Shah Rukh Khan talks about the Friday clash with Bajirao Mastani and more...
Tushar Joshi (DNA; October 27, 2015)
Shah Rukh Khan and director Rohit Shetty hosted a special screening of his upcoming release Dilwale at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. Present at the event were the film’s cast and crew, including lead actors Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Kajol and SRK. On display was eye-popping action, some scenes from the film and the grand romantic track featuring SRK and Kajol in Iceland.
The film releases on December 18, the same date as Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. Speaking on the clash for the first time, SRK said, “Of course, the audience will get divided. I believe not just in my film, but in films and I respect each and every film. I think it is kind of unfortunate, but you know we make around 200 films a year and there are just 52 to 56 Fridays, so films will come together on the same day, but I think there is enough business to be done on that weekend for two films to come out and do well. So, hopefully, both the films will do well.”
He also shed light on him and Rohit coming together for the remake of Angoor. “We met for the first time to plan the remake. Ever since then, he has come up with a different story and script and we have gone ahead and made that film. We had even cast, read the script, thought of how to go ahead, and then, in the middle of it, he came up with another idea that he had and we went ahead and made Chennai Express. Again, we tried going back to making Angoor and he narrated Dilwale and we have done it. Angoor is ready with us, when the time is right, we will do it,” he said.
Varun Dhawan plays Shah Rukh’s brother in the film. SRK is all praise for the youngster, “I haven’t worked with a new younger male co-star of late, though I keep working with younger actresses. Varun is a fantastic dancer and a wholesome actor. I’ve known him for years now, since he was a kid. He is very conscientious about the work he does, very focussed. To be a good actor, you have to have that focus for those eight-10 hours. I have worked with actors who have no focus, they might have the greatest talent, but they’ll never succeed. When I work with younger actors, I realise I need to work harder. It’s amazing the amount of focus and energy Varun has!”
Shah Rukh also talked about the return of his pairing with Kajol and how the audience perceives them to be the greatest screen pair. He said, “We are like family, we have known each other for so long. I think apart from a few other co-actors, she’s the only one with whom I have had success after success with each release. I think we are opposites, to be honest, except for, maybe, the beautiful eyes. I work with technique, I have done theatre for eight years, she works from her feeling and we complement each other. What hasn’t changed about her for so many years, is that she’s the most natural person and as real as it gets. There is a certain innocence and child-like trait about her which I hugely admire.”