Superstar Shah Rukh Khan says filmmakers do not offer him variety of roles as they have a perception about him, thanks to his stardom.
“Stardom hasn’t restricted me but it is sometimes awkward to say that being in this position, the choices are fewer, I sit with different directors and they say, ‘We will make a big film!’ so, even before I start working, the film becomes big and I say, ‘let’s just make a film!’ And it goes out of hands sometimes and everybody wants the film to be big,” Shah Rukh said at the launch of his biography ,SRK: 25 Years Of a life.
When asked if being a superstar restricts him, the 51-year-old actor admitted that commerce is something that stars cannot remain untouched from but he, on his part, has always tried to not change his approach towards work.
“It is a good excuse to make. If not excuse, then a good reason because people say that stardom takes things out of you as an actor, and yes somewhere it happens that when you become a star you have little issues (about) Rs 100 crore, 200 crore. Howsoever, we remain untouched from this; it does come to our mind. You are in a business and hence, business remains in your head. But I would still like to believe that whenever I have got an opportunity, like a ‘Fan’ or a ‘Chak De! India’, I have never questioned it. I have never designed a film for myself. Limitations also come from the people who you work with.”
The actor said that people prefer making an out-and-out commercial film with him and though he does not blame them, he does feel this approach puts limitations on him.
“A lot of people will offer me a film saying, ‘Why should we make an off-beat film with you, let’s make a commercial movie.’ I am not blaming them; it is a good thought because if I sell, then selling me is but natural. I can’t be two-faced about it because even I sell many things. It’s a business finally. Having said that, I have tried to maintain some kind of balance. Earlier, I had nothing to lose, so, I did a lot of things and didn’t question them but now may be I don’t, but people around me question, ‘Will this work? Should you do another love story?’ I don’t listen to them,” he said.