SRK opines on Hockey

By: Subhash K. Jha, IndiaFM
Friday, March 23, 2007
Shah Rukh has just completed a film on a much-neglected sport in India. The film is Shimit Amin's Chak De India and Shah Rukh is more excited about it as usual.

Says SRK, "I feel hockey as a sport has been monstrously neglected in our country. I used to play the game during college. In fact, I was quite a good hockey player. So the role was a lot like going back to my past."

Shah Rukh has a whole lot of fun doing a sports film. "We had real Australian female hockey players playing for the film in Australia. And it was truly amazing watching them go through their paces. They were thorough professionals."

Shah Rukh dismisses the myth that he only likes to work within the comfort zone. "I do as many films for Yashraj Films or Karan Johar as I do for other directors. Swades and Don were with first-time directors for me. And now I'm working with Shimit Amin in Chak De India for the first time. It's interesting to see where he comes from, and where he hopes to go with this film. I think making a film based on the game of hockey is really cool."

Shah Rukh is currently looking at various creative and business options for this cherished project. "When I am asked what next, then I guess this is what I want to do next. This is where my heart is at the moment. I want our FX to be comparable with the best in the world. Dhoom 2 and Don got it right. I want to take the optical illusions even further."

As excited as ever, SRK says, "For me there're no real challenges. I need to create them." There are innumerable activities awaiting his attention. But Shah Rukh has the ability to make it all look disarmingly basic and simple. "Sooner or later everything does come together. And there's no point in fretting over. I lost both my parents very young. That made me kind of fearless about life and death. Now I fear for those who are close to me. I fear for what such a loss would do to my friends. My father was a freedom fighter. He gave a lot to his country. Now it's my turn... but with the added perk of getting recognition in return."

He then pauses. "People say I've gone through a lot. And that the health and other setbacks are God's way of equalizing my success, stardom, whatever. I think that's rubbish. God doesn't have an accounts department. I don't think my neck injury was in reaction to the successes I've had. ...Now I'm asked, what next? Frankly I've no clue. My journey hasn't been mapped or planned. Whatever had to happen has happened."