The much-awaited Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name is Khan is scheduled for release in the middle of February. It will see talented actor Kajol play the female lead. Excerpts from an interview:
Your forthcoming films areMy Name Is Khanand the remake ofStepmom.Why is it that we see you only in Karan Johar's films?
I'm sure it is not planned. How will it help if Karan and his Dharma Productions alone offer me good roles?
My Name Is Khanis your third film with Karan as director.
I'll speak on Shah Rukh's behalf too. Karan has cast us in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, K3G and now Khan . We have worked very hard on My Name Is Khan ; it has been an intense experience for all of us. It is the biggest film we have made so far together.
MNIKsounds very different from the films Karan has made with Shah Rukh and you earlier.
What drew me to the film was the fact that it was very, very different from what Karan had done earlier. While we were discussing the film, I actually asked Karan, ‘Are you sure you want to make this?' He was like ‘Yeah yeah, I have got you and I have got Shah Rukh. We will manage.'
You are working with Shah Rukh eight years afterK3G(2001). Has he changed?
Yes, he has changed for the better. He has rippling muscles now, a six pack and he claims he has grown taller! Acting with him was fantastic.
The promo ofMNIKsomewhere reminds one of the Tom Hanks starrerForrest Gumpwhere one forgot the actor for the character.Do you think Shah Rukh playing Rizwan Khan inMNIKwill make people forget they are watching SRK?
We have really worked hard on the film. I remember a lot of people saying after watching DDLJ or Kuch Kuch Hota Hai that we were the characters in the film. The same will happen with My Name Is Khan; I think people will come out remembering Rizwan Khan.
What was it like shooting forMNIKin the U.S.?
We had really long schedules in the U.S., so I got to see places I had not seen before. We shot in this beautiful small town, Sonoma, which is just an hour from San Francisco. It was picture perfect with wines and flowers.
