His dreams are unlimited

He may often be accused of hamming, he may pop up at you from all the possible products advertised and he may jump into production and make a film like ``Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani''. Everything is forgotten once Shah Rukh Khan starts philosophising about films, life and his role in this big universe, says CHITRA MAHESH who interviews the actor.

TWO days of waiting, one night at Film City amidst the mosquitoes, the heat and the sleep that was threatening to overtake at the late hour of one p.m., and finally yet another two hours of waiting, at the venue of the shooting of ``Devdas'', one got to meet the Peterman of the film industry - a person whose effervescence and charm made up for all the wasted hours - an actor who is perhaps at a crossroads having tasted success and done a wide range of roles that none other than Amitabh Bachchan has done - a man who is constantly experimenting no matter what the result - Shah Rukh Khan who remains one of the most delightful actors of our time.

What made you venture into production and Dreams Unlimited?

The fact that I am from theatre plus the fact that Juhi, Aziz Mirza and I are like family. A lot of times you form associations with people you like working with or just being with at your workplace... and how three friends get together - very unlikely friends... because the age attitude and the way each looks at life is different. However we decided that we wanted to make our own films. We had been together in films like ``Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman'' and ``Yes Boss'' and we enjoyed the process - we were going to make the third film. We were looking for a producer and Aziz Mirza had one in mind. He was new and we asked ``Are you ready to put in so much money?'' He said he was. It was a bit strange.. you know... quite amazed that this new guy was putting in all the money and just doing it because of the three of us. That's when we thought why don't we do the same? And we also have a team with whom we have been working with for the last nine years... writers and such like. All grown together. The cost was less to begin with because we did not have to pay the writer. He was part of the team. Once we got the script we said, ``Ok'' now we want to produce it. So we went to the music company... and, they bought the music... and we went to an overseas distributor guy... he bought it. And of course we had Juhi's husband Jai who said that everything had to be done on paper and we had to form a company... so we formed one. We were sitting and having dinner together... and I said let's call it dreams... Dreams Unlimited... so that's how it started.

Did you have any idea about what kind of films you wanted to do?

No. We like to make films that we like to make! As simple as that. There is nothing like we've got to do small cinema, big cinema, intellectual cinema... or provocative cinema and stuff. We are going to do what we'd like to do at that point of time...

But are you also looking at promoting talent? New directors? Maybe a trend?

We have no plans...we make films... and that's it. And if somebody likes to buy them then we are able to sell them. Like it has happened with ``Ashoka'' an offshoot of Dreams...

You are doing ``Ashoka''... Why have you chosen a subject like that?

You want me to give you an answer that looks good or...

No, tell me exactly how you feel.

We just wanted to make another film... and Santosh Sivan had the idea. He said he had lived with it for ten years and narrated it to me while I was dancing on top of a train doing ``Chainya Chainya''. I liked it and when we finished with ``Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani'', which was shot by him, he had become a part of our family. He said he was making his film. I think initially he did not even want to cast me in the film... Though during ``Chainya Chainya'' he wanted me to play it. Aziz said you are too busy and a big star to play it. Then three months later he called me up and said you are doing the film, (laughs) I guess I became a smaller star.

Do you want to tell me about it?

Well, it is about Ashoka the King. Based on...er...it's just the story of his life... till he embraced Buddhism. Attained Nirvana... Moksha... it's a love story...as well.

Do you think this is the kind of film people would want to see now?

I don't know. I am no judge of a story... on screen... I am an actor and I know how to act and I like being part of certain stories or when I think a story is great. So when you ask me whether people are going to like it, watch it, why this particular story I have no idea. From childhood there are very few names you remember from your history books... Akbar, and one of them is Ashoka... Rani of Jhansi... five or ten names that you remember... and certain things that get attached to it. Ashoka was attached to Buddhism, the Ashoka Chakra, and also to the Kalinga War... and when you decide to make a film you have read about, it's interesting. Of course. There is a lot of historical imbalance in what is right and wrong. Keeping that in mind it's a very interesting journey.

How much do you relate to the character?

I am not trying to be pompous, but... once ``Ashoka'' is released, that's Ashoka for every one in this country. There is no other Ashoka.

Really?

Because from what I have read Ashoka was not a very attractive- looking man. He was known to be ``Dark Ashok''. He may not have been the best person - he did kill a lot of people during the Kalinga War. A regular king wanting to win a lot more lands than he already had. How I relate to him, I don't know. When I decide to do Ashoka, I am Ashoka.''

How much of you is there in it...?

There might be 100 per cent of me in it or there might be zero per cent of me in it...

Do you like the character? Do you like the person he was?

People ask me `Do you like Rahul? Do you like Raj?' Do you like Sunil? I don't like them. I just like to play them. There is nothing like I like them or live with them. ``Do you like Devdas?'' Yes he's a cool guy. I like to live the life of somebody else. Whether I like it or I don't like it is immaterial. I personally would just like to be in Shah Rukh Khan's position who can take the position of other people's lives. I have never fallen in love with a character...

After the film, do you think you are going to...?

Attain Nirvana?

(Laughing) That was not my question. The role that you did in ``... Dilwale..'' is something a lot of people have liked and they would like to continue playing. So would you oblige?

As it is I am being criticised for acting the same way. So if I start doing the same roles it would be very boring. The same kind of guys in different kinds of situations. I've done ``Dilwale''... ``Dil To Pagal Hai''... and then ``Kuch Kuch...'' I think it peaked with ``Mohabattein'', a nice soft guy who believes in love. Not like ``Darr'' or ``Baazigar''.

How much do you empathise with such sentiments? As a person?

I love love! I love the idea of love... and I love people in love. I think it's the most beautiful thing to happen. I find beauty in romance...

Do you think it's possible to love three or four persons at the same time?

Yes, you can. You can love 99,000 people at the same time. God gave us limited life. Heartbeat, leg movements, brains but an unlimited soul and love that you can really... and I am not talking spiritually - I am not a feel-good, telling you nice things kinda guy. I do genuinely believe, and I mean it keeps me ticking...

How do you respond to the love that people give you?

The only strange thing is that love need not be measured. I also don't believe that love needs a return. I love you, but you don't have to say the same to me. I love being here so does that mean this entire place also loves me? The strange thing is that they love me; they pay me too for that love... I do not sit down and reply to all fan mail but I read them all. I know they love me. I also do not put up a front and be nice when I don't want to be. But I genuinely know I love them and I am sure they feel it back. I would say to every one who loves me, please don't watch my film if you don't like it. But thank you for loving me even if it was for half a day and I really mean that. Because it is a humbling experience to love someone.

Do you have any particular philosophy in life - about how you would conduct yourself?

Well it's a very simple thing. Do unto others, as you would want others to do unto you. Simple, but also the most difficult thing to follow... I like to keep things simple... at least personally and emotionally. In real life, I am a slob, but emotionally, I don't like clutter. I like it clear I'm also very complex and sensitive - I give a lot but that doesn't mean I am nice or something. But I don't like to hurt people.

Do you spend a lot of time with your family?

Yes, I do get to spend lot of time with them. I love them lots, especially my son and my daughter, not to say I love my sister and my wife less. But suddenly the newest love affair in my life is with my son and daughter. I really love them because... they still don't know how bad I am. The other day somebody was asking me how much do you love them? And I said like life. I would die for them. And this kind of emotion I have never had for anybody else - strangely, not even for my mom and dad.

What about this film you are doing right now? ``Devdas''?

There are already so many versions...

But what do you feel about it?

I know it is an interesting character. It's like you reach a stage - I've done a bit of black, I've done a bit of white-I don't know what it means to be Devdas... I read the book... I have a strange interpretation of Devdas, which is rather different from what I have seen in films earlier. When I look at the beauty of the films I do, it may go wrong - because if you are going to choose anything which goes right it will be predictable and boring. Yes, I have to do one predictable super- duper hit film in a year so that I can survive - but also would like to do stuff that is different. And this is a big film - perhaps one of the biggest being made in terms of expenditure. A lot is at stake because a classic is being remade. The director is fantastic. He has done a film like ``Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'' and he goes to make a film like this with his reputation on the line, with two great actresses... both wonderful in their own way...I am trying to do something that Dilip Kumar perhaps excelled in - the best role that he's played in his life. So you feel quite stupid to try and do that... it can fall flat on its face... but it may be saved because of the interpretation which is different from those of the 1960s and 1970s.

Does he have relevance today? This kind of a character? That whole ambience?

Does Ashoka not still have relevance? His values? Maybe this film has no relevance. You do not do films for relevance. You do them for telling a story.

Does the audience think so much about all this?

No they do not - but we are still making them... I have done 36- 37 films now in 10 years. Exactly 10 years. I have seen films from the very beginning, I have seen them going down the drain - I don't even know if I deserve to be where I am! In terms of the success I have got. Maybe I am not good enough for all the love, fame, name and money that I have got. There must be 20,000 others who may be better than I. But I also know deep down I cannot be scared all my life so let's give it a shot. Maybe I will be less guilty about my success.

Would you ever contemplate directing a film? Would you like to do it?

I want to make films. Yes I will make films but right now I am restricting myself.

But would you sometime?

Hmm. but I don't have a story to tell. I don't know what I want.

Do you think you will enjoy directing?

Well I have done it in bits and pieces in some of my films - directed the action sequences and I am quite involved in most of the films that I do. But I don't have a story to tell - (laughs) I think I will make films like James Bond.

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