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Friday September 1, 11:17 AM
 Has
the response to KANK turned out to be what you thought
it would?
Far greater, in fact. The boxoffice figures are there
to prove it. I've never been a part of such a success.
I think the first week collection of KANK is larger
than all my releases put together. This is a league
I'm just not acquainted with. It's wonderful to be
part of such a venture. But it's entirely Karan's
baby.
Your smallish role has fetched you incredible
praise.
First of all, I don't think I've a small role in KANK.
I think I've a very important role to play in the
film. Thank you, Karan!
Everyone wants to know how you know so much about
marriages?
I've no knowledge of a marriage whatsoever. I just
followed Karan's directions very obediently. The
credit for whatever you consider to be my performance
in KANK must go to Karan.
Tell me about the first-hand responses to your
performance?
I don't know! I've been very busy working on Dhoom 2.
I haven't had a chance to interact with people too
much. But I'm always thrilled when my work gets
noticed. But like I said I can't take any credit for
it. I'm not trying to be modest. I'm not a modest
person. I'm a realist. I know who's done what in KANK.
The real hero of the film is Karan Johar.
Do you think the controversies are good for KANK?
What controversies? There's debate on KANK, not
controversy. The good thing about debate is you get
both negative and positive but always-healthy reaction
to the film. Very few films get that. Whether you
agree with KANK or not, it's taken Karan to a new
level. I think he has unfairly been labeled 'a
candyfloss maker'. The mistaken belief that he makes
frivolous films has fallen to the ground. I think
Karan is a very important director in the history of
Indian cinema. KANK is a sensitive work.
Do you think Karan took a big risk in moving away from
his comfort zone?
The best part is, Karan isn't judgemental, just
observant on marriages and extra-marital affairs. He
isn't telling people to leave their spouses. He just
asks a harsh but real question - what if you meet your
soul-mate after marriage? Shah Rukh and Rani are the
protagonists. But Preity and I are never shown as
negative characters. In fact I find the relationship
between our characters quite fascinating.
What about your relationship with Rani?
I felt Karan should have given my character Rishi
something negative to do. He loves his wife immensely.
He's basically trying to be as perfect a husband and
can be. And that's how the audience has perceived my
character. Despite that, Rani's character moves away.
So I felt Karan needed to give my character some dark
areas. Whereas Shah Rukh's character does have reason
to stray because his wife has no time for him, my
character's wife has no such alibi. Why does Rishi-Maya's
relationship break up?
Why?
That's exactly what I kept asking Karan. He told me,
'One could be in a seemingly perfect marriage. Still
your spouse may not connect with you.' I thought that
was a very intriguing thought, put forward beautifully
in the film. We never thought everyone would
unanimously love the film. We hoped they'd discuss it.
And Karan has pulled it off .
Generally such discussions and debates are for
art-house films?
For me such categorization makes no sense. To me a
film is a film is a film....
Do you think an Indian wife would move off from a
marriage to the ideal husband, the way Rani does?
Of course! Such things do happen.
Are extra-marital affairs an inevitable part of
contemporary society?
No, they're neither inevitable nor justified. I'm
totally against extra-marital affairs. I'd personally
never have an affair after marriage. But I won't be
judgemental about those who do.
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