People Won't Stop Worshipping Rajinikanth

We hardly read you. Are you averse to interviews?
No, am I not talking to you? But I speak very little. I can’t elaborate much. 

That's fine. But tell us, how long has it been since you spent a Sunday with your sons?
I don't remember exactly but I think its been one-and-a-half years at least.

Don't you feel guilty?
I do, but I am working for them. So, they will feel proud of me when they grow up. I am doing all this to give them a comfortable life and keep them happy.

You don't seem nervous this time like you were when Ranjhanaa was up for release...
But I am restless. I want to know what people think of Shamitabh.

The second film always feels different from the first one isn't it?
Yeah. I was nervous then because Aanand (Aanand L Rai, director of Raanjhanaa) was this filmmaker who trusted one random actor from somewhere and wanted only him in the film (smiles).

That film was one of the few that made profits in 2013...
I would say he pulled off a miracle. Hes a good technician who is ready to believe in an artiste he ropes in and gives the film all he has. I wanted it to work for him more than me. This time, I am calm.

Theres  euphoria around you thats almost turning you into a poster boy of intelligent cine-goers. Not wary of the attention? 
I am kind of used to it down South.

There are plenty of women following you on Twitter...
Where are these women? (smiles and pauses). But let me tell you, Im still criticised for my looks.   

And you get bothered by this following?
No, I simply smile and say to myself: One more on the list!

You started off well in Bollywood but didn't capitalise...
After Ranjhanaa released, I had many offers but wanted to be a part of only a right film. I didn't want to do something just for the heck of it. I was looking for a script that was tailor-made for me. I had to wait for eight months before Shamitabh came along. 

Has Umesh Shukla (director of Oh My God!) offered you a film?
I have met him a couple of times and discussed a lot of scripts- but theres nothing concrete yet.

What reactions have you received to the Shamitabh trailers?
Different hai! But honestly, these two words are quite overwhelming.

We see a lot of your productions dubbed in Hindi. Shouldn't you also be producing films in Hindi?
Right now, I am new to Bollywood. I don't know how it works here. I am still trying to understand. Its too soon to go up that route. 

What's next after Shamitabh?
There's a Anand L Rai film. We start shooting by end of this year. Its a love story. And then, I'm also starting a Tamil film in a month or two. 

Isn't Aanand your only friend in the industry?
He is my best friend here. Himanshu Sharma, Zeeshan Ayub, Swara Bhaskar and Sonam Kapoor are all close to me but Aanand is like my brother. I nag him all the time. I ask him all questions all the time. I spend time with him whenever I am in Mumbai. He loves talking to me and I love talking to him. I almost torture him.

Do you have a matinee idol?
I try not to have one. They influence your acting.

How would you describe Rajinikanth?
He is humble, down-to-earth and one of the best human beings you will ever meet. And he is an excellent father.

You don't find it difficult being a superstars son-in-law? 
Its a great honour to be associated with Rajini sir in any manner. I will make him proud of me.

Have Kochadaiyaan and Lingaas box-office failures affected him?
A king is a king! He was, he is and he always will be. I dont think two flops can make a difference to him. The worshipping wont stop.

As an artiste, you have to romance other women...  
(Interrupts) This  question is for my wife, Aishwarya. But she knows the drill. Her dad has been around for 40 years. She knows how it works. And if you really want to know how it feels, you should pose this question to her.

Would you get possessive if she had been an actress romancing other men on screen?
Maybe.

How come you've never worked with your father-in-law, Rajinikanth?
I would love to work with him. It doesn't get bigger than him in India. It's strange but we never got an offer to work together. 

Will we see you co-producing a film with him?
Produce a Rajinikanth film? This shall only remain a dream. I'm not so lucky. I'm not eligible to do that.