Il 2 novembre 2012 Shah Rukh Khan ha compiuto 47 anni. Come sempre in queste occasioni, i media indiani hanno offerto centinaia di tributi dedicati al divo. Vi segnalo un revival davvero gradito: il 31 ottobre 2012 Filmfare ha riproposto la prima intervista concessa al periodico da un giovanissimo SRK (parliamo degli inizi degli anni novanta). My wife doesn’t think I am a good actor: Shah Rukh Khan, Meera Joshi:
'How does it feel that your first film Deewana is a hit?
I'm glad the film has done so well. I feel happy for the producer, the director. A hit is a good for the industry as well. But I don’t think I’ve contributed in any way to its success. My performance was awful - loud, vulgar and uncontrolled. I overacted terribly and I take full responsibility for it. But that’s what happens when you work without a graph. I didn’t even have the script with me. I was to start shooting for the film much later but then some of my other schedules got cancelled and I allotted my dates to this film. I am my worst critic and when I saw myself on the screen I was appalled. Isn’t it amazing that that people have liked me in the film? Perhaps that’s because I am a fresh face. It’s not a performance I’d care to repeat or remember. (...) I wish people could say that 'the film's music is good but Shah Rukh is better.' But in Deewana the music scored over everything. (...) The producer has spent so much money on my clothes, my make up, my conveyance, my meals in addition to paying me a fat sum, so it’s only fair that I should've contributed my best to the film. I don’t want to be successful because of my film; the film should do well because of me. (...)
Have you signed a great many new films?
After Deewana I had taken on five more films which are now complete. (...) That’s going to be my strategy. Four to five films a year which will leave me with enough time to do an occasional offbeat film. If the role is good, I’m always interested.
Why did you turn down the sequel to Fauji? (...)
Because I didn’t want to repeat myself. Though (...) the character I play had become quite popular, I wasn’t convinced about the sequel. I’m sure my fans wouldn’t want to see me doing the same thing again.
Does this mean you won’t be doing any more serials?
I am doing Mani Kaul's telefilm Idiot (...) in which I play a negative role. If the role is interesting, I’ll definitely do even a serial. When Fauji began I was nobody, six and a half hours on television and I became a superstar. Today what little success I’ve seen is because of television. (...)
For a newcomer you appear extra confident. What makes you so sure of yourself?
My talent. Some actors get on by their looks and their physique, some bank on their voice; my asset is my spontaneity, my ability to do a variety of roles. If in one film I play a man on the brink of insanity, in another, I’m someone's kid brother. I work hard on every role - my expressions, my look and my mannerisms. This has at times landed me in trouble too, with producers and directors. They want me to enact the role in a particular way but my argument is that since they've signed me because they think I'm a good actor, they should just let me do things my way. Just because I'm playing a romantic hero doesn’t mean that I have to follow a set pattern. I may have just one release to my credit, but I'm not new to the camera, I know how to act, so let me act my way.
In most of your films you're pitted against a veteran. (...) Doesn’t this put you at a disadvantage?
Why should it? I don’t think any actor or actress is better than I am. No one honestly feels that another guy is better than he. If anyone denies this, he is lying. If you are good, you shouldn’t have any problem even if you have 35 stars opposite you, but if you don’t have the talent, you'd be lost even in a solo manner. I deliberately chose to match skills with these talented actors because I was sure I’d be noticed. If I am not, I’ll admit I made a mistake. (Shrugs) Everyone makes mistakes.
Is there any film you are particularly excited about?
Nothing really. How interesting can a role in a Hindi film be? I am trying to do five different roles in a year but next year they may not look all that different. I am trying to develop the character I play, make them individuals that audience can identify with. (...) The offers had been pouring in and had I wanted I could have signed 25 films by now. But why should I work with producers that only come to me because I’ve had a hit? For them I am like a racehorse - they'll back me only so long as I am on a winning streak. One flop and they'll stay away. I will only work with those people who have faith in my talent, who believe that I am one of the finest actors in the country.
Who would you say is your closest rival?
Well, there's Aamir Khan, I can’t call him competition, he is a far better actor. If there's a superb actor in a country today it’s Aamir. I’ve heard that he wants to retire after 30 and turn director. I plan to quit at 30 too.
Do you also want to direct?
I don’t know anything about direction. But I just might try my hand at it. Basically I am a very lazy man. Even now I can’t handle more than five films a year. I want to slog for another three or four years and then sit back and take it easy. If I still get good roles, I might do one film a year. Otherwise I’ll stop altogether and do theatre or something else connected with films.
That explains your attitude towards the press. While other newcomers hanker after publicity, you've banned all film magazines and even shun photo sessions?
I didn’t want to talk to any film magazine till my film was released. I wanted journalists to approach me only after seeing my work. Also, I was put off by certain journalists who are so pompous they believe they can make or break a star. If publicity is everything, all those actors who give fantastic interviews would be superstars. But no, Mr. Bachchan, who the press shunned for years, is still the reigning no.1. There’s no substitute for good work. Interviews and magazine covers don’t make you a good actor. Does taking off your clothes for photographs prove your virility? Are you a macho hero only if you pose for magazine covers with five girls clinging to you? If other want to do it they are welcome, I’ll stick to my work and keep my private life as private as possible'.
