Shaandaar has not gone down well with the audience. Are you affected by it?
Why will I be affected by the box-office collection of a film? I am more concerned about my performance. Anyway, lead actors should be worried about a film's box-office performance, not character actors like me. Having said that, millions of factors can have an impact on a movie's collections -- marketing, how it has been made, publicity, the list is endless.
The film came a year after Finding Fanny. Why do we see you less often on the big screen?
A lot of scripts are sent to me and I shortlist about five or six. But last year, only one shortlisted script worked out. Two films got shelved, and a co-actor in another passed away. Actually, I'm open to four films a year. That will leave me with three months to myself even if I play pivotal roles.
Was Shuddhi the big project that got shelved?
Yes. It was offered to me, but (director) Karan Malhotra later said he was not making that film anymore. If they are addressing it afresh, they will look at the cast afresh (SpotboyE had told you that producer Karan Johar IS making the movie with Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. Alia-Varun Starrer Shuddhi NOT Shelved, Blasts Karan Johar, September 3).
How was it working with Shahid, who was almost written off before Haider released?
I don't think anyone had written him off. Shahid may not have been in the centre of the most successful films, but R... Rajkumar made money and Haider proved his calibre. Shahid stepped into Shandaar fresh from Haider's success. It was a great deviation from Haider.
How was it on the set with your children? Especially since this is Sanah's debut...
There was no question of being tense about Sanah's debut. I know her calibre and she too will come up with memorable performances. In a few years, even the younger son (Ruhaan) will step into acting. On the set, we were thorough professionals and never interfered in each other's work. After pack-up, they spent time with me apart from doing the regular stuff people their age do. I am thankful to them for that. They could have spent all their time with their friends, but they chose to give me some time as well.
That sounds like a silent complaint...
You're right. He's a star and he is occupied with work. Also, he's married now. A few years later, even Sanah will be busy. I have a lot of time on hand because I do less work, sometimes I'm on forced holidays. I don't get enough of my kids. I love spending time with them, that's my problem (gets moist-eyed).
So...
(Cuts in) With due respect, I was doing just this when I was their age. I loved my Dad to death -- but never had time for him because of work. I was in Delhi and he was in Ludhiana. He adjusted with that. Similarly, my children love me --- but there's dearth of time.
In an interview, Shahid said that he overacted in the first few scenes of Shaandaar that he shot with you. Did you try to correct him?
I was damn insecure and was focussing on my role. I'm selfish that way. It's not my job as a co-actor to correct Shahid. There's a director (Read: Vikas Bahl) on the set for that.
It must be a strange feeling to work with your kids, no?
It's always a pleasure to see them act with me. I complimented them whenever I felt they gave a great shot, but that was the father in me taking pride in his kids. If they ever asked me what I thought of any shot, I always asked them to check with Vikas.
What was your reaction when Sanah told you she wanted to act?
She mentioned it to her mother first. But once she decided, I told her, 'Beta, please get yourself trained'. She did a course at Lee Strasberg institute in the US and also a workshop with me in my office, because I'd done one with Shahid when he was starting out. She was losing weight when she auditioned for Shaandaar and had to gain it all back. Her decision to turn actress didn't surprise me at all, because she has acted in my TV shows, Mohandas BA LLB and Drishtant. All my kids have been on sets through their childhood. So, their desire is natural.
Why did you never push your kids or recommend them to filmmakers?
I'm proud and happy that Sanah and Shahid were selected on their own. Shahid had asked me to come along while signing the contract, but I refused. I wanted him to take complete responsibility. My father often said that he'd always back me, but the decision has to be mine. I've passed that down to my children. Why should I be the reason for their failure or the cause of their success?
Shahid calls you a complete man in his interviews...
It moves me, because he's being kind. I'm too far from being a complete man, but his comment means that I've been honest with my kids, as much as I could be. We are all full of failings and shortcomings.
How did you build that perception?
Supriya (Pathak) and I took some decisions in the early days of our marriage, because we wanted it to work. We wanted to devote time to our kids and to ourselves. I didn't want our careers to suffer, though. But Supriya's career began to suffer because she was always travelling with Shahid, Sanah and Ruhaan to my sets. So, to spend as much time together as possible, we opened a production house to make TV shows. But that didn't work for long. We had to shut it because the children started complaining that we were working even during their vacations, when we would schedule our outdoor shoots.
How often did Shahid join your family?
As a child, he used to be independent and wouldn't come over for long hauls. But towards the end of his teens, Shahid completely became one with us. He assisted me on my TV series and that gave us a chance to be co-workers and understand our relationship better. Today, we are very close.
You certainly didn't like him moving out of your building. How did you take that?
I didn't like it. My first reaction was, 'Beta, why so far?' He then asked me to go with him. At my age, I didn't want to shift. I have a comfortable house, but I understood his need to move out. At that point, it was not because he was planning to get married. It was because he needed his own bachelor's pad. He never thought he'd marry so soon.
But he did marry within a year of moving into the new house...
Destiny takes its own course. Earlier, he stayed a floor away from me. Even if I didn't meet him, I knew his whereabouts. We'd have tea together at times. That has stopped now; fortunately, he hasn't moved out of the city. I am also happy that he is married and has a companion. Now, I don't want to interfere in his life unless he asks me to. I don't want to barge into their home every now and then. But my daughter-in-law Mira is rather sweet. She insists that I drop in whenever I'm passing by. So, I make it a point to visit them once in a while for lunch/coffee/ dinner.
It's not easy for kids from broken homes to make their own home, right?
It's not, but I have no role to play in his marriage. Mira and Shahid are growing more fond of each other with every passing day. She is a beautiful child, full of love for everyone. We don't feel an outsider has come into our family. She's like another daughter to me. A year ago, I used to tell Shahid in an off-handed manner that he should marry. We're all there for him, but he must have a little family of his own, which will complete his life. The sense of belonging to your own little unit is different.
Rumours have it that Mira plans to act too. How would you react to that?
I'll be okay if she wants to act. We have no information on that so far, though.
The year that passed by was dotted with ups and downs for Shahid. Did he approach you for advice during the bad days?
He's a mature boy. We had small chats whenever he wanted to, I didn't offer unsolicited help or advice; whether it was about his relationships, films or anything else. A lot of people would think that I was his father and secretary rolled into one. They'd ask me to show him a script or introduce them to him. At the cost of losing some associations I refused, because I respect the way my son functions. He has chosen his path and I must allow him to tread that path.
You had no advice for him?
All I told him was that he should look for good roles. Popularity is here today and gone tomorrow. Even Salman Khan had been written off for four-five years, but look what he's done today. He's the man the industry swears by. And he did it on his own conviction. No one can decipher what will click. I just think it's unfair to write off anyone.
When do you plan to direct Shahid again?
I don't know. He may or may not be in my next; everything is subject to the requirement of the script. There was a lot of impatience connected to Mausam. We needed time to edit it, get a voiceover done to connect the stories and shorten it by 30 minutes. I said it then and I say it now also: I catered to deadlines, which left the saga so flawed.
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