The hero next door

How would you compare the response for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan with your debut Tere Bin Laden?

For Tere Bin Laden we were banking upon the concept to work. The film clicked but it was mostly due to word of mouth. Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (MBKD),on the other hand,had stars like Katrina Kaif and Imran Khan so we had an automatic edge to get a bigger opening. Tere Bin Laden was a first-of-its-kind of a film and wasn’t overtly hyped,so it took people by surprise. MBKD had a different colour and sensibility to it and was seen and appreciated. Ultimately both the films made people smile which in turn gives me a strong reason to smile.

Were you apprehensive signing MBKD since it already had Imran Khan? Is it true that you had a water-tight contract drawn up with Yash Raj Films which specified that the movie will be publicised as a two hero-one heroine film and that you will get prominence in the publicity campaign as much as your co-stars?

Actually it was just an unsaid understanding between Adi (Aditya Chopra) and me. I didn’t push him into anything and neither did we discuss anything related to publicity. I just appeared where I was asked to appear,spoke when I was asked to speak and sang where I was made to sing. I trusted him and his entire team to the core and they never let me down. Regarding apprehensions about Imran’s presence in the film,I chose to do the movie because I’m very fond of him. I had met him at Karan (Johar)’s party and found him to be extremely genuine and humble. I like working with people who have no insecurities so Imran and I clicked.

While singing the UP bhaang song,Madhubala,did you keep any singer or a song as your reference?

Yes. Actually both Ali (director Ali Abbas Zafar) and I are huge Amitabh Bachchan and Kishore Kumar fans just like the rest of the world. I understood that Ali wanted to make a song,which had a Jai jai shiv shankar or Rang barse vibe so I rendered it accordingly while keeping my own identity intact.

Will you always sing your own songs or are you open to other Indian singers doing playback for you?

I think it would make more sense if I sing my own songs. After all,I’m a singer/musician first. Having said that,there is a long list of singers from India that I am a big fan of.

Do you think of yourself as a certified Bollywood hero now,since you’ve already done a phera wedding sequence and a bhaang song?

Well,I’m just doing my work with dedication and trying to deliver my best so that on some level I can ensure success for the director and the producer. I’d rather think of myself as an artiste.

You’ve maintained that while growing up singing was your first dream. So when did you decide to give acting a shot?

It happened at one of my concerts. I was singing in front of a crowd of some 80,000 people when I started to think that I’ve seen all of this before. I’ve done 300 concerts,experienced it all. I wanted to experience something different. Bollywood being the biggest film industry in the world offers you the best opportunity to go all out and try something new if you have it in you. So I challenged myself into thinking that come on,lets find out,do I have it in me to make it. By the way,I’m still searching for the answer.

Name the Indian actors and films that you have grown up watching.

As a child,I used to cry in the end of Bachchan Sir’s (Amitabh Bachchan) films because he used to die in most of them. I also remember that I went into depression for a week when I saw Dilip Kumar saab’s Devdas as a college student. Of course I remember my entire family going into fits of laughter while watching Andaz Apna Apna. And how can I forget Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge? It’s a film that we give references of whenever people discuss a real-life love story.

If you could star in a remake of any Hindi film,which one would it be?

Well,since Devdas is already done so may be Do Aur Do Paanch or Shakti.

How would you describe the film scene in Pakistan? Would you want to do a Pakistani movie?

It’s under development. I will do a Pakistani film if some good script comes along.

What are you currently listening on your Ipod?

These days,I’m listening to a lot of Eric Clapton and some other Blues artistes.

In Shrishti Behl’s film,London New York Paris,you play a solo lead yet again after Tere Bin Laden. Do you feel the pressure to bring in the audience as the solo star?

Well,I only take the pressure if it helps me perform better.

You’re acting in the Chashme Buddoor remake. Have you seen the original? How is the remake shaping up?

Yes,I saw the original before taking up the offer. I love Farooq Shaikh’s acting. He’s both profound and casual with the intricacies! David Dhawan sir has kept my character a bit different so that it relates to current times and trends. The idea is to show how a modern-day college student would be.

When you agree to act in a Hindi film do you think how it will be received back home in Pakistan? Is there something you will never do on screen?

Well,I can’t help but think about how people will react back home. I don’t want to hurt anyone so I try my best to avoid scripts or roles,which can be controversial. I avoid scenes,which can be termed obscene,but eventually it is my own conscience,which has to be satisfied first. You can’t keep everyone happy all the time. The most you can do is try.

So where’s home these days? Do you shuttle between Pakistan and India?

I am shuttling around the world. I wish we lived in a world where there were no boundaries and visas,at least for peacemakers and dedicated artistes.