SATURDAY night, I had a date with the gorgeous Katrina Kaif. It was at Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment office in Khar west. A landmark glass, granite and steel multi-storey with a buzzing Starbucks below. He wasn’t in. But his presence was everywhere. In large film posters. And the many Best Actor Award trophies Shah Rukh had picked up over his 30-odd years in cinema. All displayed prominently here. We were on the seventh floor. Katrina was doing interviews for Zero. Digital media and TV. The film releases on Friday. It’s a love triangle drama co-starring Shah Rukh and Anushka Sharma. Directed by Aanand L. Rai. Katrina came tick-tocking down a long polished corridor to receive me. Tall and stately in stilettos. Wearing a blue cotton Peplum top and a fitted green skirt. Her new curls bouncing with every step. Leading her by the hand was a small boy. Katrina squatted athletically and offered him a cookie in exchange for a parting kiss. She turned her cheek expectantly and ruffled his hair affectionately. The boy did not want the cookie. Reluctantly he gave Katrina a peck on the cheek and ran off to his mother. She flashed me a sexy smile and asked, “Do you want a cookie?” I lied and told her, “I want the interview.” Excerpts from our chat...
Q. It’s days to Zero’s release. A lot is riding on this film. You could all do with a hit. The industry’s got its fingers crossed. What’s going on in your mind?
A. I feel very hopeful. There’s a lot of desire that this film should do well. Hard work does not necessarily equal or deserve the reward. Everyone works hard. What deserves the reward and the award from the audience is a film that’s entertaining and good. And I think Zero is good.
[caption id="attachment_180124" align="aligncenter" width="647"]
Katrina Kaif as Babita Kumari in a still from song Husn Parcham from Zero[/caption]
Q. It’s coming a week before Simmba which is another year-end big ticket release. Does Zero have enough time to make its presence felt?
A. From what knowledge I have of the box office and number of screens, etc., I genuinely feel one week is a huge amount of time for a film to have laid its place with the audience. Friday by 2 o’clock you’re going to know. Word of mouth today is so important. It’s what the audience feels. And now that word of mouth travels (she snapped her fingers loudly) like this! On Friday, if not by 2 o’clock then by 4 you kind of know where you’ve landed and where you’re standing.
Q. The trade is taking bets on which will do better, Zero and Simmba?
A. I’m not part of the trade. I’m from the other side. I love Ranveer Singh and Rohit Shetty and I’m sure they’ve made a wonderful film. I also feel that two good films can work. There has never been an instance when they haven’t. If one film is good and one is not good, then obviously one film will suffer. But why should two good films not do well? It’s also the holiday season. People are in the mood to go out and watch films. They are in the mood to be entertained.
[caption id="attachment_184704" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Zero vs Simmba[/caption]
Q. You play an alcoholic superstar coming from a space of deep sadness and unhappiness. And you cried when you didn’t get Anushka’s role of the NASA scientist suffering from cerebral palsy. What did you bring to your character? The disturbances in your personal life?
A. It was a big opportunity for me to play a little bit more of a dramatic character in terms of the emotional quotient of the character. When you’re going to places where you have to dwell on emotions, and the character your trying to execute is something new, your emotional memory bank comes to your rescue from deep inside of you. It was a difficult character for me to play. It wasn’t easy going on that journey. But what I really like about my character, Babita Kumari, is that she’s not asking for the audience’s sympathy. And pity. Or for someone to feel sorry for her. I think that’s a good thing. People like to see characters fighting for themselves.
Q. Is that what you’re doing in Zero – fighting for yourself?
A. I think my character is doing a combination of things. She’s definitely fighting for herself in some way. She’s not taking what’s happening to her lying down. She’s not taking it in a positive way either. She’s taking the support of alcohol. Using it as a crutch. She’s behaving obnoxiously. She’s provoking people. She’s acting up. It’s fun to watch when we see people who are, you know, not being predictable and kind of unraveling? They’re fascinating.
Q. Despite coming from a space of deep sadness, your character is always happy?
A. See the film! That’s the beauty of Aanand Rai’s storytelling. When I saw the trailer, I said, “Aanand Sir, what have you done!” He said, “Tch, beta you have to understand I know how to tell stories to the audience, so I know what I want them to come in and feel. And I know what journey I want to take them on.” So for you to understand my character, you definitely have to see the film!
Akshay (Kumar) is right about the dancing. I was very uncomfortable. But I trained with my Kathak guru Veeru Krishnan. I put in a lot of hours. I think the groundwork of my approach to dance was correct.
Q. What has drawing on your emotional memory bank taught you?
A. One thing I learned from Zero is that in drawing on emotions that are passed, you can use that pain. But you have to connect to a forward going energy because in the film you’re watching a character who is going through a process. She’s not going through something that’s resolved. If you rely too much on past experiences then your emotion in the scene is not one which is of forward going dynamic. It’s one which is passed, the incident is long over, it’s significantly behind you. So I had to make sure I was in line with where the character was going.
Q. Was the bonding with Shah Rukh and Anushka different and better than it was in Jab Tak Hain Jaan six years ago?
A. I think Anushka’s come fabulously such a long way from where she was. She’s married now. She’s got her own production company. Her own clothing line. She’s doing fantastically diverse cinema. Shah Rukh is the same. He’s a dynamic force who’s just unstoppable. His passion for cinema is where it should be.
[caption id="attachment_184110" align="aligncenter" width="685"]
Katrina Kaif, Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma while promoting Zero[/caption]
Q. Your last hit was Tiger Zinda Hai and your last flop Thugs of Hindostan. What have the respective success and failure of these films told you?
A. After a while, you get used to the ups and downs. That’s the industry for you no matter who you are – the biggest star or a newcomer. It’s one thing that’s always going to be present in the cinema. Success and failure have told me that the most important thing for an actor to do is to evolve and learn and not get stagnant.
Q. Husn Parcham in Zero proves you’re a sensational dancer. But you were not always like this. Akshay Kumar told me when you joined the industry you had two left feet and could not dance. But you worked hard on yourself. And now when you’re shooting a dance scene, the whole studio shakes!
A. Akshay Kumar was a big part of my journey. Their belief, the responsibility that they (Akshay and Vipul Shah) gave me in Namastey London, was a major turning point for me in 2007 because I was playing such a dynamic character. And Akshay is right about the dancing. I was very uncomfortable. But I trained with my Kathak guru Veeru Krishnan. I put in a lot of hours. I cannot consider myself a classical dancer of any form. But I think the groundwork of my approach to dance was correct. Kathak is the right foundation to have for the kind of dancing that we do in Bollywood.
Q. Fifteen years in Bollywood and so many films later, what is it that you look for in a script?
A. At different times I’ve looked for different things. But honestly, the first and foremost thing I do is ask myself, “Is this a film I would like to see?” I don’t separate that from my decisions. Sometimes I hear a script that has a strong role for the girl. I’m like – yeah, but I don’t want to see this film. It’s not interesting. I just can’t do it. The second thing, especially in this phase, is I look for things in a script that I’ve not done before.
I think Anushka’s come fabulously such a long way from where she was. She’s married now. She’s got her own production company. Her own clothing line. She’s doing fantastically diverse cinema.
Q. Have you rejected any films in this fashion and regretted the decision because they went to other actresses and became box office hits?
A. At least six or seven. I’m not going to name them. But they were big, big films! It would be too ungrateful for me to ask what did I do wrong. But I did introspect what was the driving factor in my decision each time. And I tried to keep that in mind and make sure I’m looking at the right thing when choosing a film next time.
Q. Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma have their own production houses...
A. Yes, I too would like to have my own. But only a co-production house with someone. I’ve spoken about it to some friends. There’s a certain kind of film I would like to make which is on my mind. It has been for a while. So when the right material comes, I’d be happy to co-produce that film.
[caption id="attachment_183637" align="aligncenter" width="615"]
Katrina Kaif[/caption]
Q. You come from a family of six sisters and are close to your mother. Do you turn to them for emotional support or when you’re stressed and close to heartbreak?
A. My mom, yes. She’s worked with NGOs her whole life. She dedicated herself to what we call seva. Service of others. That kind of person has a different outlook of life. And it’s very beneficial and healthy for me to have her as an aspect of my life. My sisters, some of them. My life is so far removed from them that, honestly, more than advice it’s just about us being together and enjoying the downtime when we disconnect from all the mayhem and the fast pace this world. I just relax when I’m with them.
Q. Shah Rukh is physically stunted in Zero and Anushka’s character has cerebral palsy, she’s in a wheelchair. They had the crutches that helped them prepare for their roles. What about you? How did you prepare?
A. By understanding more the mindset of my character, where she’s coming from, and why she’s doing the things she’s doing. The physical crutches are not there for me as in the outside specifics that Shah Rukh’s character and Anushka’s have. I had to show my character’s disabilities without that. It was very challenging.
I’m sure someone is watching out for me somewhere and I feel it (marriage) will happen at the right time. That right time may not be the exact right time I feel it is. But it will happen somehow.
Q. After every break, you were reportedly depressed to be going back to the sadness and unhappiness of your character. What were your emotions when Aanand finally announced the film was a wrap?
A. I was happy and relieved. It was a tough journey for me. But I was, like, yes – we’ve got through it! It was hard not to take the character home. And I’d come back to the set and know that I just have to get right back into it again. So I did kind of lull around in that space.
[caption id="attachment_184707" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Bollywood's Bride Brigase: (L-R) - Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra[/caption]
Q. All your contemporaries are married. Your emotions must have been raw.
A. I won’t deny that... the first marriage was fine, the second was fine, the third was also fine, then by the fourth marriage there was that little feeling of, oh, why not me? You’re right, they are my contemporaries. Priyanka Chopra and I started our careers together just about. And we’ve seen Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor and Anushka Sharma coming into the industry. So it’s natural that I ask myself the question. But I’ve made peace with feeling that fear that, okay, certain things didn’t work out in my life the way I would have liked them to. That wasn’t in my control. But if I believe so many other wonderful things have happened in my life then I’m sure whoever’s in charge of this amazing and crazy world is not just going to drop me here and say – from now, you’re on your own. I’m sure someone is watching out for me somewhere and I feel it (marriage) will happen at the right time. That right time may not be the exact right time I feel it is. But it will happen somehow.
Q. Are Christmas releases lucky for you?
A. Oh, I really haven’t felt like it’s Christmas yet! I’m not getting that feeling that it’s December. I don’t think I’m ready for the year to end. It’s been so hectic. I just feel like it’s November still.
