Pinkvilla Exclusive: "I have accepted Shah Rukh the way he is" - Farah Khan

She has dealt with almost all the facets of filmmaking. From being a successful choreographer and producer, director to now an actor—Farah Khan has come a long way, indeed. In this candid interview to pinkvilla.com, Farah talked to Mauli Singh about her acting debut, her possessive son and the much-talked about patch-up with King Khan.

Highlights:

Now I understand why actresses are so moody and always in a bad temper and so hyper. Doing that hair and make-up and putting the false nails can drive you nuts.

There are no expectations that Shah Rukh will change and only then will I love him. Now I have accepted him the way he is

Czar can’t see me in short dresses. The other day he saw me trying a dress; he wanted me to change it right away (laughs).

Know that my husband and kids will love me whether my movie does well or not.

Right now my kids call me softy mommy but in few years they will start calling me fatty mommy.

Deepika was a diamond. I just polished her a bit.

Congrats! You patched up with your best friend Shah Rukh. Who took the initiative?

It was mutual. It’s just a fight between two friends which is normal. It happens in every family. People fight and leave their families, siblings fight too. That nobody bothers about. I don’t know why people have made such a big deal about our fight. Too many rubbish people were jumping in and it became means of entertainment for everyone. It was a high time, we realized to sort out our differences.

They say once a relationship goes sour, it can never be the same again. True?

Not if both the people are sensible and realize that they both went wrong. Patch-ups are easy to happen if you don’t feel it was a good riddance and if you miss each other and realize that this was a very good friend. You realize things happened and so you make for that ya. Now if some stupid story comes out on us we just laugh it off and send a text to each other. It doesn’t pile up.

So, has your bond grown stronger with SRK?

For sure. Now we have accepted each other as we are. There are no expectations that Shah Rukh will change and only then will I love him. Now I have accepted him the way he is. My behavior has become better. I don’t get hyper.

And how is working with him again in Happy New Year…

Superb!!He is a superstar and one of the most charming actors.

How did the film happen?

It was meant to be with him. It had to be with both of us together. It’s destiny. It was not done with any intention that ‘let’s be friends so do this’.

Do you think Tees Maar Khan would have worked better if it was with SRK since he was your first choice?

I don’t know. It didn’t work because the movie didn’t work.

A choreographer, a director, a producer… and now an actor too. How do you juggle with so many roles?

It’s all about the time management. I first did Joker then I shot Shirin Farhad and now I will start working on my directorial venture. I couldn’t have done all three at the same time.

Your cousin Farhan Akhtar said in an interview that he secretly aspired to be an actor. Was the case with you as well?

I had no secret or non-secret aspirations in acting. Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) and Bela (Sehgal) did something brave by writing a movie for forty plus people and it is a truly charming film that we all will be proud of. I was so apprehensive about it initially. I told Sanjay that when the movie releases I am going to leave the town. But I have decided to stay back after seeing the film recently. (Smiles)

How difficult it is to be on the other side of the camera?

Very difficult! I am a very impatient person. I am a control freak. As an actor I realized that you have absolutely no control over anything. Now I understand why actresses are so moody and always in a bad temper and so hyper. Doing that hair and make-up and putting the false nails can drive you nuts. What I really enjoyed was the part between saying action and cut.

Is this a one off for you?

Yes. My first and last!

Even if you get a great role…

I really don’t think anyone is going to give me such a great role to play. It takes a brave person to put in money to make a rom-com with Boman (Irani) and me playing the lead. It’s not a big commercial prospect.

I heard you had to dance badly in the film. That must have been for a brilliant dancer like you?

It was awkward. The girl has two left feet. She is a spinster who is quite inhibited and she dances after 20 years. I purposely danced clumsily.

And you also wore dresses after many years. How did your kids react?

Czar can’t see me in short dresses. The other day he saw me trying a dress; he wanted me to change it right away (laughs). He likes me in my lose track pants. Right now my kids call me softy mommy but in few years they will start calling me fatty mommy.

And your daughters…

They are very shy. They go to the party and they stick their nose up and don’t do anything. They just wear pretty dresses and look pretty.

Now that you are a mother of three kids, things will be done differently while directing your next?

Yes. If it’s an outdoor shoot I will have to schedule according to my children’s holidays so that they can accompany me. They have a school and I can’t uproot them

Is Shirish a better husband or a better father?

Most husbands become better father after the kids are born. He is a really good father.

And also the hands on dad?

He doesn’t change diapers and all but he plays with the kids. He is always there for them. We take them for holidays. If I am away on the shoots and he is at home, I know he will look after them very well. I am very easy going but he is very careful and all there.

Three reasons why Shirish is your Mr. Right?

He tells tell me the truth. People are scared to tell me the truth. I can be intimidating. He is not in awe of me. Secondly, kids really make us a family. Other than that he is a very creative person. Sometimes it gets difficult. He is very much into his work and world which works fine for me.

Do you think marriage changes your equation with people around you?

Sort of! When you are single, you are available to your friends at the drop of a hat. But things change after marriage. You have to make your husband and kids, your priority. I do. I am not available for everybody at all the times. I can’t go with a 15 day outdoor with my friends. But marriage also gets you other things that you didn’t have when you were footloose and fancy free. There is a feeling of belongingness. I know that my husband and kids will love me whether my movie does well or not.

Do you think you made Deepika the star she is?

Deepika was always a star. She was a star model. I just presented her the way she should have been presented. She was a diamond. I just polished her a bit.