‘I Don’t Feel Like Cutting My Hair’

Lakshya will be Hrithik Roshan’s first release after Koi…Mil Gaya. Great timing?
As a director it doesn’t make much difference, but for my producer Ritesh Sidhwani, it makes a huge difference. From the word go, I was convinced that only Hrithik suited the role. I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing the film.

Is it true that Amitabh Bachchan and you had teething troubles during shooting?
Please don’t single out poor Mr Bachchan. I’ve been accused of being rude to everyone on the sets including Prabhu Deva. Even Ritesh and I are supposed to have had a fight. None of this is true. See, what happens is that when no information is forthcoming, people write all sorts of stuff hoping to create a stir. They think that people will step forward and say something but we didn’t do any such thing.

Your father Javed Akhtar has written the screenplay and dialogues. What kind of working relationship did you share?
It was an interesting experience. He knows his craft well and is a great storyteller. Fortunately, I can say without sounding pompous that both of us are pretty easy-going and rational people. We discuss things and don’t fly off the handle. Dad is involved till the final dialogue stage but then it’s up to me how I finally choose to direct it. He doesn’t interfere.

You’ve lost a lot of weight. Did the film take a toll physically?
To a certain extent, it has. I’ve lost weight but I am feeling fitter.

What’s with the ponytail?
I grew my hair to protect myself from the cold while shooting in Ladakh. But now I don’t feel like getting it cut.

You didn’t repeat your Dil Chahta Hai male trio in Lakshya. But Preity Zinta is acting in the film. Saif reportedly said he wishes he were Preity. Comment.
This can come only from Saif. He’s a super funny guy. It’s tragic that I couldn’t do anything with any of my Dil Chahta Hai actors but I am sure that I will work with them again.

Your sister Zoya has assisted you in both your films. Now she is ready to start her own film, how are you helping her?
Ritesh and I are producing her film. I’ll be writing the dialogues for Zoya’s film and have told her that I can also threaten actors into signing her film.

Your wife Adhuna recently said on a TV show that everyone falls in love with Farhan.
I don’t know how to react but am glad if people do so. It’s a good effect to generate.

Does your daughter Shakya know what her dad does for a living?
I think she’s slowly beginning to understand. I take her on shoots. She went with me to Ladakh. It’s important that she knows what I do, otherwise she’ll wonder where this man vanishes every two months. It can lead to some weird emotional consequences. She should know that I am not hanging out with other kids.

Ever thought about acting?
I thought about it when I was 15 to 16 years old and gave up the idea when I was 15 to 16 years old. I suffer from stage fright.