King Khan flaunts his abs in ‘Happy New Year’
“I don’t have an eight-pack because I want to show off. I have it because I promised Farah I would get one,” said Shah Rukh Khan, who, just a month shy of his 49th birthday, has gone ahead and slapped another dare in the faces of the supposed young blood of Bollywood in his latest release, ‘Happy New Year’.
The actor who did his own stunts in the film, says he does all the heroic things on screen for his children Aryan, Suhana and Abram. “My older children tell me I should do more stunts, so I listen to them more than I listen to her (wife Gauri). I like doing it. I have fun. I feel that if I don’t do something challenging, I am succumbing to that injury,” said Shahrukh, referring to the shoulder injury he sustained during the shooting of ‘Chennai Express’. The versatile actor put in excruciating months of training to achieve his look for Charlie the kickboxer, the role he plays in ‘Happy New Year’.
King Khan seems prone to injuries, though he’s not letting mere physical discomfort get him down. “I have made myself stronger to overcome the shoulder and the back injury. As an actor its important physically, emotionally and mentally to be always challenged. I try to do the best I can. The stunt going down the building (in ‘Happy New Year’) is difficult, but it’s on a wire. It is safe, but scary,” he claimed. Though they encourage him to do stunts, Shahrukh’s children don’t like attending shoots. “They get bored coming to shoots, so they don’t come too often. When I shoot in Mumbai they don’t visit the sets… they hate shooting. When I shoot abroad they can’t always be there as they are studying now, but sometimes they do,” confided the Badshah of Bollywood.
SRK is looking forward to the release of ‘Happy New Year‘ directed by choreographer-director Farah Khan. He will be next seen in a Yash Raj project ‘Fan’, followed by Farhan Akhtar’s home production ‘Raees’. “I do one film a year, since last few years; it leaves you with time for family,” he said. Was it a deliberate decision to slow down on work? “No, nothing like that. In the last five-six years I have realised that I can do one film at a time if I want to make it bigger and better. I can afford to sit at home and think of other things. The time has come where I need to give my best,” responded Shahrukh. “I feel guilty if I divide time and do more. People love me so much and watch my films, so I need to give proper attention to a film. I want to give the best,” he added.
Here’s to SRK and his eight-pack! We hope the year is happy for him! •