No thermal underwear for Shah Rukh Khan

Source

“Death before long johns. I am too macho for this.”

Quotes

Source 

On shooting a love story in America with a backdrop of terrorism

SHAH RUKH: I have shot several films in America. This film needed to be made in America. The only feeling I had was that it was cold in LA> I used to say to Karan (during the shoot) “Why are we here?” - its very important for the look of the film. Because he has travelled right across America but we shot in an around LA and even in Mumbai where we had a beautiful set. I will be very honest, we didnt have an agenda/issue to make a film but we had a very strong feeling to make an entertaining film. There is glamour in the film ; but it is in a different way...no set pieces. Will we be able to tell you the story we want to tell you in an entertaining way? I did a lot of research on Aspergers and religion so that we dont say the wrong thing. Whenever an incident of such proportion happens which is not good for mankind its going to affect a person in Indonesia, India...its the buterfly effect The film is about the effect on two people - how real lives are affected by people who are not involved in any which way. we never went in with an agenda...
There is a beautiful line in this film (without giving away the story!) “Mankind has measured time in BC and AD ..” a third way has been added now ...pre/post 9/11. Its a sad comment but it exists and we need to address an issue if we believe in it and thats how I felt.

On being stopped at Newark Airport in August - a publicity stunt?

SHAH RUKH: (laughs) Kajol and I tried when coming out from New York. We saw them and said “arrest us, Arrest us!”
KARAN: Oh yes and Obama is on my speed dial!

Quote of the Day

"The most amazing thing about the fans in Germany is that they are very gentle. Often fans can be aggressive, but here their love has a softness, gentleness, it is huggable. A girl asked me for my autograph, and when I told her I was late for a press conference, she immediately withdrew her hand. I don't call them fans because that would be one-sided and I love them as much, they are family," Shah Rukh said.

(Berlinale 2010)

Shah Rukh has finally learnt the fine art of saying, "No comment." :P

Source

“Other than that, I do not wish to comment on any other aspect because we’re currently out of the country and the scenario is probably changing per minute. And anything else I say on the matter might be misconstrued,” stated Khan, firmly closing any other conversation on the matter.

Reading this, I cried a bit..

I've always wondered whether his thoughts exist only in the moments he thinks them, so that tomorrow this thought may have changed form and become something else..but I find it sad that in that particular moment, this is how he thinks of himself when he's being pursued by autograph books, cameras, and videos. Shah Rukh, you're an inspiration.. not just some cardboard cutout. Give yourself some credit, yaar.

Source

"My life is two dimensional. People should take picture with me. I think I am only good for camera. That's why when somebody just meets me, I know all everyone wants from me is a photograph or an autograph or may be a roll of a video and that's all. When I exists I exists more on a film roll than in real life,"

You want to know how you've inspired me? I have a treadmill in my house now after your 6-pack abs revolution (yes, yes..I use it regularly) and most of the songs accompaniment are from your movies. Almost every time I get angry or disheartened with my project, I always remind myself that you've faced more problems and failures than I have and you didn't quit so who am I to complain? So I shut my whining up and shoulder on. Despite my work that seems not going anywhere, I took time to try out some activities (extreme sports stuff) that have been in my wish list since forever because of this "Just Do It!" attitude you keep going on and on about.

You're right of course..that movies don't change people's lives. But the personalities who drive the movies do. That's YOU! man. So don't think you're "only good for camera". That statement makes me want to whack your head and hug you at the same time. And everyone doesn't just want "a photograph or an autograph or may be a roll of a video and that's all". They want a piece of you to bring back with them..that's essentially what those photos, autographs, etc are. Pieces of you. They can't very well tear you into a large can of mince meat and distribute the bits, can they?

I sound angry, but I'm actually sad. Love is painful, I guess. No matter how much we love, it'll never be enough. No matter how much we want to show how much we love, it'll never be adequate. What I wrote above may sound crazy and nutty, but I've been in other fandoms (not Bollywood ones) before and believe me..fans are serious when we claim that we love our idols. I've some theories about this fandom phenomenon, which I won't bore you with by dispensing them here. Watch the Lift Kara De episodes if you want the visual illustrations. And I've learnt to take everyone's seriousness seriously, coz I'm serious too.

Anyway, I doubt I can change how Shah Rukh feels about himself. I can't even change how I feel about myself. I just feel like venting, is all.. :P

Ra-1 in the making?

From a 2004 interview:

I'll make a James Bond film. Bond films are the simplest and therefore the most successful. It's about Good making Evil look stupid. There's Ravana within all of us. We need to use the Rama within us to eradicate the evil.

Well, I think MNIK is the answer to these annoying questions..

Source: Shahrukh On doing Foreign Films (old interview)

Why have you been rejecting international offers, including a project it seems pitting you against Tom Cruise?

Who told you that? But yes, you're on the right track. Frankly, I don't want to go global. Believe me, it's better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven. Indian cinema is my home, it's more valuable to me than Hollywood, Hong Kong, Paris, wherever. I want to be the best here. If I ever go abroad, I must get respect, at least as much respect as Nick Nolte gets in Los Angeles. I don't want to be treated like a brown Third World urchin. I can do without that we're-doing-you-a-favour look from the Hollywood honchos.

What kind of offers did you get?

I was approached for a remake of Hitchock's Dial M for Murder and for what I think is a British TV series based on Vikram Seth's novel, A Suitable Boy. Then there was a fax, asking me to do an important role alongside Anthony Hopkins in the new Bond movie. Of course, Pierce Brosnan would be Bond, while I would...well...be around somewhere in the scenery.

Why did you say no without even hearing the role out?

Because they wanted to see my photographs. They wouldn't ask Nick Nolte for his photos, would they? This kind of vanity may be silly and stupid, but if I'm approached, shouldn't they know what I look like at least? Shouldn't they see some of my films? I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I don't want to be treated like a rank newcomer. I don't want to be questioned on my credentials. I'd rather be a frog in the well, and for a frog I haven't done too badly. I've moved from Delhi to Bombay and now I'm working with Mani Ratnam from the south. So Hollywood can wait.

In which SRK talks a lot about others and little of himself (what, you think he's not capable of it?)

Source: Shah Rukh on Hindi Cinema (old interview)

I am living off Indian cinema. I have followed actors like Dilip Kumar, Amitabh and Naseer and I would like to be remembered like Satyajit Ray, Shekhar Kapoor, Mani Ratnam and Lata Mangeshkar. She started when she was 13 years old. It's been 50 years since, and even this year one of the most popular songs "Tujhe Dekha To...." Has been sung by her. It is the same with Asha Bhosle. She's sung "Tanha Tanha" and mind you it isn't a flash in the pan. Compared to their consistence and dedication, what I've done is zilch.

I'd like to pay a tribute to some of these personages because I feel whatever we are, we are the result, the peak of all their efforts and the foundation from which the future will arise.

Sheikh Mukhtar was the original action hero in the pre-Dara Singh era. He had films like Ustaad compared to him we heroes today look like dolls. He was 100 percent macho.

Dev Anand to me signifies the conviction of style. The way he say drop your guns only a Dev Anand could but people believed him and so did the villains. However hard method actors work, style is the definite winner in an actor's repertoire.

Shammi Kapoor brought in the hero who could tease women and get away with it. And what's more, women loved him.

Amitabh Bachchan's contribution is that he brought realism to commercial cinema. One of his contributions is that because of him someone like me had dared to get into mainstream commercial cinema as a hero. Had there been only clean-cut good looking guys like Rajesh Khanna in films I'd have never dared to make it.

Dilip Kumar's language was so impressive, I used to be in awe. But then came Amitabh who used the colloquial 'apun...' and he was accepted. Perhaps thanks to him, today I think anti-heroes are here to stay and so are inconventional looking men like Prabhu Deva, Ajay and me.

In the most far fetched scenes the pot-bellied Haribhai (Sanjive Kumar), never ever looked as if he was acting. And he's done all kinds of films - romance, comedy and even action. He gave you the feeling that acting isn't about getting into the skin of the character - it's about being in front of the camera and delivering the goods. I've heard that for midshots and montages if he was required to wear a tuxedo he'd wear the jacket above and beneath he'd be dressed in his striped shorts.

Identification is the key word. Smita Patil, who graduated from reading news to acting, is my all time favourite. Alongwith Shabana Aazmi, she added stature to the image of the Hindi film heroine. Both made you realise that women are in films as in any other walks of life. They even convinced other commercially successful actresses to work in more meaningful cinema. Take Rekha, for instance. And I think the mystery, the aura, the enigma that is Rekha is her contribution to Hindi films. To me, she is this beautiful, sensuous, Garboesque woman who leaves no tracks behind - the black widow. Rekha is no longer a human being, she is a type of person- the epitome of unrequired love. When she did an Umrao Jaan, she added to the mystique of Umrao.

Dimple was encouraged somewhere along the way I think by Shabana, Smita and Rekha. I have heard of people losing years in the second world war, but Dimple lost her years in marriage. I wish she had acted then. I have never seen not only a newcomer but any person at that age perform as well as she did in Bobby. The fact that she was able to recapture her past glory in Rudaali and Lekin is an encouraging sign for a lot of women that it's never too late.

And there is Hemaji- the epitome of responsibility. I think the real No.1 was Hema Malini. Whoever we've had after was only because we were trying to find a replacement for Hema Malini.

I would not forget to include Helen, the greatest. She was a cabaret artiste who did not look cheap. Just like Cuckoo. My father was a great fan of hers. I am not taking away anything from Nana, Manisha or Salman but I want to go and see the on-the-floors Khamoshi for Helen and I know a lot of people like me who feel the same way. I really wish she does a dance in the film.

Then there were these bad guys like K.N. Singh, Pran even Prem Chopra and somewhere along the line you realise that though villains they never scared you. They were childhood fantasy villains. In fact I think I was scarier in Baazigar or Darr - they were always so sweet, like caricatures. Amjad Khan is the one who brought the deadly villain to cinema-the bad guy. When he said 'Kitne Aadmi the' he meant business-Gabbar Singh you did not laugh at. The success of Sholay was to a great extent due to the fact that you imagined you'd be scared if you met Gabbar Singh on a lonely road. Ramesh Sippy couldn't recreate the same scary impact ever again, not even with Shaakal with Shaan. Before Mehmood and after Mehmood there has never been a hero-comedian who could carry an entire film on his shoulders. He s the clown who made others lose their inhibitions. I'm sure Amitabh Bachchan learnt from him.

There are a few films which have appealed to me. Films that never tire me, films that spur me on to take up a new venture, after one has gone wrong. Like Padosan, Jyoti Swaroop, the director has made a tremendous contribution in this film because it entertains every generation. It is an ageless film.

I loved Sholay and I sincerely believe we haven't been able to make a greater film than that. This is a personal belief. You can question it and speak of Mother India or Mughal-e-Azam isn't as great as Sholay, I can't identify with it. Sholay is a modern, slick film, and what's more Sholay didn't even have a mother figure to bog you down.

Karz is another film I liked. It scared me. Karan Arjun didn't make me believe in re-incarnation but Simi Garewal's icy smile, Raj Kiran's blood-stained face and that haunting tume made me believe that Rishi Kapoor was Raj Kiran re-incarnated.

Deewar again is a very modern film. And for me just one dialogue of Amitabh's is the whole film. "Main Gire Huye Paise Aaj Bhi Nahi Uthata". I would give my life for a film with a dialogue like this. I preferred this even to that legendary line, "Tumhare Paas Kya Hai? Mere Paas Maa Hain."

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron was also a trendsetter. With a budget of 17 lakhs it proved that you can make a film without stars, you just need good actors.

What others say about Shah Rukh Khan: Madhuri Dixit & Mushtaq Shiekh

Madhuri Dixit (October 28, 2008):

"They're different in many ways," she muses, "Aamir is more studied. He just does one film and he will put his all into that film. I remember I was sitting with Shah Rukh once and he said, 'Madhuri, you know kids who have producers as fathers are very lucky because in a way they are financially secure, they can pick and choose. We don't have any kind of anchor like that so we have to make a place for ourselves and work really hard. Not that they don't work hard, but there's that comfort… But I want to be a producer one day and produce good cinema."

"The way Aamir wants to do things is different from the way Shah Rukh does them. Shah Rukh is very lively, like a livewire. I don't think he ever sleeps! He is someone you can talk to on any topic in the world as he has a lot to say and he knows about a lot of stuff. His is a totally different personality from Aamir's but they both have a common thread which is a passion for their work. Shah Rukh was brilliant in Chak De; it's one of his finest performances." About Salman, she says one couldn't make out whether he was taking in the director's instructions or not while the briefing was on, but in front of the camera, he'd be brilliant and floor everyone.

Well, he did go on and become a producer.. the rest is Bollywood history. Think it's easy to create history? Watch Mushtaq Shiekh as he tells us what happened when Shah Rukh first started out with Dreamz Unlimited.

Quote of the day (o my, I've not done this post for ever so long..)

Link
" After 20 years in the film industry, I think I’ve earned the right to clarify myself before being written about."


My comment:
mmm.. no you don't, Shah Rukh. It doesn't matter if you've been in the industry for 5892 years, you still have not earned it. I don't think it's humanly possible to earn it nor do I think you should. Even if you're psychic enough to actually be able to do it, it'll be boring to hear/watch/read about you clarifying one stupid issue after another before it's even written. I'd much rather hear/watch/read what you have to say regarding your super duper philosophy of movie making like the one you spouted in that Koffee with Karan episode (the one with Kajol). I miss your super duper philosophy on anything, really. You rarely talk about them nowadays coz they alwiz get misprinted or misinterpreted. These idiotic paparazzos have robbed me of my interesting SRK-quotemeter.. grrrr.

Quote of the day

Source
Aamir has said that you are famous and your films become hits because you have befriended member of the media. What do you think?
You give me the answer if you think this is true. If this is true, then journalism's principal has died and you people are fake! Journalists are fake, news channels are sold out. Then none of the films will flop. I am asking you people if it is true. These are baseless rumors. And I don't have any special friends in the media. If I had friends in the media, you all would not do any negative stories against me. When I came to Mumbai and was on my way to becoming a star, I used to get tensed and angry with the media wanting to write about my personal life. But then I cooled down as I realized that I am doing my job and they are doing their job.

Aamir has put up his Ghajini statues in theatres to compete with your film. What is your reaction?
I think Ghajini will be a blockbuster. See I will tell you that he is intelligent, he is smart and he is a great actor. And we met each other last night. Don't take it the wrong way! We were shooting next to each other. I will tell you one thing about Aamir. Now Aamir has become so funny ...earlier he was very serious. And now he pulls my leg so I can also pull his leg. So I thought I would tease him about his hair but when I saw him his hair had grown. Then I asked him about the boys who have gone bald because of him as they are sporting the Ghajini hairstyle and what if their hair doesn't grow back? And then I joked with him about his muscles. I got a six pack last year but Aamir has got an eight pack now, so who toh mere se aage nikal gaya hai. I wish him all the best for Ghajini.

Quote of the day

Whenever Shah Rukh talks about Islam, I tend to cringe visibly. I've long ago accepted that I don't understand his perception of Allah and Islam, and it's okay that I don't understand it.

After I read "Life of Pi" I realised that the problem lies not in being unable to understand what Shah Rukh is saying, but in being unable to understand how Islam is perceived and practiced in his home country.

Malaysian muslims have their own ways that I'm sure Shah Rukh and the muslims in India may not understand or even agree with. What's important is recognizing our differences and working towards maintaining harmony.

Although, as is everything good in life... these ideals are easy to preach but difficult to follow.


Source
You said that you are making an effort to rediscover Islam. Why now?
Now that I am a father, I have to read up on various subjects, including religion. When my children ask me questions about God, I have to give them an answer. But I am happiest when my son defines God as Ganesh Allah. I don’t want that to change. That sounds so right to me. I tell my son, God, Allah and Bhagwan are all one. My daughter is still too young to ask questions like these.

What role does religion play in your personal life?
I am godfearing and would not like to do anything that may make god unhappy. I smoke and apologise to god for not being able to stop the bad habit. And I believe in heaven and hell.

Quote of the day

Source
How do you respond to being regarded as the number one star in Bollywood?
I was never number one. It is an old quote of mine that only telephones have numbers.

Ask the distributors in Bihar and CI-CP and they will say Shah Rukh sucks. I have existed at a higher position only because of my overseas position.

I do three films a year and one or two are hits, and that is more due to a Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Yash Chopra or Karan Johar — they make good, hit films, with or without me. I just happen to be at the right place at the right time.

What drives Shah Rukh Khan

Source
Sonia Singh: I mean, 'logo ko kuch kahna hai'. But what drives Shah Rukh Khan? That is an amazing drive you have, you do not give up, you keep going, you keep coming up with something new. What drives you?

Shah Rukh: I think I hurt easy; I get disturbed if I do not win. And that is the general truth. But if I get disturbed, I do not give up. I have this saying which is very greedy and perhaps not nice but I say it to my kids, 'losing is not my option'.

When I say that, I do not say it with vengeance, anger, aggression. I think you need to pick up yourself, dust yourself and sit again I will give it another go. That's what I do every morning. I wake up and I say this is one aspect I would like to win, I would like to win not in a competition but I want to win myself from the last year, from the last expression, from the last work. It is not directed toward x,y,z.

And the second part is I want to end my career as an actor by bringing smile to the maximum number of faces. You know, I am driving in a car, I just come down at the airport and somebody just smiles for no reason, they just smile, they do not know even I am a good guy or not but they just smile. And that is the gift Allah has given me that I can make people smile. So I want a lot of people to smile through the work and because people are giving me so much, I have to return it. So the drive is to get up every morning and say thank you through my work. I need to just get up and the drive is to say thank you. I think it is a positive drive and the negative drive that I want to win.

What a LOL

... the 'discussion' is long and in-depth *makes gagging noises*

Of course it doesn't take away the fact that almost everyone who's against or for Shah Rukh's performances has watched ALL of his movies mentioned there! Some even more than once, and they're the ones who complain about him the loudest. Weird much? For people who claim over and over that his performances suck, they sure submit pretty meekly to the 'torture' of watching movie after movie of his.

The problem with these people is, I think, they take the movies they watch too seriously. It's okay for Shah Rukh and all the actors to take their movies seriously coz movies are their rozi roti (bread and butter). But the audience? I mean, you've just spent 3.5 hours of your life in the dark cinema hall. That's 3.5 hours you'll never get back, dudes. So you'd better enjoy it, otherwise I advise you to do other activities more to your taste next time coz you're wasting your life doing something you'll only bitch and whine about later.

I doubt any other Bollywood actor/star will have people spending so much time and energy arguing intelligently like this in so many blogs and websites. Not even their Mr Intellectual. Well, do whatever you must, if you think it could show off how clever *sic* you are. And if you're so intent on self-torture, I'm not gonna stop you from buying those tickets when his movies are releasing. Go buy! Shooo! Shooo! Buy more! And while you're at it, why not bring the rest of your anti-SRK friends and fill up the whole friggin hall!

What Shah Rukh has to say about it:

(Source)
Q: Did Veera-Zara and Swades gave you a chance to be different?
A: I think the difference is in the media's head. I think I'm different in each of my films. To me it seems anyone who says I'm different in Veer-Zara or Swades is only recognizing what I've done in all my films. Those who don't understand cinema or acting would see the difference only when it's in-your-face, as it is in Veer-Zara, where the guy is hundred percent different. The nuances of acting are completely apparent only to the actor. It's very difficult for the outsider to cotton on fully to what an actor does on screen, good or bad. This applies to every profession. I mean I wouldn't really know about the craft of journalism, would I? Though I'm penning my thoughts in a book that would out soon.

In which he mentions my country

Source
At this point, TAG Heuer officials walk into the sitting room and tell me that my 15 minutes are up but the ever charming Khan very quickly adds: "She's come all the way from Malaysia; I am sure I can spare a little more time. After all, Malaysia is one of my favourite countries.

"Is it really one of your favourite countries?

Yes, in fact my favourite country outside India.

Why?

It's a country filled with wonderful people. One of my greatest friends comes from Malaysia and he is [Tun] Dr Mahathir [Mohamad]. A great man with great vision. I really like him. He was the first person who made me believe that I had a great fan base outside India. Until I met him, I thought that I was only great in India.

I will never forget the day when I was walking along down the street in his then new administrative capital Putrajaya. He was Prime Minister then. He was so obviously proud of it and while we were walking, lots of Malaysians started gathering around. I thought they wanted to speak with him or shake his hands. He looked at me and said this: "Shah Rukh, all these people want to meet you and not me. Your movies are a great hit here in Malaysia and I too am a great fan of yours."

It was only then that it dawned on me that I was reaching out to people outside India as well. I made him a promise then that I would one day shoot an entire film in Malaysia. And I finally did that with Don this year [2006]. Before that I had shot several song routines... in Langkawi and he came to see me there.

I genuinely like him, he is a sweet gentleman. I know he's currently going through a lot in Malaysia. People are saying all sorts of things about him. Putting his politics aside, one has to learn to like people beyond the work they do.

Quotes of the day

Source
Q: what’s your view on cosmetic surgery to improve one’s looks?

A: It scares me. Though I know a lot of friends, men as well, who have had to do so. What scares me is the scars, the stories of stuff falling out, bursting, etc… It’s your body and your face, if you feel better changing it then why not? IM not against plastic surgery, but for me physical looks are not important.


Source
You’ve never complained about the price of stardom anyway.

No, I never have. I’m grateful that I’ve been blessed by God with stardom. The love and appreciation I receive from the people I meet is overwhelming and makes up for everything. I don’t think there’s anything wrong if demands are made on my time. If a dying person wants me to sit by his or her bedside, I’ll do so. If someone wants me to go to a hospital and meet some sick people, I feel privileged


Source
You were slated to do Lagaan. What happened?

SRK: Actually, Lagaan started with me. I didn't refuse it - we didn't have the money to make it back then. I took him [Ashutosh Gowarikar] to three producers. I remember when he came to me with that film, I had malaria, so we sat in my house, and the first posters are lying in my computer. At the time we had a different idea: we actually wanted Sachin [Tendulkar], Ajay Jadeja and Kapil Dev to play characters in the film. Then someone made a sports movie, which flopped badly. We used to go to producers and though they would all talk nicely, once Ashutosh left they would refuse the project. Then I took Ashutosh to the US where we met two producers. Even they refused. No one wanted to produce it. Then after six months, Aamir came into the picture.

Did you talk to Aamir about it?

SRK: Aamir came to take the equipment from us and I think he was convinced about the film. I felt the fact that Aamir was doing it was fantastic. I also felt that because Aamir did it, Lagaan is a better film. They had lot more patience, I would have never been able to do it.


Source
"I am wary of ministers, customs people, income-tax people and collectors: I don’t understand them. I can’t cultivate them. Some years ago, the industry was hosting a stage show in Delhi for a charitable cause benefitting the income-tax people. Pahlaj Nihalani almost forced Juhi and me to perform at the show, saying that the income-tax people would raid our houses if we didn’t. We did perform but not so much out of fear as because we thought, it would be a good platform to publicise our Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani which was due for release soon thereafter. Anyway, at the show, on the stage, I revealed exactly how Pahlaj Nihalani had goaded me into performing at the show as otherwise, according to him, the IT people would have raided my house. The top income-tax officials, obviously, couldn’t take it; my frankness annoyed them and they wanted me to publicly apologise for what I had said. I refused. I explained to them later that whether rightly or wrongly, that was the way their names were being misused."

On KR's dismal performance at IPL 2

Source
“The blame should completely rest on my shoulders. It’s my duty to overcome this year’s performance… how, when, who… too many details for an interview... I don’t like being a loser and I’ll pragmatically and passionately turn this around. Inshallah.”

Quote of the day

Yeah, yeah... I know I've pasted one today, but with Shah Rukh, several days happen in the space of 24 hours, so this kinda thing should be expected rather than questioned XD

Source
“Success is never final, just like failure is never fatal. Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared. Fear failure so much that you get the courage to succeed. Talking about how I became successful is a waste. Success comes by chance. My first few films failed. My IPL team failed in the first and second seasons. But I’m not giving up – I want to win next year.”

Quote of the day

teena: There's an uproar in Orissa, erstwhile Kalinga -- do you accept that there has been a complete character assasination of Kaurwaki and to some extent of Asoka?

SRK: no i do't think so. it was a fictionalised account of asoka's life...made very clear. also nobody knows what really transpired between asoka and kaurwaki. all there are, are myths. it's like believing that the three lines on the squirrel are there becos rama caressed them while they helped him build the bridge to lanka...if i was to show that in a film it's only for cinematic purposesnot really becos it happened. now if there is a character assasination of the squirrel becos of that...then so be it. (source)