When Alia Bhatt & Shah Rukh Khan Met Each Other With Wet Hair!
In an exclusive interview from Singapore, Alia talks about Shah Rukh and Dear Zindagi. The young actress is on a high, her last film Udta Punjab won her high accolades
Alia Bhatt is shooting in Singapore for Karan Johar's Badrinath Ki Dulhania but took some time off this evening to speak to SpotboyE.com.
Excepts from the chat:
Rewind. How did you land up with Dear Zindagi, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Dharma Productions ?
I was doing a look test of Kapoor & Sons, when Karan Johar dropped by on the set to say 'Hi'. He was accompanied by Gauri Shinde (director of Dear Zindagi). I had met Gauri before but hadn't interacted with her much. We spent some time and they said I was looking like a baby. I remember I had very short hair then.
After a week, Karan called to say that Gauri wanted to offer me a film and I should go and meet her. I got very excited; I had seen Gauri's English Vinglish and felt that Gauri is one director I must work with. I went to her Bandra residence and she gave me a narration. Normally I never say yes instantly but Dear Zindagi was one such exception.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
Did Gauri tell you there and then that she had finalised Shah Rukh Khan for the film?
At that time, I knew they were in talks with Shah Rukh. So obviously, I was very excited about that too. And then when he came on board, my happiness knew no bounds.
I was just out of my gym and Karan called to ask if I could drop by at Shah Rukh's house; he and Gauri were already sitting there. I first said 'No, I can't come', and then I explained to him that 'My hair was all wet'. Suddenly I heard SRK 's voice in the background saying, "Even my hair is all wet' (laughs). It was such a cool experience.
Dear Zindagi has been a big learning experience for me. Shah Rukh is one of the most dedicated stars, he is most open to suggestions he has a fresh take on everything and every moment. While other actors tend to give only cues and rest when they're not in frame, Shah Rukh strikes a big contrast by being there around you all the time. Even when Fan was releasing in February and he was so busy, his attention on Dear Zindagi was so undivided.
Above all, he treats everyone equally- from an actor to a technician to a light-boy, and all that helps to create such a light and happy atmosphere.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
Did you get nervous while shooting with him and goof it up sometimes?
Luckily no, except for the first day when we shot for a kabaddi scene. Later, I snapped out of it and threw myself into my character.
Shah Rukh used to call me his Line Monitor. He has a lot of dialogues in the film aur mujhe unki lines yaad ho jaati thi. So if he stopped somewhere and I didn't remember his lines, he used to say 'Kya hua bhai mere Line Monitor Ko?' There were quite a few funny incidents that happened while we shot together.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
Like for one?
We were shooting in Yash Raj Studios and everyone used to say Sshhh, Chup and Silence before Gauri called 'Action'. But there was this one staffer who used to say S-i-l-e-n-c-e in a very pecuilar way. Remember how the court guy used to summon a witness in the witness box saying H-a-a-z-i-r H-o in a very long and stretched manner in olden films? Bilkul waise hi. We used to often crack up, and one day we all couldn't shoot for at least 20 minutes when he said that, it was so funny, itni hasi aa rahi thi. I remember we were holding our stomachs and laughing.
How was it working with Gauri Shinde? Dear Zindagi is your first with a woman director...
Right, but I never discriminate. Coming to working with her, it has been outstanding. We both had very good chemistry. I got into my character effortlessly and I attribute that to her writing, it's great to be a part of the world she creates.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
What does the title Dear Zindagi mean?
The film is an ode to life. No reference points taken, it's a completely fresh movie, you won't be able to draw parallels to anything that you have seen before.
You still haven't shifted to your new house...
Maybe after Dear Zindagi releases. Time hi nahin mil raha.
What else is on your plate?
Badrinath Ki Dulhania is fast nearing completion. And I am in talks with some filmmakers, but that's still work in progress.
Thumbnail Image Source: Manav Manglani & twitter/aliaa08
Excepts from the chat:
Rewind. How did you land up with Dear Zindagi, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Dharma Productions ?
I was doing a look test of Kapoor & Sons, when Karan Johar dropped by on the set to say 'Hi'. He was accompanied by Gauri Shinde (director of Dear Zindagi). I had met Gauri before but hadn't interacted with her much. We spent some time and they said I was looking like a baby. I remember I had very short hair then.
After a week, Karan called to say that Gauri wanted to offer me a film and I should go and meet her. I got very excited; I had seen Gauri's English Vinglish and felt that Gauri is one director I must work with. I went to her Bandra residence and she gave me a narration. Normally I never say yes instantly but Dear Zindagi was one such exception.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
Did Gauri tell you there and then that she had finalised Shah Rukh Khan for the film?
At that time, I knew they were in talks with Shah Rukh. So obviously, I was very excited about that too. And then when he came on board, my happiness knew no bounds.
I was just out of my gym and Karan called to ask if I could drop by at Shah Rukh's house; he and Gauri were already sitting there. I first said 'No, I can't come', and then I explained to him that 'My hair was all wet'. Suddenly I heard SRK 's voice in the background saying, "Even my hair is all wet' (laughs). It was such a cool experience.
Dear Zindagi has been a big learning experience for me. Shah Rukh is one of the most dedicated stars, he is most open to suggestions he has a fresh take on everything and every moment. While other actors tend to give only cues and rest when they're not in frame, Shah Rukh strikes a big contrast by being there around you all the time. Even when Fan was releasing in February and he was so busy, his attention on Dear Zindagi was so undivided.
Above all, he treats everyone equally- from an actor to a technician to a light-boy, and all that helps to create such a light and happy atmosphere.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
Did you get nervous while shooting with him and goof it up sometimes?
Luckily no, except for the first day when we shot for a kabaddi scene. Later, I snapped out of it and threw myself into my character.
Shah Rukh used to call me his Line Monitor. He has a lot of dialogues in the film aur mujhe unki lines yaad ho jaati thi. So if he stopped somewhere and I didn't remember his lines, he used to say 'Kya hua bhai mere Line Monitor Ko?' There were quite a few funny incidents that happened while we shot together.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
Like for one?
We were shooting in Yash Raj Studios and everyone used to say Sshhh, Chup and Silence before Gauri called 'Action'. But there was this one staffer who used to say S-i-l-e-n-c-e in a very pecuilar way. Remember how the court guy used to summon a witness in the witness box saying H-a-a-z-i-r H-o in a very long and stretched manner in olden films? Bilkul waise hi. We used to often crack up, and one day we all couldn't shoot for at least 20 minutes when he said that, it was so funny, itni hasi aa rahi thi. I remember we were holding our stomachs and laughing.
How was it working with Gauri Shinde? Dear Zindagi is your first with a woman director...
Right, but I never discriminate. Coming to working with her, it has been outstanding. We both had very good chemistry. I got into my character effortlessly and I attribute that to her writing, it's great to be a part of the world she creates.
Image Source: twitter/RedChilliesEnt
What does the title Dear Zindagi mean?
The film is an ode to life. No reference points taken, it's a completely fresh movie, you won't be able to draw parallels to anything that you have seen before.
You still haven't shifted to your new house...
Maybe after Dear Zindagi releases. Time hi nahin mil raha.
What else is on your plate?
Badrinath Ki Dulhania is fast nearing completion. And I am in talks with some filmmakers, but that's still work in progress.
Thumbnail Image Source: Manav Manglani & twitter/aliaa08
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