Shah Rukh Khan returns to his forte — romance — after a long time with Jab Harry Met Sejal. And while his last release Raees clashed with Kaabil, this time the superstar has averted one with Toilet — Ek Prem Katha by shifting his movie from August 11 to August 4. Here the actor talks about the shift, doing a love story, working with Anushka and more.
On avoiding clash with Toilet — Ek Prem Katha
I have always maintained that if one can, one should try not to clash. I know it’s an impossibility with roughly 200 films releasing over 50 weeks. I myself have had it (clash) many times. I have always spoken to parties concerned and asked can you shift, and looked at the possiblity of shifting it myself. But sometimes it’s not possible and then you come along with another movie. This time I could shift because few weeks ago, I got to hear that August 4 (Secret Superstar was earlier to release on this date) is free. In fact, initially, we had thought of August 4, but then August 11 got free and we took that date. Now, we have come back to the 4th.
Business-‘wise’
Ours being a big ticket film, we can take on a capacity of 4000-5000 theatres, but everytime we come with another film, the business suffers. Just by logistics, you can’t have that capacity available to you for the first few days. At the end the film will economically do well, but for a big ticket film one should try to garner the available capacity. For a film like Jab Harry Met Sejal, which is a sweet and funny love story, that also has a chance of running long, we can take the advantage of second week’s holidays. Since it’s coming on August 4, we believe we can enjoy the Independence Day weekend along with the Raksha Bandhan one. So, everything fitted well.
Raees clash was unavoidable
I think anyone who has the opportunity to avoid a clash, would do it. Everybody likes to have a free run, sometimes it is unavoidable like it was for Raees. If I were to postpone Raees as I would have liked to, it would have come in August. Then I would have had to postpone this film to October. A free Friday was not available, so one says let’s take a big holiday weekend and come along with someone.
Title tattle
Actually we had the title Jab Harry Met Sejal for a long time. It was with us before the first day we shot the film. The working title was always The Ring. And before we went to Europe, we had When Harry met Sejal. Maybe we thought we need a more Hindi title. Rehnuma is a great title but not for this film. It’s really old-fashioned for this movie, which is a more modern, in-your- face, happy-go-lucky love story. Even the poster is a happy one. Imagine i written on it! People make so many title stories and I am not one for clarification. I believe the title should come out with the poster and people should believe when the production house releases the title.
Throwback to When Harry Met Sally
When Harry Met Sally is a classic metaphor for a love story. Since ours is love story, it (title) is a throwback to the film. Like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya. I think if I am not mistaken it is taken from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Humpty... is not a copy of DDLJ, but you refer to it because it is the same genre of the film. Similarly we thought of When Harry Met Sejal, and to have more Hindi, we made it Jab — it’s a coincidence that Jab We Met is Imtiaz’s film. It’s about Harinder Singh, who is called Harry in Europe and Canada and Sejal Parekh. It was Ranbir (Kapoor) who gave the title.
Returning to a love story
I am doing a classic love story after so many years. I don’t think anybody offered me one though people keep saying I do love stories. They call me the king of romance, but I haven’t romanced for a long time. Besides being happy and funny, it is tender and emotional as a love story should be. It’s about two people, there is music and the main differentiation lies in how Imtiaz writes a love story in Yash Chopra‘ish’ way.
Working with Anushka
I have a strange relationship with Anushka. We are fond of each other. Anushka, Deepika (Padukone), these girls have done their first films with me, so there is a different kind of relationship with them. Sometimes you take a little while to do a film after you have done your first one, but then you get into a space like this. Imtiaz was clear that this (SRK-Anushka) was the cast. Aanand had been meeting Anushka for six-seven months and I said we have just done another film. She really suited the role. It is great fun working with her.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Anushka Sharma and Shah Rukh Khan")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}