SRK worried, tense, nervous

King Khan unlike in his main-hoon-na-I-am-the-best-I-am-the-best mood with this interview. A bit tense, possibly worried about the furture of the show, KBC3, whose ad space is reportedly being sold for less rates than KBC2. Advertisers got away with bulk discount, may be the uncomfort is showing on King Khan distinctly. Star Plus Group CEO, Peter Mukerjea and CEO, Star Plus Entertainment, Sameer Nair both have resigned from the channel on account of their poor performance. Will KBC3 make it to the hit list? Only time will tell......

For the time being read on SRK's inetrview where he is at his modest best. I just can not believe this, SRK only took up KBC3 after his children aproved of it. Did he ask his children's permission before doing Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. (KANK)


The INTERVIEW WITH SRK

King Khan’s life has come full circle — after Fauji and Circus, and big screen blockbusters in between — Shah Rukh Khan’s back on TV with a reality show, but says his nerves aren’t any steelier...


So, you nervous, confident or over confident?

• I am anxious. I’m always anxious. You people all think I am pompous but that’s a just a front for me. Inside, I’m anxious. For me it’s the creative process. You create something in isolation — alone with your thoughts in the moment — and when it is exposed, there is a huge explosion of public opinion. It’s like painting. You work in solitude and then you exhibit it. In the film industry, I am sure, I know. I know where I’m headed and whether it’s in the right direction. Here, I don’t know.

Are you coping with the obvious comparisons?

• There has been hype, pressure, comparisons with this other gentleman that I am not comfortable talking about. Because all this negative and positive carries to the children, and I’m wary about that. However what really hurts me are the SMSes.
SMSes?

• That newspapers carry in reader’s polls? When a Geetika from Bhayander says ‘SRK sucks’ that really hurts me. I read them all. The good and the bad. It’s like a pimple on the face. You don’t notice the rest of the face, but the pimple you notice. I remember the nasty ones. Some are very rude.

You and Gauri work hard to shield the kids from your public persona?

• Yes. Before I took up this offer, I went to my kids, because they are very fond of Mr Bachchan, the few times they have interacted with him that is. They said “You can do it if Crorepati uncle is not doing it.” Only then I took it up.
My kids have sensed that I am anxious. So they are doing something they have never done before — they drop by the sets and linger around, when I’m doing my make up, sometimes all day. They’ve never done that on my movie sets in all these years. I think children are the first to sense these things. Mine feel they need to be there for me this time.

Do you practice questions on your children?

• Yes, I do. But we always play a card game called ‘It’s cool to be smart’ which is fun for all ages. When the media reports that ‘The stars were spotted in revelry at SRK’s house’ what is really happening is that my friends and I — Farhan (Akhtar), Karan (Johar), Kajal (not the actor, another one), Farah (Khan), Gauri (Khan) are generally laughing at ourselves (no alcohol you know) — and playing this and ‘Trivial Pursuit’ till 4 am.
The kids are up till 4 am too?

• Well, actually it gets irritating when they join in because we are trying to play competitively and you can’t play to win when kids get in. I invite their friends over and we play few rounds together — and I make them all double crorepatis!
Is there any truth to ‘SRK vs Mr Bachchan’?

• See, no matter what I say nobody believes me. He’s an accomplished gentleman who’s 64, and I am where I am, and at the stage where I am the comparison is not fair to him at all.

But is there awkwardness? Are you two on speaking terms?

• Arre yaar, this is all because of that article that weekly news magazine carried. What’s that woman’s name? I’ll slap her when I see her next. I have been in this industry for 10 years now and I have never been thwarted yet. I may be anxious but I will never be thwarted. But nobody believes me.
You are doing Bhootnath with Big B? There were rumours of discontent on the sets too...

• See, I’m only doing a guest appearance on Bhoothnath because it’s a film being made by my AD (Assistant Director) whom I’ve worked with for many years. Also, as in any film, you look at who else is in the film, and you would want to work in a film that has the right star cast.

Is TV a break from the rigours of films, considering the health issues you’ve had?

• No, I’m not taking a break. I did get hurt while shooting for Chak de... but I’m fine now. I’m doing so much more at this point—I’ve never danced in a music video before and I’ve done one with Ganesh Hegde, and am preparing for my home production Om Shanti Om, so there’s no break at all. I’m healthy and wealthy and wise....
Wise we’ll have to see no?

• (laughs) Yes. We’ll see, but I’m definitely not the ‘early to bed and early to rise’ kind... just healthy and wealthy