Sunday, May 25, 2003		In the spotlight

Now, Shah Rukh tackles marital woes

Shah Rukh Khan’s home production Chalte Chalte, which stars Rani Mukherjee opposite him, deals with problems in a marriage.

SHAH Rukh Khan’s home productions Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Ashoka dealt with offbeat subjects. But, his third home production, Chalte Chalte, is a romance-gone-sour drama.

The film traces the conflicts between a rich girl (Rani Mukherjee) and a truck owner (Shah Rukh), leading to an irreversible estrangement. The film is directed by Aziz Mirza, who is a partner in Khan’s production house, Dreamz Unlimited, along with Juhi Chawla.

Aziz Mirza’s association with Shah Rukh Khan spans more than a decade. After having directed Khan for the tele-serial Circus, Mirza called the shots for Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Yes Boss and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, starring Khan.

Mirza’s forte has been simple stories. And, Chalte Chalte, according to him is ‘a basic and simple human story.’ Shah Rukh backs Mirza’s statement, saying the film is an attempt to ‘do away with larger-than-life portrayals.’

Shah Rukh is Raj, ‘brash, earthy and unrehearsed’. Though educated, he is a middle-class truck-owner with dreamy aspirations. He is attractive in an unconventional way and is an absolute livewire in any situation.

Rani is Priya, ‘sophisticated and a perfectionist.’ She is Ms Proper, in that she not only wears the right shoes but also the right attitude.

Yet, both are emotional and when they fall in love, marriage seems the only answer. But when romance gives way to reality, apart from volatile tempers and tantrums, the couple have a lot to battle with.

Khan says, ‘Chalte Chalte is a simple love story without frills. It has an Aziz Mirza brand of humour, neither loud nor subtle.’

He cites reasons for feeling close to the protagonist Raj, who tries to win his wife’s affections, ‘You may not be able to change things happening around you but you can start by bringing in more love, affection and sanity in your life.’

Rani Mukherjee, who shared chemistry with SRK in Karan Johar’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (KKHH), says, ‘Chalte Chalte began from where KKHH left.’

She adds, ‘The film is about two lovers who look at things differently.’

Meanwhile, the director points out that ‘Chalte Chalte does not make any statement. It goes through its own process of metamorphosis.’

Despite inherent differences that exist between the two sexes, Mirza believes, ‘Underlying love can overcome most differences.’

Mirza reminiscences that the entire crew was so involved in the project that each person would come out with his own solution to such problems. He says, ‘Chalte Chalte is an amalgamation of such experiences.’

— Leisure Media News