Newly Jazzed Up: Shah Rukh Khan in a scene from Main Hoon Naa
In A trailer outside studio 2, Film City, Shah Rukh Khan takes a break during the shoot of the last song for Main Hoon Na. The film is a few weeks from release, but the actor has not been able to hang up his dancing shoes yet.
Dressed in a turquoise blue, beaded shirt (designed by Karan Johar) and looking healthily tanned, he answers questions on his new company Red Chillies’s first production, Main Hoon Na, to confirm that Johar and he will co-produce Soham’s film with Ajay Devgan, John Abraham and Shahid Kapoor, and more. Read on:
New dreams
Last year many things happened: Aziz Mirza lost his wife, Juhi had a baby and I had my back problem so none of us could focus on our production company Dreamz as much. Farah’s film was ready to be made and we had a schedule at the St Paul School in Darjeeling, which we had to do during their holidays. So we decided to do Main Hoon Na under Red Chillies with Venus.
Red Chillies is in Gauri’s name. There are some films that we may not want to take the chance with Dreamz, some smaller films maybe, which we will make under Red Chillies.
Producing results
There were many people I could not bring into the Dreamz fold. With Red Chillies, I can. So when Red Chillies was formed, Karan (Johar) and I could produce films together under Dharma and Red Chillies. We are doing Soham’s film first.
Man of action
I love action films, but people don’t give them to me! The action in Main Hoon Na was a little stressful after my surgery but pulling it off gave me confidence.
Action shouldn’t be gruesome or angry but stylish and children-friendly. I hope we’ve done something new here. I didn’t want Main Hoon Na to look like a chick flick, just because it’s made by one (Farah Khan). If I had to make a film it would be a Bad Boys, or a James Bond type.
The story thus far
Main Hoon Na has all the 70s masala — action, bhai-bhai, ma, border issues. It is not illogically masala, but bits of logic are left on the doorstep. This film was planned during the making of Mohabbatein.
Then, the idea of India and Pakistan amicably releasing prisoners of war was less believable than it is now. Two brothers, even if on opposite sides of the border, are still brothers.
My films are for a younger audience, and they are entertaining but with a little social message. Here the messages are that of friendship between two countries and bridging the generation gap — the older guy going to college and understanding that someone with long hair is not necessarily bad.
Swades-videsh
We have only the US schedule left for Swades. This film is made for Ashutosh’s (Gowariker) audience. It’s his film, his thoughts. After Lagaan, he deserves the respect to make his film. Swades is a contemporary film about a nation and its villages. It examines a point of view about India going to the dogs, and the complacency among some people.
Chosen ones
I don’t choose films. I believe the films choose me. Now I am planning to do only two films a years. I get very involved in the projects so I get tired. I also want to spend more time with my children. I have enough filmmaker friends and just working with them can keep me busy for five years at least. But I do listen to all stories and read the scripts I get. Even if I can’t do a film, I give my suggestions (like on Munnabhai MBBS).
I have three films coming out this year — there’s Main Hoon Na, Yash Chopra’s film and Swades. That’ll give me some time off to assimilate my work and spend time with my family
