were issues raised over Pakistani artistes shooting in India. So, I had to drop the idea.” He is however, happy that he got Priya on board as she fits the bill. “Priya is pretty, petite and has a vulnerability just like Juhi. I am more than happy at the way things have turned out,” smiles Karanvir.

Ask him who is he considering for the other role and he says it will definitely be a TV actress as he has a connect.

The actor who was last seen in Qubool Hai is also still trying to get the title Jaanam which is registered with Mahesh Bhatt. “The title is apt for my film and I am in talks with Bhattsahab to acquire it,” he says.

Ektaa Malik (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 1, 2015)

Aiila, Juhi Chawla!" quips Masoom Gandhi, as we wait to meet the actress at the S J studios in Andheri East. "Can I say this to her face?" she asks straight-faced, albeit with a barely concealed gleam in her eyes. The 32-year-old runs a clothes and accessorises boutique in Juhu and was excited to meet Chawla. "I grew up watching Juhi's movies and I used to shut myself in my room and dance to her songs," shares Gandhi. As a child, she also memorised dialogues from many of Chawla's hit films such as Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Ishq and the 1994 cult film Andaz Apna Apna, where the actress did a cameo.

Back in the studio, light men, spot boys, technicians and other flustered members of the crew prepare for a shoot. We brace ourselves for a long wait, fully aware of the notorious reputation that celebs have of turning up late for interviews. But to our surprise, a few minutes later, we're ushered into the actor's vanity van to meet her. Turns out, there is an unexpected break in her shooting schedule.

Looking resplendent, Chawla greets us with her trademark million-dollar smile and leads into the vanity van's inner chamber, where a gazillion bulbs light up a dresser stacked with food and make-up. "So, you are the one who wanted to meet me?" smiles Chawla, as we sit on the pull-out bed. Gandhi nods, explaining that she came to Mumbai from Patna to become an actress. "But I realised there is a lot of hard work behind the glamour," she continues. Chawla, who had visited the Bihar capital recently for the first time, says that she was left amazed by the city. "I saw a different side to life when I went to Patna for a jewellery store launch. People there are so grounded and down-to-earth. Also, I think it's very brave of young girls like you to leave their homes to pursue their dreams," says the actress.

Gandhi wants to know all about Chawla's debut movie and smash hit, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and how it shaped her career in the industry. "I had done a few films before QSQT, but I was still a newcomer. The whole set up was different — the story, the music — and both of us (Aamir and her) were also new. We could hear the crew commenting, 'Don't know what they are doing. The film will flop for sure'. I prayed so hard for the film to not flop," reminisces Chawla.

The prayers worked, and how. The film went on to become a huge commercial hit and continues to enjoy a cult status even today. But Chawla took some time to reap the fruits of her labour. "I didn't have any new projects for eight months after the film released. I even remember going around Cuffe Parade, carrying posters of QSQT, to paste them on taxis".

Gandhi, who is also a documentary filmmaker, is keen to know how the industry has changed with time and whether things are better now. "Definitely," replies Chawla.

"Everything is much more organised. The amenities are world class. Now all actors get a vanity van. In those times, only Poonam Dhillonji had one and we all used to be so happy when she came for a shoot. There were times when we had our lunch in our cars. I remember shooting for the song Roop Suhana Lagta Hai, in Chennai. I had to wear this green organza ensemble and I was sweating buckets. All around us, we could only see red sand, as gusts of hot air hit our faces," recalls Chawla. "But having said that, today, the industry is very demanding — for actors, directors and writers alike. The stakes and pressure are much higher too."

"So, did you ever feel the pressure?" asks Gandhi. "I just tried my best," replies Chawla, who's best remembered for her stellar performances in films such as Aaina, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and Yes Boss. "Initially I was jittery. I learnt and got better with each film. I remember we were shooting for Darr and I was scared and nervous as it was a Yash Raj film and Yashji (Yash Chopra) was directing. Adi (Aditya Chopra) was the chief assistant director. After every shot, I would look around for Adi to ask whether I did the scene well. I guess I did okay," laughs Chawla.

Soon, it's time for her to return to her shoot and we leave the vanity van, with a QSQT tune on our minds.

BOMBAY TIMES (October 28, 2015)