Aamir Khan Comments on Shahrukh Khan in Mumbai Mirror Interview

Aamir Khan Comments on Shahrukh Khan in Mumbai Mirror Interview

In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, Aamir Khan talks about his rivalry
with Shahrukh Khan, on him being number one at the box-office and his
upcoming films. Read the interview and post your comments below

• What do you think about the recent Filmfare poll, according to which
you are now the most powerful man in the industry?

I am happy that they have liked and acknowledged my work but honestly
speaking, I am not really interested in power. I think it's important
to know what one can really do with the power. According to me, power
is how one uses it. I can be very powerful but if I can't use it for
any good or can't contribute to the industry then I am actually
powerless. I would like to use my power by working with new directors,
giving new actors to the industry and making experimental films.

• Don't you think the success of Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini and the
opening collections of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, which interestingly you
didn't even star in, has made you even more powerful?

Could be. Ghajini has gone on to become the biggest success of Indian
cinema. The collection has already crossed Rs 270 crore. The three
films that I have produced (Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par and Jaane Tu Ya
JaaneNa) have all been super hits. Even as an actor, my strike rate
has been quite good. Since 2000, all my films have worked except
Mangal Pandey. Being a creative person, I want my work to be done and
want people to love me for my work. To attain that, I don't want to do
anything that's underhand. Neither do I want to influence or
manipulate the media. After genuinely doing good work consistently, it
is for people to decide if they like you or not. Once you strike a
relationship with the audience through your work, numbers become
unimportant. No one can change that.

• You were called the marketing king when ushers sported the Ghajini
look during the screening of Shah Rukh Khan's Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

It was a good marketing gimmick. I think promoting a film with another
films is the best way as you really get to know your target audience.
Usually, people promote their film in a multiplex through promos or
posters but when people walked into multiplexes and saw 50 Ghajinis
around them especially with the film just two weeks away from release,
it created a buzz. That it was done during Rab Ne… helped.

• But it also created a war of words between you and SRK.

I have been working in the industry for over two decades and I have
never made any comments about anybody. However, over the years I
noticed that Shah Rukh has been repeatedly talking about me publicly.
In all fairness, I too decided not to remain quiet and respond to him
publicly.

• In his recent interviews, Shah Rukh sounds bitter about you. For
instance, he has said that his kids will never be your fans or that
his dog refuses to be called Aamir.

Let me say one thing clearly, no matter what Shah Rukh tells his
children, I will tell my kids to always love and respect him. What he
teaches his children is entirely up to him. I can understand that he
is bitter as his films have not done well. I have only have warm
regards for him and wish him all the very best. I do understand that
Shah Rukh works very hard and gives a number of interviews, which I
think is a wonderful quality. I think he is upset as his films have
not done as well as he expected them to but I wish him all the success
he deserves.

• Now that you have dethroned him in the power list, will there be
another war of words between the two of you?

I am least interested in dethroning him. He can be very happy with all
the thrones and all the crowns. I am not interested in any of them. He
has never hesitated in making fun of me. Even in his films he has made
fun of Manoj Kumar and Dev Anand. It shows that he has a great sense
of humour but where does it all go when I say humorous things about
him?

I remember him saying in one of his interviews that he was joking
about calling himself No.1. I find it very funny as I have never seen
anyone proclaiming, 'I am No.1′. Neither did Sachin Tendulkar ever say
that he is No 1 nor did Lata Mangeshkar. Take any field for that
matter, Vishwanathan Anand never says that he is the best and I don't
think Dilip Kumar or Raj Kapoor ever said that. I am saying all this
in a lighter vein so he too should take my comments lightly. I think
that his sense of humour suddenly disappears when it comes to me.

• Ever since the fight between Shah Rukh and Salman happened, everyone
wants to know whose friend you are?

I find this very funny. I am quite friendly with Anil Kapoor, Rani
Mukerjee, Shah Rukh and Salman. Akshay (Kumar) and Saif (Ali Khan) too
are my friends. I have so many friends. I meet all of them once in a
while and there is nothing more to it than that.

• You and Salman seem to be bonding more these days.

Not really. It has always been like this and it all depends on who is
free and when. We have impromptu meetings. There is no ulterior motive
when we meet and there is no point for anybody to get paranoid. Come
what may, I would not want anyone's film to flop. I am this industry's
child. My father has been a producer and my uncle has been a director.
There are so many people involved in the making of a film and how it
fares affects everyone be it the director, unit members, exhibitors
and even ushers in the theatres. I want everyone's film to do well,
and our meetings are not about discussing anyone's failure or success.

• There are also reports that you meet Akshay quite often to discuss
the number one game.

I am not interested in this number game. I don't even discuss this
with anyone as it does not concern me. As far as I am concerned, my
favourite star is Amitabh Bachchan and for me he is the number one. It
ends at that. Akshay is my friend and so is Twinkle and yes, we do
meet but it has got nothing to do with the number game.

• Coming to your work, you are producing three films simultaneously.

As an actor I am only doing two films- 3 Idiots and Kiran's Dhobi Ghat
where I play an artiste. As a producer, I have completed the shooting
of Dhobi Ghat, Delhi Belly and one more film directed by Anusha Rizvi.
These three films are extremely unusual and challenge the limits of
mainstream cinema.