Excerpts from an Interview:

KBC has just completed two months, what are your thoughts right now?

I'm feeling a little bad that the first season is almost over. I saw last night's episode and I liked it. Lots of memories of the day we shot this one came back. I'm going to miss it.

When the show was first offered to you, how long did you take to say yes?

There wasn't a big debate at all. See, what happened was that Pradeep Guha, who is a dear friend of mine, asked me to do something for Zee. I agreed but then nothing happened. We could not find a project that could justify my price and time. Then STAR approached me for KBC. It was a tried and tested format so there were no apprehensions on that front. I told Samir Nair if Mr Bachchan is not doing it then I'll do it. So in that sense, it took me just about 15 to 20 minutes to decide.

How do you explain the intense speculation on the TRP of the show?

In my mind it's very clear that when people bring figures in creativity then take it, that it has worked creatively. I did get angry when a national newspaper carried a page one story on how the show's TRPs and SRK is falling. I took it personally but soon better sense prevailed. I'm educated enough to know how newspapers and TRP work. See, TRP is not my business. I come into this show believing in my team. I'm an actor, in that sense, an outsider to the set-up so I don't need to concern myself with the figures. I took on the show as a challenge and told myself that I'll do it my way. And I've managed to do that.

Did you learn something about yourself during the show?

I learnt that I could reach the shooting in time. Jokes aside, I always knew that I could pick up things fast but KBC reinforced it. I also realized that I can connect with people and maybe that's why I work as a movie star. It's a nice feeling to know that people don't mind me.

What's the best compliment you've got for the show?

I think it's what Siddharth Basu said, "That boy is a joy to watch." Even friends like Ashutosh Gowariker send me nice messages like, "Shah, it looks like you've been doing this all your life." Last night my son, Aryan told me, "Papa, you know, this show is awesome." When I asked him what he meant by it, he said, "My friends in school tell me that they see your show and that my dad is awesome."

So when Amitabh Bachchan says that "SRK is fine" on the show, how do you interpret the word fine?

It’s ok. It's not that important either to me or to him. I'm sure he watches the show but because there are rumours of problems between us, the word 'fine' takes on another meaning. I don't know how you will take it but to me, a buzz is more important than a singular reaction. I crave for a universal sigh of relief and excitement than an individual reaction.

Is it true that there is soon going to be a biopic on you?

Not at all. The guys at Madame Tussauds want to shoot a documentary on the making of my wax statue. That's all. Anyways, biopics are made on guys who didn't achieve much or who are no longer doing anything.

Is it true that your company, Red Chillies, is getting into television software?

Well, I have a SFX and advertising production unit, which are run by good teams. I'm planning to expand it. I've some friends who feel that as a company we should look into television. I don't think I'll take it on myself but I can lend facilities to a team of people who can handle it well. But nothing is decided as of yet.

Do you feel like it’s time to sit down and sort it out with Samajwadi party leader, Amar Singh?

I've nothing to sort with anyone. It's just that I don't like people coming outside my house and making my family uncomfortable. I deserve 500 people who love me standing outside my house for my autograph but I don't deserve 20 fans of someone saying Shah Rukh murdabad. I don't deserve it and neither does my family.

Why did you say that you're a "demented Pathan" in a recent interview?

What I meant was that I'm capable of handling 20 people on my own. I can even handle 20,000 people because I'm a Pathan. I don't mean Pathan as an Islamic term. It's just that like the Rajputs, Pathans are considered the warriors. My father was a Pathan who fought for the freedom of my country so in that sense, I have the same genes. That said, I'm courteous to everyone. It's just that I didn't like certain things said about me. It was said that my wife should apologize. My wife will never apologize to anyone on my account. When I came to Mumbai, I told my friends that whatever work I do in life, I'll never embarrass my family.