SRK at 25: I feel more responsible now

The Shah Rukh Khan era of Bollywood is now its 25th year (his debut film Deewana was released in 1992), and there has never been a year during this time when he didn’t have at least one big-ticket film out.

After a quarter of a century — now that sounds long! — Shah Rukh still has his moments of concern when his film is about to release. “I don’t know if I am nervous, but I am concerned, for sure. It’s not as if I don’t sleep properly or am troubled,” he says.

And the spontaneity that was Shah Rukh’s trademark during his TV show days (Fauji) is still there in this choice of films. “Mostly, films aren’t calculated,” he says. But “some of them could be”, he adds, explaining, “especially when it comes to our commercial films that have song-and-dance sequences. Those films might have some calculations, as one does think of a few set parameters, such as releasing it around Diwali or any other festival, etc.”

Why the concern even at the highest level of superstardom? “Mujhko concern rehta hai, because you always hope that the film you’ve made and the story you’re telling is liked by more people because you feel for [the film]. Also, as a movie star who has been there for 20-25 years, you also go to the people to entertain them, and sometimes, finding that mix is difficult; sometimes, it just happens even when we don’t realise it,” he replies.

At the same time, Shah Rukh says that there’s “always knowledge that [a film] made with a good heart will be liked by others”.

This is how he feels about a project now: “So, somebody wanted to tell me a story and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, since other people are also attached to a film, I’m more concerned now. Especially, when you’ve been working for two-and-a-half decades, you start being responsible.”

You go to the people to entertain them, and sometimes, finding that mix is difficult; sometimes, it just happens

SHAH RUKH KHAN, ACTOR