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Imtiaz Ali reminds me of Yash Chopra: Shahrukh Khan
New Delhi,
June 10
Imtiaz Ali's knack of telling love stories, his affinity for travel and
his penchant for adding a touch of Punjab to his films is reminiscent
of the late filmmaker Yash Chopra, says superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who
has worked with the "Jab We Met" director for the first time in "Jab
Harry Met Sejal".
The upcoming romantic drama, which will release on August 4, will see
Shah Rukh with his "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" and "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" heroine
Anushka Sharma. The film has been widely shot in Prague, Amsterdam,
Lisbon and Budapest.
"The film travels a lot... But it is not on travel. It's about a
tourist guide, but it's a love story... Two people meet somehow, and
somewhere down the line as they are moving around, they kind of fall in
love," Shah Rukh told IANS, giving an insight into what the movie is
about.
"It was really nice because of two things, one -- Imtiaz knows Europe
very well. So, we have shot the film in Budapest, Amsterdam, Prague and
then Punjab... In a certain way, he reminds me of Mr. Yash Chopra
because he writes love stories, which travel all over India too and
have a Punjab taste. His writing is fantastic," the Bollywood Badshah
said over phone from Mumbai.
Additionally, the 51-year-old actor found shooting for the film very
easy as he finds Imtiaz as "a very gentle person".
"I guess that part shows in the film," he added.
The film's title was being speculated on for a long time in the
Bollywood circuit, until it was finally revealed on Thursday night. To
many, it's a throwback to the 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally", but
Shah Rukh says the resemblance ends there.
"It is a throwback to that. The film is not like that at all. 'When
Harry Met Sally' is perhaps one of the most revered love-stories... But
this ('Jab Harry Met Sejal') is an unabashed love story.
"It is a happy film as the poster suggests... And the character's names
are Harinder 'Harry' Singh and Sejal. It is kind of the Punjabi,
Gujarati combination," he told IANS.
Shah Rukh, who is also presenting the film, has just averted a box
office clash with Akshay Kumar's "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" by shifting
the release date to August 4 from August 11. He feels it's best to
avoid clashes in Bollywood as far as possible.
"I think whenever you can, it's nicer for both films. If you can't,
then you have to release on the same date because when you are looking
for alternate dates so that two films don't come on the same day, you
request and talk to each other.
"And mostly what we do on the big ticket films is that since our films
are expensive and big, my logic has always been that if it (date
change) can be done, it's nice."
A successful film producer who owns the Red Chillies Entertainment
banner, the star added: "Our films are also capacity films...I think
they have the capacity to take on 4,000 screens and fill them up.
"If we come with another film, unfortunately we don't have the capacity
to fill in... So we are running at half capacity... We haven't been
able to exploit what our market gives us."
Shah Rukh is confident "Jab Harry Met Sejal" will have a long run and
hopes the long weekend courtesy Raksha Bandhan on August 7 (Monday)
will help.
"I think we will be able to garner some advantage of the holiday of
August 15 and I think our film has that scope, added the "Fan" actor.
GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
▪ Shah Rukh can be an outstanding director: Karan Johar |
▪ If there is an issue, sort it out with me |
▪ Obama a metaphor for change in film: Shah Rukh |
▪ I've no ego, will clear misunderstanding with Thackerays: |
▪ I went into depression, but am back |
▪ Acting, not romance, is my forte |
▪ I want a day just for myself: : Shahrukh Khan |
▪ Indian film industry lacks technicians |
▪ Red Chillies to make four-five films without me: |
▪ Never thought my name would become an adjective |
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