No other actor has seeped into the collective mindspace of the country, as much as Shah Rukh Khan has. Actors measure their success by him. The film industry’s reaction to the super success of 3 IDIOTS only endorses what a huge phenomenon he actually is. It wasn’t Aamir’s victory that was rejoiced as much as the perceived victory over Shah Rukh Khan. What’s the Asperger syndrome that Rizwan Khan suffers from? It is a high functional autism. They won’t talk much, or interact, feel, emote, react or respond much. But they are normal otherwise. I mean, someone you know might have the Asperger syndrome and you might not even know. I really believe that Rizwan Khan is the nicest lover I’ve played. I’ve done lots of lovers, but this lover is very straight-faced who doesn’t express emotion, who doesn’t know what love is. That was the challenge for me, to make Rizwan, who seems odd to a neuro-typical person, lovable, and I think I have managed that. Nineteen years now but the stakes keep rising…does it all still affect you? I cannot complain. Sometimes people liked my films very much and sometimes they liked them a little less, but I think I’ve done fairly well for myself economically and every which ways. Of course, the stakes keep shooting up and down all the time. Every newcomer is thrown at my face. Every contemporary’s new success is a foreboding. Now I’m sure it’s like, let’s see if MY NAME IS KHAN is going to be a bigger hit than 3 IDIOTS. Actually, you’re right, 19 bloody years down the line it’s still happening! In between there was this story that you’ve gotten ‘something done’ to your face. There were some pictures of mine clicked at the airport when I got back from America. And people were like, ‘kuch karake aaya hai’. Arre kya karake aaya hai yaar! I am eating well, I’m sleeping well, I’m working out so I’m looking fresh. At 44 I’ve got a four pack consistently and I like it like that way. In hindsight, how do you feel about the fact that 3 IDIOTS was offered to you and you didn’t do it? I have known Vinod (Chopra) for years. Raju Hirani is a very sweet person. They’ve always been kind. Right from MUNNA BHAI to EKLAVYA, they were offered to me. I have sat on them and worked on them for months, listened to the music scores…but let’s leave it saying that there was some miscommunication between Vinod and me. So you don’t do something. But I think they’ve made a wonderful show and I’m happy that it’s done well. What happened between you and Farah Khan? Why isn’t HAPPY NEW YEAR happening? We all want to progress in life. I think Farah felt it was time she did something for her family and rightly so. It’s not that I would not have given her the money she deserves but I think she’s also very self-respecting and maybe she wanted to earn the money the way she thinks is right. So she’s setting up a production house and she has always felt that she’ll make a better producer than me, Karan or Adi. I think she just needs to channelise all those energies for herself and her family. Except that I wish she had told me earlier. I would have planned something. But I guess when you are so close personally it becomes very difficult to say certain things. So we’ve put the film on hold right now. Is it an unstated rule that your friends will make movies only with you? Karan says it with a lot of love because maybe I kind of started with him when he was very young so he has that regard. Even Farah said that… but of course I feel that way too. I’ll always do a Karan Johar film, I’ll always do an Aditya Chopra film, I’ll always do certain directors, friends and family if they think I’m good enough for them. You specially took time out to make it to the premiere of 3 IDIOTS… Yeah, Vinod Chopra had called up five or six times and I just felt that theek hai I’ll go. I know, lots of people turned around and said ‘He’s come to make up’. But I didn’t go for a make up; I don’t think I need to make up because I don’t have any problem. But you didn’t stay for too long… I didn’t want to start off another controversy. Salman was there and you know how these things just get blown out of proportion these days, so before it became awkward for Aamir I just thought it’s better that I wish them all and leave. My good intentions often don’t pay up. I’ve always been very fond of Salman and I think so is he. But I’ve come to this conclusion that sometimes you are fond of people when actually there is no commonality of thought. Now whether my thoughts are better or his, is subjective but it’s best to let it be the way it is. You’ve called truce with the Bachchans though. When I was ill, Amitji was the first person to call me and come over to the house. We sat together for four hours. I watched him in PAA and I’m like ‘Kya hai yaar, yeh kya kya kar sakte hain’. He is fantastic, I have no right to even talk about him, I can’t ever touch him as an actor or dream of it…he is god. I am really fond of Abhishek, in some ways he’s responsible for clearing the air. I have no problem in saying sorry if I have hurt them or for whatever misunderstandings that happened. When most of your dreams are realised, what comes after that…? When you have everything the things that come with it are a persecution complex, paranoia, loneliness and sometimes complete self-absorption. And all these things put together, everything that is around me, disturbing or otherwise, happy or otherwise, everything… I put it together and give it in that shot. It is my work that sustains me. It’s the only place where I give vent to all my feelings. This is my only area of outlet and spirituality. It keeps me sane. _________ -Nishi Prem