I'm conscious of posing with girls : SRK

As Raees has hit the cinemas today, here is what Shah Rukh Khan talked about, in his interview with us.

What was your state of mind when Raees came to you?

I think I was just finishing Happy New Year at that time, and Happy new year was like a happy go lucky, over the top dance film where we were assuming that during a certain period of Holidays, people enjoy it. It was meant to be an anytime film where everything would be great, and action would be larger than life, it would be 10 packs instead of 8 packs. So, the whole idea was that. I don't think it would be exaggerated because Farah is that kind of filmmaker, very interestingly so. It was a multi-starrer after a long time. So, having nearly finished working on it, I was in a state of mind to do something which is cozier, wittier, or realistic. Because happy new year came after Chennai Express which was also like over the top happy film. So, I was feeling like as an actor, I should be in the film more cozy, deeper and Rahul makes films like that I guess - Niche, substance oriented film. I was very keen to put it on a platform which was very more popular, we had spoken to Farhan and Ritesh, and I liked the whole idea, that I've been more of a urban star or urban actor that suits me but as an actor, I should play a small town guy. I've never done completely niche, or perhaps people haven't offered it. Initially I did, but it should be more storytelling. So, Raees fitted the bill as an actor that I should get in the zone that is not perhaps my comfort zone. It's not a typical story.

Were the action scenes hard for you?

I got very badly injured during Fan, not like shooting it like that but my knee is a problem, so I need to do something about it, which I'll do in a few days. It's a big injury, it gets all painful. That's why the film got delayed also. While doing the rooftop chase. Normally, running and all I do in all my films, like Fan. But then, in this I had to use a duplicate, which made me feel bad about because I couldn't help it, as the set was already there, and the long shots I did with the duplicate. So, that was a little painful - Chasing part was painful. There were mattresses on the ground for me to land on and all of that.

Your films face a lot of expectations, so in 25 years of career, how do you deal with pressure?

When you reach a stage where I've reached, you have to assume that people do expect a lot more, perhaps even more than what you get to. You have to life by that. If I've become a star, with limited talent or whatever I think of myself, I need to believe that people have given me so much, and expect some of it back. I choose films by my mind and sometimes it will not cater to everyone - Fan may not cater to the boys and girls who want me to see in a love story, happy new year might not cater to someone who wants me in a film like Chak De! India and Swadesh. Similarly, Dear Zindagi may not cater to someone who expects me to sing and dance with Alia. You have to accept the fact that each film is not going to make everyone happy. You do try one single way. There are very few films that can make the cerebral people happy, the romantic people happy. Over 25 years, I have learnt to accept the fact that we are going to disappoint a certain section of people cause the film may not be able to cater to everyone. I'll try and cater to them the next one. Just move on, because I can't take the pressure, cause as an actor I need to do a few things to keep myself refreshed also. I need to do things that may not cater to a popular audience, but Fan, I really wanted to do it. Working for 25 years, it's important that I keep myself refreshed so there's no pressure like that. Overall, I know when I've signed a film that it is going to cater to a few.

When Baazigar went hit, in an interview you said that you get conscious of posing with female actresses. Do you still get conscious while posing with female actresses?

I'm conscious of posing with girls, I'm shy. I think somewhere, people also understand my sense of humor, the way I'm with people. I did feel awkward doing film magazine covers with heroines because I thought I was wasting the time. I can do a picture very nicely, in character, like Raees. But I'm very awkward while posing for GQ and all. I still have not got over that. But I have no issues, most of the girls are my friends. Just standing and doing a picture, I'm happy, I'll kiss them, hug them. I have no problems like that, neither do they. I don't have any worry that people will mistake it for anything - some people will and that's alright, but, I don't still pose with an actress or model or heroine, and I was very awkward. If it's not in a film, I feel awkward.

How was it working with Mahira Khan?

All three actors are mentioned it this- including Mahira, Nawaz, Zeeshan. They all come from a different world of acting. They've done cinema which is not as popular as I've done. They come from very real zone. For me, to play Raees, because I'm not playing hero type. It was very important to be surrounded by people and act with people who approach the scene very realistically. That is the reason why I wanted all new people who haven't acted before. That is why Mahira, and Zeeshan, and Nawaz - to a large extent, and we have lot of scenes together. We all more or less worked on one set - huge set - working together every night and every day. It was very nice to have actors who would sit down and rehearse, work out new things and their realism reflected in performance. I hope it does reflect.

Did you discover anything new when you were filming Raees, about yourself?

I look very sexy in a pathani, not only can I act with Kajol, but also put Kajal in my eyes. I know a lot of actors talk about discovering things as you're doing roles, but I'm not like that. I'm really sorry. I'm shallow. I just feel that there's so much I know of life, I've lived a very full life, and a very analytical life. I've liked things, mindsets, emotions. I read a lot, I write a lot. I'm very glad to be such a big star, but maybe sometimes it takes time being a star, not being able to say anything. There is a trapment of stardom. I don't take anything back from the characters, I like to give to the characters. I have a lot more to give, as a person who has lived life, into the characters and I look more forward to that then learning from it.

You come from a theatre background, so when you're doing an intense characters, do you still go back to your theatre days and try to take out something from them?

Theatre I did when I was very young. A lot of things that you learn in theatre, especially when you have a great teacher. I think, those things stay with you. A lot of the physicality of the theatre, how to use space. Stage is very barren and youve to act there. It's not a closeup, its not like you're surrounded by 200 people, and lights are all over the place. It's very barren, and very lonely, because you're alone on stage. It's a 40 ft by 25 ft stage, and you standing alone and you can never imagine people looking at you. You're completely exposed. So you learn how to use a lot of space. And I think I've done that a lot. It also helps in modulation of voice cause that's what you have to do on life stage. Need to change your voice, in a moment and throw it or go silent. In some scenes, it does help to have done theatre. Especially when usage of space is required. You don't go back to it, it comes naturally.

Will we ever see you do a comedy film again?

Chennai Express was funny. No, there is not offer on the table. I think Chennai Express was the last. I found it very funny. When I was narrated the film, we were actually planning to do some other film, and Rohit suggested me this film and I thought it was very funny.

Is there any film you want to do a sequel?

I think don is probably the only film which runs itself. That's how we leave it every time. But I don't think Farhan has any story for Don 3 right now. I had thought that I'd make a sequel to Ra.One if it did well, but it didn't go well. It's an expensive proposition. And you need to have 2 years of prep time for that. So, unless we have a story, VFX and all is possible but I don't think there's any other film which I thought will be a sequel.

You're doing a cameo in Tubelight, and it's for Salman Khan. Coming to cameos, you've never done a cameo in Aamir Khan's movie and neither has Aamir done it in yours. How do you differentiate between your friendship with Salman and with Aamir?

Don't judge our friendship by the cameos. Don't judge my friendship with someone on the basis of a cameo.