Reality shows require guts, perseverance and a thick skin, says director Farah

Khan, the judge of several reality TV programmes who admits she would participate in one only if it were a cooking contest.

"Taking part in a reality show takes a lot of guts. It's so hard to be judged on a daily basis. You can't take it. Hats off to those people (who do it)," Farah, currently seen as judge on season four of "India's Got Talent" on Colors channel, told IANS in an exclusive interview.

"You have to have perseverance and be thick skinned with a single-minded determination to do this again and again. But probably if there was a cooking show, I would take part in that," Farah said.

The 47-year-old is a regular face on TV, seen as a judge on reality shows like "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa" and "Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega".

What next for the choreographer-director?

After directing three films, of which two were super hits, Farah has teamed up with her favourite actor Shah Rukh Khan for her next directorial project "Happy New Year".

To be produced by SRK, who also features in it, the film is in pre-production stage.

Farah said: "We will start shooting next year. We are doing pre-production at the moment. We are not ready to announce the cast as of now. We will announce it when Shah Rukh decides to announce."

Direction, she says, is what she enjoys most. It was a dream since she was 20, 21 years old and finally fulfilled it in 2004 with "Main Hoon Na", which turned out to be a super hit.

"I enjoy direction. It encompasses all of it. I choreograph the songs. Then I know how the actors will act and what they will say. Then there is costume designing and set designing. So I am part of every field.

"Though it's not my specialty, I am telling the concerned people what I want and how it should be. So that is the most satisfying part," she said.

She recently made acting debut with "Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi" with Boman Irani, but facing the camera is not on the cards anymore.

"I know everyone loved the film and that will be it for me," she said.

Being an actress wasn't easy.

"It was very difficult for me. A lot of time is wasted. When you are an actor, you are just sitting and doing nothing for hours. Whereas when you are a director, you are using that time for creative purposes. So that was tough for me.

"But of course the aftermath of it was very exciting. Clearly actors are getting all the credit. Also, when you are an actor, you realise how much credit is given to you," she said.

She lost weight after seeing herself on screen.

"I was looking so fat in the movie... Now I am on a weight loss spree. I go to the gym like thrice a week. And then I am on a diet plan where I cheat once in a while. You have to live also, you know!" she said.

After juggling responsibilities of juggling work, family, children, and TV shows, does she find time for herself?

"I am with the kids the whole day. Everyday they have birthday parties... (I) take them to the mall, swimming classes. I only get one hour in the morning when I do my crossword and scan the papers."