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Shah Rukh Khan‘s Red Chillies VFX Studio now has a new address. After much property-hunting the actor and his team of graphic designers and technicians are set to move into a lavish office in the Lokhandwala area of Andheri (West). While the interiors of his new office are getting a facelift, new machines are being shipped in too.

Says Arjun Mitra, one of the head of the Red Chillies VFX team, says, “We are getting closer to Shah Rukh’s vision of having a first-class graphic designing studio. We will move into our new office within a month. It’s a huge space, that can support at least 300 professionals.”

The property has been leased out to the actor for a period of a few years. The Red Chillies VFX team comprises 40 people, headed by Arjun Mitra, Ketan Yadav and Harry Hingorani. As for assignments, the VFX studio is presently concentrating on commercials and Farah Khan’s film, Om Shanti Om. Adds Arjun, “We have the technology for providing the best visual graphics. Television commercials are keeping us busy these days.”

Of late, Shah Rukh has been focussing on the expansion of his VFX studio. Before heading for a holiday in London the actor had several meetings to firm up the deal. After having worked on Main Hoon Na, Paheli and more recently, Don, the team has already started pitching in for Hollywood productions.

Adds Arjun, “We have got a bunch of expert visualisers and operators. The company intends to take up work for outside producers too, including Hollywood production companies. The special effects that we had seen in Krrish can be done in our studio too. We are also hiring more people and by the end of three years we should have at least 300 members working on various projects. We plan to add a hundred people to our team by the end of this years itself.”

Besides his new office, sources indicate that SRK has bought another plot of land too, again in Andheri (W). “He has recently bought this land. But we are yet to determine the function of this space,” says a source close to SRK.

Promos of Chak De, produced by Yash Chopra’s production house, will be drawn from cinema halls from all over India. The movie has Shah Rukh Khan playing coach to a girls’ hockey team. According to a source, “The promo is not getting a good response from the public, Yash Chopra’s production house is very sensitive towards audiences responses. They have been sending teams to various cinema halls to gauge the reaction which isn’t positive. Therefore they might withdraw it by this weekend.” Manoj Desai, owner of a multiplex, said, “I haven’t got any official intimation from them, but I have removed the promos as the public is hooting while the eight-minute promo is played before the film. As it is Jhoom Barabar Jhoom has not met with good response. I don’t want the public to run away from my theatre.” Another a cinema manager said, “A team from the production house did come to our theatre for a survey to know what the people think of the promo. But we haven’t been informed about the withdrawal so we are still running it. If they ask us we will take it off.” However another trade expert informs, “I don’t know if they will issue an official notification, they may request exhibitors to withdraw the promos from the theatres as they don’t the audience to lose interest in the film even before its release.”

We know that the Shah Rukh Khan is adored by the media. After all, he never gives us the chase of our life just to get a ‘kingly’ high. But, there are times when the actor plays ‘hide’ ‘n’ seek too, and it’s usually when he’s vacationing with his family. Where else…but his favourite holiday spot – London. Currently, Shah Rukh Khan is out there with family, enjoying summer holidays with his bachchas. Every evening he is spotted in London’s Hyde park scurrying around with his kids. Needless to say, he attracts a lot of attention, but the good Daddy seems undisturbed by the public glare. It’s better than lounging around in Mumbai’s very own Joggers Park? SRK couldn’t agree more…

We all know that Shah Rukh Khan has a terrific sense of humour and he never runs out of steam when it comes to his witty remarks. And the actor is using it to make his game show more witty and lively. “Though there’s a script writer who writes the actual script, it’s always SRK who adds his own spice and makes it more interesting. He doesn’t stick to the written word, but improvises on the set,” says a unit member. Now, there is no denying that SRK certainly has the gift of the gab!

The debate between the pros and cons of spontaneous versus method acting is a never-ending one. But Shah Rukh Khan believes in the latter. For him, it’s training that makes a great actor. “Training is paramount for an actor to succeed. No one is a born actor. Training is required to polish their skill,” he says. Now one wonders if this comment from one of Bollywood‘s biggest superstars is going to settle the debate for once and for all!

Farah Khan was slated to start her next film after Main Hoon Na this year called Happy New Year. This film was planned on the lines of Ocean’s Eleven and obviously starred Shah Rukh Khan. But apparently, the film has now been put on the back burner and Om Shanti Om has taken precedence in Farah’s life. This film is about reincarnation in which Shah Rukh plays Om and Om, yes, it’s a double role, and Shanti is yet to be finalised. Two Shah Rukh’s in one film – doesn’t get any better does it Farah?

How goes it?
It’s been wonderful. I’ve just been with the kids, I haven’t gone out much. Except for the music release of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and the ICICI press conference. I’ve been playing soccer with the kids at the park. But for the past two days,my knee has been hurting, so I just sit and watch them play. I’ll be off to Paris soon to shoot for Don, Aryan and Suhana will join me there.

How has Don shaped up?
I’ve only seen the songs and a little bit on the video monitor while shooting. The aim is not to belittle or outdo the original. Farhan (Akhtar) is very clear about that. The challenge is to be as good as the original.

How important is KANK?
It’s very important. Even if I say so, it’s a very different film. Karan (Johar) has taken a bold step. Javed (Akhtar) sent me a message that it’s mind-blowing. Now it all depends on the audience. Both KANK and Don are big films, and both will do well inshallah.

Reportedly you and your camp boycotted the IIFA awards because Amitabh Bachchan is its brand ambassador?
It’s ridiculous to suggest that I would avoid any event because of Mr. Bachchan. To be honest, I’ve always avoided three-day-long ceremonies, except last year in Amsterdam. Earlier, I didn’t attend the IIFA show regularly. This time, a month ago I told them I wouldn’t be able to make it. Award ceremonies are far too commercialised now. I have a simple logic: if I’m not performing or if I’m not nominated, then I don’t attend.

Also, I was taking a 20-day holiday with my family.With the music release of KANK and the ICICI function, I had only 18 days to spend with them. I’m afraid spending time with my family is more important to me than attending IIFA. My kids are not going to be eight and six again. Karan had the music release of KANK there. As for Farah (Khan), she doesn’t attend such functions unless she’s winning an award.

At the IIFA stage show when Karan Johar asked who should be cast in the Indian remake of Brokeback Mountain, Anil Kapoor, replied, “Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar.”
I haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain yet…maybe Anil knows something that I don’t.

Why has Time Machine with Ram Gopal Varma been scrapped?
Ram Gopal Varma was supposed to bring the complete script to me by June 15. I was shooting for Don in Malaysia then.We were planning to start the shoot in August. It was an expensive film, requiring a lot of pre-production. I would have had to be a handson producer. I just don’t have that kind of time. Ramu’s the one who said it’s not happening..can we not make it? I said okay, no issues.When Farah said Happy New Year was not working out, I said fine. So we moved on to Om Shanti Om.

Ram Gopal Varma had plenty to say about you and your superstardom being thrust upon him
(Laughs) If you know Ramu, you will know that he talks for effect. He doesn’t mean to be nasty. Most actors, including yours truly, say many things for effect. Only in my case, I sound amazingly educated. Ramu’s a good speaker, he gives the right statements to some journos. The only films relevant to me are the ones I do. If I hear 10 scripts a year, I only do three. I don’t talk about the seven which I’m not doing.

Ram Gopal Varma has even stated that to make a film with you would be like going to back to school
I like going to school, it’s a good education ground. Whatever his take or viewpoint, I can’t get upset or stop him from saying it.

Professionally, I haven’t seen much of Ramu’s work..the last film I saw of his was Satya and I loved it. Personally, I’d say he’s a friend, I genuinely like him.

Do the constant reports about a rift with the Bachchans disturb you?
They don’t disturb me because it’s all so stupid and unfair. Some journos need copy at any cost. The news on my bungalow has been exhausted. No newcomer is around to oust me. I’m bored with all this. During my 16 years here,my career obituaries have been written constantly, I’ve been knocked out by every new actor. I would just like to say please don’t undermine me. This is King Khan. I’m the Ronaldinho of acting. I’ll be there for another five to six years, then maybe you can think of some other actor.

I’ve been low key of late. But the Bachchan-Khan stories are completely false. I know the Bachchan family too well. I don’t see any issue, I’m very comfortable with them. Mr Bachchan is 64, the age my father would have been. I just cannot have any negative feelings for someone of that age.

What would you say about being a superstar for so many years?
It’s terrific. I’m respected, recognised. I’m paid well. Many magazines call me the icon of the country. Of course, of every 100 fans, two will pass a snide remark. But 98 of them are with me. I don’t need any more money than what I’m earning now. I don’t get frustrated if one film doesn’t do well. The fact is I’m blessed, it has been a charmed life.

You seem to have isolated yourself a bit lately
I do hang out as long as the conversations are worthwhile. I don’t want to keep talking endlessly about myself. That would make me a megalomaniac.

What’s the most complimentary thing you’ve heard about yourself?
My son Aryan telling his cousin that, “My dad’s the most handsome man in the world.”

Everyone’s been raving about the Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna promos and Shah Rukh Khan‘s grand entry back to the box office in August with the release of the film. But there is also one slight ‘movement’ which not many might have noticed in the promos that Shah Rukh has a slight walking impediment in various shots. Word has it that he does indeed have a limp in the film. Well, limp or no limp, King Khan should be rest assured that no one is going to be ‘running’ away from this film for sure! He’s not called King Khan for nothing.

Shah Rukh Khan likes technology. That’s perhaps why he decided to venture into the special effects business, which will operate as an offshoot of his production house Red Chillies. Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Don’, currently being shot in Malaysia, is the first film which has the special effects done by Red Chillies.

“Shah Rukh is personally involved in the making of ‘Don’. The idea of putting up a special effects unit was his idea. ‘Don’ is a high-tech film, hence it requires special effects,” says a source. Khan has earlier produced ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Paheli’ under the Red Chillies banner.