In Chennai Express, I romance Deepika with flying garis, not flying sarees: SRK

Shah Rukh Khan’s film Chennai Express released in 3,500 screens in India today. While director Rohit Shetty is nervous before the first day verdict is out, Shah Rukh Khan confesses that the feeling isn’t what he would called ’nerve-wrecking’ but it is very exciting.

However, Khan says that he is nervous for Shetty.  It is a new space for Shetty too, as C_hennai Express_ isn’t exactly a Rohit Shetty sort of film and Khan hopes he doesn’t mess up Shetty’s impeccable box office record with his lover boy image.

Talking about Rohit Shetty’s brand of films, Khan tells CNN IBN’s Entertainment Editor, Rajeev Masand, ‘‘Rohit’s films don’t mostly begin with the premise of a man and woman coming together. It has often started with a man coming to a city or the ensemble cast coming together to solve a problem. A love story is there, but it isn’t the prime focus. But Chennai Express starts with the fact that I am looking for a life partner, Deepika is running away from a life partner and somehow two completely opposite people meet, which is a classical premise for a love story.’’

However, despite the ‘comedy-romance’ that Chennai Express is according to Khan, the film retains all the essential ingredients of a Rohit Shetty film. ‘‘Normally I romance with Deepika in flying sarees, here I romance with flying garis," quips SRK.

Chennai Express got a solo national release on the day of Eid. Obviously no one wants to be up against a Shah Rukh Khan film and by the look of it, the film is a crowd puller and is expected to do certain amount of business. While any big releases of the hallowed trinity of Khans is often dubbed to be a Rs 100-crore film, even before it actually makes it, Khan says that the price club doesn’t affect him a bit.

“Can I honestly tell you something? If you are genuinely a big star than you don’t have to worry about numbers but if you are not a big star than you have to really worry about number,’’ says Khan.

‘‘I am not trying to say that I am beyond numbers and of course, numbers are important to our business partners, Disney UTV, Red Chillies, which is a different entity altogether. I am answerable to them. So numbers do matter, because they all come and invest heavily in films I am a part of. ..That tangible part is important but having said that I am honestly untouched by it,” he adds.

On being asked if the train scene in Chennai Express is meant to be a tribute to Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge, SRK says, “It’s not exactly a tribute. It is actually the funniest scene in the film. It is a take-off, not a spoof. It is (such) a scene that when you hear (of it), you think I will have to do this film now.  … Everyone likes Dilwale, but to take it and set a premise of a film on it is really sweet.”

Deepika is quick to join in to speak about her DDLJ moment. The actress who made her debut with SRK five years ago in Om Shanti Om says, “I grew up watching DDLJ. My first crush was Shah Rukh Khan. So to have a DDLJ moment with him in a different way and not in such a great way as may be feels good in the heart and the head. He and Kajol were amazing.”

Padukone confesses that in past years, her equation with Khan has changed a lot. ‘‘I can talk to him, argue with him now…. He is one of those few people I can always fall back upon,’’ says the actress.

Listen to the complete interview of Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone with Rajeev Masand here: