By Subhash K Jha
Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies production house is no more a one-man show. In what seems to be major revision in his working methods, Shah Rukh, known to have his finger in every pie,has decided to delegate more authority and power to his extremely efficient colleagues and directors.
This critical decision must be weighed in the light of Shah Rukh’s decision to devote the most time to what he really loves doing the most: acting and being with his family.
Says a source close to SRK, “All these years Shah Rukh has been able to devote himself with equal passion to a number of activities both within his own production house and outside.
But now he wants to focus on what he loves best. He wants to build his equity as an actor. At the same time he doesn’t want to miss out on his children’s growing years.”
To implement his new energy-conservation policy Shah Rukh has withdrawn his responsibilities towards the post-production of Ra.1.
Says the source, “Earlier whenever Shah Rukh produced films he was hand-on in every department.This time he has left the entire production and post-production in other professional hands,so much so that he hasn’t even watched the rushes of Ra1 as yet. As far as he’s concerned his job as an actor and producer in Ra1 is done. His team has now taken over.”
Most of Shah Rukh’s associates have observed that he has now become a team player.
Says a close friend, “Earlier he took personal charge of everything that flowed out of his production house.That has changed now. Maybe it’s the IPL effect on Shah Rukh. But he now insists on other professionals in his production house doing their jobs while he does his own.”
Director Anubhav Sinha confirms that Shah Rukh Khan has not seen the rushes of Ra1 yet.
“I’ve been persuading him to watch it. But he has been shrugging it off. As far as he’s concerned he’s moved on. ‘Picture ban gayi na. Now is the time to focus on its marketing,’ Shah Rukh told me.He has always been a restless soul. Now he is even more so.”
This refusal to rest on laurels and to linger on current production activities is an indication of the direction Shah Rukh’s life will take in the coming years.
It’s time for the superstar to let others in his company make their presence felt. It’s also time for the mega-star to stop being taken for granted.
For years Shah Rukh has played cameos,done guest appearances and voiceovers for friends and strangers. Now, we are told,he won’t be taken for granted.
