SRK on film-making business, HNY

In a cool conversation, Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh Khan talks about producing films, doing all kinds of films, improving on technology in Hindi films and more with Lipika Varma

Happy New Year premiere in Dubai We started shooting there so we decided to premiere there. The film is set there and it’s convenient. Diwali starts on Tuesday and it will be too early to show the film. Films release on Thursdays in Dubai so we felt it would be good.

Red Chillies

We have been planning for a long time. We started concentrating on core competence. We made 12 films and it’s been 10 years our company is working. We started planning for expansion. People who we have employed. We have to choose scripts. Even the CEO’s film production there’s Kareem and Kangna. Nothing has been finalized as yet but it will be soon. Visual effects are my passion. We feel people who are working should start gearing up. We have people in every department-business, accounts etc.

Doing all kinds of films

We want to do all kinds of films. It has to create its own niche. Technologically our films will be good. Our team is good, in the D.I. sounds everything. We like to keep that as our niche. Even small films we can make better products in terms of Technology. As a producer I can control quality. I am trying to keep myself away from all this. As an actor I give my inputs. They are planning the budgets also. They are ready for presentation now. I wanted to be an independent entrepreneur. We will have a good mix of films. I am from theatre and I feel we should make off beat films too.

On improving Hindi Cinema

We can’t stop Hollywood films. There should be creativity. We should give them good competition. Regional cinema is amazing. Hindi cinema should do something like that to improve it. I am planning to do regional cinema too. We are at the grass root level. We are planning Regional cinema i.e. mostly Bengali films. I have told them to make plans. I beg to differ. Any technology enhances a film. It’s very important especially when you have a fight scene you should have men flying in the air. You can’t say that it’s okay in India. How can that be? You have to offer the best. You are not educating your audience with the latest technology.

Not being a hands-on producer

I don’t think I will be able to concentrate on everything. I don’t get time to hear my own scripts. I have a team of thinking people who have done good work earlier. They have been with me for some time and our sensibilities match. I won’t be ahands-on producer. I believe that if I leave people to do their job, they will respect me and work will be done on time. They will keep a balance on production costs so I won’t get in their way.

It’s important what I might be able to bring to board is a little marketing and better technology. We don’t want to dump money it should be utilized rightly. We try to keep free of my creativity. But as a company we will bring little understanding and technology.

On Deepika in HNY

We wanted a girl with a south Indian touch in Chennai Express. In Om Shanti Om we wanted a new girl. She hardly has forty lines in the film. In this film it’s a strong role. She was clear about her choice. We wanted a brilliant dancer and one who could give us bulk dates. She’s worked with the team and she’s good in her work. Abhishek has a fantastic role. She is the one who has belief in truth. We are all small time thieves. She’s the spine of the team in the film.

HNY script

There were five boys who go to America to earn money. They were tapori types and they go for a dance championship. In that there were no thieves. In ten years the dance competitions became big. A lot had changed.

No insight in business

I have no insight into business but when I am a producer and am making a film I may need a type of car and as a creative person you want a red car. Then I make sure we have a red car or I will get it painted. The idea has to be completed. Sometimes however well we do it we are not successful. I fail a lot and the times I fail I am a little not arrogant but I give up. People think because I am successful I am a good businessman. I never stick to it but you learn on your journey. I realized that business should be something that you love. The money will follow later. I rather have tried as a failed producer than not tried at all. I love doing certain things. If I don’t, I don’t share it with people.

On Marketing

Marketing a film is something where you tell people about your film. Since it’s a dance film, we went on a dance tour. For Chak De India I would have never gone on Kapil’s show because its not a comedy film. Since I have reached a level of stardom people trust me for the money to come. For commercial film it is important to market it. Like Ra.One for example. People didn’t know the meaning of it, but I started marketing and explaining what it is so that when people come to watch it. My exhibitors and distributors come and watch the film before they take it. I think business should be clean.

On Indian audience lacking cinematic awareness

The level of video literacy is less in our country. People outside India are aware as video has come early there. People in villages take cinema literally they think things are literally happening. People worship actors and have temples erected in their name. As the years go by, things will change. What runs here are a lot of action films do well here. Secondly love stories are very popular. Science fiction is zero point one percent. In America they are professional actors.

Screenplay the weakest department in Hindi films

The weakest department in India is screenplay and script writing. They have schools in screenplay writing in every lane. Trying making some scenes symbolic. You can’t spoon feed the audience. It should not be inartistic. Watch Hollywood films and try to imbibe things in your film.

On Reality show on Zee

We had planned a dance show in twelve episodes but it was going to be very lavish but they wanted ten episodes whereas I wanted three months and we backed out. Since it was lavish they backed out.

On his shoulder hassles

I am always working out otherwise I am not able to function after my shoulder surgery. I have to keep working. I do a lot of exercises. I have to keep my back muscles strong and warm. So I have got abs. I didn’t have to work on it especially for the film. Farah said let’s do the song without the shirt. So that’s how it happened. Even the character in the film is a strong guy and wants to destroy something. The song changes the mood of the film. I am strong enough to believe that I have many defects.

On distribution

It's semi corporate, we cannot turn into a corporate company. The loss depends on the distributor. We can get international help but it’s less. Distribution I don’t think I have the capacity. I have understood the business now but I am not fully aware like Yash Raj Films does.

Lipika Varma