Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, Bollywood's golden couple, are back

Kajol reveals why Shah Rukh is the original 'Dilwala' and Shah Rukh Khan explains why he is lonely in a candid chat with City Times.

Bollywood's favourite onscreen couple and the ultimate romantic stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol are coming together once again with Rohit Shetty's Dilwale that releases this weekend across the world. We met with the golden and probably the most entertaining couple at The Oberoi this Saturday for a personal tete-a-tete. Shah Rukh was not feeling well since he is on a whirlwind promotional tour of this film. His friend and co-star Kajol made up for his low-key appearance with her energetic attitude. "He always fires me before I talk to media, 'Don't be spontaneous. Shut your mouth and think before you talk'," said Kajol when we asked her if Shah Rukh's recent experience with the media has made her more guarded while giving interviews.
Shah Rukh was clear that he will not talk political stuff and was fine with everything else. "Sometimes I tell her, 'you are saying this, but they might mind the way you spoke because of the place we are in sometimes and not for any other reason'. I would never stop anybody's spontaneity and the desire to talk the way they wish to. As far as I am concerned, yes, I will not talk political stuff."
'SRK IS THE ORIGINAL DILWALE'
Shah Rukh shares a special connection with Indian audiences from across the world. He has more charisma than most of the actors we know. Does Kajol think that he is a true 'Dilwala'?
"I think he is the original 'Dilwala'. That's one thing that I find amazing about him. I find that there is this innate kindness about him when he is looking at people, in general, whether he knows them or doesn't know them. It doesn't matter whether they are his fans or not his fans. His kindness comes across on screen and off screen as well. When he says that he will work till his last breath, he genuinely means it. I know for a fact that some part is for him, but a lot of it has to do with making all these people who love him happy. And that is something I find amazing because I work for myself and I am very clear about it. I know most people do, we all work for ourselves, and we are selfish about it in whatever way. His compassion and kindness are amazing so I would consider him a 'Dilwala'." Offhand to SRK with a pat on his shoulder: "Just accept the compliment!"
Then she continued, "One thing, if you speak about him objectively the way he is with the people around him, he makes sure the people who work with him, grow with him. And that I think is his true mark because he is not selfish about his growth."
"There will always be a part of me in every film"
Apart from being a great actor, Shah Rukh is one of the world's biggest superstars. Every time he spreads his arms in his signature pose, audiences are overwhelmed. Does he connect with the title of the movie that means 'big hearted'?
"It will be wrong for me to turn around of 25 years of working as an actor who is trying to be a different person in every film. How do I connect to a title Baazigar? Name is only a name, I will always say, 'Aadmi naam se nahin, kaam se hota hain.' (A man is known for his work, not his name) I am playing an elder brother to Varun, there is an innate strength and kindness to my character. Even Kajol's character has an innate angst and still a lot of love. Even Varun and Kriti's character have an issue of how much generosity of heart can they have and how much would they sacrifice for the love that they have for each other. The title really has a lot of feeling of the relationship that four of us share. As far as personally I am concerned, I think whether I want it or don't want it, there will always be a part of me in every film which is left behind, sometimes knowingly so, sometimes without realizing. Like when we did My Name is Khan, just the physicality of it or capturing the ailment in a way took a lot of understanding not only for me but also for my co-actor. It took a toll on me, I had a neck problem and I had problems with my eyes." Kajol added that Shah Rukh had to be slightly cross-eyed and also hunched over for the film.
Pleasure of Over the Top(OTT) films
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterised by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century and was responsible for the advent of the actresses and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft". Punch and Judy - a very violent puppet show - is based on this art. Shah Rukh revealed that Dilwale tries to follow this art form.
Rohit Shetty's films are always over the top. What kind of pleasure do great actors like Shah Rukh and Kajol get from doing an OTT film? "I enjoy the action parts of it. The stand up comic part of it is something that I really enjoy; slapstick side is also extremely fun to do. I don't do OTT too often. Nobody has given me an action-oriented film. There is an Italian art form called Commedia dell'arte. It is extremely beautiful. It is called Vaudeville and Rohit falls in that genre of filmmaking, which is like Punch and Judy, Charlie Chaplin and all rolled into one. It is fun to do these kinds of films once in a while and also to work with friends," said Shah Rukh.
Kajol confirmed our belief that Shah Rukh loves doing OTT films. "I have to say that he is really into the action. When he is doing an action scene and he is walking, he really enjoys it so much that you can see it on his face. His expressions are like, 'I am loving this, 100 trains, and I am walking on trains and bashing the guys up who are flying from here to there.' Rohit could have easily gone the whole OTT way, but he made sure that it is there in bits and pieces."
Not Golmaal on steroids
Shah Rukh made it crystal clear that this film is unlike what audiences are expecting from a Shah Rukh-Kajol film, "When Kajol asked me, I said it would be fun. We have not explored this genre too often. This is not like a Golmaal on steroids; Rohit also has evolved for the cast. It is so poignant and beautiful. Now people are saying it's a Shah Rukh and Kajol film but no, it's a Rohit Shetty film with Shah Rukh and Kajol in it. We keep joking that even now people must be assuming that this film will be like Golmaal."
arti@khaleejtimes.com