CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

I want to cater to kids: Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who is all set to make a children's film in the VFX medium, using computer-generated special effects, says he is overwhelmed by the response he gets from children and wants to cater to them. 'I love kids and I am overwhelmed by the response I get from children. Adults like me by chance,' Shah Rukh Khan told IANS. 'I have maintained my love for kids since long and want to cater to them because they have the shortest attention span. I want to make a place in the hearts of the little ones and then I will automatically reach the families. As children handle the remote control these days, everyone has to watch what they like. 'Theatre director Barry John, my acting teacher at Delhi Theatre, used to say: 'if you can capture the interest of kids, you will be always successful' and I stick to that,' he added. Shah Rukh was recently in Berlin to promote 'Om Shanti Om' and was interviewed by Hollywood trade magazine Variety. The magazine reported that the proposed children's film would be made at a budget of $25 million (Rs.1 billion), the highest budget in India. But commenting here about the money to be spent on making the film, Shah Rukh said: 'Media is speculating about the budget. We are still working on the script.' The actor, also the owner of the Kolkata team franchisee Red Chillies Entertainment, said through all these initiatives - investment in sports and VFX film - he wants to do something for the country which has given him so much. 'My dream is to invest money and bring better technology in our country that has given me money, love, respect... everything one can ask for! Not only cricket, we want to invest in all kind of games. 'I think if children are allowed to play all the time along with little bit of studies, 'creative' aggression would develop in them. It would prevent them from indulging in vices like smoking, drinking or drugs.' And when is the superstar planning to kick the butt! 'I have been trying to kick the butt since long. But it is very difficult to give up bad habits. And I can't be dishonest in saying I will quit smoking and then don't do it.' 'However, I would appeal to children that they must not pick up this habit from me, as fans have a tendency to imitate their favourite stars. This is a bad habit and is injurious to health. They must never do it,' he stressed. King Khan is now set to host a television quiz show 'Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain' and says the medium doesn't matter because he is an entertainer. 'I started my career with television and with time the small screen is becoming better. However, being a jester, my idea is to entertain by films, by stage shows... by all possible formats.' I am looking forward to being in love: Vidya Balan Actress Vidya Balan says the fun quotient is getting better for her with every movie. 'First 'Parineeta', then 'Salaam-e-Ishq', followed by 'Hey Babyy' and now 'Bhool Bhulaiya' with Priyadarshan. All of them were loads of fun,' says the actress. The actress can't stop giggling when she remembers the shooting of 'Hey Babyy' in Australia and can't stop giggling about it. 'Akshay, and director Sajid Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala, are a delight. All the three share great vibes with me. Sajid Khan and I have been buddies for years. It was one group of mad-hatters. Fun was the main issue in Australia. Work was in automation,' the actress said. One of the things that Vidya is looking forward to this year is being in love. Remind her that it's only healthy for a young attractive single girl like her to be linked to co-stars and Vidya sighs: 'Yes, I'm young and single and most certainly looking forward to being in love. Unfortunately, both John Abraham and Akshay Kumar are attached. And that creates more of an embarrassment for them than me. Come to think of it, where are the eligible single guys in our industry? I'll have to look elsewhere.' Vidya shot for 'Hey Babyy' in Australia for four months. 'Akshay was a major prankster. I was on tenterhooks all the time. One did not know what Akshay was up to. My one ambition in life is to get even with him for all the pranks that he has played on me. Shooting has seldom been so much fun. I didn't even realise how these two schedules for the two completely contrasting films, 'Hey Babyy' and 'Bhool Bhulaiya', passed off,' she said. As for her involvement with co-stars, Vidya is aware that tongues will wag all over again. 'I'm prepared for stories to filter back. I've gone through this before. During 'Salaam-e-Ishq', they linked me to John Abraham for the same reason because people saw us having so much fun together. Now there'll gossip because Akshay and I had a great time,' she said. For 'Bhool Bhulaiya', Vidya had to do some serious heart-in-the-mouth classical dancing. 'As a child, I learnt Bharatanatyam. Then I learnt Kathak for a couple of months a few years ago. That's it. But I had to do one elaborate classical dance and I was so scared. I believe it has turned out well, thanks to choreographer Pony Verma. Pony has done a lot of songs with Priyan, who told my Dad that he is happy with the way I've danced. I truly enjoyed it. Thank god,' she said.