Rohit had a couple of scripts when we were working on Chennai Express. He said he would come back to me after he completes Singham Returns. The idea was a little different then, but the skeleton of the film is the same even now. He said he wanted to complete the script and come back to me after Singham Returns.
I haven't told this to anyone, but let me tell you that Varun was the first person to sign Dilwale. Rohit said he wanted Varun. I am not taking away the beauty and talent, but Kriti (Sanon) and Kajol came in much later. Dilwale is a Rohit Shetty type of film, but this time we have added more romance. Let's say that we have made Rohit into a lover and he won't be just his usual action-n-comic avtar.
SRK: (Laughs)
VD: I was jumping. It was a very big moment for me. Rohit is one of my fav directors. Add this to doing a film with legends like Shah Rukh sir and Kajol ma'am. It doesn't get bigger than this. Frankly, I wondered if I'll be able to pull it off. But Shah Rukh sir held my hand. And so...
So, you didn't even read the script before signing...
KS: (Laughs)
VD: I read the full script. The film industry is full of loose talk that a younger actor is shortchanged if and when he works with a senior star. I was given much more than what I was promised.
And you Kriti? Did you dance and jump?
KS: Dilwale happened to me too fast. I had just one meeting with Rohit and I was chosen. I have grown up watching SRK-Kajol's movies. Honestly, I was very nervous but soon we became a family. I am going to miss all of this.
VD: Full marks to them, they never made us feel that we were working with bigger and senior stars. Today I can look into Shah Rukh sir's eyes and be relaxed.
KS: I can tell them anything without thinking.
VD: That she does anyway.
KS: Don't pull my leg. I loved Shah Rukh sir before working with him. Today, I love him even more.
Varun, you had told me once that you were scared of Kajol before the cameras rolled on Dilwale...
VD: Oh yeah. I had worked with Shah Rukh sir and Kajol ma'am both in My Name is Khan as an Asst Director. Shah Rukh sir would be sweet and awake whenever I went to him.
KS: He is always awake.
VD: But there were times when Kajol ma'am shouted at me, when I took a scene to her. She would ask: Why are you getting the scenes so late to me? I would say: I got the scene only now. She would shoot back: Tell them not to do this.
Shah Rukh, how would you feel when these two goofed up a scene with you?
VD: (Looks at SRK) Remember sir, I was giving a cue to you and I messed it up? .
SRK: Seniority gives you experience, which may give you a better technique to carry out the scene. Let's face it. I felt that I was the best actor in the world when I did my first film. I am and I shall remain so. I think every actor should feel the same. But mind you, even the best of actors goof up. I have done 45 retakes for a scene and taken hours to get one dance step right. Even now, Maneesh Sharma (director) and Vaibhavi Merchant (choreographer) tell me to do retakes in Fan, sometimes even 50 times. And I do it, because they say it with kindness, which is the hallmark of creativity. Galat sirf tab hota hai jab hum sahi karne jaate hain. Agar hum sahi karna hi nahi chahte, toh hum galat ko hi accept karke aage chal sakte hain. So it's nice to commit mistakes. I teach the same to my children. Trust me, Varun and Kriti follow just the same, and they have the capability to say 'No, I can't do this'. This means that they are clean slates ready to imbibe everything.
Shah Rukh, you and Kajol together light up the screen...
SRK: Kajol is unbearable (laughs). We have been bearing each other since 22 years. If she believes in what she is doing, you'll have a great time working with her. Else she'll put her foot down and express her displeasure. She has a strong but genuine opinion--- and you can't dislike her for that, I would say. At the same time, she is open to honest opinions. She is full of innocence.
She took quite some time to say 'yes' to Dilwale...
SRK: Not really. She was supposed to do some other film which didn't happen, so we were just going back and forth on the dates.
Please elaborate on the song in Iceland...
SRK: We had an idea to do a love song. Kajol and I have done some very nice songs together.The question was: What different can we do now? So we decided to go to Iceland where Game of Thrones, Interstellar and Justin Bieber have gone--- but Bollywood hasn't. If we get time after Dilwale releases, I believe that we (looks at VD and Kriti) should go there for a holiday for few days.
KS: We should.
Kriti, you quit Singh is Bling to accommodate Dilwale...
KS: Singh is Bling got pushed by 5 months and they wanted me to shoot around the same time which I had already alloted to Dilwale. I wish that I could have done both- Singh is Bling and Dilwale. Regardless, I am blessed to have done Dilwale.
Shah Rukh, the interview will be incomplete without touching upon the December 18 clash of Dilwale with Bajirao Mastani...
SRK: It's unfortunate. The business will get divided. I am sure Bajirao Mastani will be a good film; Bhansali makes nice films. We have made a good film in Dilwale. If it hadn't happened, it would have been nicer. If it is there, then it is just nice.
VD: It's been going on for too long. I can't sit and keep worrying about ifs and buts in life.
KS: There are too many films, few weekends.
SRK: It's unfortunate that two big films don't have independent Fridays to hit the theatres. Two very important directors of commerce and art are involved. We wish that both films do well. There is no angst, no negativity. We'll find audiences with different tastes coming to both the films. Inshallah.