I don't connect with stories, says Shah Rukh Khan

He is a quintessential storyteller, who is expressive, articulate and knows how to charm his interviewer with his wits. The king of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan during his visit to capital to promote his upcoming film Dear Zindagi talks about why he prefers working with women, his choice in movies, lessons learnt from life and more.

The actor who has worked with the top directors in Bollywood states that he signs films based on the maker’s conviction. “I don’t connect with stories, I connect with people. I never ever listen to stories and people think I am lying when I say it, but I am really telling the truth,” shares the actor.

Further explaining this point, King Khan who will be working with director Aanand L Rai on his next film shares that he has not heard the story yet.  He says, “Aanand has been calling me and asking when do I wish to hear the story. But I had told him, narrate the story anytime or tell it to me on the sets when we begin shooting. I really connect to people and that is how it should be. Sometimes it goes right and sometimes the expectations are different. I really believe that a film is a filmmaker’s vision and an actor should not come in the way. And if you want to make a film for yourself then become a director. I am not a director, so I don’t shape it nor design it, I just act in films.”

The actor who will be seen playing the character of a life coach in Dear Zindagi states that on a personal level, he does not like giving advices to people but have always helped them through telling stories that will in turn help them take the right path. “I have a strange quality of sensing people’s feeling and their state of mind. But I don’t like to be preachy and ensure that I don’t over step my limit. I don’t give advice, I chat about things without being judgemental. Sometimes, I do like telling stories by taking references from history or verses by Galib, etc. because I feel that the listener will be able to connect with a situation and it will help them overcome their problem/s or situation.”

Talking about his children, he says, “I have a very friendly equation with them. At times they ask a few things which are related to my work but overall, I have never sat them down and given advice. As a matter of fact, I get advice from them sometimes for my undue behaviour.”

The 51-year-old actor has an extended cameo in Dear Zindagi and he  says that he has ever never taken up such a role in his  glorious career spanning 25 years. He says, “The beauty of this film is that without being preachy, a bunch of confident women have made this movie. The movie goes on to state that whatever, wherever, with whomever a woman does anything, it stands correct, without being judgmental over things. So I feel that this movie will leave an impression on men too.”

The charming actor also shares that female filmmakers have an edge over others because they add a different sensibility to their cinema. He says, “I’ve always enjoyed making films with women directors. I think their sensibility is quite effeminate. I use this word because I see men around me who are also like that, perhaps including myself. You don’t need to be effeminate physically; it’s just that the sensitivity is there. I’ve been brought up that way and I believe that the harshest and toughest of women have the gentlest of hearts.”

Talking how he disconnects from reel to real life, he says, “Veteran actor K.N. Singh once told me ‘observe, absorb and take it out when called for it’. As an actor we need to follow this. At the end of the day, an actor controls the character. You don’t let the act or character impose on you but you take life and impose it on the character. A character doesn’t make you but you make the character.”