Shah Rukh Khan reveals how he chooses his films, what keeps him going and much more…

Since the last few days, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been trending (when he doesn’t!). The reason? Well, that’s because of his visit to the prestigious 77th Locarno Film Festival, wherein he was bestowed upon the extremely prestigious Pardo alla Carriera award-Locarno Tourism or Career Leopard. He also happens to be the first Indian film star to win the prestigious award. Here are the excerpts from the interesting conversation which happened between Shah Rukh Khan and Giona A. Nazzaro, who happens to be Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival.

Parameters to choose a film
I realize that I take a long time to do a film many times. I also see people on social media even blaming me and saying, ‘Oh…come on... do a film now. It's too long’ and everything like that. But I take a long time because I want to spend a lot of time with the person who's going to direct me.

The reason for the same…
The reason is that, because you spend a year of your life with them, I really want to have fun. And when I say fun, it's not dancing and drinking. It's just talking about films, getting to know each other. So that, when we are on sets, we have a good time. Because, I think that the love that you have on sets making a film permeates through the screen and goes to the people. So, I really want to enjoy that process. I do one film two films in a year.

SRK’s idea of films
It’s been something for six- seven years I've been thinking about. It’s more of an age centric film. I have a desire to do a genre... like a comedy, social film, or even a courtroom drama…I just put it out in the air. I met a couple of people, some of them had a subject. I hear it. I spend time with them and then we just go ahead and make the film and have lots of fun.

Working with a female director vis a vis a male director
There is 100% some kind of a difference not like a major difference though. to it being the decision making or a deal-breaking reason. I do find having worked a lot with women as actresses as producers as directors. I do find them a little more sensitive, a little more nuanced. Men compartmentalize their feelings. I enjoy working with women because of their sensitivity.

Recalling his meeting with Jackie Chan
3-4 years ago, I had the privilege of meeting him in Saudi Arabia. He was as wonderful and sweet as I had expected him to be. It's been my privilege and pleasure to have met him and if he ever sees this interview, he should know he had promised he'll open a Chinese restaurant with me in partnership…and he hasn't done so.

What keeps him going…
I think the essence is left that I really want to. Cinema embodies many facets of life and so many emotions … that's very difficult impossible for one person to be able to express all of them in one lifetime. I live with that hope that maybe I can keep on doing different films and you know cry differently, laugh differently, fall differently and dance differently.

I know I'm limited as an actor. I know I don't have the scope. That other actors are more talented than me. I just don't want to give up. I just want to keep trying till I can… It’s not because I'm the focus of attention but because I know that I'm able to bring joy to someone very far away who I may never meet!

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