Bollywood King Shah Rukh Khan may be in his 40s but he still prefers romancing young debutants, finds Abdulla Mahmood.
Most men feel jittery on hitting the 40s, but here's an actor who hasn't aged a bit – in fact he seems to grow younger with the years. Bollywood's King Shah Rukh Khan defied the odds and pumped a six-pack to romance a young Deepika Padukone for Om Shanti Om (OSO). And at 43, he's back to romance another young fresh face, Anushka Sharma, in his latest blockbuster, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (RNBDJ).
So has Shah Rukh found a new formula of staying young onscreen by acting with heroines half his age and maintaining an enviable physique with six-pack abs? The actor defends his look. "I didn't work out a six-pack to look young. I would be foolish to believe that. I know I am in my 40s and have two kids. I developed my physique mainly because my son complained that his friends ridiculed my onscreen image and also Farah (Khan, director of OSO) wanted to me to do an item-song for the film (OSO). The song required me to show a well-toned and desirable physique in the song Dard-E-Disco. And now that I have worked so much for the six-pack, I want to maintain them. In a way it feels good to see yourself in the mirror. Now that doesn't mean I would take off my shirt in all my films. I would do it only if the script demands it."
Talking about romancing younger heroines, SRK explains, "In my previous film (OSO), Farah wanted to launch a new face and that's why I was paired with Deepika Padukone. And this time too, Adi (Aditya Chopra, director of RNBDJ) wanted a fresh face for the film, which is why he picked Anushka. Besides, I think there's a dearth of talented heroines in Bollywood and there's no reason why we shouldn't give a chance to the young and talented girls. In fact, Chak De India saw the debut of a dozen young girls and it was great to work with them."
And in true SRK tongue-in-cheek style he says, "I am definitely not going to complain about working with younger heroines because I think I have been lucky to work with such young, beautiful girls."
Like Padukone, Sharma also is a Bangalore-based model-turned-actress. How does the Bollywood king rate the two new girls. "I think Anushka is a talented, beautiful girl. As far as her performance is concerned, you would have to wait for the film. I wouldn't like to compare my heroines, especially young girls like Deepika and Anushka, who have just started their career. All I can say is that they are both extremely hard working and professional. And I have found the experience of working with younger actors very exciting. It helps my performance as well."
SRK has played the romantic hero image in films like Diwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer-Zara. How long does he plan to play a die-heard romantic onscreen? "Given an option I would love to play a romantic hero till I grow old (grins cheekily). On a serious note, Adi and I felt that I have played the roles of 'Raj' and 'Rahul' in so many films and it was time to move on. That's why you'll see me playing an average simple guy Surinder in RNBDJ. I feel Surinder represents 99 per cent of Indian men, unlike the Rajs and Rahuls, who are filmy. RNBDJ's Surinder sets the trend for a much more realistic and mature romance," he says.
RNBDJ is the tale of a matured and boring man who falls in love with a young, vivacious girl and marries her. In order to impress the girl, Surinder goes for a hip replacement surgery.
The film is touted as an extraordinary love story about an ordinary jodi (couple). So we ask what's extraordinary about the film? "The film is a special love story that most people will be able to relate to," says SRK.
Sometimes the most extraordinary love story can be of
an average husband and wife. RNBDJ is a funny, entertaining love story, with a underlying message that women understand that inner beauty is far superior to external attractiveness."
The actor claims he identifies the most with this character. He says, "I think Surinder is the closest to the real me. Like him, I am quiet, excited, funny and very emotional." So there, that's the real Shah Rukh Khan for you.
