Bollywood is like a cabaret

Shahrukh Khan

He can send the crowds into a frenzy like no other star. When Shah Rukh Khan arrived at the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) to promote his upcoming movie ‘Don 2’ at an open forum on December 8, 2011, the packed auditorium at the Madinat Jumeirah went into raptures. Screams of ‘I love you Shah Rukh’ rent the air as Dubai extended a warm welcome to its favourite star. And Shah Rukh didn’t displease the audience, flooring them with his wit, charm and honest replies. We were just one among the hundreds of people present there who were smitten. No wonder, we found it such a pleasure to chat up with our favourite Khan at the sidelines of the festival. For more on Shah Rukh’s date with Dubai check out the next issue of Masala! that hits the stands on December 20, 2011. Here are some excerpts from an exclusive interview:

You said you enjoyed playing Don more than any other character. What do your children feel about you being the bad guy?
I don’t think I am a good role model at all! I lost my dad at 15 and the biggest memory I have of him is that he was my friend more than anything else. I remember an incident where I had harassed a lady and she came complaining. Instead of reprimanding me, my father asked her to forgive me as I was just a kid and kids do get naughty. He had a very different approach and that somehow struck a chord within me.

I feel instead of coaxing and cajoling, it’s better to their friend and explain things to them.
I don’t behave like a role model at home. I smoke. But when my daughter sees me smoking, she stubs the cigarette out and flushes it. And most people have said that my kids are very well-behaved outside. So I consider myself a good father even if not a great role model!

In ‘Don 2’ you play an evil character; what is it about evil that makes it so exciting?
I believe it’s got to do with repression. We all have the devil within us. Also, I have believed that good exists to counter the bad. Thoughts and concepts about evil, goodness etc have been created by us and our moralities.

As an actor of such immense influence, do you think you can use your position to push tolerance the way you did with films like ‘My Name Is Khan?’
They were pretty intolerant to me while making ‘My Name Is Khan’ released! I have realised that I should not change the world with my cinema. About a decade ago I recognized that one should not give too much importance to the importance of work.

If you were to introduce Bollywood to Hollywood through three of your films, which ones would they be and why?
I would choose ‘My Name Is Khan’ because it had such a universal theme. Then I would go for ‘Om SHanti Om’ – it’s colourful, over the top and retarded! I would perhaps then choose ‘Ra.One’ to show what we are capable of technically. Bollywood I feel is like a cabaret, it has got a bit of everything and a lot of drama!

Tom Cruise scaled the Burj Khalifa in Dubai to look heroic. Aren’t you tempted to do something similar?
I know what I would do to look and feel heroic. I would just hang around with pretty women in Dubai while being the bad boy Don! That’s my way of becoming heroic!

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Anushka reveals her 'genuine fondness' for Ranveer

Amid reports of her cosying up to fellow actor Ranveer Singh, actress Anushka Sharma has said she has "genuine fondness" for him whom she calls her "inspiration".

Anushka and Ranveer's love-hate relationship is no secret since they starred together in Maneesh Sharma directed 'Band Baaja Baarat', which went on to become a hit.

"We got to know each other better from Ranveer's debut film, " the actress said ahead of tomorrow's release of 'Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl', directed by Maneesh Sharma under the banner of Yash Raj Production.

"This time it was much better. We did not know each other during 'Band Baaja Baraat', so we couldn't understand each other better.....the way we work and all. This time it was way more comfortable. We understand each other's approach towards a scene, how we work. There is lot more respect for each other, " Anushka told in an interview.

Virtually singing praises for Ranveer, the actress said, " I have a lot of respect for Ranveer, he inspires me. He is so driven as an actor. He is passionate about what he wants to do. I have genuine fondness for Ranveer".

"I think we are very good together when we are on screen. Hopefully, this time also people will appreciate our chemistry. Although I feel chemistry is not created by actors but by script and character, " she said.

Replying to a query on their frequent public appearances together after the release of 'Band Baaja Baraat' Anushka said, "after we had shot 'Band Baaja Baarat', we had to do promotions, then award functions.. be it for receiving them or performing.

So at that time we used to hang out a lot. You could see a lot of us other". When asked about why they are not seen together often in the recent past, the actress replied, "when the film was over we had not much work (to do) so we did not meet up often.

But it was not like we were not seeing or meeting each other. There are so many friends whom I have not met for weeks why talk about us like this".

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Mallika playing a feisty Haryanvi in KLPD

Bollywood's export to Hollywood, Mallika Sherawat, is excited about starting work on her next Hindi film "Kismat Love Paisa Dilli", which has her playing a Haryanvi girl for the first time.

The actress, who was born in Rohtak to a Jat family, is back from Los Angeles to shoot for the film, opposite Vivek Oberoi.

"Being a part of the movie means a lot to me. For the first time, I am playing a north Indian character, a Haryanvi," the actress said on arrival at Mumbai airport Thursday.

The "Murder" girl was happy to see that members of the cast and crew of the film had come to receive her.

"My entire cast is here. What better welcome than this. It's such a pleasant surprise. I had never imagined that I will get such a surprise," said Mallika who recently featured in a Hollywood film titled "Politics Of Love".

Reportedly, Mallika wants producer Sanjay Khanduri to wrap up the shoot in three months as she has commitments in Hollywood. Her last Bollywood film was "Double Dhamaal".

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Sonakshi and Ajay create chaos in Chandigarh

A railway station became almost non-functional as the mob watching a shoot of 'Son of Sardar' went crazy 

Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha, who are currently shooting in Punjab, created quite a stir while filming for Son of Sardar at the Chandigarh railway station.

As they were canning shots on the platform, a huge crowd had gathered to see the duo in action on Sunday. Despite the presence of the police and the film unit's security cover, things went out of hand at the location.

Several passengers were forced to miss their trains in the melee that ensued during the shoot, as they were unable to make their way among the crowds of fans.

Plenty of passengers were also left high and dry at the station, as they just could not make their way through the sea of humanity.

In the mad frenzy to get a glimpse of the stars and the shoot, a huge crowd had gathering at the platform as soon as word spread that Sonakshi and Ajay would be present.


Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha shooting at Chandigarh railway station

The cops even had to resort to a lathi charge for a short while to disperse the mob.

Those who managed to get to see the stars in action as well as take snapshots were happy. But the passengers who had missed their trains were left grumbling and asking for compensation.

Quite a few also got involved in heated exchanges with the security folk on why people were just allowed on the platform without valid tickets.

The comic caper directed by Ashwani Dheer also has Sanjay Dutt and Juhi Chawla in the cast.

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'Why allow Sunny Leone on TV?'

BJP leader wonders why the government wants to repress social media, when it is not censoring the Indo-Canadian porn star who is now a rage on national television; Kapil Sibal states our society is 'not as mature as in the West' 

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) young leader Anurag Singh Thakur wonders why the government wants to censor social media like Facebook when it is not 'censoring Sunny Leone', an Indo-Canadian porn star who is a rage on the popular television show Bigg Boss.

"Why do they want to censor Facebook, when they don't censor Sunny Leone, " Thakur asked a day after Communications Minister Kapil Sibal advocated screening of inflammatory or offensive content on social networking sites.

Sunny trend

"Thousands of children are searching for her on internet and getting connected to porn sites, " said Thakur on the sidelines of a conference on effective legislatures organised by PRS Legislative Research.

Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, who had 'rejected' censorship for social media, however, said that after an expostulation from his colleague Kapil Sibal he felt some restriction was needed, as Indian politics and society was not as mature as in the West.

Are we immature?

"I talked to Kapil Sibal, he told me that there were inflammatory images of gods, goddesses, prophets. When I saw those, I felt there is a problem. Free speech in India is not the same as in the West, " Tharoor said at the conference.

"If certain people see these images, it can cause violence, we don't have a democracy so mature that we can ignore such things. So certain amount of restraint is necessary, " he said.

"Inflammatory communal incitement is like a match at a petrol pump, why should we do that?" Tharoor argued, adding in good measure, however, that he was against censorship.

Contradicting him, Thakur said social media was a platform for common expression and should be allowed to grow and become mature.

"Social media should be given time to get mature, " said Thakur, adding that it should be left to the social media to create ways of removing objectionable content. "There are options like watermarking, " he suggested.

Sibal, however, said the government will not allow social networking sites to host 'objectionable' content and will take steps to screen and remove these.

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My Hero No 1 is Saif: Kareena Kapoor

After Salman, Shah Rukh, Aamir and Saif, Kareena Kapoor will be seen romancing another Khan-Imran-in Dharma Productions’ Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu. Sreya Basu catches up with the duo after the first look launch of the film in Mumbai

Kareena has worked with the four leading Khans of Bollywood. And the latest is her pairing with Imran. She has also bagged the much speculated Madhur Bhandarkar film Heroine. With this career graph, is she the industry’s biggest heroine?
Imran: I think so.

Kareena: But I don’t think so. Heroine is a special film for me…I am doing a very performance oriented role in the film.

All of Imran’s co-stars have good things to say about him…the latest being Katrina Kaif. What do you have to say about him?
Imran: You want her to say bad things about me?

Kareena: A really bad thing about Imran is that he doesn’t have a sense of humour. I don’t like his jokes…they are not funny.

Imran: You (to Kareena) don’t appreciate my jokes…that is the problem.

Kareena: But yes, he is a very cool guy and very sweet and very, very good-looking.

Imran, do you have a problem that heroines have only good things to say about you? 
Imran: It could be yaar. Obviously I do something wrong, or may be because I don’t do anything wrong.

Kareena, already Bollywood has acknowledged you as Heroine No 1, the latest one to say this is Karan Johar (filmmaker). Who is Hero No 1 according to you? 
Kareena: I have no idea. Well, for me, my Hero No 1 is Saif (Ali Khan). So, I will go with it.

After RaOne (Shah Rukh Khan) and Bodyguard (Salman Khan), do you think you will be third time lucky with Imran Khan? 
Imran: Actually fourth time…don’t forget mamu (Aamir Khan; 3 Idiots).

Kareena: Ya. Of course, with Aaamir, it’s like…I absolutely adore him. I am a huge fan of Aamir. But in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Imran has brought a lot of freshness than all the films I have done so far.

I think our chemistry is pretty sizzling and quite crackling. I have actually enjoyed a lot working with Imran. He is a very, very sweet guy.

Imran: But you don’t think I am a funny guy.

Kareena: Ya…Imran is not funny, but he is very sweet.

Imran: You know, she says very mean things about my humour.

Kareena: It’s not just me, I am sure all his friends feel that…and his wife (Avantika).

Does Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu has a similarity with Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher starrer What Happens in Vegas (2008)? 
Imran: There is not a single page of similarity. The fact that Rahul Kapoor (Imran) and Riana Braganza (Kareena) are married in Vegas is one of the aspects of the film, not the entire film. The fact that the two protagonists get married in Vegas under a moment of weakness made way to this kind of stories.

Is 2012 going to be a special year for Kareena? The film releases in February, while she is also getting married early next year. Will the dates clash? 
Imran: I will answer it for Kareena. All her dates in February are with us. She will be promoting Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu before and after. In March we will be celebrating the film.

Kareena, what do you have to say? 
Kareena: Well, both Saif and me are waiting for the release of Agent Vinod. So, once it releases, we will announce it.

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Bipasha thrown out for refusing an item number with Vivek Oberoi

Bipasha Basu's refusal to do an item number with the actor has now cost her the lead role in his next

Beedi Jalaile in Vishal Bhardwaj's Omkara gave Bipasha Basu the much needed career boost. However, looks like Bips is in no mood to recreate the moves, especially with her Omkara co-star Vivek Oberoi.

The actress has apparently refused to do an item number with the actor in his film Zilla Gaziabad, something that has taken him by complete surprise.

Says a source, "Bipasha was approached to do an item number with Vivek and Sanjay Dutt in Zilla Ghaziabad, but she refused. Vivek was wondering what happened, but did not bother to investigate further."

However, this decision seems to have cost her. Bips was in the running to play the lead role opposite the actor in his next."

Adds the source, "Vivek thought, if she doesn't even want to be seen opposite him in an item number, how is she ever going to be able to work with him on an entire film. Hence the producers felt it would be better to let her go."

Interestingly, both Vivek and Bipasha worked together when they were newcomers, in an ad that neither wants to mention anymore. The very controversial New York Lotto TV commercial starring the two leaked online in 2010.

The ad featured Bips topless and her then spokesperson's clarified that the old commercial was meant for the international market only.

Says the source, "Ever since that episode, they have been pretty uncomfortable with each other, and that could be why she refused to dance with him." Bipasha Basu was unavailable for comment.

Title change
Vivek's new film will now be called Kismet, Love, Paisa, Dilli (KLPD) and not Gyaarah Chalis Ki Last Metro. They even claim that the film is not a sequel to Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, but a new story.

Confirms producer Amit Chandra, "The only similarity between the two films is that they are comical thrillers.

Our film has three elements - kismat, love and paisa coming together in one crazy fun night in Delhi, hence the title Kismat, Love, Paisa, Dilli was apt."

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Why Farhan Akhtar needed a comic book

The actor-director saw it as a last resort to explain the story of Don

Farhan Akhtar

What can one say about Farhan Akhtar? A few months ago he was all over the place, creating a splash as an actor in his home production ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’. His turn as the sensitive advertising executive and poet Imran won him a lot of fans and critical and commercial appreciation. Now, he is back in a new avatar – as the producer-director of the much-talked-about ‘Don 2’.

The actor-filmmaker-singer was much sought after at the current Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) where he charmed audiences and the press alike with his chilled out, easy-going attitude. Masala.com caught up with Farhan for a quick chat. For more on our encounter with the hottie, read the next issue of Masala! that hits the stands on December 20, 2011.

You recently mentioned that sequels to an action thriller often “have to be made”. Why do you think so?
Well, it depends on the story and whether you have something substantial to say. A sequel also is often the demand of the script. Your audiences should be interested in knowing more about the fate of the characters – how they have evolved and what they are going to do next. If there are interesting answers to these questions, then a film warrants a sequel.

You have set a large portion of the film in Germany. What made you choose this location?
I had travelled to Berlin in 2007 and found it fascinating. I felt that it would be a good place to set the sequel in. Not many Indians are aware of the destination and I believed it would be a good idea to explore it further. Moreover, we had an extremely professional and helpful crew. The city had everything that an action thriller needed.

Shah Rukh Khan has an amazing fan following in Germany. How do you explain this?
Indeed, he does! In fact, I am myself amazed at Shah Rukh’s popularity in Germany and several other countries of Europe. I am sure even he can’t explain it. I remember shooting in sub-zero temperatures and there would be a crowd gathered just to see him and wave to him. In the film he speaks in German and it will be fascinating to gauge the reaction.

In a sequel, often there is a temptation to repeat the successful elements of the first part be in songs or action sequences. Do you think that takes away from the originality?
Thematically, there will be similarities between the first and second part. But the challenge is to make the sequel connect to the first part yet make it different. We have tried it in the music where the title song has a very familiar feel to the number in ‘Don’. As for action sequences, well, there are only a few things a person can do with his bare hands and legs!

How do you think ‘Don 2’ compares to Hollywood action thrillers?
I don’t think there should be any comparisons. This is a completely different story with its own unique set of characters. I have not even been influenced by any Hollywood film while making it. But I am a huge fan of western thrillers. My personal favourites are ‘The Die Hard’ series or a ‘Bourne Ultimatum’. American action films are exciting, they come straight to the point and has no frills. Bollywood movies have their own charm.

How did you come up with the idea of a comic book to tell the story of Don?
The book should release sometime in mid-December. I had this idea to make a prequel to ‘Don’ initially – to tell the story of how he becomes what he is. But then it didn’t work out. However, the idea lingered. And I thought of settling it once and for all. And this was the result!

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Don flying to Dubai

Producer Ritesh Sidhwani is kicked about the idea of getting the ‘bad guy’ to the city

Ritesh Sidhwani

Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar had teamed up over 10 years ago to make a classic called ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. Ever since his friendship and partnership with the actor as well as his production company has grown to unimaginable heights. This year has been particularly lucky for Excel Productions. They began with ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, which was a huge hit and now they plan to end the year with a bang with the much-awaited ‘Don 2’. While in Dubai to promote his film during the ongoing Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), Ritesh tells masala.com why he will continue to make films he believes in, whatever be the budget or scale!

There is a lot of anticipation and interest about ‘Don 2’. The biggest challenge will be to make it different from the first part. How will you accomplish this?
It is quite challenging because the character of Don has become very iconic. What makes ‘Don 2’ very interesting is that probably for the first time, you have a sequel based on an anti-hero. Moreover, all the characters from the first part play themselves. So you have Roma (Priyanka Chopra) who has a strong motive to kill Don, there is Boman Irani who was caught and jailed in the previous part and you also have Om Puri who is on Don’s trail. The only two new characters are Lara Dutta who plays the moll and Kunal Kapoor. This is an edge-of-the seat entertainer and you find a lot action revolving around the lead character.

'Don' has gone international with the action being set in Berlin this time. Have you ever thought of making the bad guy travel to Dubai?
Yes, why not (laughs). Maybe we can have him fight his battles here in the next part. So Dubai, better watch out!

When a sequel is made, it is expected to be bigger, better and more glamourous. How does that affect the filmmaking process?
As a producer, I don’t get affected by the scale. It’s not the budget or scale that’s important but the storyline. I am as comfortable making small, intimate films like ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd’ or ‘Luck By Chance’ as I am making a ‘Don 2’. What I see is the script and how much it excites me and if identify with the character. I have to be convinced about it or else how will I convince the audience?

This year has been very important for Excel Entertainment. Did the success of ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ surprise you?
Oh yes! We were confident about ‘Zindagi…’ but the way it has appealed to people across generations and cities, has come as a pleasant surprise. All over, the audiences identified with the characters in the film. I have heard of people going on road trips after the movie released, it definitely struck a chord somewhere.

What about the accusation that the film was a bit too ‘elitist’?
I think the way people have responded to the movie itself is an answer to that question. It’s not about being able to go to Spain. The film is about leading your own life and enjoying the small pleasures. You need not go to expensive destinations, you can go to smaller cities and towns to get away from stresses and discover yourself. That’s the message that has appealed to people.

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'Smokin' Hot' Shahrukh Khan at DIFF 2011

“When I’m good, I’m good, when I’m bad, I’m even better” – it was vintage SRK in Dubai! 

Shah Rukh Khan at the Dubai International Film Festival 2011

If Shah Rukh Khan were to be a movie, he’d be 'Don' and 'Don 2'. Just like the character he plays in the Farhan-Akhtar directed films, Shah Rukh is all about wicked style. It was plain to see this as the superstar, who was in Dubai today (December 8 2011) for an open forum as part of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) with co-star Priyanka Chopra, director Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani, charmed audiences.

But let’s begin at the beginning. In usual SRK fashion, he was almost an hour late for the event 'An Afternoon with Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani', which was part of the festival’s day dedicated to Indian cinema. And in usual SRK-fan fashion, the audience barely remembered the wait once King Khan arrived.

And Shah Rukh arrived all guns blazing. “When I’m good, I’m good; when I’m bad, even better,” he said with a smile, leading the 1000-plus audience into a fresh round of cheering.

SRK confessed that Don was his favourite among the many characters he had played so far. The reason for the choice was simple. Don was just so much fun! “There’s so much meanness in him, he’s so conniving – he troubles the girl and there’s no justification for any of his behaviour,” Shah Rukh said, explaining why he loves the character.
Priyanka Chopra, who reprises her role as Roma (Don’s ‘Junglee Billi’) in the sequel, added. "He makes bad look so good. He's an alter ego to all of us."

So Don has his faults, and SRK was asked by a young audience member about all the smoke (and by implication smoking) that his character seems surrounded by in the promos for ‘Don 2’, and how this bodes for someone who is a role model to many children. Shah Rukh had the entire auditorium erupt in laughter, when he replied, When you’re as smoking hot as I am, you have smoke coming out of every orifice!” laughs SRK, adding more seriously, “I am not justifying the character. I don’t see myself as a role model."

What King Khan did see was the good in 3D. That’s the format ‘Don 2’ has been converted to, and Shah Rukh thinks it is the way of the future. The audience at the Madinat Jumeirah today wore 3D glasses to check out the preview – the promo and two songs – of ‘Don 2’. But SRK, who sees 3D becoming the norm rather than the exception going forward, believes that soon the technology will progress so much that people will not even need the glasses.

What movie-loving people need are compelling characters and stories, which is why Farhan says that he didn’t want to fall in the sequel rut. “Sequels tend to fall into the trap of having to be made. We didn’t really want that.”

“Don is a character that people have a lot of affection and attachment for,” the director said, justifying the sequel.

Meanwhile, Priyanka talked about how her character was “just so angry” in the movie. Speaking of the changing equation between Roma and Don, she said, “There's a love-hate relationship between the two characters and that was the best part of the film.”

PC also explained how she thought Indian movies were becoming more international in terms of their treatment. When I was recording my album in LA, the trailer for Don 2 came out and my team in LA were so surprised by it - they hadn’t expected it to be so slick.

“Whenever we travel abroad people have so much interest in Indian movies. Don 2 was shot in Berlin and we have so many people who obviously don’t speak Hindi so excited about the movie.”

So what’s the last word on Don 2, at this point? We’re going to go by Ritesh Sidhwani’s words - “Don 2 is leaner, meaner and sexier than the first movie was.”

That’s just what we’re looking forward to!

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