Shahrukh
Khan
continues
to
practice
the
body
language
and
the
speech
patterns
of
his
autistic
character
even
at
home.
Before
Shahrukh
Khan
played
the
autistic
character
in
My
Name
is
Khan,
Karan
Johar
met
Londoner
Chris
Aston
who
suffers
from
Asperger"s
Syndrome
and
his
wife
Maxine
who
wrote
a
book
on
how
to
cope
with
a
spouse
suffering
from
the
disease.
Says
Karan,
“Shibani
and
I
met
the
couple.
They
were
gracious
enough
to
meet
us
in
London.
And
that
couple"s
relationship
became
the
basis
of
Rizwan
and
Mandira"s
relationship
in
My
Name
is
Khan.
At
its
core
level
this
film
is
a
love
story."
Continues
Karan,
“My
writer
Shibani
Bhatija
researched
extensively
on
various
aspects
of
an
autistic
disorder
and
contacted
the
various
National
Autistic
Centers.
Shibani
and
I
personally
met
a
lot
of
autistic
people,
took
notes
went
to
You
Tube.
Then
Shahrukh
did
his
own
research."
Karan
admits
this
has
been
the
most
difficult
film
of
his
career.
“It
has
taken
its
toll
on
me
and
Shahrukh.
It"s
true
Shahrukh
remained
in
character
as
Rizwan
Khan
even
at
home.
At
home
in
his
body
language
he"s
always
Rizwan.
I
see
him
doing
it
all
the
time.
I
don"t
think
he
has
got
out
of
it.
Even
when
he"s
with
his
children
at
home."
Karan
cuts
down
the
theory
that
Shahrukh"s
disorder
is
inspired
from
Tom
Hanks
in
Forrest
Gump.
“It"s
not
Tom
Hanks
in
Forrest
Gump
at
all.
That
was
a
totally
different
strain
of
autism.
It"s
nearer
to
Dustin
Hoffman
in
Rain
Man,
though
still
very
different.
It"s
what
we
call
high-functional
autism.
You
can
have
a
regular
life,
be
married,
and
have
children.
But
the
syndrome
does
convey
a
fair
amount
of
quirks
and
eccentricities.
But
his
character
is
not
essentially
neuro-typical.
The
film
has
made
me
understand
human
behaviour
and
how
to
be
compassionate
and
humane."
The
film
has
sapped
Karan"s
energies.
He
needs
to
take
a
break.
“I
need
to
go
away
for
a
month.
I
don"t
think
it
will
happen.
But
no
harm
in
dreaming."