So what was it exactly about My Name Is Khan that made you agree to do the film considering you are very choosy about your films?
I think it was the subject it was the script and it was the way it was put together, a lot to do with the screen play. A lot to do with Karan. A lot to do with Shah Rukh. I think it was everything put together
Karan (Johar) has embarked on a completely new ground with this film and you have known him for long. When he narrated the script to you, what was your reaction?
My first reaction was: are you sure you want to make this film? As far as Karan is concerned I think for him it was a natural evolution. Now when I look back at and see the films he has made so far. Yes I guess Khan would be the next step.
This film is an unusual love story, your character Mandira has to grapple with the complexities in an unusual relationship. Where did you draw the inspiration for such a character?
Actually there is a story which Karan told us before the film started, about a couple he had met who actually had Asperger’s syndrome. The man had Asperger’s and the woman did not and they got married. They were the happiest couple ever and it was the way he described the interaction somewhere down the line it touched/convinced us. I think you have to be convinced of what you want to play. If you want to play a woman in love who is ok with the husband the way he is and loves him, I think then you can convince everybody else.
How much of help was Karan for you to etch out Mandira’s character?
As far as Karan is concerned, I have always said that if there is any credit to your performance it totally goes to your Director though there is some talent involved on your part as well but I would say yes definitely it has a lot to do with the director, so if Mandira is good you have to thank Karan for it.
Did you at any point disagree with his interpretation of Mandira and if yes, how did you resolve it?
I think there were points where I disagreed with him and on those points either I convinced him or he convinced me… one of the two. I think that the great thing about Karan is that as a director he is open to listening to us and not so fixed on his view points, if he had a view point he would know how to put it forward and convince you
Mandira is also a mother in the film and there are a lot of sequences with a child in the film. How much of your own experience as a mother help you with the scenes? Can you give us an example?
I think when you become a mother, your complete body language changes. The way you talk changes. Somewhere down the line when you are faced with a child and if you don’t have a child the way you talk to a child changes. It’s different I can’t explain except to say that only a mother would understand what I am talking about.
You come across as a very spontaneous actor who doesn’t give overt importance to preparation. But is it really possible to perform well without detailed preparation? For a complex role like Mandira’s in Khan did you prepare a lot?
Well the preparations involve understanding the character, reading the scene memorizing the dialogues and I think more than anything else just knowing how the other person is going to react and just go with the flow.
Karan has completely done away with conventional Bollywood glamour in this film and hence everyone has had to reinvent to adapt to this new tone. Was it very difficult for you?
I think what Karan has done has made everyone more involved. We have had a lot glamour in our films! We have a lot of songs in Indian films and I think that is great and I love them and we cannot do without them as it lets you take it a little easy in your performance, not get so involved. When you don’t have those added benefits of glamour you somehow have to really get down to work and you can’t take it easy, you cannot take your attention away even for a second. You have to work probably twice as hard.
Your chemistry with Shah Rukh Khan is quite legendary and yet this film doesn’t really explore the conventional chemistry that you have shared earlier. Was it difficult not being able to lean on the tried and tested motions to evoke interest?
I think Shah Rukh and I have a chemistry probably because we have known each other for so long we have worked on so many films together and now by the time we come to the set, it’s like this - he knows my timings I know his, so its pretty much wrote, kind of an unspoken rule and I know what he is going to do, what he’s thinking and he knows what I am going to say, so I just think we sit well together.
Did you require a lot of convincing from Karan to play this role?
You know Karan sat down with us and explained it to us so well that we each understood our parts very well, so when we came together we knew exactly what we were going to do.
MNIK is getting a worldwide release through Fox STAR Studios so if your performance inspires some international filmmakers to cast you in Hollywood productions will you accept it?
I’ll think about it, I’ll read the script as I normally do and I will definitely take a look at it. Will evaluate every opportunity that comes my way and hopefully I’ll find something to hang on to.
What was your first reaction when you heard the music of My Name is Khan ?
As far as the songs are concerned I love the songs, they are beautiful, they are Sufi and of course they sit beautifully in the film.
Any instant favorite?
I like the music. I also told Karan, maybe we should have a remix version like ‘My Name Is Khan’, and Karan said that the Era for those kinds of songs is over. I think all the songs are really beautiful, very listenable and hope it will be very watchable.
Which is your favorite song and why ?
My favorite song is Noor E Khuda, it’ one of those songs that’s just sung so well, so beautifully written, that it makes you cry.
Is there any song from the film which you would want to dedicate to your husband/daughter /both?
I think it is a kind of an album that it resembles life, each song is about everybody’s life, it’s not restricted to one person’s life or one picture for that matters. I feel if it’s an entire album I would love for my whole family to hear it.
From amongst all your films with Shah Rukh Khan, from Baazigar to My Name is Khan, which is your favorite song ?
Yeh Kaali Kaali ankhein because I don’t have black eyes.