Source: A HitList Correspondent; Mid-Day
It’s a boys night out in Koffee with Karan (10 pm, Star World) tonight. Childhood buddies, Hrithik Roshan and Farhan Akhtar, come together with host Karan Johar for a fun-filled show.
Johar gets them to reveal their childhood memories including all the pranks they pulled on each other. When Johar reveals Akhtar’s hidden talent for dancing, he turns the table by coolly replying, “Hrithik has learnt dancing from me.
He was my disciple!” Akhtar also says, “I was extremely disappointed when Hrithik declined Dil Chahta Hai. When I was writing the film, the cast I had was Akshay, Saif and Hrithik.”
The rapid-fire round pushes the two men into some tight spots, bringing out some very interesting revelations. They are joined by another special childhood friend Uday Chopra who completes this all-male show. Here are some bits from the conversation:
Johar: Hrithik, a lot of people have asked me about your pet name Duggu, the origin comes from?
Roshan: From, Guddu, that’s my dad’s name.
Johar: After Lakshya, you haven’t signed on a single film! Why is that?
Roshan: I took my first break after five years, there were the award functions, my world tour, and I’m helping my dad with his film.
Johar: Is there a particular reason why you haven’t signed on any films? Is the writing or talent not worthy of Hrithik Roshan?
Roshan: Yes, I’ve stretched my break too far. I need a break from my break! On a more serious note no there is nothing wrong with the industry or the talent. I think I’m at a place where I can have a choice, the film should excite me to a certain level.
Johar: What happens when you say no to a certain film and it goes on to become a success, like you said no to Hum Tum, and it was a big hit?
Roshan: I don’t regret it at all. Hum Tum was a hit because they did a good job, it went in the right direction. Maybe I gave the push in the right direction!
Johar: You said no to Ashutosh Gowarikar for Swades. There must be a thought and a reason.
Roshan: I was doing Lakshya at that time and I didn’t have the dates, it sort of went out of my hands.
Akhtar: I do remember chatting with him, both before and during Lakshya about focusing on one film at a time.
Johar: Farhan, did you always know Hrithik would be a great star?
Akhtar: It’s funny, we all used to hang out at Uday Chopra’s house, who had this big home camera, we kept filming each other and Uday would do screen tests. We thought Uday would end up being a director; Hrithik, we were convinced, would be an actor and we thought I would be in jail!
Johar: Yes you were this super brat, I didn’t in my wildest dreams think you would be a director, did you Hrithik?
Roshan: No I didn’t, I thought maybe he’d take up bodybuilding.
Akhtar: I might as well tell you, when I was 15-16 I used to work out in the gym, pretty seriously.
Roshan: He’s also a damn good dancer, he used to get all the first prizes, I used to get the second.
Johar: I remember seeing you dancing in all these parties, you and Aditya Chopra dancing and winning.
Roshan: I just sat and watched; now I imbibe them.
Akhtar: Yes, when I took up dancing is when Hrithik became my disciple.
Johar: Was it at all strange when Farhan had to direct you?
Hrithik: It was a serious film, and I’m a very serious person when I’m on the sets. After seeing a film like DCH, I knew he would settle for nothing less.
Johar: Your impression when you first saw DCH?
Roshan: I was depressed. How did Farhan get it this way? Where had he been these six years, I wanted to go there. What books had he read?
Johar: Hrithik you were one of the initial choices for the film, in fact the cast that finally played was not what you had planned for the movie. So Hrithik and Abhishek, who are both your childhood friends did not do your first film DCH?
Akhtar: Well somebody got to them before I did. When I was writing the film the cast I had was Akshay, Saif and Hrithik.
Roshan: It was a genuine problem of dates, I had signed on many films, and could not give the dates.
Johar: Contrary to the person we’ve all known, the stories came out that on the sets of Lakshya you had this autocratic nature.
Akhtar: When people want to write information about someone and there’s no information forthcoming, they tend to make it up. Ritesh and me consciously decided that we don’t wanna talk about the film.
The media reported various things, like an episode with Amitabh Bachchan; it is upsetting, as he’s somebody who’s known me since I was born. I was so excited that he was a part of this film I was making.
Of course by the end of it various stories came out, that I had a fight with Hritik, Ritesh and me have split, that Prabhu Deva has fired me.
Roshan: He’s a director and was expecting what any director expects from his crew, to be on time, to know your lines and to be equally motivated as he is about the film.
On the other productions that I’ve worked, there was discipline. You didn’t fear being punished. But with him on the first two schedules, you’d think if you didn’t do this right you might get punished.
Johar: Farhan, you come from a different world than your dad’s. He’s been a screenplay writer now also a lyricist. Professionally, is it easy having a father like that?
Akhtar: Having somebody like that can only be an advantage. He has tremendous talent, a source of inspiration, he’s committed to doing good quality work. He’s completely logical. That completes everything that I would want from a peer.
Johar: Has the generation gap never bothered you?
Akhtar: I give him a lot more credit. He understands my lot a lot better than I understand his lot. He’s evolved over the years to accept the new sensibilities. He’s adamant about his view though, when he knows he’s right.
Johar: Hrithik, how was it being directed by your father?
Roshan: It was fun and also I was assisting him for six years, we share an amazing understanding between an actor and a director.
Johar: Farhan, Lakshya got a lot of critical acclaim, but didn’t do too well commercially. How did you react to the box-office of Lakshya?
Akhtar: I’ve given it a lot of thought to figure out what didn’t work for people, it’s still very close a film for me to step away and judge.
From what I’ve heard about generally, I think the pace of the second half of the film was a little problem, they adored the first half though. For me my film doing well equates with more people seeing it, I think the people who didn’t see it, eventually missed out.
Johar: What do you think Hrithik the film didn’t do well commercially?
Roshan: I’m all for commercial success, that’s where people are putting their money, where their mouth is. I was delighted with Lakshya, coz I was hugely appreciated. Some things run some things don’t you can sit and analyse and sound intelligent, your reasons may make sense or may fall short.
But it misses the point. But Lakshya has given me a better perspective of me as an actor, I’ve respected myself more with Lakshya.
Johar: You have worked with two perfectionists, Aamir and Hrithik. Whose got more to you?
Akhtar: Aamir is more for focusing on details, apart from his performance, he likes to know about other things. Hrithik is a lot more focused on just his character.
Johar: Do you think you’re a perfectionist Hrithik? You’re very self- critical. You underestimate your own brilliance. You actually don’t think you are a good dancer.
Roshan: I hope you’re right but I don’t see it like that. It takes a lot out of me. I was really embarrassed on my first day of dance shooting, so I just keep working hard.
The rapid fire round
Johar: What would you change in Lakshya?
Roshan: Preity’s hair in the first half.
Johar: Wonderful! The worst things you read or heard about yourself?
Roshan: That in my Coke commercial that I danced in, they said it was Shiamak Davar’s body and my face.
Johar: The sexiest Hindi film heroine?
Roshan: Mallika Sherawat.
Johar: Ok your favourite Rakesh Roshan film?
Roshan: Koi… Mil Gaya
Johar: Your least favourite Rakesh Roshan film?
Roshan: King Uncle.
Johar: Preity Zinta or Jaadu? (laughs)
Roshan: Jaadu… he only spoke when he was spoken to!
Johar: Farhan your turn, the one thing you’d like to change in the Hindi film fraternity?
Akhtar: The award functions.
Johar: Ashutosh, Aditya Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, rank in order of preference.
Akhtar: Ashutosh, Aadi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Johar: Aishwarya, Rani, Kareena, Preity?
Akhtar: Preity, Rani, Aishwarya, Kareena
Johar: The best actor in the country according to you is?
Akhtar: Hrithik.
Johar: If you could change one thing about Lakshya, it would be?
Akhtar: The audience
Johar: Box-office or critical acclaim?
Akhtar: Both. I wanna have my cake and eat it too!
Johar: Javed Aktar as a lyricist or Javed Aktar as a scriptwriter?
Akhtar: As a scriptwriter.