WE HAVE TO GIVE RANBIR `5 , 000 FOR THIS , SAYS SHAH RUKH

Despite what he had joked about, the title of Shah Rukh Khan’s new movie was indeed suggested by Ranbir Kapoor

The title of a new movie is not always the most interesting thing about it, but when the actor is Shah Rukh Khan and the director Imtiaz Ali, and the two are working together for the first time, even the film’s name becomes the subject of feverish speculation.

And now we know — the film, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma, is titled Jab Harry Met Sejal. There’s an interesting story about who thought of this title. Shah Rukh tells us, “We only had a working title that Imtiaz had written on the script. He titles his films in English. We were like, ‘We’ll think of a Hindi title as we go along.’” Then it was Ranbir Kapoor, Imtiaz Ali’s lead in Rockstar and Tamasha, who came up with the final title.

Shah Rukh quips, “I don’t want to say it, but Ranbir suggested the title and we have to give him `5,000 for it (laughs). The day the film was launched, he called and suggested the title.”

Yesterday morning, Shah Rukh had posted, in a jokey tone, a Facebook status: “Just in case Ranbir Kapoor ever claims it... the title Jab Harry Met Sejal was never ever suggested by him! So he doesn’t win the `5,000 reward.”

On Thursday night, after the film’s poster was out, Ranbir had said at a press meet, “I suggested the title of the film and that time people laughed at me, saying, ‘Kya bakwaas title hai (What a useless title it is.’ Today, when the poster of the film released with my suggested title, I was very happy.”

The title reminds one of Imtiaz’s previous film Jab We Met and the Hollywood hit When Harry Met Sally, but Shah Rukh responds, “To be honest, neither of these films is related to this one.”

The film is being released on August 4, avoiding a clash with the Akshay Kumarstarrer Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, and also taking advantage of the long weekend for Raksha Bandhan. “I’ve always maintained that if it’s possible to change the date, I’d do that. Our film is like a long-running movie; it’s not a weekend-oriented film, so I feel we’ll get the benefit of the August 15 [holiday], too.”

Shah Rukh calls it a “classic love story”, the type he is doing after more than a year, so “most of my [team] felt that two weeks’ run is good for us”.

Another reason to avoid the clash in release dates was to shun the negativity, a space in which “we forget our films and answer questions about the other films”. He adds, “I wanted to stay away from it.”

We point out that on the occasions when there has been a clash, Shah Rukh’s movies have made more money. He replies, “I think every film should have its own breathing space. Having been on the side when I’ve always made more money with every film, I still feel it’s not a good feeling [when films clash]. If you can avoid it, it’s better to do it.”

This is a very beautiful, comic, slice of life kind of film. Of course, everyone knows When Harry Met Sally, so Ranbir’s thought must have come from that SHAH RUKH KHAN, ACTOR

PHOTO: ANTHONY HARVEY/GETTY IMAGES