When Chennai Express released, I was one of the many who bashed the movie. However, that movie and its success gave me one of my biggest moments in professional (and personal) life. It gave me a chance to meet Shah Rukh Khan.
It started with my boss candidly asking me if we should try and interview him. Being in under two months into my new job at Business Standard, I was at once excited and skeptical. I mean why would he agree?
I decided to give it a shot and sure enough, once the film crossed the Rs 100 crore mark (and that was within three days of release), I got a call from his publicist, asking me to 'drop over' the next day and interview the man. I was at a friend's place, a house party, and I remember rushing to a quiet place to call my boss and excitedly told him it's happening. He calmly guided me and asked me to enjoy the party.
The next day, I was nervous. I turned to a long time friend, philosopher and guide, and mentor, though she is way too young to be labelled something like that. She sent me a link to a blog that described what to expect when interviewing particular stars. (I can't seem to find the link. If and once I do, shall post it here.) For SRK, it said that journalists end up waiting a long time to meet him. My friend also advised me to be prepared to wait at least a couple of hours. I thought that is the only thing I feel prepared for.
I made my way to Mannat Annex in Bandra that Sunday afternoon, an excited, nervous and hopeful person. On reaching,I found a horde of people standing next to the property's gate or the plaque which said Mannat, clicking pictures and documenting how close they got to the King Khan.
I went up the hill to the entrance at the back to the office. There too, a couple of families were clicking pictures with SRK's vanity van. I could just see their faces full of surprise as I entered the building. In a weird way, I felt like I had arrived in life. I got to enter places people longed to, and I did not especially aspire to, but I still managed. (In retrospect, I feel naive and downright stupid thinking they envied me,but hey, we all learn in time!)
I was led to a spacious waiting room, complete with plush sofas, a huge (I don't know the specific measurement, but it was HUGE) flat screen mounted on one wall and an MF Hussain painting (equally huge) on the wall facing it. There were a couple of journalists present. They seemed to know each other and were bantering about the film business. SRK's publicist entered, greeted me warmly, and joined the others in their banter. At that point, I felt out of place. I mean, here are people who are talking about the film business like they own it. People who have met The Man before and are exchanging anecdotes on his wit. And here I was, sitting there, mulling what to do with the pre-warned two hours I had to kill before I could get down to the business of interviewing him.
As time went on, I was included in the discussion and it got better. My nervousness began to ebb. Finally it was down to two of us. It had been three hours since I was scheduled to meet him. SRK's publicist and his staff made sure we were waiting comfortably. A coffee every half an hour to an hour (or when we asked for it) and food offered periodically. At one point, the publicist just ordered food for us since we had been declining all the while and it had been three and a half hours of waiting. SRK, I was told, was entertaining some friends who came calling unexpectedly.
Finally, at 9.15,I was told he was ready. It had been a little more than five hours of waiting and I was beyond relieved. I had cancelled coffee plans, dinner plans and dessert plans with friends by then. I was led to his library in the office building and was told on the way that he was tired and would be able to spare 20 minutes or so. I was cool with it. Twenty minutes with the King of Bollywood was good enough for someone like me.
As I entered, the sight I saw humbled and amused me to no extent. I saw SRK, THE SHAH RUKH KHAN, sitting on an arm-chair, glasses perched on his nose, reading a book. He turned as we entered and shook my hand as introductions were made.
His first words to me were, "Sorry you had to wait so long. And that too on a Sunday." I replied pointing out that he was working on a Sunday as well technically, so it's all cool. We were in the same boat. He smiled genially and settled down in his chair, while I took a seat on the sofa next to him.
What ensued was a riveting 40 minute conversation on Chennai Express, its success, the film industry and its changing face, his production house, the economy and much more. I always thought he came across as arrogant in his television interviews and was prepared for it.
It was a pleasant surprise then to realise that what comes across as arrogance, is passion. Here was a man who was devoted to entertaining people and making sure everyone at Red Chilies and in Kolkata Knight Riders enjoyed their time there and were happy. He vehemently stressed that producing a movie means much more than putting your money in it and your name on the credit reel of a movie. It meant investing sweat and tears and he proudly revealed how he has laughed and cried with the ups and downs his production house and team have seen.
Two things struck me - one was his humility in accepting he was not confident he would be accepted as a director. He admitted (without naming the projects) that whenever he tried to don the director's hat, things did not go well. Second thing was his vast knowledge on the business of cinema. And I don't only mean 'gyaan' as we call it. He quoted books and articles, numbers and facts like they are the most common things to dish out in a conversation. As a journalist, however inexperienced in interviewing the biggies, I was impressed.
At the end of the 40 minutes, I had had the chance to say, "I have had coffee with Shah Rukh Khan." He asked me if I was satisfied with the interaction and if I had more questions. I said I was more than satisfied, but had a couple of requests for him. He said, "Of course!" and smiled.
I then pulled out a book from my bag, a biography of his, that belongs to one of my closest friends. (Apart from my mother, I do not think I would have lugged the five kg book around for anyone). I told him about my friend and requested him to sign the book, with a personal message. I told her what she did and how much she adored him, and his work and he wrote out this message (I am not sure if I can share it, but it was beautiful, even to me) for her. He then pointed out that the author of the book, a friend of his since his early days, was also in the same room. I requested him to sign it as well.
As for the second request, it was the most obvious. A photo with him. He promptly stood up and moved away from where we were sitting. He selected a spot with good lighting, and I had my photo op with him. As we walked back to the seating place, I told him how I am surrounded by his fans. While I live with the friend whose book he just signed, my mother cannot stop gushing about his performance in movies like Swades and Chak De India!
At this, he did something, that surprised and touched me. He asked me if mom would be up at the time? It was around 10 pm on a Sunday night. I said yes. "Then let's have a word with her!" he said. I am sure my eyes grew big and round in surprise, but I gathered myself and dialed Dad's number. He luckily picked up on the second ring and I asked him to hand the phone to Maa. As she came on the line, I told her someone needed with speak with her, and handed the phone to Shah Rukh.
He took the phone and said, "Hello Mummy, I am Shah Rukh." I could hear my mother's excited voice from two feet away. He told her how her daughter has been interviewing him and praised me (I blushed, I accept). My mother said that she is very proud of the work he does and that she hopes to see more such work from him, and blessed him. It was a two minute conversation, but one that my Mom, Dad and I will remember, verbatim, for life.
After that, I took his leave, thanked him and his publicist and headed home.
I had just finished my first big interview with a Bollywood celebrity and it had not sucked! What's more, I had managed to make two people, two of the people I absolutely love, very happy.
My friends tell me that since I met him, I have done a volte-face in my stance on SRK. To them, all I can say is, I may not agree with his choice of films or his method of acting. I do however respect the man for his knowledge and wit. Most importantly, I respect him for showing the humility of talking to my mom. Others may brush it off as a smart PR move, for me, it made my Mom happy and proud. And that's what matters.
