Episode 26
"John Abraham is expressionless" - Kareena Kapoor
"'I suffer from this psychological clinical disorder called Superiority Complex"- Mallika Sherawat.
"Boyfriends come, boyfriends go, but Nagarjuna remains" - Tabu.
"Jo cheesein God nahi deta, woh Doctor deta hai" - Rakhi Sawant.
"It's Kareena's choice if she wants to keep distance, I am not pouncing on her"- Priyanka Chopra.
"Other male singers may have been jealous because they felt they are more talented than me" - Himesh Reshammiya.
'If I woke up one morning and found out that I've turned into Aamir Khan, I would tell the world that Shah Rukh is the better actor!'- Shah Rukh.
… Some of the most CANDID CONFESSIONS!!!
ALL OVER A CUP OF COFFEE …
But, who was the spiciest of them all? The most glamorous? The best moment of the season? Wackiest line of the season?
KOFFEE AWARDS 2007 will decide!
Karan sure takes his koffee very seriously... Serves it piping hot and enjoys its aroma just as much as everyone has... and now as his show, Koffee with Karan, heads for a Season Finale, he has come up with an idea which is totally unusual... something no entertainment company, no entertainment channel, no publication house, no event company, has ever done... have an AWARD! Karan is very proud to present the Koffee Awards 2007! And yes, there is a super talented and very good-looking jury to help him in this gargatuan task: fashion legend Rohit Bal, yummy mummy Malaika Arora and the funny man Cyrus Broacha.
The Koffee Awards features the most memorable moments and episodes from Season 2 competing in the following categories.
Most Glamorous Male
Most Glamorous Female
Best Debut Male (Celebrity making an appearance for the first time)
Best Debut Female
Best Supporting Appearance (Celebrity who features in the latter half of the episode as a surprise!)
Best Rapid Fire - male
Best Rapid Fire - female
Best Line of The Season
Authentic and steamy… that was the mantra for the Koffee Awards! The jury sure had a tough time deciding the winners!
Episode 25
This week's episode served an extra dose of "Kaffeine" as it was the 'Best of Koffee with Karan'. As the show draws closer to its spectacular Season Finale, Karan Johar whets your appetite with the 'Best of Koffee with Karan.'
"I think Koffee with Karan is a hobby that I am almost addicted to… just like you get addicted to coffee, I am addicted to Koffee with Karan", says the inimitable host Karan Johar as the Second Season of India's favorite weekly chat show is drawing towards a Season Finale. The season saw not only the who's who of Bollywood spill the beans, but also biggies from the corporate world, television industry and even Hollywood!
Right from how the questions are being conceptualized, to co-ordinating and finalizing the high-profile guests, the level of detailing that Karan expects from his guests on how they are going to be looking on the show, to the much sought after coffee hamper… Karan takes you through all this and much more! And yes, everyone has been wondering, "What's in the coveted coffee hamper?" For the first time ever, Karan also unveiled the coffee hamper.
The guests on Karan's show, sure look super sexy and hot! And the credit must go to the host himself as he says, "I want the girls to look stunning and the men to come looking brilliantly well-groomed. There is an elaborate process for the women. There is a make-up artist, there is hair, the costume designer, then there are bags coming from Louis Vuitton, there is jewellery coming in."
Ever wondered why the 'koffee' on this show has been so addictive? Is it because of the witty host? Or is it because of the celebrity guests willing to spill the beans? Controversies remained the highlight of this show. So whether it is Kareena Kapoor referring to John Abraham as expressionless, Rakhi Sawant confessing that, "Jo cheesein God nahi deta, woh Doctor deta hai", or Mallika Sherawat telling Karan that she would want Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan to cook for her, serve her and pamper her, this episode gave you a quick recap of all the stark disclosures, revelations and the candid confessions, which at times even stumped the host!
Often criticized for calling people on the show only with whom he shares an excellent camaraderie with, Karan shares that in the second season, he made a conscious effort to invite people who he did not know. He shares how thrilled he was, to interview industrialist Vijay Mallaya, Hollywood heartthrob Richard Gere, talk of the town Rakhi Sawant and the immensely popular Himesh Reshammiya! The episode captured the best moments of the second season of Koffee with Karan, made us laugh a little and gave us an inside look into the lives of India's very biggest celebrities.
Episode 24
She is supremely talented and has possibly the best sense of humor in the entire film fraternity… she has the ability to laugh at her herself and others… Karan's first guest is the adorable Farah Khan. 2.7 billion people in the world know Tom Cruise… 3.2 billion people in the world know Shah Rukh Khan… and of course according to Karan his biggest achievement really is that he has been on his show 4 times… the super star Shah Rukh Khan is his second guest. Also, joining them is the absolutely stunning… the heroine of Om Shanti Om, who is on her way to becoming a super star… the gorgeous Deepika Padukone.
Karan: Welcome back to Koffee with Karan… how does it feel… it is your third appearance?
Farah: Fourth… if you are not counting when I was a judge in the last season.
Karan: Oh right… you judged the finale episode.
Farah: Ya… I have been here almost as much as you.
Karan: A big event that has transformed your life is your wedding…. That happened 2 years ago?
Farah: Ya… 2 years…
Karan: I thought it would change you? You, tell me… has it changed you?
Farah: ahhhhhh… has it?
Karan: I am asking you… has it made you softer, calmer?
Farah: I don't think it has made me calmer for sure… but, yes it has given me a perspective in life… and I do enjoy staying at home a lot more now…
Karan: Yes… you have someone to come home to.
Farah: Ya… I like being around the house… doing homely things… not just being on set so much… but, I still enjoyed making my second movie… a little more than I enjoyed making my first one… when I wasn't married then.
Karan: What I have noticed is that… suddenly the Farah who screams and shouts on the sets… has the funniest things to say on the mike. Suddenly when her phone rings and it says 'hubby'…what does it say, by the way?
Farah: I can't reveal… it's very funny.
Karan: What does it say? Please…
Farah: It says 'Shohar'…
Karan: It says 'Shohar'… Farah you are blushing even while saying that…
Farah: I am very corny … I know…
Karan: It took a while for you to become romantic… but, anyway…
Farah: I tried with you… for many years…
Karan: But, with us you know… there was never any future.
Farah: There wasn't ever any present also… dog.
Karan: But, I still remember the funniest story that ever transpired between us... was in Scotland, when we were shooting for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai… that one night… at 4 in the morning, when you came knocking at my door. Please tell everyone, what happened?
Farah: Ya… I came banging on Karan's door at 3 in the morning… and I was like, Karan, there is a ghost in my room…
Karan: And was trying to make love to me… laughs
Farah: No, the ghost was rolling on top of me.
Karan: What rubbish Farah that doesn't happen… how can a ghost come on top of you?
Farah: Karan, I felt a ghost on top of me and I said, as soon as this ghost goes off, I will rush out of this room… and I came to your room and I stayed there for the next…
Karan: 2-3 nights …
Farah: Yes… and no one rolled on top of me ever…
Karan: laughs…. You mean, you were quite happy with the ghost on top of you…
Farah: I should have gone back to that room…
Karan: What was funny was… not you coming… but, you, at all of 35, was wearing a Mickey Mouse pyjama suit…
Farah: No, they were not Mickey Mouse… they were dolphins…
Karan: Laughs…
Farah: No one was supposed to see me in those pyjamas…
Karan: I completely support this youth fixation…
Farah: Shutup…
Karan: That brings me to, how old are you Farah?
Farah: Much older than you Karan.
Karan: Would you want to reveal your age…
Farah: I am 42.
Karan: You are 42… and a good-looking 42 darling…
Karan: Your film Om Shanti Om is releasing November 9th …
Farah: Yes… November 9th.
Karan: And, you are launching a new girl?
Farah: Yes… and Shah Rukh is almost like a new boy in this film.
Karan: Yes…
Farah: He has got a completely new look in this film… he is young as ever.
Karan: He is totally in shape?
Farah: He is building his muscles… he is going to be the item boy of this new rocking number that we are going to be shooting.
Karan: So, cool you look… new hair… muscles… 6 pack… I heard
SRK: 4
Farah: 4 have come… 2 to go…
SRK: I am still working on the last two…
Karan: What made you make this change?
SRK: My son feels I am fat.
Karan: He thinks you are fat…
SRK: He thinks I am fat… He beat up a girl… because, first she called me an asshole… beep beep… then she said I look very ugly on KBC… sorry Star… he didn't react… he controlled himself… finally when she said, your father is fat… he kicked her… so I got angry with him… and he said, Papa, you know what, it is not her fault…its you… why are you fat?… because she said, ugly, I didn't mind… you looked handsome on KBC… you are not an asshole I know… you are a cool guy… but, you are fat Papa…
Karan: He thinks you are fat…
SRK: Just imagine… what he thinks about you and Farah? Lets not get into that…
Farah: Thanks…
Karan: Laughs….
Farah: Three years ago… he promised me that if he ever strips…
SRK: If I ever strip… it will be for Farah's film…
Karan: Are you stripping for Farah's film?
SRK: I am like clay in my Director's hand…
Karan: Stripping means Full Monty?
Farah: Of course not Full Monty… but like abs and all…
Karan: It's a family film…
Farah: You will see Shah Rukh like never before… you will see him like coming out of water…
SRK: Lets not say… so much … if other two packs don't come then the jeans will keep coming up… otherwise a bandh gala is also there…
Karan: The film Om Shanti Om, the first half is one time zone… the second half is another time zone?
Farah: Seventies and 2007.
Karan: So, did you kind of model yourself in the seventies on any one particular hero?
SRK: Ahhhh… not really, the look and everything was decided by Farah…
Farah: But, I had told him to act like very badly like the seventies heroes…
SRK: For which, she is sort of giving an excuse… that how I acted very badly…
Farah: what rubbish… he has acted really well…
Karan: Ok, that was the brief given… then the second half is where you are playing today's leading man?
Farah: Like a spoilt star…
Karan: You have a reference for that…
Farah: Ya, we did…
SRK: Ab, tu hi bata de…
Farah: Nahi… Laughs…
SRK: Tu hi bata de…
Karan: How was it like working with Farah now… was she calm and composed post her marriage on set?
SRK: She is wonderful… very talented… easily one of the most talented Directors that I have worked with… she is awesome… she is a fantastic Director… she is a brilliant writer… she is very hard working… she is immensely talented… but, as the film progresses… she starts getting hyper…
Farah: But, I am not hyper during shooting…
SRK: She is… sometimes it is unbearable.
Karan: What's the funniest thing she says on that mike… she says the strangest things…
SRK: Funniest… no… unsayable on a family show… even on a sex show…
Farah: That's not true…
SRK: She says gaalis…
Farah: I have not abused at all during this movie…
SRK: If I continue… she will abuse right now…
Farah: This film, I have not abused at all…
SRK: It's become such a second nature… she doesn't even know when she is abusing…
Farah: Sorry, this movie I have not abused…
SRK: She does get tough with people, but she is very lovable…
Farah: Ask, Deepika, if I have ever abused her…
SRK: Ok, Deepika has never felt bad on the sets because of you …
Farah: That was only once…
SRK: When I was there… any other time… just ask her… Deepika was always wonderful and cheerful…
Farah: Just once I shouted at her.
Karan: We are all big Shah Rukh fans… what is the one thing about him that irritates you the most… on set?
Farah: On set… no, once he is on set…
SRK: Laughs… I am just difficult to get on set…
Farah: Ya… he is difficult to come on set…
Karan: Once he is on set… there is no problem…
Farah: Now, we are used to that also… we all know that he is a late sleeper and not an early riser…
Karan: He is not a sleeper at all actually…
Farah: I have stopped planning morning shoots with him… Once he is on set, he is just wonderful… if there is anything… now I have got used to that also… he won't reply to an SMS or not pick up your call when you are really hyper…
Karan: I don't call Shah Rukh because I am really close to his secretary, his wife.
Farah: Me too, I now have his cook's number…
Karan: That is why I befriended Gauri, only because I could have easy access to Shah Rukh, she doesn't know this actually…
Farah: But, you know there is one person, who is taking badla for all of us… and that is Aryan who never picks up his phone…
Karan: Oh really
Farah: Whenever, he picks up, he says, Papa I am busy.
Karan: Aryan doesn't pick up his call… laughs
Farah: Ya… that's divine justice… because he is stalking Aryan all the time… he is stalking his family wherever they are…
SRK: Ya… my son and daughter both of them…
Farah: Daughter at least picks up the phone and talks to you…
SRK: No… she says… "Papa, no papa… don't bother me"
Karan: But, do you really torture your children?
Farah: He stalks them.
Karan: Laughs… you are a father stalker.
Farah: He is a children stalker… because Gauri doesn't pick up his phone… now, the children are not picking up his phone… now, he is calling up the maids.
Karan: That's what has happened….
Farah: So, now he knows what it feels like.
Karan: Are you nervous at all?
Deepika: I am very nervous.
Karan: Was it the same kind of nervousness when you were offered this film… you had to work with Shah Rukh, with Farah… were you completely like all nerves the first day?
Deepika: It was the same kind of nervousness, specially on the first day… although Farah went all out to make me feel comfortable… she introduced me to Shah Rukh well in advance…
Karan: And everyone tells that he is a terrific co-star …
Deepika: He is fantastic to work with…
Karan: It feels special that you are a part of such a monstrous project?
Deepika: Yes and we have almost come to the end of it
SRK: I thought Karan was saying you are part of such a monster (pointing to Farah)
Deepika: No, she was wonderful…
Karan: No, say, I have my liometer… how wonderful was Farah?
Deepika: No… I had heard a lot of things about Farah… that she is
SRK: Vicious.
Farah: I am not vicious.
Karan: Let her talk!!
Deepika: But, she was very nice to me… so unlike what I had heard… and then everybody said that now she is ok… because it is her film… but, in the song she will be worse… but, then, when we did the song, she was even nicer…
Karan: That's because I believe you are fantastic in the song…
Farah: She is a super dancer…
Karan: That's makes half her job easy…
Farah: She is a fabulous dancer.
Karan: But, at times, were there nervous moments… when you were acting with Shah Rukh, some one whom you have seen when you were 8 or 9?
SRK Couple of times… she said, Main tumse pyaar karti hoon uncle.
Karan: Working with Shah Rukh can be intimidating for anybody?
Deepika: He never made me uncomfortable… never … he would sit with me before every scene… and do my lines with me.
Farah: I made her cry once…
Karan: But, why…
Deepika: It was my fault
Karan: You forgot your lines?
Deepika: Ya… I can't lie now.
Farah: That's when I realized, she is only 21… I am so used to Deepika being composed… Deepika taking everything in her stride… Deepika not being nervous… she was partying at Shah Rukh's house and didn't learn her lines the next day…
Deepika: He didn't let me go… blame him for it.
Farah: He always wants to play good cop.
SRK: I wanted you to stay back at the party and learn the lines…
Karan: Ya, right… that's what we do at parties.
Karan: There has also been all kinds of controversies been written about you… that you are dating…
Farah: Ok… we don't have anything to do with this… (Both Farah and SRK turn their backs)
Karan: Are you single or you are dating anyone?
Deepika: I am single.
SRK: I am single.
Farah: I am single.
Karan: I am also single. This whole Ranbir controversy… all made up… all not true…
Deepika: Yes…
Karan: Totally lies… are you friends?
Deepika: Yes…
Karan: So, the status today is, you are Ranbir's friend and you are single?
Deepika: Yes…
Episode 23
Karan's guest this week are an extremely special couple. She is an actor par excellence… in fact almost an institution. From path breaking alternate cinema to plausible mainstream… she's been there… she's done that! He on the other hand ruled the roost in the 70s. The Salim-Javed writing duo gave dignity and stature to writing in Indian cinema. He then went on to become an impeccable poet and lyricist. Meet Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi in this very interesting episode.
Karan: I am very nervous today because I'm feeling compelled to sound very clever and intellectual and very social… socially relevant!
Shabana Azmi: And I am feeling very nervous because I am compelled to be very frothy and light and happy!
Karan: You both have opinions that you like to express… you're not afraid to express them. You both are individualistic in your own way and yet you have had a tremendous marriage. A marriage based on friendship. How have these 23 years been?
Shabana Azmi: I think we meet so rarely that, that is the reason for the success of the marriage. But also because I think we share a worldview, we belong to similar backgrounds and because we are friends, more than anything else.
Karan: Well I try to project that in all my films that friendship is the basis of love. Of course, slightly cheesily at times but, basically do you think that's what kept the marriage ticking… the friendship that you share with each other?
Javed Akhtar: I suppose so. Ultimately any relationship … marriage carries a lot of baggage… this word carries a lot of baggage… husband and wife have collected a lot of moss while rolling down the mountain of time. But the fact that 2 people can live happily only if they respect each other… they care for each other… they respect for each other's space and individuality and help each other flourish. Otherwise if one is living or flourishing or growing at the cost of the other, the relationship may survive because of many other reasons but it won't be an ideal or happy marriage situation.
Karan: But there is never an ideal situation. There are compromises made at both ends.
Javed Akhtar: No! Compromises are not against ideal. An ideal situation is when there are very happy compromises.
Shabana Azmi: I think marriage is an everyday adjustment but I don't think society prepares us for that. You know they have this rosy picture ke aise hone wala hain and you never need to work towards it… but I think you need to work towards it
Karan: Do you have to work towards it all the time?
Shabana Azmi: Not consciously… but I think it's good to be aware. You can't take it for granted. In our case we can't because we never meet.
Karan: Why? You'll are both that busy?
Javed Akhtar: Yes!
Karan: So basically it's a phone marriage!
Shabana Azmi: And we meet at airports once in a while!
Javed Akhtar: And what did you mean by 'not consciously'. So whatever you've done for me haven't been conscious efforts? I thought that you had thought about them.
Shabana Azmi: (Laughs)
Karan: Do you'll agree on things? Like your opinion on films? Do you both have the same opinions?
Javed Akhtar: No, no, no!
Karan: Because once Shabanaji saw a film that didn't do very well and she came and said, 'Bhai, the bad news for this film is that I have liked it!'
Shabana Azmi: There are director friends of mine who live in terror when I see a preview because if I've liked it, it's really doomsday for the film. That is standard…
Karan: And do you'll fight at home about your opinions on films, songs, things…
Javed Akhtar: We have ultimately reconciled to the fact that we do not agree on many things. If people are totally similar then there is no point in living together because one is enough and if people are totally different then there is no point in living together because you won't be able to live together. So you need certain similarities and certain dissimilarities and this tension is interesting.
Karan: Which is the one big fight you have had over a film or a political situation... Something because of which there was war at home?
Javed Akhtar: There was a film in which Shabana was the leading lady- Ek Pal. It was made by Kalpana Lajmi. It was appreciated by many people but I didn't like it. They thought that it was about women empowerment but it was not my definition of women empowerment, their individuality and their assertion.
Shabana Azmi: The good thing is that Javed is truly a feminist. He is a confident enough feminist, not to want to be politically correct. He genuinely feels it.
Karan: Sometimes has the presence of mediocrity ever upset you? Like I remember a hysterical story which I want you to tell us again about how you were going to do a South Indian film and you were meant to play a mentally challenged individual?
Shabana Azmi: How did you get to know that story? (Laughs). Well I was doing a special appearance. It was a three-day part and I went on the sets and he was a south Indian film director who was ready with the scene. I told him, I need to ask you a couple of questions and he said fine. So he said "Madam, she's mad!", so I said, 'What madness does she suffer from? Is it psychosis, is it schizophrenia, is it neurosis?' and as I asked every question I saw him becoming paler and paler and he looked completely shocked and he said, "Madam, just play filmi-mad!" So I said, "What does that mean?" and he said, "It means nothing madam. It only means that you laugh HA HA HA HA and then start crying! That is filmi-mad"
Karan: But Shabanaji what made you ask him this question. How did you think there was any sense of plausibility in that situation or that film or that character?
Shabana Azmi: But I really, sincerely thought that if I knew what kind of madness she was suffering from, it would help my performance. I genuinely felt that, kya karoo! I have to tell you another story. I was working with Sanjay Dutt many years ago. He used to be very busy and had three shootings he was coming from and all. And I remember telling the director, 'I think this question isn't relevant because last time I said that!" and Sanjay would say, "You want to win an Oscar in this performance only? I have to go Shabanaji! Ma'am please let us go!"
Karan: Those were the three-shift days! Javedsaab you have done some brilliant writing of course as a screenplay writer and as a poet and lyricist… has there been any strange incident faced.. Anything hilarious?
Javed Akhtar: Oh yes! Oh yes! You know when I came into the film industry I was trying to become a scriptwriter… It was very difficult to get appointments and time from directors and producers… even a minor producer wouldn't give time. Ultimately I found some kind of connection with a producer-director Babubhai Bhanji. So he said "Alright, I have heard you are a good writer and you have written some script. I'll listen to it!" So I gave him a detailed narration and he heard it with total attention and there was a long pause. Ultimately I had to ask him, "Sir, what do you think?" Those times 'darling' was the word… men were called 'darling'.
Karan: It was a very Punjabi expression in the industry.
Javed Akhtar: So he said, "Darling, kahani to teri acchi hain! Lekin ismein ek risk hain." So I asked him, "kya risk hain, sir?" so he said, "Nahi, mein soch raha tha, yeh kahani kisi picture mein aaii nahi hain!" So this was the risk! This was my first narration to a film producer. But I learnt a lesson. I saw to it that I never write a story that has never come before!" (Laughs)
Karan: You mean originality had no place at all?
Javed Akhtar: This was the defect! And exactly the same thing happened when I started writing lyrics. My first film was Silsila. Incidentally the hero of the film was a poet. My second film was Saath Saath. Again by some kind of coincidence, the hero was a poet. So obviously if the hero is a poet, you would write poetic sort of songs. And for many years, in spite of the fact that both the films had extremely successful music, I did not get work as a lyricist because they used to say, "usse gaana mat likhana, woh gaane mein poetry likh deta hain!"
Karan: And then you wrote possibly the most commercial song of the time - Ek, do, teen. I think it was the first item number.
Javed Akhtar: And then 'Kehte hain mujhko hawa hawai'. And then they said, 'Haan yeh sirf shaayri nahi likhta hain!"
Karan: Shabanaji, Javedsaab is a man of such beautiful words. Is he romantic at home, with you?
Shabana Azmi: Can I bust the myth once and for all? There is a complete myth, because there are these lovely girls who come up to me and say, "He writes such romantic poetry, such romantic songs, he must be terribly romantic!" he has not a bone of romance in him and he's done nothing vaguely romantic that wooed me, except one thing… This was before we were married. We were passing by a flower shop and I said, 'What lovely flowers!', and he stopped the car and he bought the entire florist shop and we just had a small Fiat car. He stuffed it all over and we went to wherever we were going, full of flowers. That's not the end. After that a couple of days later, we had a fight and so he sends me a note with flowers saying, 'Usi makaam par kal mujhko dekhke tanha, bahut udaas huye phool bechne wale!' I was completely floored. My mother told me to beware of poets. She was married to my father who was also a poet. She used to say, "Ek baar phase, to phir phase rehte hain!"
Shabana Azmi: You know there is one question always people ask me. Your father was a poet, your husband is a poet, and your father-in-law was a poet. Do you write poetry? So I say, 'No, I provide the inspiration.'
Karan: And you collect recipes but you don't cook!
Shabana Azmi: How do you know that? You have done your research very very well!
Karan: But how can you collect and not cook?
Shabana Azmi: I have a passion for collecting recipes!
Javed Akhtar: Can I tell you something… sometimes she does cook!
Karan: (Laughs) and then you have to say what when you have to eat it?
Javed Akhtar: I eat it! I love her! (Laughs)
Karan: Farhan, How do you perceive them as a couple?
Farhan Akhtar: They seem extremely happy for many many years now. It's fantastic!
Karan: Javedsaab and you almost have like a healthy friendship. The interaction is almost hysterical, every time I've seen you'll together its like two friends chatting… warring maybe at times, maybe the conflicts. Seems like a friendship, which is tough when there is a generation gap.
Farhan Akhtar: Yeah I know! Shabana calls me like a chamcha of Pa because I keep laughing at all his jokes but I don't think I'm the only one. All of us do!
Javed Akhtar: You know so often people have told me… there is only one person in this world who is funnier than you and that is your son!
Karan: He is hysterical. I have seen him, his imitations, his performances are hysterical. But you have this great camaraderie with your father!
Farhan Akhtar: Yeah! Absolutely!
Karan: And do you feel the generation gap at all?
Farhan Akhtar: No! Not really, I feel comfortable talking to Pa and Shabana.
Javed Akhtar: Actually the age difference is not much anyway. (Laughs)
Farhan Akhtar: I'm actually 62, but I look quite young!
Karan: How do you perceive them, Shabanaji?
Shabana Azmi: You know the first time that Farhan came and stayed in our house, it amazed me. Because here was this eight year old child sleeping in a posture exactly like his father. There was this eight year old child and they were absolutely identical.
Javed Akhtar: You mean, with closed eyes? (Laughs)
Shabana Azmi: There are so many things… and they also have a very healthy equation. I think Javed respects Farhan a great deal and I think Farhan values Javed's opinion. Farhan is a sensible young man!
Karan: Little controversial question. What was Pa's reaction when you told him you want to remake Don?
Farhan Akhtar: He asked me if I was sure I wanted to do it because of the cult status of the original film and there would be a lot of comparisons. When he was sure I was doing it for my love for the original film, he was very supportive.
Karan: Do you feel the generation tussle? Do you think when he is writing for you, you find yourself fighting over words?
Farhan Akhtar: Honestly, lets say when we are working and Pa is writing lyrics…there are certain words you are just not used to hearing. For example… even in the song Dil Chahta Hain, the word chamkeele… for me… the association is very detergent. When you read it out it sounds very strange. So I told him chamkeele sounds a little weird and he said trust me it's a word that's not been used before. But I think there is a certain understanding. There is nobody I think who can express a thought the way he does it… in a song. We find a balance somewhere!
Karan: Can you be objective about Farhan's work? Can you be critical?
Javed Akhtar: Yes! I give him my feedback. Whether he agrees or not, is another story. Or whatever he agrees with or doesn't, that is his choice.
Shabana Azmi: But when you saw Dil Chahta Hain, you said it would be a cult film!
Javed Akhtar: Yeah!
Karan: What happened when Don released. It was a box office success, but it had a very mixed response. What was your opinion?
Javed Akhtar: You know it was totally understandable. Anybody who was under 35, loved the film. Anybody above 35, had certain reservations because they had their own nostalgia and it is totally understandable.
Karan: What did you think, Shabanaji?
Shabana Azmi: I thought it was very stylish. It was extremely stylish. I love Farhaan's work.
Farhan Akhtar: I remember the first time Shabana saw it. She said, 'Very good… but what happened?' (Laughs)
Shabana Azmi: But I had not seen the original.
Farhan Akhtar: I said, thank you… I have succeeded in telling a story most effectively.
Karan: You have also opened a can of worms Farhan by remaking an old classic. You remade Don. You gave it your own vision and executed it in your own way. How do you react to the remake of Sholay, which I believe is the mother of all mainstream films? How do you react to that being made again by Ram Gopal Verma?
Farhan Akhtar: Honestly I don't have any reaction towards it. I will watch it when it comes out because it's something which is intriguing and I would like to watch it and see what he's done with it. He's also a very intelligent filmmaker, to give him his due. And I'm sure he will do something interesting with the story. I look forward to seeing it but as of now I don't have any pre-conceived notion of what the film will be like.
Javed Akhtar: I am not against remaking per say. 'Departed' which just got an Oscar is a remake. 'Cape Fear' was a remake. 'Ten Commandments' was a remake. 'Mother India' was a remake of 'Aurat'. In a way 'Mughal-e-Azam' was a remake of 'Anarkali', in a way. Obviously it was a different interpretation but the same story. I am not against remakes per say, but I don't think in Hollywood anyone would try to remake 'Gone with the Wind' or 'Godfather' or 'Benhur'. Because when you remake a film, why do you remake a film? Because you feel you can give it a better interpretation or better production value or a better performance. Some films take the maximum, the optimum from the available script and you cannot improve on that. I think 'Sholay' is one of them. But at the same time, I have no problem with this so-called remake. I don't even know if it's a remake or not because the film is made in a city or whatever.
Karan: Anyway it's called Ram Gopal Verma ki Aag.
Javed Akhtar: Whatever. In a way it is flattering because the film was made 32 years back in 1975. In so many years minor, bit characters of the film have been used in comedies, sitcoms, advertisements, ad films, in plays and so on. So if one more person is basking in our glory we don't have any problems.
Episode 22
She is sexy, she is stunning, the universe has already endorsed that, but apart from that, she is clever… put her on a social, political or a fraternity platform and boy, she can talk and be the belle of the ball. Its none other than the hot and happening Lara Dutta. His second guest is so beautiful that she has a face that can launch almost a thousand cosmetics… she has been in a series of successful films and is here to stay… the ultra glamorous, the ultra gorgeous and the stunning Katrina Kaif.
Karan: Welcome back Lara.
Lara: Thanks Karan… I was hoping you will have me back actually… I was a little worried when I din't get your call…
Karan: Last time, we had such a fun time with you and Bipasha… did I get you into trouble?
Lara: Yes… tremendously… it has taken me a whole year to undo all the problems I caused myself.
Karan: You are looking absolutely stunning… why do I feel you are suddenly raring to go?
Lara: Because I probably am… its taken me about 3 and a half years to find my footing in the industry… to find out what I like doing … the kind of cinema that I like being part of… the kind of people that I like doing work with… I think once you have that in place, you start feeling a little more confident about yourself.
Karan: Well, Katrina you have been very diplomatic… I have been doing some research… looking through your interviews… trying to look for something sensational…
Katrina: Nothing na…
Karan: Nothing… why are you like this…you are young, you are beautiful… you have to say rude and nasty things once in a while… come on say something… think of something rude to say.
Katrina: I think it is probably because I came here at a later stage… most people grew up here… I think there is a certain reservation about going ahead and criticizing people who have grown up here and been here all their life… let, may be 3 or 4 years pass and I will get really over confident and then start…
Karan: Start making headlines… suddenly we will see very dramatic answers?
Katrina: Yaaaa.
Karan: What both of you had strangely in common was… you Lara, though you are a hard core Punjabi… you had this whole western image… everyone thought that Lara Dutta is very westernized, but of course you are a true Indian girl with the Punjabi background… but, that never came to the fore...till very recently.
Lara: But, you know, I tried to get out of the stereotype from the very first film… when I did Andaz… I did it with as hard core a Hindi film Director you can get… Raj Kanwar, and the character that I played as well was very Punjabi… I did that with No Entry, where I played a suspicious Indian housewife… these are the roles that have been appreciated…
Karan: And you have had to combat that as well Katrina… because everyone said Anglocised, westernized… now you dub your own films…
Katrina: Ya… I think initially it was a nice way of putting it… there are certain people… when it comes to modeling… it's easy… people just accept you… but, in films…its a lot more difficult.
Lara: But, I have to say… having worked with Katrina in Partner… she gives you this huge complex… I think she is really hard working… she is really dedicated… she knows this is where she wants to be and she is going to go all out to get it… and I really admire that.
Episode 21
His is truly the most surprising success stories in the history of Indian cinema. His nasal twang and aspiring acting careers was the butt of many jokes, but he combated all that criticism and emerged victorious when his film opened to an unprecedented response. Love him or hate him... you can not deny his brand value… hats off to the man with the cap… none other than Himesh Reshamiya.
Karan: Welcom to Koffee with Karan Himesh… how does it feel to be on the show?
Himesh: Superb!
Karan: Firstly, congratulations on the super success of your film… I know a large section of the industry was surprised, but were you expecting this kind of success?
Himesh: I think, I just believed in God, destiny and somewhere I think everyone just prayed for me and that is something that worked for me.
Karan: By everyone, you mean who, large sections of the industry were not praying for you…
Himesh: No, no… only that 1 %… people just felt that this cannot happen, a singer not a very good looking guy.
Karan: Not conventional looking not hero material?
Himesh: I think you are being nice to me… but, it was something that was unprecedented… when the film started, people did say, paagal ho gaya hai. I understand. But, when actually the film was declared a hit… then, people realized.
Karan: What made you think that you can be a lead actor?
Himesh: When we used to travel for our shows… we really got a very good response from the audience… it was not a very conventional film… it was about this character who goes to Germany… it was a thriller… it was a very different kind of film… we just felt that we will definitely get an audience to watch and the music and the performances in the videos was really liked by a lot of people and Prashant, the Director, he really believed that…yes…
Karan: You were capable of it.
Himesh: Yes.
Karan: But, of course there were audiences, who were swinging to your music, at nightclubs, at weddings, but, there was so much criticism that came your way… from sections of the industry and I knew that… it would anger you… because I could feel that when I saw you at award ceremonies… what do you have to say about that kind of criticism… people spoke about your nasal twang…
Himesh: The first year, I really didn't feel that I need to defend… when my first song Aashique Banaya came… they said 'nasal' and I said 'high pitch'… and I think they got angry because of that… because I said, 'nahi, high pitch hai… main high pitch mein gaata hoon… main nasal nahi gaata hoon". I should have accepted that, 'Theek hain yaar… naak se gaata hoon". For the first year, I really tried to defend… I don't know, why? I don't think they were really against me… they wanted me to accept that, "I am a nasal singer".
Karan: You were trying to defend your talent?
Himesh: Not my talent… but, why are you calling me nasal, and why are you not calling the other singers nasal, who are nasal.
Karan: What kind of singers are nasal?
Himesh: Ahhhhh… Saigal saab… Then, I said something about RD Burman saab, when Ashaji got…
Karan: Very upset.
Himesh: Ya… very angry…
Karan: You didn't mean to offend him?
Himesh: No… jab high pitch mein koi singer gaata hain, tab surro ki kutch rutiyan nasal ho jati hain…
Karan: Ho jati hain…
Himesh: Jab RD Burmanji aur Mukeshji ka naam liya… jis tarah se… samne aayi baat… I should haven't said that… I shouldn't have named anyone… and I was maybe trying to defend… I don't know what… I was really feeling guilty that itne bade legend ka, main dil nahi dukha na chahta tha… Maine sorry kaha… Ashaji ne maaf kar diya… yeh unka badhappan hain…
Karan: But Himesh Reshamiya ko gussa kyun aata hain?
Himesh: Gussa tab aata tha.
Karan: Maine aapko stage pe dekha tha… once on an award ceremony… you were very angry… when you went to receive the award… you were upset with people… what was making you so angry?
Himesh: Ahhh… Honestly, in the first year… all my songs were becoming huge hits… but somewhere woh criticism bina wajeh aa raha tha… yeh mujhe us waqt lagta tha… ab jab main … when I look back… I feel that they had a point… this film also has got so much of criticism from the critics… but, it has done well at the box office… so that 1 %, I really want to win them over
Karan: You want to win them over?
Himesh: Ya…
Karan: I am happy to know that your attitude is like… who cares what they say?
Himesh: No, who cares, kaise ho sakta hain… then it will be wrong.
Karan: But you are aware that there are sections who might want to watch the film… only to laugh at you?
Himesh: Ya… of course.
Karan: You are aware of that?
Himesh: For the first time… when the film was launched… I did tell a lot of press guys also… that they will say, " Himesh Reshamiya paagal ho gaya hai"… I know that.
Karan: So, you are not living in an island of your own?
Himesh: I can't… because if I do that … then I am jacked
Karan: What about fraternity jealousy… like other singers… there was once I heard that lots of singers are not singing because Himesh Reshamiya is singing his own songs… he is not employing other singers… that's why they are resenting you… because they are out of work…
Himesh: No, when I started singing… they really started getting more work… because I started accepting films in just about 6-8 months… I left 16-18 films… and I am not doing outside films… I am just doing 3 films a year… and for the Producer and Director who sign me as an actor.
Karan: But you stopped using other male singers… you were singing.
Himesh: No… I used Rahat Fateh Ali Khan saab, Zubin … and all of them… I have been using a lot of male singers… the only thing is that there may have been some kind of jealousy… because they felt that they are more talented than me.
Karan: Do you think, they are more talented that you?
Himesh: 100% … ya… ya… of course… I have achieved just because of luck, God and the blessing of lakhs and crores of people… I have not achieved it because of talent… talent and destiny is something… this is what I believe… that everything has some divine force… some source… some blessing… and then you start creating good stuff… and then the point of view of everyone changes and they accept you, that ok theek hain… yeh hit hain
Karan: There were particular people, who were somehow targeting you… is there any one kind of person that you felt resentment towards?
Himesh: No… I really did not feel resentment towards anyone… because when you try something which is unprecedented… then people are going to… till you prove it… and when this film was releasing… and it was declared that is a hit… so many people called me and said, "very good"… congratulated me… and they said, that they felt it wouldn't work… so, its just that I was doing something new… something different… and it takes a little time to accept something that is unconventional…
Karan: You don't harbour any kind of negativity for people?
Himesh: No… No… I really don't… because I understand that from their point of view… if I would have been in their place.
Karan: You would have said the same?
Himesh: Because from here, I will say… "Yeh kaise ho sakta hain."
Karan: Would you at all say that you wanted to win the class audience… in terms of the class film makers… because you worked with a lot mainstream people… but, the bigger banners eluded you?
Himesh: Bigger banners… maine try kiya Karan… unko phone bhi kiye… maine apko kitne phone kiye… Please aap mujhe ek baar chance di jiye aapke film mein kaam karne ka… but, main yeh samajh raha tha.. main us waqt 30-35 films kar raha tha… toh woh jo teen chaar bahut hi top ke banners hain… jo bahut exclusive stuff karte hain… unke liye bahut odd tha mujhe lena… main ye samajh tha ta.. par phir bhi main apni taraf se koshish kar raha tha… jab waha pe mujhe nahi mauka mil tha tha… aur yaha par yeh log mujhe kaam de rahe the… to main unko kaise bhool sakta tha.
Karan: You stood by those people?
Himesh: Yes… 100% aur rahoonga… kyuni, woh log mujhe kaam de rahein hain… aur mujhe apna talent dikhane ka mauka inhi logo ne diya.
Karan: Correct.
Himesh: Chote se chote makeron ka main bahut aabhari hoon… us waqt unhone meri believe ki… main jo kuch bhi aaj hoon…
Karan: It is because of them?
Himesh: Yes…
Karan: But, do you feel that you want to get that class?
Himesh: Always… that 1%
Karan: That 1% that you are not getting?
Himesh: Yes… I want to and I will… aur mujhe pata nahi… aise lagta hain ki bhagwan sun lega aur woh 1% bhi mere saath aa jayega.
Karan: What about your alleged problem with someone like a talented singer like Sonu Nigam… What happened there?
Himesh: Sonu ke saath… always… I always said that… he is the best singer of India… aur hamesha maine yeh baat kahin hain… media main ek report aayi thi… ki maine aisa kaha hain ki… "Who is Sonu Nigam?"… jo maine nahi kaha tha…
Karan: You had not said that?
Himesh: Nahi… aur unki taraf se aaya tha ki, "Himesh paagal ho gaye hain"… and can you believe it …meri Sonu ke saath us din ke baad baat nahi huyi… Maine har show pe kaha hai… always… kitni baar edit hota hai ki… aur saare press wale jaante hain ki… He is the best singer of India, which I believe… because mere saath itna kaam kiya hain unhone… aur bahut achcha kaam kiya hain… aur maine kabhi… unko apni bare main burayi karte huye nahi suna…
Karan: Have you heard that behind your back there might be other singers who might be making fun of you?
Himesh: Yes… of course why not… but, you know, when they meet me… on the reality show… kitne composers ke saath milne ka mauka milta hain… pehli baar… phir woh opinion badal jati hain…
Karan: Aapki jo film thi… woh Apne aur Awarpan ke saath release ho rahi thi… aap dar nahi gaye the… yeh nahi socha ki… I should change my release date?
Himesh: Maine Anil Sharmaji ko bahut request ki… aur Harishji ko bhi bola… but, unki theatres ki chain aisi ho gayi thi ki woh change nahi kar sakte the… aur meri mummy ka birthday tha…
Karan: For mummy?
Himesh: Absolutely… aur astrologically bhi kaha gaya tha ki yeh date aap ke liye achchi rahe gi… main January mein hi keh chukka that ki… mummy ke birthday ke din… film release karoonga.
Karan: Mummy is lucky?
Himesh: Totally.
Karan: Himesh… what happened with Salman?
Himesh: I don't know… people just feel that problem hain… but really… nahi hain… kyunki Salman bhai ne mujhe itna bada break diya… kyunki platform industry mein bahut kum logon ko milta hain… to Pyar Kiya to Darna Kiya tha mein jo unhone mujhe pehla break diya…
Karan: Who apka pehla break tha?
Himesh: Aur uske baad bhi… unhone mujhe jo support kiya… actually koi problem nahi hain… but, pata nahi yeh baat kaise aa gayi… aur film ke baad bhi unhone mujhe phone kiya… there is no problem.
Karan: General perception is that he was there for you initially but, now there is a distance between both of you.
Himesh: Yeh baat galat hain… aur aap yeh baat Salman Bhai se bhi poochenge to woh bhi yahi kahenge.
Karan: Aap yahan aakar kafi smile kar rahe hain… but projection kyun hain ki… Himesh Reshamiya doesn't smile… yeh apka khud ka projection hain ki… you made sure you are projected like this?
Himesh: Nahi… aise nahi hain… teen chaar cheezein main clear karna chahoonga… aisa nahi hain ki main hasta hi nahi hoon… ab main intensity wala aadmi hoon… to woh theek hain… main bahut zyaada nahi hasta hoon… par aisa nahi hain ki main hasta hi nahi hoon… aur kuch rumours mere saath jude huye hain… Jhalak Dikh Laja ke saath bhoot aaja na.. yeh kitni weird baat hain…
Karan: There are few things that are your signature… like you said… you're nasal quality of singing… the fact that you are intense… also your cap, what's the mystery about that? Where did that come from?
Himesh: When Aashique Banaya Apne became such a hit… Bhooshan ji told me for the remix you must do a video… So, my sister Rupa… who is also the Director Prashant's sister… she told me that, I will design your look… so, she gave me the jacket and the cap… aur main toh woh bahut hi Gujarati… matlab camera ke saamna nahi aana… main toh us kisam ka tha hi nahi… apna music… apna serial production… so, I was not into all this… usne mujhe style kiya… jitna mujhe groom kar sakti thi… utna kiya…
Karan: And the cap stuck on to you?
Himesh: Cap kya pehna … kyunki baal kam ho rahe the…
Karan: Laughs… woh hi mera next sawaal tha ki… Was it to hide something?
Himesh: 100%
Karan: So, why didn't you like… so, many other heroes are loosing hair… and are doing things?
Himesh: Ab video karna hai…aur Aashique Banaya Apne itna hit hua tha… aur clubs me baj raha tha… aur usme takla hero… kaise lagta tha… bahut hi bura lagta tha…
Karan: What do you think of you as an actor?
Himesh: Main born actor to hoon nahi… main bahut bade bade actors ka fan hoon… unko dekhna… unse jitne kuch kar paya… maine try kiya… what I tried was… Dil se perform karo…
Karan: But, do you think you are a good actor?
Himesh: I cant say… because main nahi judge kar sakta hoon… karoonga to gadbad hogi… kyunki main boloonga ki main achcha actor hoon… to bolenge ki Himesh ka guroor hain… main bhi abhi conscious toh ho gaya hoon… kyunki sachayi yeh hain ki kya kya nahi suna hain maine … kya kya nahi kahan hain logon ne aur kuch sach bhi kaha hain… kuch galat bhi kaha hain… to admi conscious bhi ho jaata hain… aur admi seekhta bhi hain… and in the first year mere saath who 'arrogant' image ban gayi… jo main aaj tak nahi mita paaya…
Karan: But one thing is… you keep very quite about your wife… you don't talk about her?
Himesh: Because she is a very simple girl.
Karan: It's not that you feel that your image gets affected
Himesh: No, the first time that I was asked whether I was married… I said Yes.
Karan: And you have a son?
Himesh: Ya… I have a son
Karan: What's his name?
Himesh: His name is Swayam.
Episode 20
Consistent, dependable and extremely sincere, he is all that and so much more. He has combated almost every career obstacle and always emerged victorious. He is a critic favorite and a box office man… This Sunday, on Koffee with Karan meet the mega star Anil Kapoor. Karan's second guest is one of the finest actors of the generation. His real and restrained performances have made him not only an audience favorite but also a fraternity favorite. He stands out in a crowd... He stands out in an ensemble and he stands out because of his sheer talent, he is none other than Akshaye Khanna.
Karan: I want to tell everybody as I was saying before we started rolling that you actually are my first film industry friend. I used to go with my father to all those film parties, I was all of 16-17 and weighed around 150 kilos and the only person who was nice to me at those parties was you! So thank you for being nice to me twenty years ago.
Anil: Well, Karan, I had a great relationship with your dad and I always wanted to do a film with him.
Karan: And he did offer you one really obscure film. (laughs)
Anil: Prakashji had offered me that film. But he was a great guy and I have some great memories of him. I don't want to get too sentimental, but whenever I see you, I meet you, I remember your dad. He loved me, I think!
Karan: Yeah! He was very fond of you! He was exceptionally fond of you and so am I. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be nice to you on the show. First let me just tell you, it's been a fantastic innings... you've been working in the movies for how many years now...
Anil: 1978-79, so almost 30 years.
Karan: 30 years... so you've been through ups and downs and hits and flops and always maintained your stature...always maintained your dignity and always maintained your stardom. It must have been a tough ride. How does it feel today?
Anil: I feel honestly... God has been very kind to me and the film industry has been wonderful, all my directors and co-stars have been wonderful. I have some great friends and my family has been wonderful. I don't know what I would have done if I was not in this film industry. I've had a great time… every moment I have spent over here has been wonderful.
Karan: So how old are you Anil?
Anil: I'm 30 years old. I was born in '78 when I first faced the camera.
Karan: Fine! Great! And I'm the Queen of England (Laughs), but we just have to move on. So we'll just stick to the fact that your 30. Today how does it feel? You have done such tremendous innings, you've done such great work, you're a lead actor and your daughter is making a debut with Sanjay Bhansali in Sanwariya. Does that scare you at all? The thought of it?
Anil: Not at all. Because I have two more children, so I'm hoping to be a leading man till they also come into entertainment, because they also have decided to come into entertainment. I don't know which line they are going to choose. Sonam of course is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's responsibility, so that's taken care of. The focus is Harsh and Riya. Till they come and make a mark in the entertainment world, I have to be a leading man.
Karan: Are you at all in anyway sometimes an embarrassment to your children because sometimes... and I mean that in the most positive way that sometimes if you see your dad up there you know dancing ...
Anil: They are constantly embarrassed. They're embarrassed about me, about my films, they are embarrassed about everything I do.
Karan: When you wear leather pants and a snazzy red jacket and you spike your hair, do they tell you... dad what the hell are you doing? Because I was just thinking if I saw my dad do stuff like that, I would just collapse. Is it funny for them to watch you?
Anil: See, earlier I would bum one or two cigarettes... I've never been a smoker.. But I've decided that I will not smoke at all till Sanwariya releases. I haven't touched a cigarette in quite some time. For my son... he drinks a lot of soft drinks, so now the bet is, he says you can never get abs, he's got great abs... my son… so I am working towards that... if I get abs he is going to stop aerated drinks. So I am getting abs now for my son. So now everything revolves around my family. I do everything for my children. I do it for Sonam, or harsh and for Riya.
Karan: Sounds like a perfect family - perfect husband, perfect father and very, very few stories about your philandering... actually none at all.
Anil: I'm a good guy!!! I've decided to be completely honest on the show, so I'm being totally honest.
Karan: And you're saying you've been completely faithful?
Anil: Faithful? I wouldn't say that.
Karan: Meaning? What do you mean?
Anil: You got me ya!
Karan: Is this confession time?
Anil: Yeah! Absolutely!
Karan: Alright, we have many more confessions but first we are going to call someone who's very dear to you and has been a friend of yours and I'm really excited to have him on my show...
Karan: Is this a real fact that both of you'll are really close friends which doesn't really happen... two actors being real friends… That doesn't really happen in the industry though people pretend, but this is a genuine friendship… So how did that happen? How did it all start?
Akshaye: From my side it was out of respect really.
Karan: You're just making him older now.
Akshaye: No, no... It's out of sheer respect. I think friendship at any level has to start from a certain amount of respect. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and I think 'Gandhi, My Father' has given us a chance to work in such close proximity so we spend a lot of time with each other, have a lot of conversation. When you spend so much time, it gives you an opportunity to strike a friendship, strike a connection.
Anil: At least for me, it started from Taal.
Karan: You both did Taal and then Salaam-e-ishq also.
Anil: Yeah, that was more recent. But basically for me it started from Taal. I remember on the first day of shooting… I was waiting on the sets of Taal and looking at the watch and I was like, Subhaashji aapka hero Akshaye to aaya hi nahi abhi tak, and he said, woh aayega.. who aayega! And he came after 12 o'clock and he came very casually on the set and he said, 'Subhaashji, sorry, I overslept'. (Laughs)
Karan: Well that's quite honest, instead of saying I was really sick last night and I was throwing up.
Anil: So I was completely taken aback by his honesty and he was not trying to…like hum log to kabhi kabhi jhoot bol dete the, but he was one of those honest actors I had ever met. That's what I like, what he feels... he says it. No double faced kind of personality. I'm sometimes very scared what he's going to talk. You think… pata nahi kya bol dega...
Karan: Is he scary like that? Is he going to attack me if I ask him something?
Akshaye: Especially after one or two vodka's. (Laughs)
Karan: Listen this is a family show ya... What are you doing to my show?
Karan: I was talking to Anil about his career graph. Yours has been through its own upswings and downswings. It's been a journey for you as well. You came in as one of the most hyped new comers and you saw some great times and you saw some bad times and then Dil Chahta Hain onwards there was this emergence of Akshaye Khanna, the actor. So how's it been… the entire journey?
Akshaye: I was listening to what Anil was saying also of how literally empty an actor would feel without the film industry... without the journey and this continuance of the journey you know... its such a great place to be. Up, down... whatever stage your at, its just such a great place to be... so much fun and you know... we wouldn't do anything else.
Karan: Another thing we were discussing about you being a good boy Anil, is that we have never really heard or you just cover it all up … but Akshaye you know better maybe… you think he's been up to any tricks?
Akshaye: No, no! But in fact you know that day we were just sitting in Anil's office and just chatting and he was saying… Akshaye you know its been 30 years or 25 years… however long he's been an actor .. I've had no controversies. .. You know nothing to keep me in the news. .. You know makeup-breakup or a fight with someone or slapped someone … I've had nothing.
Karan: I have never read about him… any affairs and liaisons or Anil acting fresh with someone. It's really amazing. You really do a great cover up job or you are just basically great!
Anil: Great cover up job!
Karan: I never believe in the too-good-to-be-true types you know… these very very happily married situations always scare me. I always wonder what's happening behind the scenes.
Akshaye: But Anil's been remarkably lucky with his marriage.
Karan: He has a terrific wife… I absolutely love her
Akshaye: Absolutely superb person. So first marriage he got very lucky and now he's married to Firoz where he's as lucky.
Karan: Firoz for those concerned is the director of Gandhi, My Father and is now always with Anil.
Akshaye: They're like married. So in his second marriage he got lucky again! He's got so lucky with marriage that every couple of months he asks… kab shaadi kar raha hain tu? Shaadi kar shaadi kar shaadi kar…kar le.
Karan: Do you take all his advice seriously?
Akshaye: I keep telling him, 'Arre you've been so lucky with marriage…I might not be… Im not ready for marriage yet. Hold On!!!'
Karan: But there have been absolutely no link-up's with you Akshaye, as well!
Akshaye: There have been here and there!
Karan: There has been Tara.. We read about her but beyond that…
Akshaye: But that's a genuine relationship, but link-up's happen now and then.
Karan: You work with the most beautiful women, the most sexy women. But there still haven't been any stories?
Akshaye: There have been a few stories, but few and far between.
Karan: Good! I'm glad to hear that! That is some kind of a declaration. Is it sometimes tough when you work with the most beautiful women and you interact with them romantically? Does it get difficult to avoid a scenario which might involve you? And they're dating someone else and there is a certain kind of chemistry? Does it ever happen?
Anil: It is very difficult!
Akshaye: It is difficult na?
Karan: Like for you… your married… and your supposedly turned on!
Anil: Not turned on… that's not a very nice way of putting it, but definitely your attracted…and you spend a lot of time with them… more than you do with your family and you do get attached!
Karan: It happens! Thand lag jaati hain outdoors mein! (Laughs)
Anil: Bombay mein bhi lagti hain. Aisi koi baat nahi hain!
Karan: Gandhi- My father, when such a film comes your way, and you don't have a place for yourself in it, and you are producing it, I think that's remarkable? How did it all happen Anil?
Anil: Well, Gandhi - My father, the script of the film when I heard the first time… when Feroze narrated it to me, you know I have been listening to scripts for so many years, I have worked with so many Directors but, I was completely bowled, completely moved by its content, by its story, dialogues, the way Feroze was narrating it, I knew it was a fabulous script, it's a great story, and I am sure he was going to make a fabulous film, you know its an instinct, you being the son of a Producer, has been making films for the last 50 years, my brother he has made a lot of great films, I have learnt a lot from my father, my brother and the Kapoor family that includes Raj saab, worked with Yashji, Subhashji, all these stalwarts of the film industry, so you get a certain kind of instinct, so when I heard the script, I felt ok, I may be wrong, so, let me ask Sunita and Sonam also, and they had the same reaction and being a Producer is completely taboo in my house, my wife just doesn't want that I produce a film, because you know to be an actor and a star you have to be very fortunate…
Karan: And so was Akshaye your first choice for the film?
Anil: Well… when I heard the script, he wasn't the first choice … there were other actors who were considered…
Karan: You didn't know that Akshaye?
Akshaye: I did
Anil: But, I always wanted Akshaye to be in the film
Karan: What was your reaction Akshaye, when you heard the script?
Akshaye: You know, we were at the airport together… and you know Anil, full of life and energy and high on life and he was like, "Akshaye, I have got something"
Karan: laughs… with that energy
Akshaye: Ya… literally ha… he was so charged… with the script and what he had got… and when he gets excited he likes to abuse a lot… and I was like what do you have ya… he said, "I am coming to you… I am still not ready… I am coming to you"… and then 3 months after that …
Karan: After this burst?
Akshaye: Ya… 4-5 months I think later… he calls and he says, " I am sending Feroze to your house"… I met Feroze.
Anil: That 3-4 months I was convincing Feroze for Akshaye… laughs.
Karan: That's why it took so long… laughs.
Akshaye: Even Feroze says, Akshaye is Anil's contribution … so, 4 months later, Feroze comes to my house, gives me the script, gives me a little a brief and says, we want you to play Gandhi… So, I got a jhatka yaar, I was like Anil Kapoor was so excited, for offering me to play Gandhi, so, I said ok, Feroze I will read the script… and I straight ran to the bathroom and looked at the mirror… looked right… looked left… what has Anil seen… from which angle do I look like Gandhi… I got so scared, but, I thought if Anil is doing something for the first time… it must be something really good…
Karan: But, why wasn't Feroze specific that it is Harilal Gandhi and not Gandhi?
Akshaye: No… no … he was playing a joke on me.
Karan: Oh… I missed that completely… I thought he misunderstood.
Akshaye: He was calling me… I am was not taking his calls…
Karan: Oh… you started avoiding Anil.
Akshaye: I was so petrified.
Karan: Were you insulted?
Akshaye: No, not insulted… I was just so shocked… Then he messaged me, I want you to play Gandhi's son and not Gandhi… so then I read the script… I had never come across writing of this caliber…
Karan: At all, before that…
Akshaye: No… not of this level… Anil, always says… I have worked with so many people… I have never met a Director with this kind of depth.
Karan: With this kind of intensity.
Karan: What was your reaction, when you saw the film for the first time?
Akshaye: I saw it, with my family… emotions… it really stirs you … it shakes you up… makes you cry… I sometimes cry just watching the promos…
Karan: It has that kind of impact… what was your father's reaction… when he saw the film…
Akshaye: He hugged me and he hugged Anil… Anil said, he wouldn't let me go, he was hugging him for so long… he was so happy… so happy…
Karan: Fantastic… and I wish you all the best.
Episode 19
She is the most beautiful woman ever… she has the most magnificent smile ever… and is truly the most fantastic actress ever. They don't make them like her anymore… This Sunday, Karan chats up with none other than the gorgeous Madhuri Dixit.
Karan: Welcome to Koffee with Karan Madhuri… Have you seen the show?
Madhuri: Yes, I have seen a few episodes.
Karan: You are back Madhuri… after so many years… how many years has it been?
Madhuri: Hmmm… 6 years…
Karan: And yours is possibly the most talked about comeback… how does it feel?
Madhuri: It feels great… it feels good to be back… it feels great to, you know meet everybody I have worked with… friends and family… it's great being back…
Karan: So, were you at all nervous to face the camera on day one?
Madhuri: Well, day one I was a little hassled….
Karan: After all those years?
Madhuri: Ya, after all those years… ahhhh, I don't know why you feel you have lost touch, you know you are going to be on the set, getting ready, the whole process you know… and I was wondering will I be able to do it… but, once I was there… and I started working… the first day went by, and on the second day I was fine…
Karan: It was all-fine… but, you, when Aditya Chopra came all the way to Denver to offer the film…
Madhuri: Yes
Karan: He told me, you know she was so amazing she looked at me and said, "You want to make this film with me…. You think really people want to watch me"…. And you know both of us had this big laugh… did you really mean it, when you said this…
Madhuri: Yes I did… I really meant it, because 6 years is a lot of time to be away from the screen, to be away from the public eye… today, the whole generation is so fast… there are so many things happening that it makes you feel, are people really going to miss me, you know are they really going to come back and watch me perform…
Karan: So, tell us you have been living in Denver for the last how many years… 6-7 years …
Madhuri: 6 years
Karan: 6 years you were there… when you initially went there… your change in lifestyle how did it all happen for you… the big star in India to now super market shopping in America… how was that change… how did it all feel?
Madhuri: Well, for me, it was pretty normal.
Karan: Really?
Madhuri: Ya… really… ahhhh… you know I have always been a very down-to-earth person… even when I was here I would walk into any shop and buy anything, of course it's a little difficult to do it here, because people start collecting….
Karan: You could not have gone to any kind of shop here Madhuri….
Madhuri: Ya, no, no… don't worry I have been to Santacruz and I have shopped… for me, it's like, I am a pretty normal person… it's like anybody else… I love to do these things… I want be on my own and do stuff… and for me it was good… because I have been watching my sisters… they have lived there… so it wasn't a shock for me… I wanted that kind of a life… I wanted to be normal … I wanted my kids to have a very normal upbringing… so, for me it was great… I love to go shopping there… drive down…
Karan: Completely detached in the 6 years that you have been there… in these six years were you in touch with Indian cinema at all?
Madhuri: It was hard because I was having kids… there was Aryan and then 2 years later I had Ryan … I was really busy… so couldn't really catch up with anything
Karan: What about them… do they understand the implications of being Madhuri Dixit's children?
Madhuri: I think because they are not grown up here…. And I have always been there… they don't understand this whole concept of movie star and you know all that …
Karan: So, when people randomly recognize you …
Madhuri: They are too young to understand right now… 2 and 4 is too young… but now the older one is kind of getting an idea that mom works in movies and then he will see a picture and say, look, look mom that's you
Karan: What about Ram, has he been totally supportive of your decision to come down
Madhuri: Absolutely… I mean this decision was taken… like we both kind of sat down and made a conscious decision whether I should be doing this or not and he has always supported me… if you don't want to work… you want sit at home and look after the kids I am happy with that… but, if you feel you want to do something then I am with you all the way… whatever the decision will be …
Karan: How does it feel … you know you are back after such a long time… do you feel things have changed in the industry … the work ethic… things like that?
Madhuri: Yes… simple things.
Karan: Like what?
Madhuri: Like… you know you have a whole bound script and that's not a very simple …
Karan: And that didn't happen during your time?
Madhuri: Oh No, it didn't … sometimes we used to go on the sets, we didn't even know what we were going to say in the scene… we used to get the dialogues right then…
Karan: Last minute?
Madhuri: Ya… last minute… learn them and just say them and the whole economics was different at that time of film making… and I think because of the corporate kind of culture that has come in now, its great, because everything is so organized now
Karan: Everything is streamlined…
Madhuri: Everything is disciplined … you know it is worked out before hand… what the scene is going to be and what you are going to wear… what you're look is going to be … everything is set for you … it is so easy for the actors
Karan: What else has happened is, this whole emergence of the paparazzi and the media… do you think…
Madhuri: That has shocked me
Karan: Like what?
Madhuri: I was invited for this opening and I saw this barrage of cameramen and the press was like falling all over each other… and I was like what is happening …
Karan: And that wasn't the case earlier?
Madhuri: No, it wasn't... I mean there were a few photographers… same familiar faces who used to be there everywhere to cover… but now it's like you know new people, new faces and I went to this Siddhivinayak temple …
Karan: Oh ya… they have the tendency to follow people at that particular temple
Madhuri: Ya, you know… I came out and it was like… oh my God, and I thought my kids are going to be scared and I was holding on to them… but you should have seen my little one…
Karan: What did he do?
Madhuri: He was fluttering his eyes and smiling and my other kid was also enjoying all that attention…
Karan: But darling, he is an actresses' son, he has got it in his genes
Madhuri: That's what my husband says… "bachche kiske hai"
Karan: But tell me, initially when you met Ram, I mean, was it an arrangement made by the family?
Madhuri: Ya, it was a secret arrangement made by my brother… I didn't know, because they were always on a look out … we need to get you married and you should get married and stuff like that … but, this time he did it very cleverly, he had this party in the house and he called all his friends, so that's where I met Ram …
Karan: Oh, so you didn't know you were being set up?
Madhuri: No… I was always suspicious of them…
Karan: Something is happening
Madhuri: Ya… something is cooking… but that always used to be the case… but this time I had really no clue
Karan: Did you feel anything when you met him?
Madhuri: Well, when I met him, I found him very interesting, it was like, I would like to meet him again
Karan: Really?
Madhui: Ya…
Karan: Was it at all exciting for you, that he was not from your world and that he didn't know much about you?
Madhuri: It was… because, he didn't have any pre-conceived notions … he had not seen any of my films… so there was no image in his mind…
Karan: He had heard about you?
Madhuri: He had heard that I am an actress… but it is like for me, meeting an actress from China… I wouldn't know how big or what she is out there…
Karan: Your body of work
Madhuri: Ya… and her body of work… it was like that… it was just like any other profession… I am an actor… and he has been in LA all his life… he has grown up there … he has seen a lot of stars come in and out… so for him it was not anything fascinating that he is meeting an actress… that was really nice…
Karan: Was it always a fear that you are such a big name and that somebody who would eventually land up with you in life would be in awe of you and not in love with you
Madhuri: Yes, that was always my fear
Karan: What you see now, when you are surfing channels, when you see these girls, like what do you see, vis-à-vis the kind if work that you did?
Madhuri: Well, technically the films are so much better… you know there is more emphasis on fashion … wearing the right kind of stuff for the right thing … the songs are also so elaborately shot … there is a lot of improvement and whatever I see… the girls… I mean, I asked someone, "who is this girl, is she new or she has done a few films"… so they said, " No, this is her first film", and I was like my God this is her first film… today, all the girls who have come, you can't tell from their first film to their fourth, they are so good from the first film onwards…
Karan: Actresses like Rani and all are huge fans of yours…
Madhuri: Ya, she has told me that.
Karan: Have you seen her work?
Madhuri: Yes, I have, and I think she is a very good actress… I have always liked her… and I envy her in a way … because my dad is a big fan of hers …
Karan: Really?
Madhuri: Ya, really
Karan: You must see her in Black… she is fantastic.
Madhuri: Ya, I should
Karan: What about your male co-stars, have you met them all, after you are back?
Madhuri: No, not all of them, because everybody is busy… but, I have met Shah Rukh and I think he is only co-star I have met.
Karan: So, Aaja Nachle is the film that you are working on, and is slated for release in November, where you are working with Kunal Kapoor, Konkona, Akshaye Khanna and a whole lot of youngsters… how was the experience… it was lots of fun?
Madhuri: It was lots of fun, it was great, also, because it is fun working with all these actors… there were times you know, when I literally didn't have to act, I just had to react to whatever they are doing... they are such good actors…
Karan: Do you feel the acting style is more natural, like you have Konkona, who is a very natural actress…
Madhuri: Yes, Konkona is a very natural actress and so is Kunal … and I think the dialogues are very natural, the situations, they are not like larger than life…
Karan: More real
Madhuri: Ya, more real…
Episode 18
Jaya Bachchan calls her Basanti… Bobby Deol calls her Pritam Singh... and what her love interest, Ness Wadia calls her... we don't know. Karan's first guest is none other than the super rocking super star Preity Zinta. Karan's second guest comes from a terrific lineage... He truly is the brother and the son of the soil and is one of the most loved and the most affable members of the film fraternity.
Karan: How's life been?
Preity: Life's been good! I just wrapped up a movie Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and now its ready for release!
Karan: Yes it's releasing soon and everyone's saying it's looking fabulous and in fact the promo's are on air and everyone's loving them.
Preity: Well I've had a great time shooting for it… it's been a great experience… first time working with Abhishek… you never cast me with him!
Karan: Well you guys were the deprived parties in KANK and those two were just having an affair behind your backs. You silly people!
Preity: No, no, no… jokes aside… working with AB for the first time and working with Bobby after 8-9 years… Lara I was working with for the first time so it's been great. Shaad also… I worked with Shaad in Dil Se when he was an assistant and I started off my career and now working with him again, it's been great!
Karan: And now you have some other films you are doing. You worked with Rituparna Ghosh on a film with Mr. Bachchan?
Preity: Yes! It's an English film called The Last Lear with Mr. Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, Shefali Shah and Divya Dutta.
Karan: Great! So… so much work happening… no time for love?
Preity: (Laughing) Accha!
Karan: Love we all know about!
Preity: Karan! (Laughing)
Karan: No of course everyone knows about your relationship with Ness and that has been going on now for how long… three years?
Preity: Two and a half!
Karan: But who's counting?
Preity: But who's counting! Exactly! Touchwood… life's been great! This year didn't start off like the way I expected it to. I had a lot of negativity this year. I lost my dog, I had an accident, I got stung by a bee… after all that…
Karan: My god! That sounds rather tragic!
Preity: I'm hoping this is going to be a great year!
Karan: It's going to be a great year professionally and I'm sure it's going to be a great year personally!
Karan: Are you planning to get married at all because there is all kinds of conjecture being made about this… now that marriage is the new thing happening with Abhishek and Ash and everything else… everyone wants to know if you are going to be marrying Ness?
Preity: I just wish people would give me my space where that is concerned at least because I think that is something very personal. Just like Ash and Abhishek, when they were getting married they told the whole world that they are getting married… same way, no one wants to hide these things, but if they are not happening you don't want people constantly asking, 'are you getting married, are you getting married?'
Karan: Does it bother you that people think that that's something you must tell everyone about?
Preity: It does upset me sometimes because I don't mind you criticizing my work… but constantly scrutinizing my personal life… sometimes it gets strenuous.
Karan: I suppose because you've been dating him for a while and he comes from such an illustrious family, so everyone thinks it's a great match and of course he is a wonderful boy and I know him personally… he's great looking and you both look great together and of course there are some people looking at it as some kind of gossip or some kind of confirmation… "When's the big wedding date?"
Preity: But the media takes amazing liberty… one day I am married, one day I've broken up, one day I am married, one day I've broken up… Thak gayi hoon main! It's like guys… especially me… I've always been honest and forthright about anything in my life…
Karan: Its never like you hid your boyfriends ever… they're there, they are part of your friends circle or whatever. You may never speak about it but I've always known you to have them with you always!
Preity: Yes I only like to act when I get paid for it… I don't like to act in real life!
Karan: 2-3 years ago there was always talks about you and Rani on war-path, you and Kareena having problems and you know… Rani coming on this very show and saying that 'Oh Preity talks too much and she should keep her opinions to herself' but now when I see you with her, I feel everyone looks a little more relaxed in their own life. Do you think things have changed?
Preity: Yeah! But I always joke with Rani. Everytime I meet her, I go ZIP (zipping her lips) and she says, 'No babes, I didn't mean that!'
Karan: What were the repercussions of that… were you shocked when you heard she said that on the show?
Preity: I told Rani, why did you have to say this… you should have told me so she said, 'No babe I was just kidding!' which I believe because when I work with her, I don't have a problem working with her and I'm pretty instinctive that way. As long as I don't have a problem working with her, she is entitled to her opinions also just as I am entitled to my opinions.
Karan: And your opinion of her is?
Preity: My opinion of her is… she's great!
Karan: What did you say to her… something really hysterical… she told me about it the other day.
Preity: I told her that we are a better pair than Shah Rukh and Kajol because really every movie we've done together has done so well!
Karan: And she told me Preity rang me up and told me that whenever in life I do get married I want you there because then my marriage will also be a big hit.
Preity: (Laughing) Yes!
Karan: Because she said ek photo to zaroor kheech lena mere saath then we'll be rocking and the marriage will be a big hit!
Preity: Yes! That's a silly joke between us.
Karan: And for marriages to work these days and for them to become big hits, trust me, it takes a hell of a lot.
Karan: And your equation with Kareena now… there was a lot of friction earlier… now, its all fine and sorted?
Preity: I think I've grown up, so I've become a lot calmer also. I mean earlier if someone didn't say hello to me, I thought that's bad manners… that's rude.
Karan: Yeah like you had said, Kareena only wishes me when Karan's around because we have an equation.
Preity: But I think I've mellowed down also and Kareena's fine! Whenever I meet her, it's ok! I say Hi to her and if she doesn't say Hi to me, its ok! I have no issues. I've gone through that phase now! Now its time for the other girls to fight! (Laughing)
Karan: We were just talking about how you appreciate your privacy and how the media today sometimes can misreport stuff. It happened in your case with Shekhar Kapur's wife who went on record saying some very ridiculous things about you. How does that make you feel?
Preity: Well there is a saying in English that goes, 'Heavy is the head that wears the Crown'. God has given me so much… he has given me more than I can ever imagine, so of course there are going to be minuses. Tomorrow anybody can get up and say 'Preity did this to me' and some paper will carry it on their front cover and I don't know if the other persons picture will be there, but there will definitely be a shot of mine. So if you're an actor and your saleable and your popular, you do get misused, but I do believe that I am controversy's favorite child. I always get dragged into some psycho controversies which I don't understand ki, Yeh kahaan se aaya!
Karan: But does it get embarrassing like the equation with you and Shekhar because you have been friends since so many years?
Preity: You know I have a lot of respect for Shekhar. I like him a lot. Initially in the beginning I felt a bit odd… awkward… but I'm ok now!
Karan: Because the day passes and there is another headline the next day. It goes on!
Preity: You know I always say… god you want to give me the worst… give me the worst… but then in the end… make me win! That's it.
Karan: But otherwise the industry has treated you very well.
Preity: Yes the industry has treated me very well and I'll always be grateful to that.
Karan: It's been how many years?
Preity: It's going to be 9 years at the end of this year!
Karan: Soldier was when… in 1998?
Preity: In 98!
Karan: It's going to be nearly a decade of work, you have done!
Preity: Yes!
Karan: When you look back at Soldier, do you think it was just the other day or you feel, lots of time has flown?
Preity: Actually I didn't feel these 9 years, to be honest. It's been the best time of my life. The industry has given me everything and you know people always say, this industry is sleazy, there is a casting couch, people are like this. I think people treat you the way you want to be treated by them. I have never encountered any problem with anybody who's being cheap or sleazy because I have never portrayed myself like that.
Karan: Because you have met very classy and elegant people.
Preity: Like Karan Johar? Like KJ?
Karan: Yeah so there has been no problem on that end. I'm more of the couch myself rather than being the casting couch.
Karan: Yeh Pritam Singh ka origin bata dena mujhe.
Preity: Bobby, please don't destroy me. Please I beg you!
Bobby: Well, she's like a guy… eh… like a buddy!
Karan: You two have been friends for a while and you've kept in touch even when you'll didn't work together?
Preity: Yes! Bobby and me have known each other before I became an actor
Bobby: She would be with us. We would all go out in my dads van every night out and she would be sitting right at the back quiet to her self. And one day she came up to me and said Ok! I'm doing criminal psychology. Can I make you my subject? And I said to her, look Preity… I would love to but I'm from this family and if I talk about myself and if you say this is my subject Bobby Deol, I can't do it!
Karan: You wanted to make bobby your subject?
Preity: But you know in the beginning I didn't know Bobby as Dharmendra's son.
Karan: Who did you think he was?
Preity: I swear. When I first met him he was one of the guys in the group and I had to look for someone between 23-28 ka age group, I was finding and I needed 5 subjects and actually I didn't realize.
Bobby: Actually I never thought she wanted to get into movies. I was at Shekhar's office for two years waiting for my film to start. Nothing was happening… I got to know everyone in the staff. I was going to start shooting for Soldier and I went to the studio and they said 'Preity aayi thi yaha par… uska screen test accha tha' and 'I was like Preity kaun? Uska surname kya hain and then they said Preity Zinta. And I said mereko dikhao and then I saw it and I was like "she's pretty good man!"' and then when I was shooting for Soldier I didn't recommend her, but I told them there is this girl and she's very good and I didn't know she's already signed on for another film and then she was my heroine and her first film was with me.
Karan: So both of you have had Shekhar Kapur in common. Both of you were waiting for your debut!
Karan: He's such a good boy na? My whole perception of him is that Bobby is a good boy. I've known Bobby very well personally, but I thought thoda-bahut research to kar lu… you know I have a talk show today… but no rumor, no scandal, no problem, no controversy, no nothing ya Bobby. You are too good that way!
Preity: He's quite a good boy that way, but quite a psycho also 'coz I got very sick on Soldier once and I was throwing up and we had a separate car as actors so we reached New Zealand first. The crew was coming with the bags and I was like... like you know when you have a friend and you can talk to a person at that time I told bobby… I'm feeling very sick… can I please come and sit in your room? And he said, 'No we cannot sit in my room… people will think we are having an affair!'. So he made me sit in the lobby!
Karan: What were you scared about Bobby?
Bobby: I don't remember this. (Laughing)
Preity: Don't lie! He did not let me sit in his room. He said no, no, no you don't know the film industry, they start rumours, they'll think we are having an affair so we'll sit in the lobby.
Bobby: But hey, did you know. People do believe that we had an affair.
Karan: But there was a rumour about you and Bobby.
Preity: No! But the whole of Soldier, Tanya was there with us.
Karan: But you know when wives reach location's that's when the first rumor starts.
Karan: You said something about Ram Gopal Verma, my favorite topic. What did you say?
Bobby: It's really funny because Ram Gopal Verma would always come and meet me, say he wants to do a film with me and disappear.
Karan: Never come back?
Bobby: Yeah! So one day I was shooting for Tera Rang Balle Balle for Soldier and I was in the van. We had one van with two sections. So I was sitting with Preity in her section and the door opened and I see Ram Gopal Verma. So I thought he must have come to meet her so I said ok Preity, I'll see you later. And I went on the set and then he came to meet me later and I said dude, you always come and go away. If you really want to do something, give me a call. And then suddenly Preity comes out, 'you this, you that! You left me with him!' so I was like what happened? He came to meet you. So she said no, he came to meet you!
Preity: Yeah, coz I was sitting with him in my section of the trailer.
Karan: What was the conversation?
Preity: I didn't even know him. So I was like smiling and he was smiling back. And he was more awkward than I was because I was all dressed up for Tera rang balle balle and he was sitting opposite me and Bobby had just walked out and I was thinking, is he going to come back, why has he gone out? I don't know you. And I thought it's a bit rude to tell someone "excuse me!" so we just sat and he finally said, 'I've come to meet Bobby!" (Laughing)
Bobby: I didn't know he'd come to meet me coz he's always done a disappearing act on me!
Preity: and I told him this is my section of the trailer, which he figured out because he thought it was Bobby's section and he kept sitting there. He was very sweet!
Bobby: That was quite funny!
Episode 17
She held her own on an international reality show, she fought what's bad and what's 'goody' and emerged victorious... today, she is back on the star radar... she is an ambassador against racism and she is a household name in Britain. Karan's first guest is the super glamorous and very hot Shilpa Shetty. His second guest is the acting star of today, who is doing exceptionally well and is going to go from strength to strength in the future, Shilpa's younger sister Shamita. Also, joining them is a woman who means the world to them and has always been a pillar of strength, Shilpa and Shamita's mother Sunanda Shetty.
Karan: Ok, how does it feel to be on the show… I know I am giving too much importance to myself by asking you this question, but how does it feel?
Shilpa: It feels weird
Karan: Weird? That's a first… why would you feel weird?
Shilpa: Its feels wired because you know we have known each other as friends and you can get away with a lot… but, I really don't know… the feelings are mixed …
Karan: But, it's such a sweet innocent, almost like harmless show… So, why should you feel weird?
Shilpa: Am I still on Koffee with Karan?… (laughs)
Karan: But, firstly congratulations on all the success… on Big Brother… how does that feel… how did all that happen?
Shilpa: Well, it came through a common friend… this was a celebrity Big Brother and I knew it had a huge TRP rating in the UK… I didn't know what it entailed … but, I also thought it was huge opportunity for an Indian to go on a show like that… and I took it as a huge compliment… and I had nothing to fear Karan because they tweaked the contracts and all… and Channel 4 has never done that in their entire history… they changed some clauses.
Karan: Like what were your clauses… that you won't wear certain clothes…
Shilpa: I said, I won't wear anything that makes me feel uncomfortable… anything 'UnIndian' …
Karan: You made those clauses?
Shilpa: Ya … and I said, I wont kiss if it's a task.
Karan: Kiss?
Shilpa: I mean you know… if there is a task …
Karan: Oh so, if there is a task and you have to kiss?
Shilpa: Just in case…
Karan: Unless you fall in love with somebody there?
Shilpa: Ya… you know you have to do something to set his heart racing… I am sure they have had some tasks like this in the past… So, I said, I won't do those things… so they said, there is nothing that you have to do, that you don't want to do… worst comes to worst if you feel very uncomfortable… they said, you can leave whenever you want …
Karan: Just walk out.
Shilpa: Ya… they don't tie you down.
Karan: But, did you know what you were in for? Did you ever feel that you were going to be assaulted?
Shilpa: I had no idea.
Karan: Did you expect this Jade Goody episode happening in your life at all?
Shilpa: I don't think anybody expected that
Karan: Were you completely thrown off when it was happening?
Shilpa: Ahhh… when you are in the house… that's your world… you don't know what's happening in the outside world… the way people were perceiving things … it was way way bigger than how we were looking at it …
Karan: She said the most terrible things to you?
Shilpa: Not in front of me …
Karan: What was the worst thing she said to you?
Shilpa: I think behind my back… most of the things were said, that's the reason, it created the furor it did… it became this whole international incident … I think we as a race … Indians, are pretty tolerant… we tend to forgive and forget more easily… and that's exactly what I did. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and even after those fights I just wanted to move on because I was like, this is just a show and I am going to go back home and honestly Karan, I took up the show because, I didn't think I would last that long. I told Anurag, I left Metro and I told him, listen this is a great opportunity, they have told an Indian to be on the show, Main jaaongi, bahut saara paise bhi de rahe hain, aur mujhe kya karna hain… I just have to be myself… So, I am just going to have a good time and come back… and I said keep the shoot after two weeks, I will be out in 2 weeks (laughs).
Karan: (laughs) So you never thought that you would ever ever win?
Shilpa: Not in my life … it was a dream.
Karan: What about Jade Goody… had you heard of her?
Shilpa: No, I hadn't heard of her.
Karan: Neither have I.
Shilpa: Ya … people in the UK know her.
Karan: Have you been in touch with her… have you had any kind of interaction with her?
Shilpa: No.
Karan: Not at all?
Shilpa: No… not as yet.
Karan: What would you say to her if you ever met her face to face… besides… thank you … laughs.
Shilpa: You know… really… alls well that ends well. I have to thank her because God has been so kind… and what's happened after Big Brother… it's been.
Karan: Spectacular… so, in a way she kind of… started the ball rolling?
Shilpa: No… really… the way things happened were not ideal for great memories, but, it was a great learning curve for me … Big Brother … and as far as Jade is concerned… you know me Karan … I am just too positive.
Karan: You wont let such a thing …
Shilpa: I can't let these things affect me.
Karan: Move on …
Shilpa: And the day she came and apologized to me… people do think and assume that she was told because of the whole thing that was happening in the outside world. I had no idea what transpired between them, but the day she came and apologized to me … it was over. I buried the hatchet right there and then and I hugged her and I said, let bygones be bygones and for me I maintain that… and because you know there were lot of things that I didn't know of…
Karan: Were you angry, when you found out?
Shilpa: I was not angry… I was just so shocked …it was so hurtful… because, I was going out of my way… I was cooking… I had become like a maid servant in the house… (laughs)… because I thought it would be very rude… for me to cook food for myself and eat it and monopolize the kitchen, so let me also cook for them…
Karan: You were the good old Indian.
Shilpa: But, I guess perception is something that each person has their own.
Karan: You know you have been working in this industry… and you have had your share of ups and downs… you have had your success and there was this whole phase of failures… and you were still holding… you were looking great… you have always been known for your terrific body… for your dance abilities… but yet, success eluded you... mainstream success eluded for a long long time… did you at times feel disillusioned… that things were not going as well as you had imagined them to?
Shilpa: Ah… Well, I don't know… how to answer that Karan, because, I am someone who has never given up very easily. I have constantly tried to re-invent myself… as far as success goes… I think I did pretty well compared to a lot of my peers.
Karan: And you, survived… you have been here for years…
Shilpa: Yes… and I have been working since the age of 17 and I may have not had the Karan Johar's and the Yash Chopra's backing me… or I never had the opportunity to work with you guys.
Karan: But in your repertoire of films… you had like a Dhadkan… Phir Milenge
Shilpa: Ya… that was my comeback… success I think, Dhadkan did very well, then after that I tried to re-invent myself… with a Rishtey… it wasn't a commercial hit… but people appreciated my work… I was nominated… after that I again tried to do something different with Phir Milenge.
Karan: And everyone, loved you in that film …
Shilpa: Ya… but very conveniently people forgot all of that and they very conveniently degraded my body of work… I don't know why… either the media takes it upon them to make sure to make me feel bad.
Karan: About yourself…
Shilpa: Ya … I don't know why…
Karan: What's with this whole… emergence again of this Akshay Kumar fiasco … from where did that come?
Shilpa: What was that? I have no idea.
Karan: Isn't that your past… that has been buried?
Shilpa: I don't even want to talk about Akshay because it a closed chapter in my life.
Karan: No, no, I am not asking you to talk… I know you have moved on …
Shilpa: I know, just me elaborating about it … and it was just not discussed here… it was discussed in Britain also.
Karan: Do you think there was this certain section of the British press that felt that ok, there is too much praise of Shilpa, now dig up the past…
Shilpa: You know, how all this happened I hope…
Karan: How did that happen?
Shilpa: It is the Indian press that did it… you know, amongst all the press… all over the world… God has been very kind… may be a show like Big Brother worked as a catalyst for a huge issue like racism.
Karan: Sure
Shilpa: So, obviously I was splashed on all the papers… people were writing about me… loads was written about me in Britain… but let me tell you… 99 % was positive in Britain … and the worst articles that I got was here in India… and that is what hurt me… because I was representing my country… and I don't want to sound like a beauty pageant (laughs) contestant … but, on a more serious note, I was going as an Indian and even before I was entering the house… the last thing that I said was, I hope I make every Indian proud… and I lived by that… and I am proud that I could actually go there and show the world a different India… a modern India and that's we who we are today, we are not regressive, we are extremely modern, we speak very good English…
Karan: And that is not the way we are perceived?
Shilpa: Exactly…
Karan: You think it is the Indian press who dug up the past and brought this entire Akshay Kumar episode back …
Shilpa: It was horrible.
Karan: There was this whole article that was written … what did he have to say … did you ever had word with him…
Shilpa: I know that he hasn't said those things… and he knows that I haven't… we would never go down to the extent of bringing down each other's dignity… I have a lot of respect that he is married.
Karan: He is a father
Shilpa: He is a father… and he is very happy for me I am sure, that I have moved on and I have made it in life… and we respect each other as individuals and that is what is important… but, the press really goes out of their way to make sure that there is trouble and I think they have gone right from making personal attacks on me to… I think they have reached the lowest ever… when they brought the whole Akshay angle… character assassinated my parents… they called me a B- grade actress, an item girl… it's so sad because Karan I think lets be fair … don't call me a B-grade actress… I have worked right from Shah Rukh to Govinda to Anil to Sunny to Salman to… you name it… I mean how can you call me …
Karan: There is no way …
Shilpa: And I did one item song in my entire life and they made me into an item girl… I don't understand this… and what hurts me the most Karan is that you are given so much respect and love outside your country and you come back to your own country and daggers are drawn… its just not fair…
Karan: Welcome to Koffee with Karan Shamita, you have been stressed out… like I am some kind of a mad person who is going to attack both of you…
Shamita: All of us are really scared… of the rapid fire round
Karan: Those are such fun, sweet questions …
Shamita: Fun for you …
Shilpa: Sweet Questions?
Karan: But, tell me, how did it feel when Shilpa went through all if this… you back home… you and dad… and mum
Shamita: When we were not in touch with her?
Karan: Ya … because you know, she didn't know what was happening in there? But, all of you did?
Shamita: None of us knew what was happening… in fact, when the press wanted us to comment… we actually kept away from the press for some time because we didn't want to make any comments till we saw actually what was happening.
Karan: But you'll saw what was happening?
Shamita: No, not really.
Karan: Because, you'll were not in London…
Shamita: Ya… and our press out here was making it look like she was being tortured in the house… ya… and you know we have this friend in London… who would call us everyday and tell us what was happening in the house… and we were literally surviving on that information… for us, it was horrible, because all we saw was Shilpa crying on every news channel.
Shilpa: Terrible … did I have my liner on?
Karan: laughs…
Shamita: You had your earrings on too…
Shilpa: Laughs… the first thing she told me was… even in your saddest moment … we never caught you once without a glamorous pair of earrings… laughs …
Karan: laughs… and your liner on …
Shamita: That's Shilpa …
Karan: But when you finally found out where it was going… were you more relieved…or more stressed out?
Shamita: Yes… definitely relieved … also so happy when she won.
Karan: You were in London?
Shamita: No… I wasn't but mumma was… and I remember you know… this friend of mine kept me on speaker phone for 15 minutes and I actually heard her scream and I was like, I was jumping in my room and I went and woke up dad… and I was like, daddy, Shilpa won… it was an amazing feeling… because you know what, she has never really won anything… laughs.
Shilpa: Thanks Shamita… you can't say those things on camera
Shamita: Ya… I mean it was an amazing feeling.
Karan: Both of you'll are looking so stunning… so hot… you'll are obviously competing for single men now… because both of you are not in relationships
Shilpa: No… no … on that front we are not competing with each other… because her kind of men and my kind of men are very very different.
Karan: And what is your kind of men Shilpa?
Shamita: Ya… what is your kind of man?
Karan: Ya … who is he?
Shilpa: Honestly there is no …
Karan: We have only one reference really… and he is married now… but beyond that…
Shilpa: One tight slap…(laughs)… no, but really… there is no stereotype.
Karan: Don't tell me things like… the man who loves me
Shilpa: No, I will tell you for Shamita… everything starts and ends with a great body… for me… he has to have a heart of gold.
Karan: Oh god… that's a cliché
Shilpa: Very boring na I am… what to do.
Karan: I much prefer Shamita's choice … he should have a good body.
Shilpa: She is the fun one.
Karan: But is there any one in your life Shamita… you have been through a series of relationships.
Shamita: Series of relationships… laughs… really?
Karan: You have had a few na… more than Shilpa has?
Shilpa: Laughs.
Karan: But haven't you been a little more active than Shilpa has?
Shamita: What active… I beg you'll please stop.
Karan: But I am happy for you… you should be happy… you are young.
Shamita: But, there is no one right now.
Karan: No one right now… and Shilpa there is no Prince charming right now?
Shilpa: No …
Karan: And are you dying to get hooked up …
Shilpa: I would love to have someone special… I don't deny that.
Karan: So tell me, you dabble in astrology… but, you don't do it commercially I know… but, you are wonderful and fantastic at it.
Sunanda: I don't know what to say.
Karan: But, did you see good things… in the case of Shilpa?
Sunanda: Yes.
Karan: What were your thoughts?
Sunanda: I think in a nutshell, I would say… she is destiny's child… she has had her ups and downs … she is going through her ups now.
Karan: And you saw that coming… did you tell her about it?
Shilpa: She had told me very long time ago that you know you are going to be someone who will achieve a lot more than people can imagine… international fame… and I always thought she has a bias… every mother thinks a world of their child… but you know, as things are unfolding… a lot of things what she said… has come true… they continue to come true…
Karan: Fabulous… were you at all disturbed when everything was happening inside the house… there was so much being said.
Sunanda: I think she is a very brave child and she did handle the entire situation with a lot of dignity… I was happy that she could walk out whenever she wanted to … since she stuck around … we knew she was in a position to cope.
Karan: You were all sad about the things that were being said to her on the show?
Sunanda: No, I wasn't sad about things that were being said to her in the show… I was sad by the remarks that were being made about her participation in the show within the country.
Karan: Ok … you think the media was being unfair?
Sunanda: I can't generalize… not all were unfair… but, a section was.
Karan: You have been a strong sense of support to both of them… and they are both absolute stunners… so, why are they still single?
Shilpa: What can my mother do in that?
Sunanda: They have to make the choices.
Karan: Are you worried at all?
Sunanda: Not at all .. great things are in store.
Karan: There is no rush?
Sunanda: There is no reason to worry.
Episode 16
She's a one-woman army. She's single handedly revolutionized Indian television. They don't call her the queen of prime time for absolutely nothing! She's combated cricket, game shows, reality shows and always emerged victorious! Karan's first guest this week is none other than Ekta Kapoor! Joining her are her favorite men and television's blue-eyed boys... Ram Kapoor, Ronit Roy and Hiten Tejwani.
Karan: Look at you… looking all glamorous! I look at you like this and get the visual of the same little podgy girl. Look at me talking, I was double your size then, dancing in Abhishek's birthday party in a silver dress…you looked like a silver ball… like a silver disco ball.
Ekta: (Laughing) Disco Rani!
Karan: And you were doing this little disco step and I remember you crying because you came third!
Ekta: I came third and they gave the first prize to Adi and I wanted that prize.
Karan: Now, it's a lesser known fact that Aditya Chopra won over Hrithik Roshan in the dance competition. Hrithik came second and Aditya Chopra came first and you came third and I remember you bawling and then Adi very magnanimously gave you the crown and made you get the first prize!
Ekta: I think it was in his genes to be extremely gentlemanly.
Karan: Now when I look at you I think life has taken a complete circle with him doing so well and you doing so well!
Ekta: I hope in the future also he gives me something generously. (Laughs)
Karan: But really today you are the queen of prime time. Two years ago I told you the same thing. Two years later you're even beyond that. How does it feel to be the numero uno in your field?
Ekta: You know what? It has been the same! There was a sense of complacency which had come into the medium a couple of months ago when there was no competition and we were doing well. But now suddenly with Zee coming up, it's becoming tougher to be on the top. But the fun, the aggression, and the competition that TV has now…it's only going to get better and more fun!
Karan: Have you ever seen someone else's work and thought that, "Oh my God! They are doing something great and I have to combat that!"
Ekta: Oh! A lot of times! I really feel that television has some very good talent. But the real talent that I would like to emulate or be as good as… is that in Hollywood and the shows existing there! They have some really good shows and I would like to bring that kind of television to India one day.
Karan: There is a large section of people who are constantly saying that your television is aggressive and they keep saying that repeatedly. I know I've been through that criticism time and time again. What do you have to say today? Do you get completely fed up of hearing this?
Ekta: No! Now it is a part of my life. 'Aggressive television… Oh! Staple diet for couch potatoes.' I'm so used to it. It doesn't even bother me. You know what happens Karan, in TV, you realize that the people you are catering to and the people who are talking are two different people. I'm going to be catering to a mass audience. People ask me, "Why are you doing a show in which a father has problems with his daughter's marriage?" and I tell them, do you ever go to the India you live in? These are problems that exist in the India we live in! First know your country and then criticize my shows! You don't know your country; you don't know the problems people go though, if you are sitting in Malabar Hill.
Karan: (Laughs) They are sitting in their safety nets and talking about what you are doing.
Ekta: Yeah! They don't even know what problems their bai is going through! She must be having a completely different mindset. She doesn't want to go home and fight with her husband about situations like, 'Did you ask me that during dinner?' That is not her conversation and I make TV for that audience! You don't like it… don't watch it!
Karan: I love that! That's what I want to say to so many people who say things about my films.
Ekta: But they watch your films and they watch my shows! Like people remember episodes and I say… you shouldn't be watching it, like you said!
Karan: Well, you have changed people's lives and the timings in their lives. I mean suddenly they don't go out in that time frame! I know from my mother's routine that her life has changed and not only her… she represents a million other women or million other family people.
Ekta: And see… we are catering to them. I am here to entertain women who have lived homely lives… I make shows for the homemakers. I really don't make shows for women who live in the upper stratas of society, who want to have their creative juices flowing through television. I am sorry… I make shows for the masses!
Karan: Do you feel the larger section of the audience is going with the flow of the drama in the show but are not even bothering about the little technicalities that the other section talks about?
Ekta: I think fiction is a suspension of reality and that is a fact of life. I mean you take shows abroad and they are such huge glitches in the stories there. I mean I just met the chairman of 20th Century Fox Television and we bonded because she and I had the same problems- actor problems, date problems and sustaining stories through time. And she was doing one-hour weeklies. They make Prison Break and 24 and stuff like that. And their appreciation of our TV was so much more than we appreciate our own TV. I mean she was seeing some of our stuff and she was absolutely amazed at how we could shoot accidents, opulent weddings in one day. She was like, "Amazing! You guys rock!" and I was like "Thank You!"
Karan: You just spoke about actor problems! Is that a big big issue with you? Is that like a constant war you have to go through?
Ekta: Yeah! I mean… I live and die television and for the last seven years when the daily soaps took the biggest leap into Indian homes; I have only had one issue- Actor issues! Either someone is having a problem at home or they are having a problem at work or they are tired of doing the same thing. I mean they are all understandable problems, but it is a problem that comes up from all sectors but it's the same thing- Actor problems!
Karan: You have had a solid equation with possible one of the biggest stars in Indian television- Smriti Irani, who plays Tulsi in Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. There is a lot of conjecture about problems you are facing with her. How true is that?
Ekta: I would actually call Smriti and me as husband and wife! It is an arranged marriage we got into 7 years ago. There are going to be fights, there are going to be issues, there are going to be days when I say that I wish I had never worked with her before and she will say the same thing about me but eventually we are yet in the marriage and that speaks a lot! And we are inseparable! She looks back at the seven years with a lot of love for me and I look back with the same. So I don't really think that the daily issues matter because you see me and my mom work. I fight with her and we are at each other's throats, but the very next minute we are laughing so people really don't understand these issues you know!
Karan: So it's more like a ghar ki baat?
Ekta: Bilkul ghar ki baat hain! Saas-bahu ka rishta hain! (Laughing)
Karan: Because there is a lot of media reporting on her going on as a producer and doing other shows which is bothering you.
Ekta: Maine use chaabiyaan de di hain! (Laughing) Ab ghar tumhare haat mein hain… apna ghar banao.
Karan: So who holds the power in the relationship of Ekta Kapoor and Smriti Irani. Who has the actual upper hand in the relationship?
Ekta: I think it's a 20:20 scene! At times when I need the dates, she has the power and at times when she wants an off, I've got the power!
Karan: I like that!
Karan: Strangely you have only had issues mainly with all the male actors. Why are you always fighting with the men, Ekta?
Ekta: I don't know what this problem is, with men and me! I've not been able to hook one till now! Actually with women what happens is…they are smarter. They know exactly how far to push it. Men are extremely emotional, because of which they react to situations instantly. Because of which what happens is they would even put their career at stake if they came to it. Men are like babies… they have to be mollycoddled.
Karan: You recently had this problem with Rajeev Khandelwal. He's out of your life now?
Ekta: Yeah! That's not any kinda baby I like! That was not somebody who wanted a toffee or a chocolate… he wanted my house! So I said No!
Karan: No one's taking Balaji away from Balaji herself!
Ekta: See like a person like Iqbal or for example Ram…
Karan: Ram Kapoor had worked with you in a serial called Ghar Ek Mandir and then you had a big problem with him until he came back to Balaji in a serial called Kasamh Se.
Ekta: Absolutely! But you know those issues are very cute like Iqbal has… "No one cares for me' and 'I don't get that much time off!' and these are the kind of issues men have! Women have bigger issues, but they never leave their shows for that! They are much smarter and they know exactly what they are doing.
Karan: You think men react instantly and impulsively and emotionally sometimes?
Ekta: But they are cuter! (Winks)
Karan: (To Ram) She has had a problem with you earlier during your bout with Ghar Ek Mandir?
Ram: Yeah! I have to say I was a very different person at that point of time. She gives all the credit to my wife for changing me and I have to agree with her because my first innings in television was more of discovery. I was deciding where I want to be.
Ekta: And you know what happened? I didn't know at that point of time that Gautami and he were seeing each other and I bitched about him to Gautami only!
Karan: Ekta this childhood habit of yours, which I thought you have grown out of! Ekta was a real confusion creator as a child! I've known her since she was 12 or 13.
Ekta: We made soap operas even then!
Karan: She created fights between many heroes and heroines in the industry at that time and now shes creating whole shows with the same feelings! So now everything is sorted and now you are comfortable with each other?
Ram: I have come back into television with a whole better perspective of what TV is and I love the fact that I am back with Balaji. I know their strengths and their weaknesses, I know my strengths and weaknesses and now I think together, we are doing a pretty good job.
Karan: Ronit… you are the blue-eyed boy of Balaji. You are practically in every show. With grey hair in some, without grey hair in the other! You play all kinds of ages, stages, rages, everythin, how is it working with Ekta?
Ronit: You know there was a point in my life where there was a lot of alcoholism. One evening, this friend of mine called Raj, who was looking after my work, he came back home after meeting a producer. I asked him, 'What did he say?' so he went and he fixed me a drink and said, 'Let it go, we just had a chat!' so I said, 'No, tell me! I am a big boy, I can handle it!' He said, 'You know Ronit… You are done! He said why should I take Ronit when I can cast any junior artist with more talent and less money!' and I thought, 'Yeah man! Maybe I am done!' and then Ekta came along and Balaji came along and I said to myself, 'No! I'm not!' At that point of time, Karan, I really did not know which way to go, so that's why I always thank her. She has brought a dead actor, a dead human being… she has resurrected me!
Karan: Hiten, you are a young boy today. You are in your early 30's but you are playing what… a 50-year-old man in one show and who knows with another leap you will be 80 soon but you have the love and the regard of millions of people at such a young age. How does it feel?
Hiten: It feels very nice. I never thought of it! I always wanted to be somebody somewhere and suddenly one day everything happened and it's all her (Ekta) doing!
Karan: We don't like too much praise on this show! You have something non praiseworthy to say about Ekta?
Ram: Oh God! That would be very hard!
Karan: Is she a real tantrum-thrower? I believe she throws things at times when she's really angry.
Ekta: I do!
Karan: You do? Have any of you ever seen that side?
Ram: Of course! We all have!
Ronit: I have not! I've heard of all this… all the tantrums, never experienced it!
Karan: Nothing has ever come flying in your direction ever?
Ronit: No! Not even harsh words. I always tell my colleagues, my co-actors… there used to be a lot of bitching going on at the sets… now they don't, because they know, I don't take it. But I always tell them that when an actor is doing one show and they crib about the long hours, you know she does 20 shows at a time, so if you cant handle the pressure of one show, look at what she's going through!
Karan: What have you been exposed to? Any tantrums?
Ram: Yeah! Many tantrums! But now I've understood her. She's so passionate about what she does. 4 a.m., 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m. in the morning she has been at it, the whole day, the whole night.
Karan: But she comes alive in the night! Everybody doesn't know this- Ekta's day is her night!
Ram: And because of this passion, she wants perfection. She wants 110% from the lead actor to the spot boy. You want to be in this company, you got to give a 110. So whenever she doesn't get that 110, is when her temper comes up. Other than that, I don't think anyone can call her an unreasonable person. It's only when she doesn't get the best.
Ronit: And also apart from her side of the work, which would be the creativity, I've also noticed that every actor who joins Balaji is somewhere there at the back of her mind. You know once you join Balaji, at whatever level you are, you are not sitting at home… isn't that what an actor wants? I mean… I have sat at home for 7 years… I know what it means to sit at home. She doesn't let that happen.
Karan: You are very gracious that way Ekta! You have given a lot of people sometimes a resurrection, sometimes a creative life of their own. So do you feel a certain sense of satisfaction that you have so many millions of careers that you can hold the purse strings of or just their careers of, in general?
Ekta: More than a power I think its just God's benevolence that he has given me a chance to be a part of the journey of other people's life. I really believe this you know. A company that makes millionaires is a better company that makes millions.
Karan: Well done! (Claps)
Ekta: A company that has people who are growing and a company that sees that people are well looked after… that's why when people say, why don't you end your old shows, I say No! How many homes are running with that? There will be some people who will be out of work. It's a responsibility a company takes on. I read an interview of Mukesh Ambani in which he said- "A real entrepreneur is not somebody who finds their own talent, but finds the vision and the possibility to see someone else rise in life." I think that's a brilliant line he's said.
Karan: I think that's the only way to be. I think that's the mantra of your success. You go girl! More power to you!
Ronit: Go girl go! We are behind you!
Karan: Now you (To Ram) are the popular Jai Walia from the show Kasamh Se. Ekta was telling me that both yours and Ronit's characters were a product of this certain discussion she had with her team of writers. She wanted to bring this very suave, sophisticated, fancy kind of man on Indian television. First she came up with Ronit with the wonderful salt and pepper look and then you came on as Jai Walia. So this was the big thought.
Ekta: The whole idea was… what kind of man would make any of us drool or salivate. We sat and we discussed it and we thought we need a guy who is going to stand up there and make half the nation drool! Now there is something I want to tell you what Indian TV is all about. In films, its usually men you idolize and women you fantasize… on TV it's just the opposite.
Karan: Oh is it? You fantasize about the men and idolize the women?
Ekta: Exactly!
Karan: See now if your women are Tulsi and Parvati, you can't fantasize about them! No offence to both of them, they are wonderful women.
Ekta: But men don't watch TV, basically women watch TV and I don't expect women to fantasize about Tulsi and Parvati, so they are going to be sitting and actually looking at their problems and identifying with them and seeing the way they solve it and idolizing them for that. They go into their bedrooms and they have these really boring husbands and they think what if I had this husband like Jai Walia or Mr. Bajaj or if it's a much older woman she'll tell her family that 'Karan beta bahut accha hain' but actually it's really more than that.
Karan: And Jai Walia is a product of two big industrial names that I find very amusing!
Ekta: In the younger men, somebody who is slightly bigger built but good looking is Jeh Wadia and a grown up man who I think really looks hot is Vijay Mallya.
Karan: So Jai Walia is a combination of Jeh Wadia and Vijay Mallya! Lovely! This is the best combination you can think of.
Ram: Can you imagine how I was supposed to prepare for this role.
Karan: You just had to imagine a 1000 crore turnover in your head and walk the sets. That's fabulous. And Ronit's salt and pepper look comes from where?
Ekta: Mr. Gere.
Karan: Oh! So you are the Richard Gere of Indian television. That was the brief given to you?
Ronit: Yeah! That was the brief given to me. I remember on the first day of the shoot we spent 7 hours trying various products to get the hair right!
Karan: When it comes to a big show, how competitive or ambitious is the atmosphere, when you have a big show hitting prime time like KBC? There is a lot of advertising, a lot of hype and hysteria. Is there something you are doing on another channel or another show to combat it?
Ekta: Absolutely! It's war!
Karan: It's war? You have to compete with the TRP's ?
Ekta: We just have to! Leaps happen, people get grey hair, some people get their grey hair off at that time.
Karan: So you either leap or you kill a character or you bring someone back?
Ekta: Always! It's a must!
Karan: When was the last time you felt compelled to do something like this?
Ekta: Almost everyday!
Karan: So then you would go for a 20 years leap or a 10 year leap. How many of you have leaped how many times now?
Hiten: One leap
Ram: I am about to leap. By the time this show is on air, I will have leapt!
Ronit: Leaps and bounds for me!
Karan: So you are technically how old (to Ronit)? 90?
Ekta: We will not go into that. (Laughing) You can say 20 years younger than Ba!
Karan: Which is 240! Ba is like a monument, she is not a person. She's like Ajanta Ellora. I think she'll be immortal. She will be lying in stone one day and we'll still be watching her. I don't think you can ever kill her.
Ekta: I can't kill her.
Karan: I think if you kill her, it will be like a national mourning.
Ekta: People are like, how can you kill Ba! I say arre she's 90. . nahi nahi .. so what?
Karan: She's not 90 darling! 90 is still a believable age. I'm telling you, she is a cave, not a person. (Laughing)
Vox Pop- Who would be Ekta's ideal husband?
Ekta: Do you want to know who I would really like to marry if he was not married?
Karan: Please?
Ekta: Its too much of an expectation but I would have loved to marry Mukesh Ambani. I think the man is enterprising and he is such a family man- A rare combination. That's what I would really want!
Episode 15
This, Sunday Karan's guest is not only a Hollywood superstar, but also a man with a humanitarian mission and on a lighter note, he is considered one of the sexiest men in the business.
"My mother goes weak in her knees every time she sees you on television," says Karan as he welcomes the Hollywood heartthrob, Richard Gere. Speaking about the Gere Foundation, Richard shares what prompted him to take up the cause of HIV Aids, his take on celebrities who think it is fashionable to fight for a cause and where does he see his Foundation a decade from today. Here he is with a candid tête-à-tête with Karan.
Karan: Alright so sexiest man really… my mother goes weak in her knees every time she sees you on television…
Richard: I had this bizarre thing happen… I was making a movie recently and there was a little press conference called for the same… and there was this young reporter there … so shy and she came up to me and said, Mr. Gere, "Three generations of women in my family love you…. my grandmother, my mother and me", … and I started blushing….
Karan: Thank God I didn't bring my mother here…. I don't know what she would have done…. Because yesterday I told her Richard Gere is coming to my show… and she was like Oh my God.. I've seen Pretty Woman over a 100 times….
Richard: It's a bit different here… you know these beautiful young girls come to me asking for an autograph and they say, "could you make that for my mother please" (laughs) …
Karan: We were reading some kind of stuff you know, the sexiest men in the business have actually dedicated their lives to a cause… There are so many of them working especially in your fraternity, you know be it Brad Pitt or George Clooney or you and there's this whole perception of them being so sexy and yet all of them doing things like humanitarian issues they combating and fighting and doing stuff for… you know sometimes people feel that there is a contradiction, a) the perception is very sexy and you know of course you have been so sincere about it?
Richard: You know sometimes people feel there's a contradiction when that happens, the perception that you being so sexy and you being so sincere about a cause… You know there is a tradition of this in America… I mean… there is a feeling that there is a responsibility that we all have whether we are movie stars or the technicians here in the studio; whatever maybe… we are all equal in our humanity. And we all do have a responsibility to help each other as far as transforming the planet and specially those people who suffer.
Karan: You have actually been very consistent in this, working with your heart and soul for a while, but a lot of other celebrities come in initially what do I call it, it's considered fashionable to fight a cause or do something …
Richard: It's not something that everyone does and maybe their interests are elsewhere or their voyage is elsewhere and there are other things they are working on. I don't blame them for that, but I am thankful to the ones to whom it does touch them and they continue. For the first time, I came here and started working on HIV Aids which was a year ago, I thought that if we did two events, one in Delhi, one in Mumbai… it will change everything and I was very naïve and obviously for a moment there were newspapers, talks and photographers, basically a lot of attention to this subject… so it meant really building this up from ground zero… how to build an organization… how to build the network of friends, who are equally committed.
Karan: How has your experience been in India?
Richard: I think it's been great… have been meeting a lot of excellent people… The Mumbai community has been quite committed… I would like them to be more committed.
Karan: You feel they need to be?
Richard: Ya… I think they can and they will be… you know, we did an event with 15000 sex workers, which was pretty extra ordinary. A whole lot of actors and actresses volunteered for it… we didn't have to chase them down.
Karan: Is there any one particular actor that you have been interacting with that you feel has been very supportive.
Richard: Well … Shabana Azmi is one.
Karan: She has actually been fighting for the cause since many years.
Richard: And not just this cause but many causes… and there was… I forget the name… she was wonderful…
Karan: Bipasha?
Richard: Yes… Bipasha.
Karan: Yes… she is a lovely girl… and is also considered very sexy.
Richard: I can tell you she is very sexy and hot… ya… she is terrific and very bright too.
Karan: And you know bright and hot is a very rare combination?
Richard: Is it?
Karan: Do you feel, you know you have met people from the Mumbai film fraternity… how different are they… how different is the vibe vis-à-vis in LA?
Richard: Frankly, I think we live more like normal human beings there… because I think you're culture is so based… there is so much emphasis… even much more than in US… I think… I may be wrong… in New York I can walk up and down… I don't think Shah Rukh Khan can do that.
Karan: No, he cant.
Richard: And Shah Rukh Khan has been very kind and Salman Khan did an amazing thing on World Aids Day last yea .
Karan: What did he do?
Richard: You know he was performing in front of his fans… and he asked them, "Do you love me?" and they said, "Yes"…and then he said… "This man here has HIV Aids, do you love him"… there was silence and he said, "I love him …and if I had HIV positive would you still love me"… and everybody said, ya… ya … and he said, "if you don't love him… then you don't love me and I don't want you come for my movie"
Karan: Well, Salman Khan is known for that… he speaks his mind.
Richard: And I like that.
Karan: He is all heart and soul…
Richard: Yes… he is very heart felt… very passionate about this cause.
Karan: You have traveled the globe, where do you think you have had the maximum impact for this cause?
Richard: I have really taken up India as the place.
Karan: And of course Mr. Amitabh Bachchan… who of course is the big Indian, one of the most powerful…
Richard: He is the Emperor.
Karan: Yes… he is the Emperor… he rules and he will continue to. You have had an interaction with Mr. Bachchan?
Richard: Mr. Bachchan… when I wanted to do this work here, clearly I wanted to interact with people from my own community, we consider each other as brothers and sisters in the world… all of us actors, actresses, directors, writers … there is something that connects us… and I heard of Amitabh.
Karan: Had you, before you had met him?
Richard: Ya… I knew… he is well known all over, I mean I had never seen his films… we had a very good mutual friend, Parmeshwar Godrej, and she put us together and you know he has such a big heart… and that's the man… he could be a recluse right now, but he is still out there… so involved… assuming responsibilities, not just as an actor but also taking up causes… and he realized… that yes it is absolutely essential for us to do this… and with his stamp of approval for the second event, it was his involvement.
Karan: Would you say he set the ball rolling?
Richard: No question…absolutely… without his enterprise and blessing, it would not have been possible.
Karan: Do you think, in India, AIDS is considered to be a homosexual disease? There is a lot of ignorance?
Richard: People just think… yes, it is primarily sexually transmitted, sex workers and truckers, they are the ones who are in this culture, the labeled ones, 'That it is ok, if they die'.
Karan: Oh God!!
Richard: Yes … But that's basically that has happened here… and of course this disease has gone into the middle class community …
Karan: Yes, everywhere..
Richard: It's gone into middle class homes… it's gone into upper class homes…. Obviously the lower class homes… the primary target are the sex workers and the truckers.
Karan: Where do you see the Gere foundation a decade from today?
Richard: Well, hopefully the disease will be so much under control that we can move on and take up other causes.
Karan: Have you seen any Indian movies at all?
Richard: Yes .. I have. I cannot tell you the names.
Karan: Have you seen Lagaan? That everyone talks about?
Richard: No… I think Aamir Khan is a sensitive actor and Shah Rukh Khan is… there is such a clear energy about him, there is clarity and confidence… and Amitabh .. he is the King leader.
Episode 14
The Kapoor family is the most influential film dynasty in Indian cinema! Five generations of the family have either acted in, produced or directed films and have had a major impact on Indian films. Undoubtedly, the Kapoor khandaan is the first family of filmdom. Karan's guest this week are the children of the Royal Raj- Randhir, Rishi, Rajiv and Reema accompanied by the gorgeous Neetu Singh.
In this hilarious episode, the brothers talk about the origin of their nicknames- 'Dabboo, Chintu and Chimpu'- something they say, very few people know about! Randhir and Rishi talk about how they have always bullied Rajiv all their life and they continue to rib him all through the show, much to Karan's amusement. The brother's laugh about the fact that they failed in school and that the whole family was terrible in academics!
But what really brings the house down is the rapid fire round! In their typical trademark style, the Kapoor brothers have everyone rolling on the floor with their witty answers to Karan's clever questions! What nickname does Randhir think would be ideal for Shahid Kapur? If Neetu wrote a tell-all book, what would Rishi be most worried about? What would Rajiv do, if he was the coach of the Indian cricket team?
Karan: How does it feel… you have your son making his debut this year?
Rishi: Hah! I get the heebie jeebies! Of course any parent would. Well… he has a lot of baggage on him and he has to prove himself. I just hope he's good!
Karan: He's from such an illustrious family… he's your son!
Rishi: Well, that's not enough!
Karan: That's lot of weight on him actually! Too many expectations!
Rishi: Yes there is! He's in capable hands!
Karan: Have you seen any of his rushes?
Rishi: No I haven't! My wife has but I haven't!
Karan: Are you scared to see it?
Rishi: I don't want to see it yet. I want to see it right in the end. I want to see it in one flow- the whole film.
Karan: You think you'll be a total bundle of nerves, one day before the film releases or when you see the film for the first time?
Rishi: Aisa hai ki I don't know if I was in my time. Probably in my time we didn't really have much to lose but now it does make a difference because its not only a son, it's a tradition. You know the Kapoors have been in the game for the last 75 years. My grandfather, my father, my uncles, my brothers, my bhabhi, my aunties, my nieces - you know all kinds of different shakayein in the family tree, so it does really tell upon you when your son is making a debut and hope he can be worthy of his family.
Karan: Chintu… Dabboo… What is the origin of these names?
Rishi: He named me!
Randhir: We were very young and he was just born and he was very small, very tiny. At that time in school, we had a riddle going on, "Chote se chintu miyaan, lambi si pooch- jaha jaaye chintu miyaan, waha jaye pooch." So I named him Chintu and everybody started calling him Chintu.
Rishi: It only happens in India. We keep absurd nicknames I don't know why…
Randhir: It's really very very foolish. I'm very sorry I gave my children nicknames- Lolo and Bebo.
Karan: Yeah! How did that happen?
Rishi: But those are cute! They're sweet sounding… Imagine being called Chintu and he Dabboo!
Karan: How did Dabboo happen?
Randhir: Very few people know about that When I was born, I'm told I was very fair and they were trying to get a name for me and we had a puppy in the house… a white colored puppy, so my grand father said, "Lets call him Dabboo!" I was named after a puppy!
Rishi: One is named after a puppy and one is named after somebody's pooch!
Randhir: Indians are crazy and so am I! I take the blame. That's why, he corrected himself. His children have no nicknames. I made the mistake. Im sorry!
Rishi: I'll cut the story short. It happened with a co-star. Shot ready tha to unhone kahan ki aap un saahab ko bula lee jiye aur Chintu ko bhi bula do. So I asked… Mein unse senior hoon, usse age mein bhi bada hoon… theek hain Star to dono barabar hain par usko saahab bulaya aur mujhe Chintu bulaya. So he said, Kya kahoon Chintu doesn't command any respect. So I was like mein zindagi mein kabhi kisi bacche ka pet-name nahi rakhoonga.
Karan: Because Lolo and Bebo are also very unusual sounding names. They're both sounds rather than names.
Randhir: I just liked the sounds. I don't know! I'm glad they haven't fought with me because of their names.
Karan: Everyone knows them as Lolo and Bebo.
Karan: What I see is a tremendous bond between each member of your family. How was your equation? You were the older brother (to Randhir) and then it was you (to Rishi) after that!
Randhir: We are all friends first! I am also friends with my uncles. My dad started this. My dad used to be my best friend. I used to drink with him and that was cool with him and he told me to do it in limits.
And have you listened to that?
Randhir: Sometimes!
Rishi: You know… we're like elephants. We all huddle together. You know… one after the other. So even my uncles… they're very moderate. They're very cool about the whole thing… the whole family.
Randhir: Shammi uncle, Shashi uncle… They're our great buddies. We're one big fat family! We're from the healthier side of the world. Hum log zara hare bhare hain! Shining India! We represent Shining India jahan sab log khate aur peetein hain!
Karan: But I've heard some horrible things about what you did to poor Chimpu. That you all bullied him and beat him up during the school ride days!
Randhir: Oh that's a brotherly form of affection. Everyone thinks we brothers are fighting but we're not fighting…. We are just joking with each other. Hum logon ka zara volume ooncha hain… we speak in a high tone.
Rishi: And his name Chimpu's come from where? From the word "Champion"
Karan: Who gave him that name?
Randhir: Our father used to call him "Champion"
Rishi: Because he was born very late.
Karan: That's why Champion?
Rishi: Yes! So from Champion, it became Chimpu.
Karan: So this is how the nicknames are coined!
Karan: What was your bonding with Chimpu like because he came into the family very late after Ritu Aunty and Reema. Was it unusual for you to have a very young sibling?
Randhir: I treat him like my son
Rishi: Its like my father and my youngest Chacha Shashi Kapoor… the age difference was such…. Dabboo and Chimpu's age difference is also such!
Karan: What is the age difference?
Randhir: 15 years!
Karan: 15 years! Then you must have really treated him protectively!
Randhir: I have 3 children! Chimpu's my son and Lolo and Bebo!
Karan: (Addressed to Chimpu) We were talking about how you used to get bullied by these two stalwarts.
Rajiv: I still get bullied! Well, being the youngest, having an age gap of 15 years there and 10 years here, whatever you do… whatever you say is always looked down on and never taken seriously until and unless you put your foot down and make a serious point, a serious view of it then a second thought is given to it. So one has to bear the brunt… one can't help it!
Karan: Which one is worse out of these two?
Rishi: Soch samajh ke bolna!
Rajiv: Rishi! Randhir's still nice… he doesn't say much. Neither does Rishi actually, but he is a little too serious.
Karan: What about your two sisters?
Rajiv: Reema was the one who was with us in the car going to school. Ritu had passed out.
Rishi: By the time you were getting into the car for school, Dabboo and Reema had passed out.
Rajiv: Rishi was also there for a little while. Because he also passed out!
Rishi: I didn't pass out! I failed out!
Karan: You failed?
Rishi: Nods.
Randhir: We all failed! Our father also failed.
Rajiv: Something's less spoken, the better it is!
Rishi: Hum sab gyarah fail hain!
Karan: No one went to any college after that?
Randhir: Only the girls went!
Karan: Ritu and Reema?
Rishi: And Ranbir! He's gone to college!
Randhir: He's spoiling our name! Hope he makes a big name for his grandfather by his films.
Karan: Who was the best student out of you'll?
All three of them: Me!
Karan: I don't know whom to believe!
Rishi: Do I look like a guy who would ever lie to you?
Rajiv: Doesn't my face speak the truth?
Karan: Dabboo uncle looks most convincing!
Randhir: I was the best! I am the best!
Rishi: Chalo bade hone ki haisiyat de bol dete hain that he was the best!
Karan: Who do you'll think is the best director out of the three of you'll?
Rishi and Randhir: Chimpu!
Rajiv: Thank you!
Randhir: He's really very talented. His Prem Granth was a damn good film.
Karan: Yeah it was! And you both believe that? What about Raj Kapoor? Did he believe that as well?
Randhir: I am sorry, he was not here to see his film but he would have been very proud of Prem Granth.
Karan: What's it like being with these three men?
Neetu: They're all my favorite. Rajiv's my best buddy, I love spending time with Randhir, and this is my husband so I feel at home.
Karan: Has it been wonderful? Were you accepted easily by all the members of the family?
Neetu: I was! But I was very nervous when I entered their household because they were so loud. They talk so much. It was like watching a tennis match. I'd keep turning from left-to-right, right -to- left, but they were very carefree. I was 22 when I got married. They all used to talk together at the same time.
Karan: You have a special relation with each and every one of them!
Neetu: Everyone. Especially Chimpu and Reema are my best friends… and Dabboo of course… I've worked with him in so many films.
Randhir: She's my favorite heroine.
Rishi: Her first leading role as a heroine was with Dabboo.
Neetu: Yeah! Rickshawalla.
Karan: But of course your more special bond has been with your husband. It's been 27 years now.
Rishi: We were in 11 films together.
Karan: And how has it been?
Neetu: It's been a great journey. Children… my daughters married… Ranbir is getting launched.
Karan: Are you excited?
Neetu: I am more nervous than excited. Just waiting… I've seen some rushes… but it's for the people to judge.
Rishi: It's very difficult to judge your own kid.
Randhir: He'll be good! I'm very sure!
Rishi: But we as a family are talking about it. Let the audience talk about it!
Karan: Is there any particular moment you can think back to about just spending time with family. Anything that has moved you. Just left an indelible mark?
Neetu: I think we're all very bonded Karan! We meet for lunches and for dinners and we don't need outsiders because we're self-sufficient and so happy with each other.
Randhir: At breakfast, we discuss lunch… at lunch we discuss what we're having for dinner. That's a typical Kapoor trait.
Neetu: We talk about food… and with so much of passion.
Karan: How come you don't look anything like them Neetuji?
Rishi: I deprive her! I don't give her anything to eat!
Neetu: And he says you sleep on a bed of nails. I enjoy doing this.
Rishi: She's very disciplined.
Neetu: And that's why my kids are disciplined and he's also disciplined.
Randhir: Ya sure!
Neetu: Atleast now he takes care of what he's eating.
Rishi: This is all puppy fat yaar!
Karan: You won't have it any other way? This is a special family to be a part of.
Neetu: Absolutely! Each and every one of them and the head is the Mother-in-law. She is wonderful and all the humor comes from her.
Karan: Really? That's something everybody doesn't know…
Neetu: She's the funniest. With a straight face she can just make you crazy.
Karan: I'm so much younger than you'll but just want to say "God bless you all"
Karan: What do you have to say about Reema?
Randhir: She's my sweetheart… our…sweetheart!
Rishi: We have two sisters. One is in Delhi and not here with us today, and this one is the younger one, and this is the one who's been constantly fighting with me all through, but she's lovely, genuine and warm and I hope she's not hearing this
Karan: Are you happy to be on the show?
Reema: Yes, I'm very happy to be on the show. I'm very nervous and want to tell you that once I'd told you…. "Karan mujhe bhi picture mein lena. And you told me sure Reema sure! Shah Rukh ki jo maa hai picture mein unka dehaant ho gaya hai. Unke upar gale mein mala hogi, unki photo lagegi. That is you!" But I made it!
(Claps)
Randhir: Now do you believe she's part of the Kapoor circus…. Thank God Manoj Jain has taken her away from us.
Karan: I bet, none of your brothers cried during your bidaai?
Reema: None! Except for Anil.
Rishi: We thanked Manoj yaar!
Randhir: Take her away please.
Reema: They are very mean to me.
Karan: But why was Anil Kapoor crying at your bidaai?
Reema: He had shooting the next day and he was always preparing. I didn't find anyone crying and I was like "CRY! Manoj will send me home and they said… Open the champagne" and that's what these three did! One thing… I've been hearing that they're drinking a lot and I heard you'll talk about it but one thing about them…the family traditions and values. My father had passed away and my 3 brothers were like pillars of strength for the entire wedding. They stayed there, they all behaved themselves, they didn't drink and they conducted it beautifully, like my father would have them to do and I thank you all for that.
Randhir: We didn't want any mishap, so Manoj doesn't take you away….
Reema: You know its sad… all of us bully each other. My sister Ritu who's in Delhi.. she's the angel. If you tell her also Chimpu or Chintu or Dabboo did this, she'll say, "no, no no no, let it be, go on!" she's a calming person. She's like the anchor… like my mother. She'll calm you down, hold you down, inspire you, she's one of the reasons I've come here…. I didn't want to come…(laughs)
Neetu: You know she's an amazing actor. You know when she danced in Riddima's sangeet.
Karan: She danced on Kajra Re?
Neetu: Sanjay Leela Bhansali said that if she was younger, I would have launched her.
Reema: When we were younger, Neetu and me have acted in Chimpu's home videos. We had done Silsila. Anil Kapoor, he was not an actor that time, Neetu and myself and Chimpu was the director and he said you'll be Rekha, she was Jayaji and Anil was Bachchanji. I just played the piano… Neetu was so good…. Anil was so good and I just played the piano.
Karan: They all bully you but it's very evident that they love you.
Reema: I love them too…. And they really are my pillars of strength. Is duniya mein what all is happening, sabke jhagde hote hain, hum log ne kuch to kaayam rakha is zindagi mein. God is kind, Papa is there, my mother's upbringing, we have had some good emotional values which we'd like to carry till we're gone. We want their blessings.
Episode 13
She has had a fantastic 2006…. A power-packed performance, the biggest item song and the biggest hit of the year… But more than anything else, she brought the bikini back in business… Karan's first guest is the very sultry and sexy Bipasha Basu! Karan's second guest started the brand Dhoom… He is too sexy for his shirt and is so hot to handle that women the world over get dirty thoughts at the mere mention of his name- John Abraham.
Looking absolutely stunning, Bipasha talks about how she loves her sex-symbol tag and how she would like to have it forever and be a sexy grand mom. She tells Karan how she had to work so hard, eat less and spend extra hours at the gym to get in perfect shape to wear a bikini in Dhoom 2. The off-screen couple chats with Karan about their relationship, their struggling days in the film industry, marriage, success and how they deal with each other's 'hotness'.
They also talk about their equation with their colleagues in the film industry and for the first time, John opens up on national television about his issues with his co-stars Salman Khan, Kareena and Shahid. Also, watch how they score on Karan's exciting compatibility test when quizzed about each other's likes, dislikes, tastes and preferences.
But the real show stealer is the rapid fire round where Karan bombards a volley of questions to John and Bipasha. If John could rescue either Salman or Vivek in Kabul, whom would he choose? What are the three reasons why John prefers a motorcycle to a woman? Did John prefer Bipasha in Corporate or Dhoom 2? If John was not in Bipasha's life, which Bollywood actor would she be attracted to? Which actress would she like John tying a Rakhi to? Who does she find sexiest without a shirt- John, Salman or Hrithik?
Karan: Tell me this sex symbol tag you are fed up of or you love it still?
Bipasha: Well I always say it, I hope I remain sexy till the age of 100, if I live that long. I love living. I love a life. I like every aspect of life that is like every year I enjoy it a little more.
Karan: Yeah.
Bipasha: So I want to be sexy at 100. I want to be a sexy grandmother.
Karan: Well that's a wonderful approach to have... Dhoom of course is known for the very sexy Bipasha Basu ... everyone all over the world just said how hot you looked in the film….
Bipasha: I am very happy with Dhoom 2... Its done me good ...I really worked hard for it and especially that bikini... you really have to slog it out, eat less.
Karan: You almost became like your boy friend when you shot for that scene.. Well you looked superb and that's what matters...
Ok I'm going to call on my next guest who started the brand Dhoom in the first place. Alright my next guest for tonight is too sexy for his shirt should we say... he's the sexiest thing to walk a pair of jeans, women all over the world get all sorts of dirty thoughts at the mere mention of his name. He's so hot to handle we'll think he's fire but you can't ignore his Water. Please welcome the very hot and the very happening John Abraham.
Karan: We were talking about how hot she looked in Dhoom... what do you have to say about it?
John: She was superb. She looked beautiful...and a special mention about the way she carried the bikini shot off...I don't think many people can do that and still u know.. It could look perverse or classy, but I think she was in amazing shape because of all my training...
Bipasha: Don't lie on television.
Karan: But when you have such a hot girlfriend and like all kinds of people compliment her, think she's so sexy... has it ever bothered you? Any kind of irritation at times?
John: Well I think its great, its a compliment... ya... and she's got such long legs.
Karan: So she can defend herself. And what about you Bipasha, women think of all kinds of obscene things when they think of him, does that bother you?
Bipasha: I think its the business that we are in and the kind of personalities that we are.. and the kind of image that we keep. I think if that is not the reaction then there is something wrong. I look at it very intelligently, the reason we are together was because at one point of time we must have found each other really attractive, that's why we firstly must've got hitched. It doesn't bother me, I think of myself very highly.
Karan: I like that, it's very important.
Bipasha: Ya.. There could be other women but there's no one like me.
Karan: And you agree with her John?
John: She's the original
Karan: And everyone else is a copy?
John: No.. not really, but she's the original.
Karan: What about marriage? Is it a step ahead or is it something you are not giving any thought to?
Bipasha: The kind of family background that I come from its very important. It's the most important institution. My parents are the most romantic people that you will ever find. So marriage is definitely very important but at this point of time I think I'm very young... maybe some few years.
John: Ya... Just work right now.
Karan: Ok so John having fun, enjoying your work, loving Salman as well?
John: Kya bolu abhi.
Karan: Bolo na
John: I don't know.
Karan: What happened?
John: If you ask me today also what the problem is, honestly, I don't know, but It's unfortunate that there is a problem.. And if things get ok.. it will be nice.
Karan: But what went wrong... you dont know?
John: Honestly, I don't know. I ask her the same question every day.
Karan: There is a problem?
John: But when we figure out, I will let you know.
Karan: Has there been a very awkward moment very recently?
John: Not really.
Karan: You just look right through each other?
John: Ahhh...I used to say hello... but he is kind of upset with me. He is a senior, so I don't get into the way of things. It's important that I understand that I have come here to do work, I have not come here to make enemies. I don't want to get into the middle of any controversies.
Karan: You did the world tour with Salman, Shah Rukh, Kareena, Mallika and Esha Deol?
John: How I knew you were going to ask me all this .. laughs
Karan: Achcha .. You knew I was going to ask you this. You kept away, was that intentional?
John: Well I have a habit, I sleep very early and I get up really early.
Bipasha: Ya.. We are very boring people.
Karan: Listen, how can the two hottest people sleep early and wake early, I think you are killing all the perception now.
John: I guess that was one of the reasons I did not hang out with anyone else.
Karan: What was your problem with Shahid Kapoor and Kareena? Things are ok there?
John: Ya ..I think Shahid is really sweet…
Karan: Not Kareena?
John: Kareena, thanks to your show last time.
Karan: Oh, I messed it up?
John: Ya .. obviously.
Karan: Put it all on me. everybody keeps commenting on each other and then blame me.. I am just asking people all innocent questions.
John: Last time also you asked me very innocently asked me who is better and I told you and then I got into trouble.
Karan: You should not have answered. So you have no problems with Kareena?
John: No comments .. You told me don't answer.
Karan: So Kareena does she wish you, does she talk to you?
John: I don't have a problem.
Karan: Initially there was a problem with Kareena and Bipasha. but that seems to have sorted out.
Bipasha: Well I think my phase is over, its John's turn now.
John: For some time let me face the brickbats.
Karan: Achcha ok ...Are there any other problems that we do not know about John?
John: No
Karan: Any problems with anyone Bipasha? Please feel free to tell me
Bipasha: No... laughs
Karan: How sad!!!
Bipasha: I have to share something very spicy
Karan: Yes .. tell me.
Bipasha: I am not here to make friends .. I am here to do my work, I have fabulous friends, I like to have a good working environment. I get along with everyone, but I don't take anyone back home, I don't talk on the phone with anybody nor do I like to have people over for dinner. But there are good people in the industry who invite me and have been very nice to me, but yet again I will say, I like everybody but nobody is so close to me.
Karan: But what about you John, you think two actors can be friends?
John: Completely.
Bipasha: I don't believe that. You know one thing about boys and girls, girls are too blatant on the face, boys are very deep. You will never get to know, you know we always say .. women are the problem creators .. men actually are far sharper than women
John: But it's a fact .. men actually bitch a lot more than women!
Karan: I don't agree. I am not like that. Do you feel close to any of your colleagues?
John: Well I get along very well with Abhishek. He is a lovely boy.
Karan: And Bipasha's favourite?
John: Ya. I love Sanju .. Ahhhh .. Ajay Devgan, Akshay.
Karan: Akshay and you get along ?
John: Ya ... completely .. Akshay is my guruji.
Karan: As in?
John: It's a silly joke between us.
Karan: But Akshay and John there was a publicized problem.
Bipasha: I think it's more written.
John: Its more written
Karan: Nothing happened on the sets of Garam Masala?
John: Never
Bipasha: They clearly bond too well. They are just too touchy all the time.
Karan: They keep touching each other?
Bipasha: Ya ... I am giving you spicy koffee .. they are always hugging .. these two are like inseparable.
Karan: That's very suspect .. It's sounding a bit odd.
John: He is a really nice guy.
Episode 12
She's truly a household name! Whether she went about it the right way or the wrong way, no one has the right to judge… because at the end of the day, her popularity is unprecedented. Ridicule her… Mock her… Love her… whatever you do, you can't ignore her! Karan's guest this week is none other than everybody's favorite- Rakhi Sawant! Also joining her towards the end of the show are her close friends- the very gracious, Carol Gracious and Aashiqui boy, Rahul Roy.
Looking absolutely stunning in a sari designed by Manish Malhotra, Rakhi sizzles on the show. She is her usual straightforward self, answering Karan's questions without batting an eyelid! Rakhi talks about her family, boyfriend, fans and of course the controversy with Mika! She confesses on the show that 'Botox is the secret of her beauty'… and brings the house down by singing a song from her latest album "Supergirl"! She also talks about how her "item girl" image, which was created by the media, spoilt her relationship with her parents and family.
When Karan asks her about the reality show she participated in, she shudders at the very thought and tells him that she had no idea what she was in for but she also admits that the show changed her life! She talks about how she unintentionally falls into controversies and is so often misunderstood like for instance when she went to jail to donate computers to the prisoners!
Rakhi is a treat to watch especially in the rapid fire round as she answers questions thrown in by the audience and by Karan, in her true original style! If she was lost in a deserted island, which 3 men would she take with her and what would she do with each of them? What is her reaction on Mika's music video on the 'infamous' kiss? Which Bollywood director would she like to work with? How does she maintain her gorgeous, voluptuous, sexy body? If she was in charge of the Indian Cricket team, what would she do?
Karan: So Rakhi you are looking lovely!
Rakhi: Thank you!
Karan: So how do you feel being on the show?
Rakhi: Mujhe bahut accha lag raha hai. Mein bahut accha feel kar rahi hu, Manish ki sari pehen kar!
Karan: Manish Malhotra ka sari pehena hai aapne?
Rakhi: Mujhe bahut accha lag raha hai with the earrings, with the good bracelet and good purse! (Laughs)
Karan: To poore set ho?
Rakhi: Haa! Mujhe aisa lag raha hai mein Sushmita Sen, Rani Mukherji, Preity Zinta, Kajol lag rahi hoon philhaal! Mujhe aisa feel ho raha hai andar se!
Karan: Aap show dekhti hai?
Rakhi: Yes!
Karan: Aapka mention bahut baar ho chukka hain, is season mein!
Rakhi: Haan meine dekha hai! Kiseene bahut accha response diya, kisine kuch aur kaha… chalte rehta hai! No problem.
Karan: Jab aap bure response sunti hai, aapko bura lagta hai?
Rakhi: Nahi mujhe bura nahi lagta! Dekhiye, zindagi hain… kuch log accha samajhte hai, kuch log bura samajhte hai, sabki apni marzi. Theek hai… unhe samajhna chahiye ke kisike baarein mein bolne ke pehle dus baar sochna chahiye ki us ladki ne kitna struggle kiya hai, kitna kya kiya hai. Meri jagah pe koi rehkar dekhe ki meine kitna struggle kiya hai.
Karan: Pehle mein aapse maanfi maangna chahta hu!
Rakhi: Nahi nahi bilkul nahi!
Karan: I want to apologize because pehle pehle bahut logon ki tarah I used to laugh at you sometimes. Aapki confidence levels dekhke, jis tarah aap pesh aati hai sometimes television pe, woh dekhkar mujhe kabhi kabhi hasi aati thi. But when I saw you on your reality show, to mujhe laga ki you are an innocent, sweet child and you say it as it is and jo aapke dil mein aa jata hai woh aap keh deti hai and theres something vulnerable, something very innocent about you and you won millions of hearts with the way you were on that show and I think that's amazing and aapne jo success paya hai woh khud apni marzi se paya hai. Sometimes aapko aisa lagta nahi hai key eh sensational aap jo pesh aati ho, woh kabhi kabhi kuch zyada nahi kardeti? You think that happens?
Rakhi: Nahi Karan! You know mein aisi hi hoon. Bachpan se hi aisi hoon!
Karan: Bachpan se aap sensational ho?
Rakhi: Haan! Matlab straightforward hoon! Jo bhi hain clear baat karti hoon, mere dil mein jo hain mein keh deti hoon. Isiliye mere daddy aur mummy ko mein pasand nahi hoon.
Karan: Aise meine pehli baar suna hai ki maa-baap apni beti se pyaar nahi karte!
Rakhi: Pyaar mujhe karte hain lekin mein bold aur straightforward hoon, yeh woh pasand nahi karte! Bedhadaak kehte hai na, clear bol deti hoon! Haan, tumne galat kiya hai to tumne kiya hai to woh mujhe kehte hai ki tum zyaada 'Damini' na bano warna zindagi jee nahi paogi. Yeh damini word jo hai mere dimaag mein bachpan se hai.
Karan: Accha 'Damini'! Picture dekhi hogi aapne?
Rakhi: Meri mamma ne dekhi hogi. To mujhe hamesha yahi kehte hai ki tum kuch zyaada straightforward ho. Aise mat bana karo. Kyonki thoda sa diplomatic hona bahut zaroori hai zindagi mein.
Karan: Yeh jo "Diplomatic" shabd hai that you don't understand at all?
Rakhi: Haan, pehle mujhe samajh mein nahi aata tha ki yeh shabd kya hain. Meine hamesha aise hi zindagi guzaari hai. Jaise school mein, college mein bhi first year hi kiya hain meine. Zyaada padi-likhi nahi hoon mein because middle-class families mein kuch problems hote hain Karan! Zindagi mein bahut sari cheezein hai jo face karni padti hai.
Karan: Jaise kya face kiya hai aapne?
Rakhi: Of course mein ek middle-class family se hoon. Mujhe isse koi gile-shikwe nahi hain.
Karan: Its turned around for you! Today you've done exceedingly well and I'm sure ki aaj aap nahi keh paayengi ki aap middle-class family se hain. You are doing very well for yourself. Monetarily as well.
Rakhi: Thank you! Yeh to mein apni mehnat se aage aayi hoon aur public ki wajah se. woh mujhe bohot like karte hain! Pata nahi kya unhe nazar aata hai mujhmein, pata nahi kya hai?
Karan: Mein bahut family ke baarein mein believe karta hu. It's all about loving your parents. Meine ek film bhi banayi thi- 'Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham'. I am a believer of family! Aapne jo kaha mujhe, I am feeling bad hearing this. Your equation with your mother is questionable today. Aapne ek interview mein bhi kaha ki aap akele rehna chahti ho, without your mother.
Rakhi: Mein akele rehti hoon.
Karan: Kyun? Apni maa ke saath kyun nahi rehti?
Rakhi: Mein jab shooting se aaoon, to mujhe bahut sukoon chahiye.
Karan: To maa bahut chillati hain?
Rakhi: Hota hain! Bahut saari controversy hoti hain. You know Karan yeh controversy mein kabhi create nahi karti, mere saath ho jata hain. Pata nahi kyun, ho jata hain. Accident ho jata hain mere saath. Mein kabhi jaan ke nahi karti aur tabhi mamma bahut chillati hain aur daddy bhi mamma ko phone karte hain. Woh bhi chillate hain. To meine decision le liya ki mein akele rahoongi aur akele zindagi kaatoongi. Na kabhi shaadi karoongi aur bas…
Karan: Shaadi kyoon nahi karengi aap? Pyaar to har ladki ko chahiye apni zindagi mein.
Rakhi: Haan, pyaar chahiye. One sec. (Crying)
Karan: Zyada emotional ho gayi aap, Rakhi.
Rakhi: Mein ho jati hoon. Jaha ghar ki baat aati hain, family ki baat aati hain to mein bahut zyada emotional ho jati hoon. Because jis tarah se meine apni zindagi jee hain na, bhagwaan na kare, aise koi ladki apni zindagi jeeyein. Bahut mushkil se, bahut struggle kiya hain meine apni life mein, industry mein.
Karan: Bahut difficult raha hain, yeh struggle?
Rakhi: Bahut kam umar mein, jab mein dus saal ki thi, mere father ne hum log ko chodh diya tha aur kaha ki apni zindagi khud jee lo. Phir saara zimma mujhpe aa gaya. Meri education bhi zyada nahi ho paai, because zimmedari aa gayi mujhmein. To brother, sister in sabko mujhe sambhalna pada. Aur inko sambhaalne ke chakkar mein apni zindagi bhool gayi mein. Aur aaj mein main lead mein aa sakti thi. Film industry mein actress banne ke liye zaroori nahi hain ki tum English bol sako.
Karan: Jee, bilkul nahi. Hindi cinema hain!
Rakhi: Definitely. Talented hona, accha dance, acchi acting karna zaroori hain. Zaroori nahi hain ki tum bahut acchi English bolo to hi aap star ban paaoge. I don't think so! But in sab chakkaro mein thodi peechein reh gayi.
Karan: The main members of your family, how did they react to your exposure… to your skin show, to your sex appeal?
Rakhi: Woh to baat bhi nahi karte. Hamare khandan mein, kisine humse relation hi nahi rakha.
Karan: Aapko lagta hain yeh double standards hain, hypocrisy hain?
Rakhi: Haan double standards hain. Mein apni cousin sister ko mil bhi nahi paati hoon. Kisiko nahi mil paati hoon. Woh log kehte hai, ki tum to film industry mein chali gayi ho. Roz tumhara naam news mein dekhte hain, kisi controversy mein. Itne chotte kapde pehenti ho. But meine kaha ki mein apni zindagi jeena chahti hoon. Aapko mujhse relation rakhna hain to rakhiye, nahi rakhna hain to nahi rakhiye. Aap apne ghar pe khush, mein apne ghar pe khush. Lekin aaj wohi log kehte hain, Rakhi Sawant woh meri sister hain, woh hamari beti hain and no one can believe them.
Karan: Aapne bahut kam umar mein socha tha ki mein expose karoongi, apna skin show karoongi, mein apna image "sexy" project karoongi?
Rakhi: Nahi Karan, meine aisa kabhi nahi socha tha. Mein bahut seedhi saadhi ladki thi. Mein bhi do chotiya rakhti thi, salwar kameez pehenti thi, mera face itna acha nahi tha.
Karan: Aapne kuch kiya hai?
Rakhi: Meri body itni acchi nahi thi.
Karan: Aapne mehnat ki hai apni body pe?
Rakhi: Meine bahut mehnat ki hai apni body pe, face pe,looks pe.
Karan: Did you take some Botox, plastic surgery. Did you take all that as well? Did you take the assistance of that?
Rakhi: Mere lips jo hain, bahut thin the! Toh meri doctor hain Rashmi Shetty. To mere lips unhone silicon se ekdum pouty lips bana diye.
Karan: Silicon use kiya aapne? Wahi silicon use kiya ya kahi aur bhi???
Rakhi: (Laughs) Kya kehna chahte hain aap?
Karan: Nahi nahi mein pooch raha hoon aapse!
Rakhi: Why not? Kehte hain jo cheezein God nahi deta, woh Doctor de dete hain! Apne aapko khoobsurat banana ke liye Miss Universe se Miss World tak, bade bade heroinein kar sakti hain to Rakhi Sawant kyun nahi kar sakti?
Karan: Kya baat hain Rakhi! Personal life mein aapka ek boyfriend bhi hain na? Kya naam hain unka- Abhishek?
Rakhi: Abhishek!
Karan: Aap abhi bhi unke saath hain?
Rakhi: Haan! Mein hoon unke saath. Woh mere bahut acche dost hai.
Karan: Dost hain? Boyfriend nahi hain?
Rakhi: Boyfriend hain! Matlab… mein shaadi nahi karne wali hoon!
Karan: Waise bhi… abhi you are very young. You don't need to get married now but why make a statement like this? You would want to get married, settle down, have kids…
Rakhi: Nahi! Mein bacche nahi paida karoongi aur na mein shaadi karoongi.
Karan: Kyoo?
Rakhi: Woh type ka mera ja mentally level hain… woh mein decide kar chuki hoon because mujhe nahi lagta ki mein kabhi shaadi karoongi.. mere mummy daddy alag ho gaye to bachpan se mein darr gayi hoon aur har jagah aap dekhte hain ki shaadi ho jaati hain aur 2-3 months, 6 months mein divorce ho jata hain to woh saari cheezein mein karna hi nahi chahti hoon isiliye mein live-in relationship mein believe karti hoon.
Karan: So are you living in with Abhishek?
Rakhi: Yeah! Uhh.. I am not living in with him but we have a good relationship.
Karan: And mummy is not happy about it?
Rakhi: No!She is not happy because unki apni problem hain. She says kya zaroorat hain yeh sab karneki, abhi tumhein bahut aage badhna hain. Mein maanti hoon… bahut aage badhna hain… aage bahut kaam hain lekin thoda sa pyaar bhi hona zaroori hain zindagi mein.
Karan: Of course.
Karan: Abhishek ko kaise lagta hain jab woh aapko dekhte hain pardein pe, television pe is tarah sexy image hain aapka?
Rakhi: He's happy! Whatever I do he says, "Whatever you do, you are fantastic Rakhi!". Woh bilkul hichkichate nahi hain whenever I wear short costumes or anything. He says, Yeah Rakhi you are perfect! Whatever I talk kabhi mujhe nahi bolte.. because he knows me. Woh jaante hain ki mein jo bhi bolti hoon, sahi bolti hoon. Kabhi kabhi woh mujhe kehte hain ki 'Be diplomatic Rakhi', I said, 'I cant baby, if you want to leave me, leave but I cant be diplomatic.' To bolte hain, 'whatever you are, I love you!"
Karan: Aur yeh jo poora episode explode ho gaya Mika ke saath, aaj kya status hain? Unhone ek video banaya aapke naam, kya kehna chahti hain aap uske baarein mein? Finally kuch khatam karna chahengi is maamle ko?
Rakhi: Mein to pehle se khatam kar chuki hoon but pata nahi kyoon woh cheweing gum ki tarah kheechta jaata hain. Pehle kehta hain woh ladki nahi ladka thi pehle and that I've done 50 surgeries. That's impossible. 50 surgeries ek body mein nahi ho sakti hain.
Karan: Ek meine rumour bhi suna tha ki aap Rakhi Sawant nahi Rakesh Sawant ho!
Rakhi: (Laughs) Arre woh to mera brother hain- Rakesh Sawant.
Karan: Yeh jo gaana banaya tha. Dekha aapne woh video?
Rakhi: That time I was in the house- 3 months mein. To usko laga chalo woh andar gayi hain, usko pata nahi lagega. To usne gaana throw kar diya ki meine uski pappi kyoon li! My God, I think kisi kachre wali ki le leta pappi. I don't know kyoon usne aisa kiya, but God Bless Him! Agar woh mera naam use karke apni publicity karata hain to that's really bad ki kisiko aise use nahi karna chahiye aur meine use kabhi nahi trouble kiya, Karan.
Karan: Aap jaanti thi use?
Haan! Mein uske saath show kar chuki thi, to uske saath party mein gayi thi. Rakhi: Uski birthday party mein usne mujhe call kiya tha, bulaya tha, as a friend. To unhone mujhe misuse kiya but God is there.
Karan: You felt exploited?
Rakhi: Unhone mujhe bahut exploit kiya. Mere naam se controversy ki, usse bahut saari publicity mili, use bahut saare shows mile, uske paas aur koi kaam dhandha nahi hain, woh pappi ki kamai kha raha hain! That's really bad! Aisa nahi karna chahiye, but hes a very good singer! Woh accha gaata hain, accha music deta hain to I don't think use aisi cheezein karni chahiye. Aapne uska zikr kiya toh mein yeh sab keh rahi hoon, warna mein uska zikr bhi nahi karti.
Karan: You don't want to give him that importance?
Rakhi: Of course not! Aur bahut saarein kaam hain zindagi mein.
Karan: Aap bhi gaane lagi hain na. aapka bhi video nikla hain!
Rakhi: Yes! Supergirl!
Karan: To kya hain gaana woh?
Rakhi: Yeh gaana khud meine pehli baar gaya hain. Jab Amitabh Bachchan Sir ga sakte hain, Sanjay Dutt ga sakte hain, Shah Rukhji ga sakte hain, Aamir Khan ga sakte hain, to mein Rakhi Sawant kyoon nahi gaoon? Mein bhi gaoongi! (Sings Supergirl)
Karan: Aap Sher bhi ban chuki thi? PETA ke liye…
PETA ke liye mein brand ambassador bani. Mein logon ko message dena chah rahi thi ki dekhiye waha ek pinjra tha us mein mujha rakha gaya tha ek ghanta. Aur mein yahan se wahan kaise ja rahi thi, bahut buri tarah se mujhe colour lagaya gaya tha, poora paint kiya tha mujhe, paanch ghante tak, sher ka libaas. Hair mere kharaab ho gaya crimping kar ke.
Karan: Aap growl kar rahi thi andar?
Rakhi: Haan! Mujhe bhi feel hua ki My God, yahan pe log to insaan ko nahi bakshte to jaanwaron ko kya bakshenge!
Karan: Wah!
Rakhi: Kehne ka matlab yeh tha ki log aise na kare!
Karan: Lekin aap to ek alag kisam ke pinjre mein bhi kaid thi for 90 days! Rakhi: Woh experience to bahut torturous raha hoga.
Rakhi: Oh my God! Woh to yaad aata hain to meri jaan nikal jati hain.
Karan: Lekin you survived and everybody loved you on that show! Aapki innocence, vulnerability woh sabne dekhi aur sabne pasand ki to kaisa raha? Aap jab yaad karti hain woh din to kaise lagta hain?
Rakhi: Zindagi mein bhool nahi paoongi mein us show ko kyonki us show ne mujhe zindagi di hain aur aaj mein aapke Koffee with Karan show mein baithi hoon, aapke saamne, just because of that show! Woh show ne mujhe izzat di, pyaar diya logon ke dilon mein aur jitni taareef ki, utna kam hain kyonki log mujhe jaante nahi the aur log kehte the item girl, item girl, itna kehke mujhe badnaam kiya.
Karan: Aapko lagta hain, ek cheap sa image tha aapka?
Rakhi: Bahut! Cheap mujhe bana diya tha ek insaan ko!
Karan: Ab class aa gaya hain?
Rakhi: Haan! Kaafi class aa gaya hain, warna Koffee with Karan show Rakhi: mein kaise aa jati mein, because yeh to itna bada show hain. Yaha pe sirf celebrities aate hain aur itne bade bade stars aate hain. Mere naseeb acche hain. Aur Karan thanks a lot, tumne mujhe itni izzat di is show mein bulake. Bahut bahut shukraguzaar hoon mein dil se, bahut duaayen nikalti hain aur yeh aapka show, bahut saalon saalon tak chalein. Mein bahut khush hoon is show mein aake. Mein Mantralaya mein baith jati to bhi mujhe itni khushi nahi hoti jo is show mein aake mujhe hui hain. I swear!
Karan: How sweet!
Rakhi: But woh reality show ne mujhe nayi zindagi di hain. Mein itni khush hoon ki chote chote bacche bhi mujhe pyaar karte hain. Mein jaha jaati hoon, wahan har mummy, har daddy apne bacche ko leke aate hain aur kehte hain, She's Rakhi Sawant! Har baccha kehta hain, I want to become a Rakhi Sawant. Mujhse autograph lete hain, mujhe pyaar karte hain, mujhe bahut accha lagta hain, mujhe bahut accha lagta hain!
Karan: Aap emotional ho rahi ho!
Rakhi: Haan! Newswaalon ne aur sabne itna badnaam kar diya tha mujhe. Mere Daddy phone karke kehte the ki 'Bas, aaj se tu meri beti nahi hain!' Mummy ne mujhe chodh diya. Mummy ne kaha ki 'Yeh kya hain?'. Aap samajh sakte hain, ek ladki ki zindagi mein kya guzarti hain lekin meine Jai Ganesh aur Jesus ka naam liya. Meine kaha koi baat nahi, koi nahi hain mere saath, Bhagwaan hain… mein sacchai se chaloongi. Aur phir reality show mujhe mil gaya aur logon ne mujhe dekha. Lekin mujhe nahi pata tha ki andar kya hoga. Mein to pehele din make up karke, short costume pehen ke, Yeh Mera Dil item number karke andar pahuch gayi red do bag lekar. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki andar ek naukrani ki image ho jayegi, kapde khud dhone padenge, sabki underwears wash karni padegi, pata nahi kya kya karna padega. Dhoban banjaoongi, Sawant Laundry naam rak diya tha mera sabne. Mujhe to laga tha ki waha to royal ki tarah treat karenge. Pata nahi tha khud ko khudi sab kaam karna hain, jhaadu maarna hain, poche lagaane hain. Kuch pata hi nahi tha. Mujhe kuch bataya hi nahi tha ki waha pe hair straightening bhi nahi denge, makeup bhi nahi denge, khud khana pakana hain, wohi daal, wohi rice, wohi roti and jitney bhi contestants hain wohi pakayenge, wohi khilayenge, pata bilkul nahi tha.
Karan: But phir bhi you did very well Rakhi and Congratulations! Everybody loved you on that show!
Rakhi: Thank you! Karan ek baat mein tumse kehna chahoongi ki jabse logon ko pata chala hain ki mein aapke show mein aa rahi hoon, My God! Sabka ravaiya badal gaya hain mere prati. Sab log change ho gaye hain. Aaj tak jo aise dekhta tha (snubs) woh aaj kal "Hello Rakhi, Kaise hain aap!" izzat ki nazar se dekhne lage hain! Kuch zyada respect aur izzat milne lagi hain! Log dekho kaise change ho jate hain, My God! But mein kabhi change nah hongi! Mein bahut shukraguzaar hoon aapne mujhe bulaya yeh show mein!
Karan: Back to the reality show. Sab chale gaye apne apne ghar, are you still in touch with some of the people in the house?
Rakhi: Haan! Rahul Roy ka phone kabhi kabhi aata hain, Carol ka aata hain. Carol jab mein House mein thi to mujhe samajh nahi paati thi, ab woh samajh gayi hai. Raviji ke bhi phone aate hain.
Karan: To Carol aapko nahi samjhi thi?
Rakhi: Ab samajh pai hai. Unhonein mujh jaisi personality kabhi dekhi nahi hain. Mein job hi sochti hoon, muh pe bol deti hoon. Unko to laga, aisa koi insaan hoga hi nahi.
Karan: So how does it feel?
Carol: To be here? Very exciting Karan! Most excited to meet you because Ive been watching this show for the longest time.
Rakhi: And me?
Karan: Not excited to meet Rakhi?
Carol: I've spoken to her a couple of times. Nice to see her because I've not seen her. Shes so funny, shes just hysterical.
Karan: She was just saying that you never understood her when you'll were in the house and you'll didn't have a great equation with each other.
Carol: Which is true because we come from very different backgrounds and unfortunately a lot of times what she would do and things she would do, I would take in the wrong sense because my understanding of the Hindi language is terrible.
Karan: So there was this whole communication issue?
Rakhi: But still, I love her! Sabko omelete banake khilati thi!
Karan: She's lying!
Rakhi: I am not lying!
Karan: I can use my lie-o-meter. Beep! She's lying!
Rakhi: Everybody knows I love her!
Karan: But if you love her why did you on record saying, I am a household name, who is Carol Gracious?
Rakhi: Woh starting mein tha! Abhi khatam ho gaya!
Carol: It is true! I mean if you think about it, it is very true! Even I know Rakhi Sawant. Nobody knows a Carol Gracious, come on.
Rakhi: But now everybody knows her
Carol: But now maybe, a couple might
Rakhi: Jab meine starting mein kaha tha, tab hamari dosti nahi hui thi
Karan: Did you'll sort that out?
Rakhi: Jab meine use jaana-pehchana to woh mujhe bahut acchi lagi!
Carol: We had a couple of chats. If you've seen, even in the house we had a few chats. We had a lot of differences.. we still do, in a way but the thing is… we're not in each other's face so I can actually see the funny side of Rakhi and she is so funny. She's lovely.
Karan: Was she like that right through?
Carol: Yeah! She was. The thing is when you are living with her, its obviously a different thing. But now I can so understand why everyone finds her lovely. She is what she is! And one more thing I like about her.. whatever she does, shes so proud of it. I mean even sittinghere and talkinf in Hindi. This is an English Show! So yeah, why not?
Karan: That's the way she is. And very proudly she told me that she will talk in Hindi and I said absolutely. So tell me would you ever do this again? Would you go on a reality show like this again?
Carol: The reason why its called a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Once in a lifetime! Its done. You cant ever say never but honestly, its been great, its been fantastic in terms of personally, for me but I think the next time, I wont be mentally prepared. This time gave me such a shock with everything around me. Its too much.
Karan: But now you'll are fine with each other. Status is fine?
Carol: Yeah! I call her up once in a while to say hello, to keep a tab on her, to keep her out of trouble.
Karan: Because you never know what she will do next. She landed up with computers out of a jail one day.
Carol: That's when I called her as well. I was feeling so terrible. I mean it was a great intention. This is what I mean.
Karan: She went to a jail with so many computers. But don't you think Rakhi, permission lena chahiye?
Rakhi: Permission liya tha. Waha ke jo jailer hai Swati Sathe, unhonein humein requirement di thi, humein computer chahiye, kambal chahiye aur diabetes check karne ki machine chahiye. Mein mad nahi hu, paagal nahi hu jo computer raatoraat ja ke khada kar doongi, because mein ek ghanta traffic mein late ho gayi and she was not there at that time, she was in Hyderabad, to kisine allow nahi kiya. Aur 28thka humein date diya tha. Itna sara kharcha kiya- saath-aath lakh.
Karan: Aap ko lagta hain reality show ke vajah se sabkuch change ho gaya?
Carol: Not everything, not for me!
Rakhi: Mere liye to sab kuch. Sab negative se positive ho gaya. Item girl se heroine ban gayi hoon.
Karan: Lekin aapko lagta hain Rakhi ki aap mainstream roles nahi kar paayengi jaise main heroine ka role nahi kar paayengi kyonki aapka image nahi hain?
Rakhi: Boss, mein kar rahi hoon!
Karan: Aap kar rahi hain?
Rakhi: Rahul Rawail's movie- Buddha Mar Gaya! It's a comedy movie. It's the main lead! Pehle log mujhe item numbers ke liye bulate the. Jab pehenna hota tha skirt ya shorts to bulate the, ab aisa bilkul nahi hain. Ab ekdum life change ho gayi hain.
Karan: Pehle aap aise comments bhi karti thi- Jo Dikhta Hain, Woh Bikta Hain?
Rakhi: Aaj bhi karti hoon, lekin ab mujhe log bardaasth karte hain aur samajhte hain ki bas, woh aisi hi hain, ek hi piece hain, poore India mein.
Karan: Why baba Rahul?
Rahul: Because I think they all saw the spiritual side that I was trying to follow.
Karan: But I think everyone saw it. You were so calm, composed and so unfazed by everything that was happening around you. Even Rakhi didn't faze you! Rakhi aapka bhi koi effect nahi tha Rahul pe?
Rakhi: Woh pata nahi koi corner mein ja ke koi mantra bolte rehte the aur mein waha se guzarti thi aur sochti thi pata nahi kaunsa mantra bol rahe hain. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki woh jeetne ke mantra bol rahe hain.
Rahul: For Rakhi I'll say one thing, she was absolutely amazing in the house. All of us were together in the house and in the beginning it was very difficult because none of knew each other. It was very difficult to understand what people were thinking and the kind of people that they are! For someone like me, fortunately I had a certain bit of maturity to balance me out or whatever but when I used to see her I used to wonder…
Rakhi: Yeh Kya Piece Hain, aisa?
Rahul: That in a way she was demanding for some kind of attention but then I started realizing that that's the way she is and there is no pretence about her. That's just the way she is. And for Rakhi Sawant as long as there is music, there is dancing, her life is set! Then she will do anything. Let me also tell you, this girl is a very good cook! She cooks an amazing meal! With Carol, again very very strong… give her any task and she was all gung-ho into getting it done and again, an amazing chef!
Karan: Aap kya kehna chahengi Rahul ko? A parting note to Rahul?
Rakhi: Aapne accha nahi kiya, 50 lakhs rupees jeetke! At least hamarein saath share karna tha! Kitna aapne bardaasth kiya, humne bhi kiya. Ek party tak nahi di, kitne kanjoos hain!
Karan: Aur Carol se kya kehna chahengi aap?
Rakhi: Woh ek bahut acchi ladki hain, I love her a lot! Bahut honest hain Carol aur mein use bahut dil se pyaar karti hoon. Mein aur kisiko itna pyaar nahi karti. Sorry Rahulji. Aisa nahi hain ki ladki-ladki hain, kuch aur samjhna nahi!
Rahul: But in her defence, I will say, she has always maintained that she has always liked Carol as a human being.
Karan: Jaane se pehle Rakhi, aap apne style mein kuch kehna chahengi?
Rakhi: Mujhe bahut accha laga ki aaj mein aapke show mein, Koffee with Karan mein aayi. Mein aaj ke baad chai peena chodh doongi, sirf Coffee peeoongi! Agar mein Coffee peeoongi to mein slim bhi ho jaoongi, mujhe doctor ke paas jaane ki zaroorat bhi nahi padegi aur baar baar mujhe aapki yaad aayegi!
Episode 11
2006 was one of the best years for Indian Cinema. It rained blockbusters and thundered critical acclaim. This is one of the special episodes of Koffee with Karan, where we had with us four filmmakers whose films not only brought the moolah, but also created a big impact. Karan's first guest was a veteran filmmaker. He has a near 100% commercial film success track record.. He has been responsible for giving India one of its biggest superstars and the biggest super hero - Rakesh Roshan.
Karan: There has been one kind of a remark made by the film fraternity and people from the media that Hrithik Roshan works only with his father Rakesh Roshan… it's only his father that gets the best out of him till Dhoom happened… did you feel an internal divide at home… because Dhoom is a Hrithik Roshan film all the way and the biggest money spinner for the year… making Krissh the second biggest hit … did you feel like an internal divide?
Rakesh Roshan: No… not at all… on the contrary I was very happy.. because the film belonged to my son.
Karan: Totally… What I find amazing is that most of us our younger film makers today … and you have been around as a film maker for over 20 years… and have been in the industry for over 37 years now… today you are in the panel of film makers who has made some of the youngest films in that respect… with all the visual effects it is one of India's first super hero films… you have done this at this age? Do you ever realize this?
Rakesh Roshan: I know… it was a difficult task… if you see in the Roshan family we have a producer - director… we have an actor … we have a music director in the family.. so we are four pillars of a film… so I thought if I don't take this step, who will… it's not a normal step… it was a leap… we could have fallen badly… and if I am making such a film… I must have the best technicians with me… so I went ahead and hired Tony Cheng from China… I got special effects people from Los Angeles… we spent a lot and worked on the minutest of details… I couldn't afford to lose any money… waste any money.
He is a film maker who promised that he would awaken a generation and he did and how… he is responsible for making one of the most acclaimed films of this decade. His film was also the Indian entry to the Oscasrs, the genius behind Rang De Basanti - Rakesh Mehra.
Karan: Did you really imagine, envisage or pre-empt the kind of impact your film created globally?
Rakesh Mehra: Honestly… No... I thought my work will be over when the film releases… which is Jan 26th but actually the work started on 26th Jan
Karan: Really
Rakesh Mehra: The kind of adulation we got from the people… from the critics… from the press... from the film fraternity... I still remember the first message I got that was from Rakeshji… it was a lovely message... I still cherish it.
Karan: Did you at all feel rejection when an actor turned it down or a production house that wasn't interested in it?
Rakesh Mehra: Rejection yes… but in a very different way… it only made us stronger… because everybody who didn't do the film… didn't reject it outright ... it was meant to be that way.
Clearly Gandhigiri should be a part of the English dictionary now… it's that kind of impact the film has had and here's the man who has managed to bring Mahatma Gandhi's ideology and vision to the younger generation - Raju Hirani.
Karan: I feel we are in some Director's Summit today and I am hosting this Summit… This is your second success in a row… this film did four times the business of your pervious film… did you ever expect this?
Raju Hirani: Very honestly… no.
Karan: Everyone is being quite modest…
Raju Hirani: I was actually very scared… because here was a film with Mahatma Gandhi... in fact we wanted to hide the fact that it was about Mahatma Gandhi … The initial reaction was that people will think it was a serious film… I was also scared of the fact that how people would react to something like Mahatma Gandhi… I had told my office people… please get your home and office insurance done… anything can happen.
Karan: Did you actually feel personally that there is a generation that has forgotten Mahatma Gandhi?
Raju Hirani: The first recording of the song we were doing… there was a guy who came to serve chai… he asked "Film ka naam kya hai"… that time it was called "Munnabhai meets Mahatma Gandhi"… so he said, "Munnabhai to teekh hai .. ye Mahatma Gandhi Kaun hai"
Karan: Oh God!!
His first film may not have been a thunderous success ... but his next two have met with tremendous amount of success and acclaim. He is the great writer of Hum Tum and the Director of the very successful Fanaa - Kunal Kohli.
Karan: Did you expect Fanaa to be the kind of success it was?
Kunal: Ahhh… I prayed for it ... I hoped for it ... but I didn't expect it to be such a big hit… I had two fabulous actors… Aamir and Kajol and if I hadn't delivered, then...
Karan: People would have stoned you…
Kunal: Ya… they would kill me… people had such high expectations… Aamir and Kajol coming together for the first time… it was scary.
Karan: And you must be very happy that Sanju is brand 'Munnabhai' today
Raju Hirani: Yes ..
Karan: On this show he mentioned to us that he was offered Jimmy Shergill's role?
Raju Hirani: I think what he didn't tell you was… Jimmy played a role of a person who had never slept with a woman… so Sanju told me "Should I be playing this role?"
Karan: I think the only mild criticism that came your way was about the climax of your film… there was a different take on whether the killing of the politician was justified and fell into the slot of the film .. did you feel the need to justify it?
Rakesh Mehra: The characters did what they did… if I would have felt otherwise … I would have shot it otherwise… my point of view is that… killing of a defence minister is politically incorrect… but film making is not about being politically correct.
Karan: I saw the screening of Munnabhai in New York and as I walked out there was this Sardar man who came up to me and said… "Apko aisi filmein banani chahiye… aap tradition se door jaa rahe hai … aap kaisi filmein banaate hai".
Karan: So, what do you have to say about critics Kunal?
Kunal: So all eyes are on me… I used to be one… I have very little respect for most of the critics today… because I don't think their knowledge of cinema is deep enough… their passion for cinema is not deep enough… and I think critics need to have a great knowledge about Cinema… and he or she needs to have no agenda… needs to be absolutely unbiased… I don't see that in most of our critics?
Karan: What is your take Sir … you have been in this industry from more than two decades… and have given one of the biggest blockbusters?
Rakesh Roshan: I feel that the biggest critics are the audience… you should take them seriously and not the critics… they don't know anything about film making … I don't give them importance at all… I don't even read the reviews?
Karan: You don't?
Rakesh Roshan: Not at all.
Karan: What do you have to say Rakesh… because you of course got the thumbs up from most?
Rakesh Mehra: Critics… you like them or you don't like them… they do influence… specially of an audience who do have a loyalty for films like Rakshiji's… your films so, who is this Rakesh Mehra… what are they saying about him… they do influence… but there is a huge responsibility on the shoulder of the critic… and like Kunal and Rakeshji were mentioning to do a job of a critic you need to know your job… it is not a critic's job to write the synopsis of the movie… and in the end praise the actors… because they don't want to get on the wrong side of the actors.
Episode 10
She pioneered natural acting in mainstream films… She played her own rules and went on to become the most respected actor in Indian cinema. She's a successful wife, mother, politician and the first lady of the Indian film fraternity. Karan's first guest this week was none other than Jaya Bachchan. His second guest is one of the most beautiful women in the country and in the world. She was a reigning woman in the movies and continues to dominate our hearts. She is the most gorgeous and stunning Member of Parliament- Hema Malini. Also joining them were their daughters, Shweta Nanda and Esha Deol.
From reliving old memories to clearing misunderstanding… from discussing arguments in parliament to talking about tiffs with their daughters, Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini have a great time on the show! Jaya talks about being a support system to her husband and now… to her son. For the first time ever, she talks about her daughter-in-law-to-be and how thrilled she is that Aishwarya is going to be a part of the family very soon. Hema and Jaya reminisce times spent on the sets of Sholay and how they strongly feel that the film should not be re-made! They also jokingly complain to Karan how Bollywood doesn't offer challenging roles to older actresses, and how he should change that! Their daughters join them on the show and add to the fun by discussing their relationship with their mothers, marriage and their careers!
And just when the Q&A wraps up, the fun doubles with the fiery rapid fire round! Would Hemaji like to play Mausi in Ram Gopal Verma's Sholay? Which actress needs a change of PR agency according to her? Who needs a wardrobe makeover according to Hemaji and Esha? Would Esha be allowed to participate in Big Brother? What does Abhishek Bachchan have that his dad doesn't, according to Jayaji and Shweta? What would be the perfect star-cast of Abhimaan out of the current lot of actors? One piece of marriage advice Jayaji would give Ash and Abhishek? Does she prefer her husband playing Jai or Gabbar? Karan makes it tougher this time to qualify for the hamper, with the mother-daughter compatibility test!
Excerpts from the interview
Karan: So both of you'll besides being members of parliament have one big thing in common and that is "Sholay" and that's something, which is so topical that it's wonderful to talk about at any point of time actually! Anything you remember? What was your experience on the sets of Sholay?
Jaya: You know we used to drop in and say hello! There was nothing like, "Oh my God! What's she doing?" or anything like that! You know it was very different.
Karan: What's also strange is the husband-wife combinations were the main leads and they went on to become.. It's quite something actually…
Jaya: I should have played Basanti!
Karan: You should have played Basanti?
Jaya: Because I loved Dharmendra (Laughs) You know when I saw him for the first time and I was introduced to him.. there was a sofa like this… I went and hid behind it
Karan: Why?
Jaya: I was so nervous! I didn't know what to do. There was this fantastic looking man. I still remember what he was wearing- white trousers and a white shirt and he looked like a Greek God!
Karan: That everyone says… Hemaji said the same thing when she first laid eyes on him!
Jaya: Poor you! You are stuck because of that! (Laughs)
Hema: Yeah! I am stuck because of that! (Laughs) I saw him at a premiere and I was just shocked!
Karan: He had that impact on women!
Hema: Of course he has!
Karan: And he still does!
Hema: Yes! He has still…
Karan: How sweet!
Karan: Would you say that Aishwarya is the perfect choice for the family?
Jaya: I think so! I think its wonderful that she's such a big star herself but when we're all together I've never seen her push herself and I like that quality. I like it that she stands behind, she's quiet, she listens and she's taking it all in! And another beautiful thing is that she's fitted in so well!
Karan: Into the family?
Jaya: Not only into the family. She knows this is family.. these are good friends and this is how one is supposed to be!
Karan: So you would say she is the ideal Mrs. Abhishek Bachchan?
Jaya: I think so!
Karan: Well that's wonderful because when I see you around her I get that! I get that you are completely thrilled!
Jaya: Yeah!
Karan: Shweta, do you think that the men take prominence in the house?
Shweta: Yes! They're attention seekers!
Jaya: The biggest baby takes the most attention.
Karan: Which is your son?
Jaya: No!
Karan: Oh! Your husband!
Jaya and Shweta: Yes!
Karan: Do you think he's the biggest baby?
Jaya and Shweta: Yes!
Jaya: Completely!
Karan: You never miss the glamour and the glitter?
Shweta: Actually it's very easy for me because I get all the perks but none of the responsibilities.
Karan: Really?
Shweta: Yeah! I can live the most semi-normal life unlike all of them and then I enjoy the fun things like coming on your show!(Laughs)
Karan: Esha, are you close to mom? Do you tell her about your relationships, about boyfriends? Are you'll like buddies?
Esha: Yeah Yeah! Completely!
Jaya: Liar!
Esha: What liar?(Laughs)
Karan: So you know everything that's happening?
Hema: Both the girls.. whatever's happening.. they tell me!
Karan: Do you get shocked sometimes when they come and tell you details?
Esha: We don't get into that many details!
Hema: I told them from the beginning… whatever's happening, come and tell me! I don't want to hear it from out you know!
Karan: And read in the magazines! Sometimes do you hide articles? Like sometimes people write all kinds of rubbish…
Esha: No! But right now, no ones writing any kind of rubbish about me also.. it's so boring!
Karan: They're not even writing any rubbish!
Episode 9
She is slowly and steadily making a place for herself in the Indian movies. From niche cinema to commercial multiplex cinema, Karan's first guest is the girl that every intelligent cine goer absolutely adores, Konkona Sen Sharma. His second guest is the sexiest new entry in the Hindi movies. He stood out in the fantastic ensemble of Rang De Basanti and is now here to stay... the very hot and happening Kunal Kapoor! Also, joining them is the funniest guy in the business, his straight-faced comic timing has made him the darling of multiplex cinema and the masses… the fantastic actor and the very humble Ritesh Deshmukh.
From discussing their careers, regrets, to their love life, the trio has an absolute blast on the show! Konkona shares why she will never do a matka jhatka movie, how she was intimidated by the hugely successful star cast of Omkara and in fact is all praise for Kareena! Kunal talks about his take on the sex symbol tag, the special relationship he shares with his childhood friend Hrithik Roshan and life after Rang De Basanti! On the other hand, Ritesh admits on the show that his father was quite surprised to see him in Apna Sapna Money Money, but as always got full support from his illustrious political family! He shares that he no longer gets affected by the rumors linking him with his first co-star Genelia and even being questioned about his sexuality!
And just when the set of controversial Q&A wraps up and the three attractive actors are about to lean back with a sigh of relief, Karan announces the rapid fire round! One mainstream actor Konkona would love to date? Aamir or Hrithik, whom does Kunal choose? One actress Ritesh would like to get naughty with? Who wins the most desired possession on the show - the coffee hamper!
Excerpts from the interview
Karan: Does it bother you that you are not in the consideration for all the matka jhatka movies?
Konkona: No, it actually takes a lot of pressure off me, because if I was perceived like that, then I would have to live up to that, which I won't be able to.
Karan: You don't think, we chatted about this last time, but I thought things would have changed... you are doing mainstream films now.
Konkona: I am doing, but even in those mainstream films there are no matkas and jhatkas.
Karan: But you know to be in those big mainstream films, like a mainstream love story with a big hero with songs and dance, do you never want to do films like those?
Konkona: No, you know I am doing this film, where Kunal and I are going to do a song
Karan: Like an item song?
Konkona: Not an item song, we won't be doing matkas on table hopefully, but we will be doing a song and I have lip synced also for Pradeep Sarkar's film.
Karan: So did you think that people were going to perceive you as this new pin-up boy, this new sex symbol?
Kunal: Honestly that disturbs me a lot.
Karan: So you actually don't like this tag you have
Kunal: No... No I love it. I am joking, I am just like this regular intelligent, good-looking, sensitive type of a man.
Karan: I am totally getting that...
Karan: You have been very close to Hrithik Roshan, you have grown with Duggu… you have known him for how many years now?
Kunal: About 17-18 years
Karan: So you'll are childhood friends?
Kunal: Yeah.
Karan: Tough act to follow?
Kunal: It's just very annoying because I call him up every day, I tell him how much I hate him because every time you feel you are doing something good and he sets the standard a little higher and then you have to make double the effort ... so I call him every day and tell him how much I hate him. I love him as a person, but I hate him professionally and I make sure I tell him that.
Karan: Your father when he saw you in Apna Sapna Money Money... what was his reaction?
Ritesh: He was like... is that you? What's wrong with you?
Karan: But tell me when you were on the set, was there any man who hit on you?
Ritesh: Yeah.
Karan: There was... who?
Ritesh: Anupam Kher, Chunky Pandey asked me what are you doing after the shoot? Will you join me for coffee?
Karan: So, Chunky Pandey and Anupam Kher actually hit on you?
Ritesh: As in they asked me for coffee.
Karan: You have no woman in your life?
Ritesh: As of no… No.
Karan: So, Genelia is dating whom?
Ritesh: I have no idea.
Karan: You know there was this cover which said you were having a gay relationship... do you get irritated when people question you about your sexuality?
Ritesh: I think you know if you are not linked with a girl then they will link you with a guy.
Karan: Did that bother you? Did you get back to that journalist?
Ritesh: No, I feel bad for them, they don't have anything so they will make up stories. You don't have to do anything about it… not get bothered... let it just die its own death.
Episode 8
He truly lives life king-size! He's unapologetically flamboyant, extremely stylish and always dynamic! He ruled on land and now rules the skies! Karan's first guest this week is the king of good times, Dr. Vijay Mallya. His second guest is a successful columnist, author and social commentator. You could call her opinionated, you could call her judgmental, but she never fails to air her views and she is Shobhaa De.
Dr. Vijay Mallya talks about his flamboyant lifestyle, his showmanship, his legacy and his foray into politics. He discusses with Karan how he feels about the current state of politics and what changes he would like to see in the system. Together, Dr. Mallya and Shobhaa discuss their friendship, which is around 25 years old and has seen its share of ups and downs. They talk about their social lives and how they feel about being permanent faces on Page 3. They express their views on actors being politicians and politicians being actors …and also give their point of view on the current state of journalism and how they feel that the media needs a sense of responsibility. Dr. Mallya talks about the fact that he doesn't watch too many Hindi movies and Shobhaa admits that she has to catch the latest flick every Friday!!!
After the candid question-answer session, the show takes another interesting turn with the rapid fire round! Which Hindi film does Shobhaa wish she had written? Who does she think is the perfect celeb wife and who does she think is the most mismatched couple? Which living business icon does Dr. Mallya admire the most? If there was a film on his life, which actor does he feel would be able to play him best and who would he like his leading lady to be?
Excerpts from the interview
Karan: Your persona, the man you are… I mean most people who are industrialists and are in the business world have a certain image. You are not on of those serious industrialists who have that serious look on their face. Your whole perception is so different… Flamboyant… How do you react to that?
Dr. Mallya: Well you know at the end of the day I have to repeat… I have lived life on my own terms. I've not been shy I've not tried to hide anything. I'm totally transparent I am what I am and there's nothing wrong with that. I don't need to have a split personality I don't need to be a hypocrite. I just be myself. And as far as the showmanship is concerned... I am the brand ambassador of my brand, which are on the lifestyle platforms so what's wrong with that?
Karan: No there's nothing wrong with that. I think you love the fact that you are like this. But you have this party image. At times do you find yourself defending that to people who expect you to be more serious?
Dr. Mallya: You know seriousness is not a guarantee to success. If you don't have a party or you're more subdued it's not a recipe for increased stakeholder value. But you know, If I like to party I don't party alone, I party with people and as I said… it's all on that lifestyle platform which is becoming increasingly relevant in aspirational India today.
Karan: Your foray into politics a few years back, what drove you to politics?
Dr. Mallya: You know when I was 40, I thought I've come a long way in my life. I've had my fair share of success and also failures, but I've never looked back I've always treated my failures as stepping stones to success. I've made mistakes but the net balance sheet was pretty good. So I said what do I do now? Should I give back something to my country, to my state and how do I do it. It's very clear that in India you don't have a voice that's heard adequately unless you're sitting in the parliament. And so I decided to run for parliament. In 2000 I failed miserably and invited a lot of criticism that has become synonymous to Vijay Mallya, but in 2002 I defeated the city BJP candidate and got elected to parliament. I was most excited. Even though in the last 3-4 years I've been a backbencher, I've always tried to speak up about the accountability in governance.
Karan: How does it feel to be back on the show?
Shobhaa: Actually wonderful! The kind of response I'd got the first time round all over the world where there are Indians and Pakistani's and people monitoring Indian television, it was always "we saw you on Koffee with Karan!", so it says a lot about the host, a lot about the show and maybe a little about me!
Karan: Alright, I like that! You've known Vijay for how long Shobhaa?
Shobhaa: Around 25 years! I think!
Karan: It's been a good friendship?
Shobhaa: It's been an interesting friendship! It's had its ups and downs but it's never been a boring or a static friendship! Which I think is what keeps a relationship on its toes and it makes sure you don't take each other for granted.
Dr. Mallya: Absolutely! But I remember only the ups! Not the downs!
Shobhaa: Selective memory!
Dr. Mallya: (Laughs)
Karan: "The Queen of Opinions" … is that a good way of describing you Shobhaa?
Shobhaa: It's not bad! Empress might be better! But he has a copyright on that already!
Dr. Mallya: No! I can say that to you!
Shobhaa: His super super yacht is called the Indian Empress and I've happily stolen it for myself for tonight!
Episode 7
He's the most loved man in the industry today. Everybody feels very protective about him and rightfully so! Karan's first guest was Sanju Baba to the film fraternity and 'Munnabhai' to the whole world, the resilient Sanjay Dutt. His second guest is a member of Sanjay's family. A young, successful politician and a tremendous support to Sanju all these years, his sister Priya Dutt!
Sanjay opens his heart out on the show, talking about his chaotic life and how he coped with personal crisis like losing his parents, quitting drugs and his days in prison. He talks about how he has humbled down after spending eighteen months in prison and has realized the importance of freedom. Chatting about his daughter, Trishala, he says that he is proud of her as she is studying Forensic Sciences and jokingly adds that she worries him with her compulsive shopping habits. He rubbishes all rumours about his alleged marriage and stresses that he is very much single.
Moving away from his personal life, he also talks about the national phenomenon called "Munnabhai MBBS" and how the film has defined his career! Priya adds that though she is Sanju's younger sister, there are times she has lost her cool with him! She says that she and the entire family have always stood by Sanju through all his crisis and turbulence and have come out of it pretty strong! As for being with him through his personal problems, she admits on the show that even though she is always there for him, she never invades his private space!
After the touching question-answer session, the show took another turn with the rapid fire round! Sanju and Priya answered Karan's tricky questions wittily and candidly , making it difficult for him to choose the winner! What Gandhigiri advice would Sanju give to George Bush and to Osama Bin Laden? Which one film would he like to erase from public memory? How many women has he been with? Which Indian politician would Priya send 'Get Well Soon' flowers to? Who does she think is the sexiest hunk on Indian television? What advice would she give Sanju if he wanted to enter politics? Who is her favorite Actor-MP?
Excerpts from the interview
Karan: The kind of life you've had, I think books are written on such lives. What do you have to say about what you've been through?
Sanjay: Karan, I don't regret anything! All I can say is that losing my parents, quitting drugs, going to prison, if I sit and sulk about it, I wont be moving on in life. So you should keep it at the back and you should learn from it.
Karan: All the years you spent in jail, the very thought is scary. Even spending one day in jail personally scares the living daylights out of me. How many months were you in jail?
Sanjay: Eighteen months
Karan: When you look back at that eighteen-month phase, what is the one thing you learnt out of that experience which you can share with us?
Sanjay: Karan its just to be humble. It humbles you down and makes you realize how important freedom can be which all of us take for granted. You know freedom is taken for granted. When it's taken away you realize how important it can be. I think God had a plan to send me there and to just humble me down, cool me off and that's what's happened exactly.
Karan: Did you need that cooling off?
Sanjay: At that time it didn't feel like I did, but now when I look back it has made me a humble person.
Karan: Did you feel answerable to people? Did you feel you were being judged on certain occasions?
Sanjay: Absolutely. I felt that I'm being judged. And I have to answer and I have to clear my name and the name of the family.
Karan: Is there a love? Is there "one love" of Sanjay Dutt's life he's never gotten over?
Sanjay: One love of Sanjay Dutt's life! (Laughs) I've had a turbulent past with the loves in my life.
Karan: When you look back you just savor every relationship, but you don't feel that you fell in love that one time and maybe nothing came out of it?
Sanjay: The problem with me is that I fall in love all the time.
Karan: You fall in love far too often?
Sanjay: Far too often!
Karan: Are you in love today?
Sanjay: No!
Karan: No? So all these rumors about your alleged marriage are all..
Sanjay: All rubbish! I came on TV and denied it also. There's no marriage. We're just friends.
Karan: When you look back at all these thirteen years, fourteen years what are your reflections on all this?
Priya: I think we've come out of it pretty strong! My father always used to tell us it will pass. What we're going through will pass. There's always light at the end of the tunnel. You have to fight. You have to face whatever you have to. I think that's what our resilience is. There are times when we feel everything is going so well in the family, what's going to happen next. You know there's a calm before the storm. We've got so used to that!
Karan: Though you're his younger sister, there are times that you must have wanted to plonk him on his head and ask what are you doing? There are times you want to beat him up?
Priya: Yeah! There are times! I think there are times I lose my cool and you know. I think now that whole age difference doesn't exist. I think all of us have always been very protective about him.
Karan: That's the vibe he generates in the industry as well. That's why he is called Sanju Baba!
Priya: Yeah! I guess so! Everyone who knows him is protective about him.
Episode 6
This Sunday, Karan's first guest was one of the finest actors this generation has seen… the very talented Tabu. Karan's second guest was the internationally celebrated filmmaker and the big name behind Namesake, Mira Nair. Also joining them was the renowned choreographer and the director of a super-hit Bollywood film, Farah Khan.
Tabu who was rather apprehensive to come on Karan's show admitted, "You make us commit a lot of things which I don't want to." She talked about her journey in the film industry since 18 years, some of the regrets in her personal life and also confessed on the show that she has a low self-esteem. In spite of being a part of the internationally acclaimed film Namesake, Tabu shares that it's very clear in her head that she has no Hollywood aspiration. She also spoke about the special relationship she shares with Nagarjuna and the fact that nothing can ever change or alter the relation with him.
Mira, on the other hand talked about her new movie, Namesake, and feels that the success of her film is largely due to her wonderful cast. Mira shares some of the beautiful moments while making the film and what's her take on being put in the same bracket as Gurinder Chadha and Deepa Mehta.
And just when the masala packed rapid fire is about to commence, the controversial rapid-fire queen of last season, Farah Khan makes an entry. According to Tabu, which actor needs to hit the gym? If Mira was mistaken for Deepa Mehta what would she say? Saroj Khan, Ganesh Hegde or Shiamak Davar, who according to Farah is the best choreographer? Mira Nair's next or Farah Khan next, what does Tabu choose?
Excerpts from the interview
Karan: You have been in this industry for how long Tabu?
Tabu: 18 or 19 years.
Karan: Any regrets?
Tabu: Lots ... but it will really take a while if I start discussing it.
Karan: Professionally or personally?
Tabu: Ahh ...personally more I think ... but, actually having said that I wouldn't look at them as regrets ... and more as a learning experience … but, I wish I hadn't met a few people I had met which I would not want to name.
Karan: So, are you seeing anyone Tabu?
Tabu: I am not.
Karan: But are you totally single ... with all these alleged rumors of men who live in the southern party of the country... not true?
Tabu: It's a very big territory ... you have to tell me.
Karan: Oh so you want me to tell Tamil Nadu, Karnataka ... you want me to be that specific?
Tabu: Ya … see I have done films in many languages ... so you need to be specific about the language.
Karan: So, we don't seem to be getting anywhere.
Tabu: So, what were you asking about Nagarjuna?
Karan: I didn't even say Nagarjuna.
Tabu: Because it is the only rumor, which is constant in my life, since I was 16 years old.
Karan: You moved to Hyderabad?
Tabu: Not because of him, because I have made a house for myself there, and because I belong to Hyderabad. I think this Nagarjuna thing is very old. It keeps coming back… that's why I always wonder ... it feels like the media wants to give this impression that whether I have boy friends or not, boy friends come, boy friends go, but Nagarjuna remains, so it's really funny. I don't know what to say but, he is one of the closest people in my life, he is one of the most important relationships I have and my relationship with him is very dear to me and also nothing can ever change or alter my relation with him and that I don't have any label for it. I can't do anything about it.
Karan: You can call it a friendship?
Tabu: I think friendship is the most abused word.
Karan: So, we will just keep it to that.
Karan: You have made such a beautiful film.
Mira: Firstly, Jhumpa, the mother of the film ... the mother of the book and then this extra ordinary cast from Irfan and Tabu ...
Karan: Do you some times feel that, you know... you make these international films... but you are not doing anything for India? Do you ever feel the need to come back and do a full Hindi picture?
Mira: You know, my theory is I don't do anything that any one else does better than me ...laughs... and you do it better than me ... So, I mean I am not here to imitate.
Episode 5
This week, we saw the royal brother-sister duo in an exciting and heartwarming episode of Koffee with Karan.
Saif opened his heart out on the show, discussing several topics varying from films, marriage, kids, family and Rosa! He tells Karan, how it feels being the first metrosexual hero, Indian cinema has to offer… He talks about how apprehensive he was about playing the part of Langda Tyagi in Omkara. He also talked about how his life and responsibilities have changed dramatically post his marital split and how he feels he could have handled the situation in a better manner- more man-style! He confesses on the show that one day he would love to be friends with his ex-wife Amrita Singh! Saif also talks about his girlfriend Rosa and how he hopes that things work out for them in the future.
Soha, on the other hand, shares her thoughts on her biggest hit Rang De Basanti. She admits that she is very proud of her brother's success and fifteen years back she would have never expected him to be the superstar he is today! She also confesses that at present she is single but she strongly believes in the institution of marriage and is eagerly looking forward to it! She also dismisses the bizarre rumor that the Prince of Morocco proposed to her!
And just when the question-answer session wrapped up and the duo heaved a sigh of relief, Karan announced the rapid fire round… Which two mainstream actresses would Saif like to see in a catfight? Who will he choose between Shah Rukh and Aamir? Which movie does he prefer between Omkara and Kal Ho Na Ho? Which actors would Soha like as teachers in her own "masti ki pathshala"? Which movie does she like Saif's performance best in? Whom does she choose out of Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra and Aditya Chopra?
Here are some excerpts from the interview
Karan: When you came in you were criticized for being too western and no one really thought you would make it to the point you have! And now you are considered the first metrosexual hero that Indian cinema has to offer.
Saif: You better stop that because apparently it's quite in after the Bond film to be rugged! So don't call me metrosexy now!
Karan: We don't know what the word really means!
Saif: Is it Gay?
Karan: No its not! It's definitely not gay!
Saif: Yeah! We know what it means… I mean I do have a couple of creams in my bathroom that I like to use!
Karan: And do you go for a manicure or pedicure?
Saif: Once in a while! I feel having really ragged nails and split cuticles is no good! People judge people by their hands. I was told that! I look at hands quite a lot!
Karan: Oh dear! (Hiding hands)
Karan: Omkara and versatility and of course the superstardom! Does it surprise you?
Saif: I won't call it superstardom!
Karan: It is! I'm calling it that and I'm from the inner circles of the film fraternity so if I'm saying it… it must be true!
Saif: You are the circle of the film fraternity!
Karan: No I'm not! You are viable commercially… your critics love you … everyone loves you! I know I'm gushing right now but it's all true!
Saif: I think I've been at it for sometime and I've learnt and grown. With all this also comes a sense of responsibility and this is my life! I'm really not capable of doing anything else as rewarding in every way- emotionally, financially. This is all I can do and I'm happy I can do it well! But its become more than getting happy… getting a compliment or something… There's a long way to go! There's an entire life to take care of. This is my way of supporting myself and very seriously it's my career… it's what drives me! I've learnt that I need to do it and it's very much a part of who I am.
Karan: How did you think things worked out for Saif. Did you think he would be where he is today?
Soha: Fifteen years ago… No!
Karan: Do you feel proud of him today?
Soha: Hugely! I've seen all his films!
Karan: Contrary to you!
Saif: In many cases that's quite an achievement!
Soha: I haven't seen all of them! I've seen all the good ones and I'm so proud of him and of what he's achieved. I've spent more time with him in the last 3 years and now that I'm also working in films, I end up meeting him more often even if it's on the set.
Karan: So is there anyone around?
Soha: No… not at the moment!
Karan: Your single?
Soha: Yes… single.
Karan: No Prince of Morocco?
Soha: No! That's bizarre.
Karan: I read it somewhere that the Prince of Morocco proposed to you…
Soha: We should ask my parents that because they'll know more than me. Sometimes proposals come that are filtered.
Episode 4
This week saw the frank, forthright and fabulous actress Kareena Kapoor and Bollywood's favourite chocolate boy hero who makes her world go round... Shahid Kapur, come together for the first time. Also, joining the sweet couple was the glamorous and gorgeous actress, Karisma Kapoor.
Possibly the most irreverent guest on the show in the last season, Kareena promised to be even better this time round. From clarifying her problems with Shah Rukh, the Chopras and the Bachchans, she confesses on the show that she is the one who chased Shahid for two months! Kareena also admits that she is a hyper-hysterical girl friend and says, "Shahid is a very good looking guy and his smile can charm a lot of women… so I do get a little nervous."
Shahid talks about the initial insecurities in their relationship, the positive influence they have had on each other from Kareena becoming a vegetarian to Shahid becoming more chilled out and relaxed. That's not all, Karan also tests the couple's compatibility quotient by quizzing them individually on how much they know about each other.
But the real show stealer was the rapid fire round where Karan bombarded a volley of questions to Shahid & Kareena. Who is the better dancer - Hrithik or Shahid? Shah Rukh, Hrithik or Aamir, the superstar Kareena loves? The one woman Shahid would cheat on Kareena for? Kareena in Chameli or Kareena in Omkara? If this was not enough, Karisma Kapoor is called on to decide the winner of the rapid fire round!
Here are some excerpts from the interview.
Karan: Who are really your friends Bebo?
Kareena: laughs … Oh god!!
Karan: Because the whole story goes that Kareena only befriends people who are not a threat to her …
Kareena: Oh my god! What is this .. Ahh ….. I don't think so .. But the only actress I think I am closest to is Amrita Arora … She is my only genuine best friend whose an actress.
Karan: You also took on a few people …there was always lot of talk about problems with Shah Rukh, with the Chopras, with the Bachchans, and of course we sorted out our little thing on this very sofa. But when you look back do you think all those news articles are justified and today is it all sorted ?
Kareena: I feel that firstly there was no problem with Shah Rukh and with the Chopras .. with Yash uncle .. I don't think there was any issue .. it's just that probably they felt that I wasn't suited for the kind of roles that were made .. and now in fact I will be working with them.
Karan: Yes, you have signed a Yashraj film …
Kareena: Yes ..its great … I have always respected Yash uncle and I think Adi is one of the finest film makers we have and I don't know with Shah Rukh and me it's been great .. whenever we meet he has been so very warm ..I love him .. I think we are all friends now … and as far as the Bachchan family goes, I really don't know what the issue is, at least from my end there is no issue because I think I am bearing the brunt of something that I never really did
Karan: Three years Shahid, with Kareena. How would you best define your relationship?
Shahid: It goes beyond words. She is the centre of my life ... I can't think of a day without her. I am very thankful to God for having her in my life … I think I am very lucky.
Karan: Is she the hyper hysterical girlfriend. Is she the where you are, what you are doing kind of girl friend?
Shahid: She has calmed a lot in the last three years ... but I think every woman has these insecurities and I think it takes the two people to understand and deal with each others' areas of ups and downs .. but I think .. yes I am sure she has .. and so do I have these phases of insecurities which we all do .. I think she has come to trust me a lot ..it takes time for things to settle down.
Karan: You take up for Shahid a lot ... is that true?
Karisma: Yes I do.
Karan: In what way .. what does he do that he needs taking up for?
Karisma: Well, I mean generally … when they are fighting with each other .
I am always caught in the middle of it and if I really feel that Shahid is right, then I really fire Bebo.
Episode 3
India's most sensational actress and finest filmmaker team up with Karan. Karan loves to serve his coffee 'hot'… and this episode was 'piping hot'! His first guest was saucy, sexy and sensational… She is the unofficial brand ambassador of the show, having been mentioned in practically each and every episode of the last season! Meet the quote-a-minute, bold and brash, Mallika Sherawat. Karan's second guest is one of the finest filmmakers in Bollywood… a man behind many-a-masterpiece and Karan's favorite director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This unusual combination came together for the first time, in an exciting and entertaining tête-à-tête.
Sanjay and Mallika hit it off instantaneously, as they meet for the first time on the sets of Koffee with Karan. Mallika talked about how glad she was to be on the show, after being discussed at length, last season! She admits on the show that she suffers from a major superiority complex! Sanjay talks about how Mallika has proved him right, as he had predicted that she is the most promising newcomer, when he was on the show last season. He talks about his upcoming film Sanwariyan, his love-hate relationship with Aishwarya Rai and the fact that he is envious of his fellow-directors, to the extent of avoiding their films.
And as always, the eagerly awaited rapid fire round resulted in some very interesting revelations. So which actors would Mallika like in her harem of hunks and how would she like to be pampered by them? Who does she think has the sexiest butt in Bollywood? Who does Sanjay think is the most over-rated actor and director in Bollywood? Who would he choose between Madhuri, Aishwarya and Rani? Who takes the hamper home? Sanjay or Mallika? Karan definitely has a tough time deciding the winner of the most desired possession on his show - the coffee hamper!
Excerpts from the interview
Karan: Welcome to Koffee with Karan!!!
Mallika: Thanks!
Karan: So you are finally on the show. Everyone used to ask me when are you getting Mallika Sherawat on the show?
Mallika: I've provided enough entertainment for Koffee with Karan. I've been made fun of… been ridiculed!
Karan: No! No! That's not what used to happen!
Mallika: Of course! That was it! You think I don't know!
Karan: (Laughs)
Mallika: No harm! I'm sitting here and as Robert De Niro said, "You didn't knock me down! I'm still standing!"
Karan: You were always the option when we asked the men, who was the sexiest woman they thought.. The answer was always you! You think you were a safe option for them?
Mallika: I think I am a woman who dared!
Karan: Oh really?
Mallika: Yes! Probably that's why the answer… but I take it as a compliment… as a big compliment…
Karan: What else can she ask for and when people say things about her and about her being honest and controversial… What do you have to say about that?
Sanjay: I think… I just said… She is what she is. She doesn't pretend herself as someone else. She speaks her mind out and to her I want to say "Kuch to log kahenge… logo ka kaam hai kehna. You just do what you are doing.. be what you are and keep working!"
Mallika: Very encouraging Sanjay! Thank you so much! You know I must say something. Everyone told me that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is this intense Guru Dutt kind of director...don't joke with him too much. Be very serious and Karan Johar is extremely sensitive… don't offend him.. Keep your mouth shut!
Karan: You can offend us! We won't mind too much!
Sanjay: We're used to not feeling like you! And it really doesn't make a difference!
Karan: Aren't you seeking love in your life?
Mallika: I want to seek love! Lots of love!
Karan: Love from a man, darling! Not from the masses.
Mallika: Am talking about love from a man, yes!
Karan: There's never a lonely moment, you want to share?
Mallika: There are lots of lonely moments. I am alone. I live alone in the city. Family is not here. It gets excruciating being lonely. But I have to learn to deal with it. I genuinely haven't met a man who doesn't believe that women are superior to men. The day I meet a man…
Sanjay: But Mallika… Why should a woman be superior to a man?
Karan: Exactly!
Mallika: I somehow have a clinical disorder!
Sanjay: I don't think you should suffer anymore from it because its important to know that men are women are equal! Men should not say that women are inferior and women should not think so either..
Mallika: Are both of you'll ganging up on me?
Sanjay: No!
Mallika: Yes! You are ganging up on me!
Episode 2
India's hottest hunk, Hrithik Roshan and the reigning Bollywood queen, Priyanka Chopra let their guard down and chat up with Karan Johar.
Hrithik and Priyanka had an absolute ball in this week's episode as Karan confessed, "I have never had people who talk more than me on my talk show." The Krissh duo teased, laughed their heart out and let their hair down, as they din't miss any opportunity to mock each other… even taking digs at each others appetite! Hrithik talked about him being slated as a sex symbol, the sexiest compliment he has received so far, his take on his detractors who say that he works best with his father Rakesh Roshan and the much talked about kiss of Dhoom 2.
Priyanka was also not spared by the hosts' volley of questions. Karan probed Priyanka on her much doubted friendship with Kareena Kapoor, if she is currently dating someone, catfights and controversies and lots more!
And just when the set of controversial Q&A wrapped up and the two attractive actors were about to lean back with a sigh of relief, Karan announced the rapid fire round! So which actor does Hrithik consider a threat? Shah Rukh, Hrithik or Salman - which co-star would Priyanka like to work again with? Kareena as a friend or Kareena as an acquaintance - what does Priyanka choose? A girl from Indian Cinema who turns Hrithik on?
Here are some excerpts from the interview
Karan: What's the sexiest compliment you have received?
Hrithik: Well .. let me just say that .. there were these whole bunch of SMS'es that I got, in which it was pretty clear that a lot of the girls said that they were very happy .. a long way before the film had climaxed …
Karan: (interrupts) … I know of a lot of women who went to see the film with their husbands or their boy friends … and there were very shattered husbands..at the end of the film.. and you managed to do that ..
Hrithik: It should be something that should motivate them
Karan: Would you call them detractors .. the ones who turned around and said that Hrithik Roshan works only with his father? What would you call them?
Hrithik: Angels .. if it weren't for them .. I don't think it would have added that little zing in my drive .. so .. fab .. thank you
Karan: How's it been .. the year .. you have had two big hits .. it's been a fantastic commercial year for you .. are you thrilled .. happy .. waiting to do more exciting work ..
Priyanka: Yes.. I am really looking forward to do some good work.. it has been a fantastic year ..and more than anything my dad come back home this year.. he was really unwell last year … that added just to the whole year ..
Hrithik: You know... If anything ever happened to Krrish … you can easily go ahead and make a super 'Krisshi' ..
Karan: Because she is really a super girl ..
Hrithik: She is crazy .. she is a shocker ..
Karan: Much doubted friendship with Kareena Kapoor no longer exists ..
Priyanka: Of course it does
Karan: You were spotted .. with various dinners .. going out in a group .. Shahid, you, her and of course your good friend Harman .. you'll used to go out a lot .. and now that group seems to have dispersed ..
Priyanka: No .. its not that .. its just that we don't have the time .. In fact Shahid and me are neighbours .. I have brought a house where he lives … I will be seeing a lot of him .. I've been out of town .. So we have not really hung out as much ..
Karan: I asked her this question .. you want to know what she said ..
Priyanka: I think it will be pretty much the same .. unless there is something else
Karan: Well I asked her … I said you know ... are you'll close … she said we are not anymore..
Priyanka: We used to go on holidays …which we don't anymore …
Karan: She said we are not .. and it rather be like this …as acquaintances than friends … Has any water flown below this bridge … for her to have said this …
Priyanka: I have no idea .. where that came from ..
Karan: She said that she likes you … you are a nice girl … but its best to keep distance ..
Priyanka: Its her choice .. I am not pouncing on her either … laughs ..
Clarification of controversies, revelations and a whole lot of fun. That was Priyanka Chopra and Hrithik Roshan in an interesting tête-à-tête with Karan.
Episode 1
Slick, stylish, candid and witty, the show has it all, and with the industry's best onscreen trio, the banter just cant get any better! Shah Rukh, Kajol and Rani came together on screen after a period of ten years after Karan's directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hain and they still manage to recreate the same magic!
Kajol and Rani discuss the media speculation that they don't get along, though they are members of the same family! Shah Rukh talks about the mid-life crisis he is going through, the constant comparison with Big B and the rumors about his relationship with Karan!
Here are some excerpts from the interview.
Karan: You'll are cousins but is there a wide gap between you in real life?
Rani: No!
Kajol: Not really! No!
Karan: So you'll are literally meeting after 10 years on a sofa?
Rani: On a sofa?
Kajol: Yeah! It was chairs earlier! (Laughs)
Karan: Alright! But there is always this kind of media speculation that you'll don't get along and though you'll are members of the same family there is no interaction!
Kajol: It is really nothing like that! Basically its more like she's Tanisha's age. So for me it's another generation really! For me she is like a younger sister!
Rani: And I was always closer to Tanisha, than to her.
Karan: Shahrukh you have no problems with anybody?
Shahrukh: I don't have time to have any problems with anybody!
Karan: Other heroes go through affair issues and with their other liaisons with their heroines and you are just constantly fighting with men, not women. You are only linked with men, not women!
Shahrukh: I truly am the last action hero!
Karan: If Shahrukh, Kajol and you were on a plane which was about to crash and there were only two parachutes on board, which you had control over, what would you do?
Kajol: Dude, I'm family!
Rani: I would probably stay behind and give the two parachutes because, really, people want to see them together!
Kajol: Stop! Please Stop!
Shahrukh: Tum dono mujhe chipak jaana .. teeno neeche aa jayenge! Kya hai problem yaar! Main Hoon na!
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