The lead actors of the upcoming film Jab Tak Hai Jaan came together to participate in a press conference which was organised by Yash Raj Films Studios. Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma took questions from various representatives of the Indian media about the film, as well as its director Mr Yash Chopra, who sadly passed away just before its scheduled release during the Diwali festival.
Considering he has worked with him for the past 20 years, the passing away of Yashji was a jolt but SRK insists that he would have rather had people celebrate his work. “Yashji passing away has been shocking and saddening but what Yashji would have wanted us to do would have been to celebrate his cinema, his work, his life and the happiness that he has spread through his work. And that is what we are going to do,” he said adding that Yashji always wanted to make people happy though his films which is why he always chose Diwali (for his releases).
While the maker of the biggest romances is no more, the King of Romance Shahrukh continues to give us epic love stories. Telling us a little more about the movie, SRK said, “It’s a mature love story – it has got the soul of a classic love story and the language of today. I play Samir Anand an Army Officer, Anusha plays Akhira while Katrina is Meera. The story does span a time period.”
Regarding the final song which Mr Chopra had left to shoot, Shah Rukh said, “Just a minute and a half of the song was left. He (Chopra) wanted to do it in Switzerland. We don’t have the heart to shoot that part now. We will make it impure if we had to shoot it.”
In addition to this, Katrina expressed to the media her sincere sadness about not being able to shoot the final portion of the song, as well as not being able to don the archetypal Yash Chopra look by wearing a chiffon sari. “It is a little bit sad that we did not get to shoot it. We had decided….Zeroed in on what I would be wearing…As in which sari out of the 12 designed. I remembered him (Chopra) saying it will be like a party when we shoot the sequence of the song in Switzerland.”
Despite the shooting for this one song remaining incomplete, Shah Rukh stressed that the film itself is ready and will release on Diwali as originally planned. “The movie is ready for release. He (Chopra) had finished editing and the background mix was happening. The film was locked by Yashji. The film which you will see has been entirely made by Yash Chopra.”
Shah Rukh also commented on Yash Chopra’s death and how his spirit is still felt by him. “I am very sad that he is not with us anymore. But I can’t feel his loss. I have worked with him for 20 years and I am sure we will continue to see his films for another 500 years.” There is a strange feeling that he has not gone. He is still around us.”
Being a Yash Raj heroine is an honor that every actress in the industry wishes for and in Anushka’s word “makes the CV perfect.” Both Katrina and Anushka shared their first tryst with a YRF movie and their experience with working with the man himself.
The two actresses said how lucky they feel to have worked with such an eminent director like Yash Chopra. “It was like a dream come true,” according to Katrina. “To get the opportunity to work with Yash Chopra is perfect. To work in his film was surreal. He had such a loving nature and child-like behaviour,” stated Anushka.
Shah Rukh also talked to the media about Son of Sardaar, which is scheduled to release on the same day as Jab Tak Hai Jaan. He said how it is fine that both films are releasing on the same day and a big deal should not be made about it. “It is unfair to ask anybody to change the release date of their film. Everybody loves their films. Yashji would have felt the same way. Films will always overlap and it is not fair for us to ask them to change it.”
Anushka talked about the pleasure of having had the opportunity of working with Shah Rukh again after their last hit film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). “When I worked with Shah Rukh for the first time, I never thought I’d ever get an opportunity to work with him again. But now I’m so comfortable with him. He makes things fun on the sets.”
Katrina also discussed what it was like working with Shah Rukh for the first time in her career. “SRK is a gentleman. He takes care of his actresses very well. I remember when we were shooting for ‘Ishq Shava’ it was really chilly. That time he made sure that after every cut I was wrapped in a jacket or blanket.”
When asked if he was expecting big box office figures for Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Shah Rukh emphasised that it does not matter to him how much money the film makes. “I am not a businessman. I just feel that my films should be enjoyed by all. I have earned enough money and awards in my life, so numbers don’t matter. But you are anxious when your film is all set to release.”
Jab Tak Hai Jaan will be releasing in cinemas worldwide on 13 November 2012. Be there if you are keen to witness Yash Chopra’s final work as a director!
The movie will have a big grand premiere with most of Yashji’s heroines and the industry attending and paying a tribute to one of the greatest directors of Bollywood.
(Photo Credit for Images below: Anshul Singhal)
(Photo Credit for Images below: Sunny Malik)
With contributions from Bodrul Chaudhury
