There was no story in Main Hoon Na Farah Khan comes clean

[Ashok]

Where is Farah Khan these days? What’s with the low profile?
Arrey, there’s nothing like that. I had the most high-profile marriage just six months ago. Moreover, I’m writing a script and at this stage, there’s hardly anything to talk to the media about. Only when a film is complete do I like talking about it.
Besides, I’ve been up to other things. I’m doing the interiors of my new house, I’ve completed the choreography for Paheli and a full-fledged Chinese film. Unlike others, I don’t call the media to broadcast my achievements. I’m not media-savvy, you see.

Everyone is pretty curious about your next film Happy New Year. Tell us, what’s the story all about?
It is a very, very nice idea. And an original one, so I’m taking a little more time to put the framework to my script. By the way, it hasn’t been copied from any Hollywood film.

But why are you being so hush–hush about it?
I’m a bit wary of sharing information about it because I haven’t registered the script yet. When the promos of Main Hoon Na were on air, I heard people accusing me of lifting their story idea. I wondered, goddamit, where is the story in Main Hoon Na? (laughs) Honestly, if I could find a story in the film, I would happily give the credit to anyone who wants credit for it.

There are rumours that you’ve roped in Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Shah Rukh Khan for your film. That’s a fantastic star cast.
No yaar, I have finalised only Shah Rukh... or should I say he has finalised me? Most of the people I’ve talked to have given their verbal consent for the film though nothing’s finalised. Off the record, they have said they would want to be part of my film but no one has been signed nor have I narrated the script to anyone besides Shah Rukh

Reports say your film has been delayed and it will go on the floors as late as January 2006. Is that frustrating?
No, I’m not flustered at all. Because it’s giving me more time to polish my script. We were all very clear that the first film to go on the floor will be Karan’s Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna, followed by mine. (I will be working in Karan’s film as a choreographer.) So there’s a domino effect happening. If Karan’s film gets delayed, the subsequent ones get delayed too. But it’s okay because we are all friends. Now that Yash uncle (Yash Johar), whom we were very attached to, is no more, I think it’s our moral duty to give Karan all possible support.

Shah Rukh is the pivotal element in your films. Do you write scripts with him in mind?
Well, I ‘d be a hypocrite if I said I didn’t. Shah Rukh is the biggest star and I share a great rapport with him so it’s only natural that I write scripts with him in mind.

Also, Shah bhai is one of the easiest people to work with. He may not be a great producer for his production house because he always overspends, but he is a dream producer for a director. If you need something that would cost a hundred bucks, Shah Rukh would spend a thousand rupees for it.

As an actor too, he is just brilliant. Sometimes I go to him and say Shah bhai, I have so many problems in the script and you need to rectify them. You won’t believe this—he will do it diligently while I’m away, doing my choreography bit or shooting. He takes care of everything. Why would I not want to work with him?

In fact, I can’t imagine a script without him. I know what excites him in a script and unlike other directors, I don’t want to de-glamorise or ‘de-star’ him. I want to take advantage of the mystique surrounding him, I want to capture those moments that have made him a superhero. I like to see him larger than life and that’s why kids love him, teenaged girls go crazy about him and elder women adore him and now, I hear, even teenaged guys go crazy about him (chuckles).

Did you like Shah Rukh in Swades?
See, I liked him a lot in Swades but I would never make a film that de-glamorises him. I want to see the Shah Rukh Khan of Main Hoon Na.

Are you averse to art films, parallel cinema and similar genres?
No, I’m not averse to art films. On the contrary, I like watching them. But I would never make an art film. I want my films to be seen and heard, not get lost in obscure festivals abroad. I have seen films like Manthan and Ankur but can’t say they are my favourites. Give me Manmohan Desai or Nasir Hussain any day.

You haven’t been as prolific as a choreographer after you picked up the megaphone. Has that been a conscious decision?
Kahan yaar, I wish I could take a break from choreography but I just don’t seem to be able to. Usually, in our industry, when a technician becomes a director, he or she is not given a chance in the previous profession but sadly, it’s been the opposite with me. After completing Main Hoon Na, I did Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Kaal, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya and at the moment I’m doing my husband Shirish’s first directorial venture Janeman as a choreographer. I wish I could go slow. But my directors have amazing faith in me. I am irritatingly diligent while directing a song and my directors like that. They tell me they feel safe when I do a song, so I guess I will have to continue as a choreographer.

Your statement on Koffee With Karan in which you called Sanjay Leela Bhansali India’s most overrated director must have got you a lot of feedback, right?
(smiles) Yeah, but I called up Sanjay and told him what I had said on the show. He was cool. And now, after watching Black, I think I should take back my words.

If you remember, the critics panned Main Hoon Na...
So? What do they know of films? This movie was never meant for critics but many critics still loved it and I am grateful to them. Perhaps one day I will make a tedious film that will satisfy all of them.

Lastly, how has marriage changed Farah Khan’s life?
I think I’ve stopped running as madly as I did earlier. Marriage has taught me that there is a life beyond films and I enjoy that thought. Shirish is the most wonderful person and lets me be myself. My temper, which was so infamous, has been smothered and I am much quieter now. At times my dancers think I’m not well when I don’t shout at them as I once used to. Marriage has calmed me.

Farah Khan picks her favourite madcap films

Half Ticket
Half Ticket is my absolute favourite. Sajid (my brother) and I must have watched it 300 million times. The story is hilarious—a 40-year-old Kishore Kumar wears shorts and pretends to be a retarded child. Then he wears that ghaghra-choli and sings that amazing song with Pran saab (Aake seedhi lagi). To top it all, he wears a sleeveless ruffled nightie and walks down the road without a care in the world. Which other hero would have the courage to do that?

Padosan
It is my favourite Sunil Dutt film. Mother India may be a classic but for me Dutt saab is synonymous with Padosan. Kishore Kumar and Mehmood’s performances are out of the world too but the important thing is that people like Keshto Mukherjee and Mukri have roles that are so memorable in their own right. One thing I’ve learnt from Padosan is how to picturise songs in Hindi films.

Clerk
I put this film in the madcap list with a bagful of salt. I know it wasn’t meant to be a madcap film and Manoj Kumarji please forgive me, but we laughed our hearts out when we saw the film. In fact the videocassette of this film broke because we played it so often but we would still watch it by repairing it with a tape. Clerk was our Sholay. We know every line of dialogue in the film but every time we watch it we find something new. And we pause at that point and start laughing.

Golmaal
Golmaal is my top Hrishikesh Mukherjee film. I must have seen it almost 100 times and every time it plays on TV I’ll be the first one to park myself in front of the TV. My favourite scene is the climax, in which Utpal Dutt was just amazing. His scene with Keshto Mukherjee at the police station should go down as one of the best in Hindi cinema.

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
It’s a madcap film but in a different sort of way. For me, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na is Kundan’s (Shah) best work and I like it much more than Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. This film is also memorable for me because I met Shah Rukh for the first time on its sets