King in tights!

Shah Rukh Khan, who will be seen in two of the year’s biggest releases, his home production RA.One, and Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2, had just one release last year, friend and filmmaker Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan. The actor often found it frustrating and tiresome to be at home, nursing an injury that he suffered while filming My Name Is Khan.

“I had three screws inserted in my body due to the shoulder injury. Recovery wasn’t exactly speedy. It took me six-eight months to resume work. I missed being in the studios at that time,” sighs Khan, backstage at the recently concluded Apsara Awards. “On several occasions, I thought that I should start on a new film, but Don 2 and RA.One required physical agility, and I wasn’t in great shape at that point. But now, when both films are near completion, I will take on more work.”

The actor, before even making his superhero entry on the big screen, says he is a hit with his kids, Aryan and Suhana. “It’s heart-warming that they feel their daddy is their superhero. They adore me and it’s one of the nicest feelings to have,” says Khan with a dimpled smile. “I run around in tights and underwear at home. When someone says that RA.One is for kids, I tell them it’s not just for them, it’s for elders too. I’ve made the film for my kids and for myself, because I’m still a child at heart.”

Khan’s superhero fantasy will arrive in cinema halls in October. However, right in the beginning of the year, trade pundits have put it atop the list of the most awaited. “It’s one of my most ambitious projects by far. It’s a family’s story, about a father and a son,” says the actor. “The bad guy is Raavan because according to Hindu mythology, he possessed bad vibes. The good guy is Jeevan because he gives life to everyone.”

The actor-producer credits Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish and Goldie Behl’s Drona for introducing desi superheroes in their movies. “Being a tech geek, producing RA.One was the best way to take the genre one step ahead. Indian animators have worked on the VFX in my film. I can proudly say that it matches international standards,” beams Khan. “I’m not pompous. I’ve worked for seven years to create the best VFX team at Red Chillies. And trust me, if I fail, I’ll only try harder the second time round.”