‘I’ve gone wrong more often than I’ve gone right. Maybe that’s why I’m successful’

It’s a movie at the end of the day. It’s just that the action is bigger. At any point,we had 18 cameras during the shoot. It has 3,700 VFX shots,when a film like Om Shanti Om had 205. We are releasing over 3,500 prints globally. There’ll be a 3D version too. Our biggest concern was that we had only kept Rs 10 crore for promotion. Of course,we got Rs 50 crore as various brands attached themselves to the film but that we didn’t spend,the brands spent on us.

Today’s business is all about opening weekend numbers. Are you prepared?

I never like to talk about figures. When Ra. One does well,Kishore (Lulla,executive chairman,Eros International) will tell me. I do films from the heart and the heart knows no numbers. I’ve done films that have been running for 15 years (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge),so I should be the last person to talk about the three-day weekend. Maybe this one will run for 15 years too.

Where does the box office figure in your scheme?

Money has never been a criterion for me. God has been kind that I’ve made money. (Now even my cricket team is making money.) I’ve always chased my passion and my dreams,the money has followed. Today,I want to make a film that gives me the right to deserve the iconic status that I’ve got for 20 years. Success is not tangible. It’s different from profit. Box-office collections may be important for some people but not for me. Look at my career. I’ve gone wrong more often than I’ve gone right,maybe that’s why I’m the most successful. Out of the 70-odd films I’ve done,35 are hits. I’ve gone wrong on TV shows,ads,films,even in terms of rubbing people the wrong way. But I’m still here.

How do you handle a flop?

It’s always the other way round. A flop handles you. A flop film is like a child who has some disability. You still love it,it’s still yours. But at the end of the day,a star never owns a movie,people do. The curse of being a star is the ability to surprise and the ability to fail. I might be getting better at my work but people might feel I was better in my earlier films,kyunki woh naya tha. Then,they were surprised by me. Now I have to work harder to increase their surprise and decrease my failure. So when someone says ki Friday ko they are not nervous toh laanat hai.

Do you doubt yourself?

While creating,yes. I’m worried whether a scene will convey what we are trying to say. But I tell my children that as long as you have the ability to say,‘I don’t know’ and ‘I did wrong’,things will be alright. Since the day God put us in Eden Gardens (laughs),we’ve done wrong. So why beat yourself too much about it? I’m very clear that I’m only answerable to my Allah and he knows that I always try hard.

Has there been a recent decision that has gone wrong?

I think we went wrong with G.One’s suit. Hollywood conditions are different,in their movies,superheroes usually come out in the night. We were shooting during the day. It took hours to wear the costume and then to take it off. Ultimately we had to do a digital redo of the costume,so all the effort came to naught. I also went too easy on fellow actors like Kareena (Kapoor) and guest stars like Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) and Priyanka (Chopra). I was too accommodating with their dates but if I was putting itna pressure on my post-production team,I wish I had done the same with the actors too.

So who do you call when you are disturbed?

Suhana and Aryan. I call them when I’m disturbed or when I need help. Whenever I need infusion of life,I call them.

Are you getting mellow with age?

No. I’m a lean,mean,sexy fighting machine. It’s just that I’ve stopped hitting people nowadays.

In your 20-year career,what is the most important lesson you have learnt?

That if you want to be an actor then you have to be giving — you need to be a gentle giver.

What does stardom mean to you at this stage of your life?

It’s a very pious thing for me. I wear my stardom like a T-shirt and not a tuxedo. It’s simple and comfortable. I don’t know how I did it,but I did it. I’m the only producer who hasn’t made a film for himself. Even in Ra.One,I’m not playing the title role.

How do you react when you are called manipulative,or a marketing monster?

I don’t understand it. I go where I’m asked to and launch something. Now if I have a face that can launch a 100 things then what can I do? One day it won’t. Since the day I came here,I have gone and written on a wall: Please watch my film. The problem is that my wall is becoming bigger. For Yes Boss,Juhi Chawla and I went on a truck to sell tickets. Even now I’m selling tickets. It’s just that now I’m saying it on Twitter. They say I’m overdoing it. If you’ve already seen it,turn the page.

Can you handle criticism?

I’ve realised that I can’t take criticism well. People around me are very velvet-gloved about it. If you criticise me,I can give you a perfect reasoning in five minutes and make you feel very bad but after some time it registers in my mind. But instantly I don’t take it well.

When was the last time you felt most fearless?

In my work zone,I’m always fearless. I’m pathetic in my personal space. If you tell me to buy a table tennis racquet or a pair of jeans alone or travel all by myself,I’m petrified. These days my wife says,‘Don’t say what’s on your mind. Be nice and lie.’ So I’m not commenting on things like politics and stuff. Something stupid will happen and someone might block my film’s release so I’d rather keep quiet. So actually I’m quite fearful right now.

Rate your most difficult performances as an actor.

I like the way I said “Har team mein sirf ek hi gunda ho sakta hai aur is team ka gunda main hoon” in Chak De! India. It was tough to hold the collar of a girl and say that line. I also liked the proposal scene in My Name Is Khan. There have been tough bits within roles. Playing Surinder Sahni in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi was difficult. He spoke very slowly and I was scared that it’d become boring.

Name that one superhero quality that you have which your colleagues lack.

My ability to stay awake at nights. I’m the Prince of Darkness. Main raaton ka raja hoon,just like the song: Mere liye aati hai shaam,chanda bhi hai mera ghulaam,dharti se sitaaron tak hai mera intezaam,raaton ka raaja hoon main. My friends call me The Owl though I think of myself as The Batman. I believe that the day is for workers and as Rumi says,the night is for lovers and dreamers.

Looking ahead. SRK at 50. What will he be like?

The older I get,the more childlike and irresponsible I’m becoming. At 45,I feel like a 26-year-old; so at 50 I’ll feel like 22. I’ll be a wiry brown kid. When I was growing up,I had too many responsibilities,so I didn’t have the luxury to enjoy. Now I’m all set,so I can be irresponsible.

Three films you always go back to?

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron,Sholay,It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and Terminator 2. In fact,Terminator 2 is a major inspiration for Ra.One. I’ve also said the Arnie line,“I’ll be back.”

Do you ever fear that you might lose it all one day?

You know why kids win at video games? Because they do illogical things. You can never second-guess me because even I don’t know what I’ll do next. I’ve never planned my career,never made a list of persons to meet. I don’t want my kids to say hello to anyone just because that person did a favour to their Dad. I owe nothing to anyone because I made my life on my own. So how can I lose it?