'I am extremely shy of women'

King Khan was in Singapore for the Zee Carnival on October 11 and 12 at the Suntec Convention Centre. It was easier to catch him at the Changi airport than it is to nail him down in India. Shah Rukh Khan, the unquestioned Baadshah of Bollywood, opened out a side of him not easily seen in film glossies. This quote-centred profile offers a glimpse of this mega successful star, producer, television anchor and businessman son of the late Meer Taj Mohammed Khan and Lateef Fatima whose greatest regret in life is that his parents are not around to share his success. Shoma A Chatterji offers us a glimpse...

Did you know that Shah Rukh Khan had finished reading Gregory David Roberts' Shantaram much before the book hit India shores and recommended it to some of his producer friends?" I asked them if they would want to make a film based on the book but there was no response. Now, Hollywood has taken it," says the star whose home library has a collection of more than 5,000 books of which there are at least three he wants to turn into films. "The other two I have really enjoyed are Mark Haddon's murder mystery, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Yann Martel's fantasy adventure Life of Pi. Right now, my reading priorities are focussed on biopics about people who have led interesting lives."

Now look who is talking. He has led and is leading one of the most interesting lives himself on planet earth. His face is an icon that represents the Indian film industry in the world.

But he began small, with a bit of theatre in Delhi followed by not very significant roles in a few television serials like Fauji in 1988 followed by Circus. Few remember that he wooed his wife Gauri for eight years before they tied the knot 17 years ago.

"Gauri has known me for almost 25 years now and she understands me perfectly. I would not call her my pillar of strength simply because we have not known life separate from each other. What has sustained the relationship is the tremendous faith we have in each other. I have never looked inside her purse or even glanced into her wardrobe," says Khan who turns 43 next month with an acting roster that goes beyond 60 films seven being his own productions.

Gauri celebrates b'day in style

His roles have been a veritable rainbow of colours ranging from the psychopathic killer in Darr and Anjaam to the star incarnate in Om Shanti Om to the sickeningly melodramatic adopted son in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham to the stern but determined Kabir Khan in Chak De! India.

"I am a lot like the no-nonsense hockey coach Kabir Khan in Chak De minus that stern stuff," he confides.

Though he admits that the Indian film industry has a lot to learn from Hollywood "in terms of organisation, technology and its distribution network, the stories are right here with us, in Bollywood. Our fantasies are attainable. Our fantasies are smaller. They are about having a house, perhaps a small car. We are not bothered about aliens," obviously referring to Hollywood blockbusters like Deep Impact and Independence Day. And he has every right to make this statement because most of his fantasies sell extremely well both in the national and in the international market.

Source : http://www.buzz18.com/features/movies/i-am-extremely-shy-of-women/88361/2