The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
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“I know exactly what is going to happen…my films are going to be hits…one after the other….producers & directors will be chasing me….I,ll sign bigger films….with all the big heroines….I’ll be loved….and hated….admired….and criticized….more hits…I,ll buy a sea-facing bungalow…several big cars…become a producer….produce my own films….maybe even direct!”
All that was more than a decade ago. But I did,nt say it. Though I wish I had, because it all came true. They were the words of a man who had an uncanny sense of where he was destined to go. Another time he said to me: “ There is a lot I have to claim from this city….a lot I have to get out of it…in fact …everything!” And he did get it. He got it all. He is Shahrukh Khan. Some call him King Khan, some Badshah of Bollywood and others SRK.
I knew he was special from the moment I first saw him. He was silent and intense. More intense than any one I had met before or since. But after that first time, he was never silent again. Yes, Shahrukh loves to talk. About himself, his plans, his films, his people, about anything. He can talk non stop for eternity. And he can mesmerize anyone into listening for an eternity too. He has that quality. But that night he was silent.
It was a November night in Darjeeling, Hotel New Elgin. I was shooting for my debut film ‘Chor aur Chaand’ and Aziz Mirza was there for ‘Raju ban gaya..’.
As we shared the same hotel, Aziz (whom I knew since I was a teenager, apprentice to my Dad who was directing a film in which Aziz was the leading man.) suggested we dine together. Soon we were joined by Shahrukh and Gauri, who recently married, looked more like a cute, honeymooning couple. Introductions over, Aziz began insisting I narrate the climax of my film to him, as he had heard much about how good it was. I obliged and right through the narration, I felt Shahrukh’s eyes on me, and saw him listening with rapt attention whenever I glanced at him.
Some time later, when I signed him for my own film ‘Jaadu’, he told me that he agreed to the project because I had made an impression on him while narrating the climax that night. ( Incidentally that climax which never saw the light of the day, was to become a casualty of film industry politics, as was most of that film, and was sacrificed in favour of a weak and clichéd version.) I never told him this, but I had also made a decision that same night, to cast him in ‘Jaadu’, though at that point he did,nt have a single release to his credit, and I had only fleetingly watched him in the T.V. Series ‘Fauji’. But I knew I was looking at someone exceptional, in many ways, in fact in every way. even.without a word having been exchanged between us…
Working with Shahrukh subsequently, was memorable and holds a treasure trove of fine moments..of that another time. If anything, my faith in him stands vindicated today.
“….but I always want to be a star. The day I cease to be one, the day people don’t want me anymore….I don’t think I,ll be able to take it……”
Honestly, I don’t think I will be able to take it either..I had shared his dream and vision… the boy with that unforgettable, intense, unflinching, passionate gaze, was born to be a star and forever remain one.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Hi Pavan
A biig welcome to the group!:)
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- Pavan, Thanks for the amazing write up. Despite what many (including myself) think about SRK, it is undeniable the belief he has had in himself. Some may call those SRK’s words as self confidence while others may call it self-affirmations.
You never spoke to me on the politics that destroyed Chor aur Chaand and the thing about the original climax when I went on talking about the negativities of Chor aur Chaand. Now I feel terrible!
Very interesting insight about SRK. Thank you for sharing.
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Welcome aboard Pavan.
Would love to hear moe about what it takes to be a director in this industry and how you crossed all those hurdles to become one.
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i have my own reservations about SRK the actor/star, but there’s no denying the fact that he made it all on his own and went thru a lot to make it to where he is. to be able to juggle a family and stardom to his level is no easy task, which is just one of the many reasons why i respect SRK the person.
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My God!!
Some one directly from the family of The Raaj Kumar.
Now this is wonderful to have Pawan also on board. Anuarg, Pawan and hopefully few more, who are involved in real filmmmaking will add chhar chaand on PFC.
Take care Oz!! koi chor chand ko urhane kee firaq mein na lag jaye
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Welcome to PFC Pavan. SRK has always been a mystery to me. Not an exceptional actor, not the most beautiful person’s on screen, just above average screen presence. But, he had made some very clinically correct decisions in his film career.
What is Jaadu? Am i missing something here?
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Pavan,welcome to PFC.Looking forward to an insider’s view of Bollywood.SRK has been always high on glamour quotient.Starting from his Fauji days,he was someone to look out for.Heard the guy is a perfectionist in his own ways.Would like to see how the perfectionist shifts his gears now that his career has taken a southward deep.
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Three things
1. Welcome:)
2. The fact that even after 40+ films, SRK still has the same spirit and rythm that he had during Deewana makes him different.Catch an enthusistic SRK talking about Don and you will know what I am saying.
3.How far has Bhram gone?
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I have always felt SRK could fit lots of non-mainstream roles brilliantly, the kinds Manirathnam etches.
Still waiting to see him as a terrorist, a beggar, a rock star(!), a recluse post mid age depressive(I ve even thought of the name – Michael Braganza), a schizophrenic living in the 60’s of communism, …the list goes on
any more additions to the list? :-?
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Two things:
- SR would to be an actor for his whole life and he do all for his dream – for him it doesn`t matter his health, watch in any films the dangerous stunts – and think about how is his health yet?! A back & a spinal columm that hurts day by day, allways aching knees during dancing constantly. Is it that worth after 16 years as an actor? Ok certain he make a lot of money and his popularity all over the world is realy amesing.
But what he can not buy a new Back or Knees or new Lungs.:-? :-w Have anybody one time thing for that?? No – why you should as well?!:-w
I am special healer and I know from what I talk in about. But anywhere you and him self will see what further will be happend.
God bless his soul
RoMa
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Thanks for the great writeup, PK! Hearty welcome aboard. SRK is sure hated for his King-Khan image that the MSM always douses him with. Like wise, never knew the other side of John Abe until after reading AK’s posts. Waiting to hear more from you, on your DD and telly days.
Industry info – right from the insiders – people who talk the talk – that’s what makes PFC different. Oz – thank you, for opening up these new communication channels to junta.
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Welcome Pavan! to our world of cinema
I really like what you said “One must make each film as though it were his last”
Looking forward to know all your experiences, experiments, perspectives, approach, vision, passion etc.
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Thanks Tushar.
Hi Oz..thanks for inviting me to write.
Yes..self affirmations or even self hypnosis. I dont know of another who has been able to predict his future with so much certainty.
About ‘Chor Aur chaand’, I dont blame you for the negatives..I felt the same way too on seeing it…all I can say is that this was not the story I had written nor the movie I had set out to make…the real film is visible in parts though.
Thanks Ravptor..I plan to share the highs and lows of a film makers life with all of you.Have been reclusive most part of my life..maybe this opportunity will help get me out of my self imposed shell.
Hi Striker..yes the fact is that he was no star son, with no Godfather in tow. He is a family man to the core.
Hi Rk..I am a great admirer of my Chachaji as well..Inimitable, original style and looks. I wish you guys had seen my late father. He was a Clark Gable look alike, towering personality, man of multi faceted talent, apart from being a body buliding enthusiast, even at a time when it was almost unheard of.
Thanks Om..The X factor is whats its about finally. Dilip Kumar was dubbed a monkey face, Amitabh was asked to chop off his legs, Rajesh khanna was rejected as being a ‘gurkha’. But what the audience recognises is what makes them stars..an indefinable quality.
‘Jaadu’ was a film which Shahrukh and me were very excited about. At that point in time it was the biggest project he was involved in, launched with a major fan fare,and a huge budget..We shot intermittently for five months or so. Unfortunately the producer failed to honor his committments. The stalling shattered SRK.. and me..but then we had to move on.
Hi Bishu.Thanks
SRK has done his job by pulling in the crowd and the film made its collections. Its the makers who have let him down.
I have been witness to Shahrukhs humble beginnings in Mumbai and his struggle.Never once did he give me the feeling that he was not in control. He let no obstacle get to him..was sure footed and adamant. He is a fighter..will survive..
Hi Illuzon..Thanks
Bhram is 50% complete..am presently involved in music sittings with Pritam. We are looking at March-April’07 release.
Hi Tushar..Interesting..I would like to see him in a war film like ‘Full Metal jacket’.
Thanks WB..You can love him, hate him but cannot ignore him. Often the star becomes a victim of an image, which may be quite contrary to reality.
I am very aware that SRK is unpopular with a large section of viewers. I am also aware that my putting forth thus in his favour may be misconstrued but I’d much rather stick with the truth.
Will certainly write about DD and television days..
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It’s funny co-incidence I was just browsing through the book “Still reading SRK” at a bookshop today and then i saw this post ….
SRK is definitely an achiever … for sure … he is definetly the star of the country … but as u said pawan … many have reservations about his acting prowess….
Hey chor aur chand had two amazing songs by SPB … isnt it the aditya pancholi film with songs . “Baat kya hai kaisey kah dein…” and “Lagne laga hai mujhey aajkal”
Yeah those were the days when SP Balasubramaniumn was a hit singer in bollywood …
Good to have u here pawan … :-)
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Hi Pawan!
Its great to have you here at PFC. Its nice to have your experience with SRK but it would be multifold nicer to have something about Late Raaj Kumar from you. He is perhaps most underrated actor and yet so self confident and absorbed person. If one actor lived life king size with style at his own terms and condition then its Raaj Kumar. It would be nice to see the pic of your father if you could upload it. After knowing this that he wrote a wonderful entertainer film like Namak Halal, curiosity level is increased tremendously. Its astonishing to know that there is a Kaul family in the hindi film industry which is involved in different aspects of film making since last 50 years. This ignorance is perhaps due to the introvert nature of Raaj Kumar. Like other filmi families your father and uncle did not publicised the members of family in open.
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Pawan :
Is it true that during the making of Jaadu, Shahrukh had denied to do a scene because it involved the kissing Navneet Nishan ? and later you had to abandon the scene?
Its interesting to know abt this because Shahrukh did Maya Memsahab where he had to give explicit scenes with Deepa Sahi.
Though I dont recall him giving Kiss scene in any film. Or he did recently in KANK?
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Thanks Sudha,
I am glad you liked the dictum.Given the vagaries of my profession, this is the only approach that makes any sense. I am looking forward to writing on the topics you have mentioned ..It will probably prove cathartic as well for me.
RoMa,
Your concern for SRK is touching, but I think he gets happiness and fulfillment apart from wealth and fame, from what he does. Perhaps, he makes light of his bodily discomforts, which all mortals face in varying degrees, in their journey of life..God bless him.
Hi Karthik
Thanks for the welcome. I had mentioned about my awareness of SRK’s unpopularity in certain sections( it would be hard to find any actor who has no detractors)but I made no allusions to his lack of acting prowess. A deeper look might reveal SRK to be repeating a style of acting that is popular with the masses, as did his predecessors e.g. Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar etc..a price one pays for super stardom.
It was very heart warming to note that you remember those songs well..SPB is my favourite too..I cannot begin to narrate as to what lengths I had to go to have him sing those songs, since it became a matter of replacing someone who is a top most singer today, but who to my sensibilities, since he was a new comer then, seemed raw. SPB was the voice that fitted my conception perfectly and I was happy to get him finally.
Hi RK,
Everything you said about Raaj Kumar was true. One of my greatest regrets was not being able to direct him since he belonged to a generation previous to my working life. There is so much to write about him and Dad, which I will probably do along with snaps, another time. They were a unique set of people I had the good fortune to have as family. Although they were the stuff legends are made of yet, they were very private and kept their families completely protected from the glare of publicity, fully aware of the viciousness of the fourth estate.
Yes Rk, it is absolutely true that a scene required SRK to kiss Navneet Nishaan but he took me aside and explained that he had vowed, for personal reasons, never to kiss on screen. He demonstarated to me how he could express the required ‘passion’without lip contact. Since I felt that nothing was lost and the scene did not suffer, I complied..and thats how it was shot. He has honored that committment to this date and never kissed on screen.
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Hi PK,
Very Interesting article! I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ‘experiences & experiments’ you’ve had in your life as filmmaker and as a human being…especially after reading your unbelievable resume! Look forward to reading many such more from you!
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Hi Pavan, Great Writeup on shah Rukh . I have been watching Shah Rukh since his ‘Fauji’and ‘circus’days, I know for the fact that he has a lot of potential to become a great actor. No matter what most people have to say about his action, it is an undeniable fact that he is one of the most wonderful creative artists that Hindi cinema has ever produced. Thank you very much for such an amazing insight on Shah Rukh. It’s a pity that your project’s ending hasn’t seen the light of the day because of politics in the industry. Best of luck for your future endeavours. Hope to hear more and more interesting and amazing things about Shah Rukh.
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Hi Nits,
Its very interesting that you choose to call me ‘PK’ since in all my years nobody but my wife has occasionally done that…I’m glad you liked the piece ..Speaking purely from the immodest bone, I may add that there’s lots more where that came from:)
Hi Pratima,
Thanks for your good wishes.Periodically my articles will talk more of my experience with SRK.
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SRK was my entry into Bollywood, the reason I kept wanting more after seeing Devdas (my first whole Bollywood movie), and I am probably his biggest American fan.
I have never been able to articulate what it is about him that I find so facinating, I will be the first to point out movies of his where I thought he was awful, but he has a star quality that most actors in the world don’t possess. He can work a camera in ways that most actors in American film have forgotten how to do, acting is about a connection to the script, camera and audience, not about reciting lines and acting reactions. He gets this.
I just hope that he begins to make better choices as he matures, I would love to see him follow the path of Robert Duvall or Michael Caine or other great actors who became better actors as they aged, and did so by choosing challenging, age appropriate roles….
Thank you for this post!!!
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i am a big SRK fan as well…
i agree with illuzon (point 2) above…
my 2 cents…
if u really wanna know y he clicks…
and CLICKS in such a BIG way…
rent/borrow/steal
“inner and outer world of SRK” 2 disc-set…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inner_and_Outer_World_of_Shah_Rukh_Khan
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Hi Pavan Sir,
I have a doubt about Jaadu. I have read in many articles that Jaadu has been released as “Yeh lamhe Judaai ke”. Is it true ?
Here is two link in whic it says that “Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke” was originally titled “Jaadu”
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr112004/mr2.asp
http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/30/2100
It’s also a long time sice you have posted anything on PFC.
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