You are multi talented - an Indian filmmaker, scriptwriter, actor, a play back singer, a film producer. So what you can’t do?
I don’t know. I have not thought about doing anything else. You have to be dedicated and committed. And you have to enjoy it.  But, I think, if you do you enjoy it and you do love what you are doing then you find time for it, you make time for it.

Your film Dil Chahta Hai was your debut as a director. Did you ever imagine it would be such a success?
Yes and no. Obviously you hope that the film will do well. You hope that people will love it. But as far as for me you can’t expect what will happen. I mean I did hope that it will happen. I am glad it did happen to the extent that it did.

So do you prefer to be in front of the camera?
I got this wonderful opportunity to be in Rock On, which I think was an amazing script. It was very new, very fresh and in some ways it was creating something that was new. It was nice to be a part of that. Again, I think, it is very fortunate to have it appreciated the way it was.

Your father is Javed Akhtar. Did you show him the script for Don 2?
He has read the script, and I give him almost everything and he reads it. But I don’t think it about filling his shoes. I don’t think its possible at all. He has been doing what he does for years and years. I don’t feel pressured to do anything. There has never been pressure due to my parental expectations. They have never put me down and I just feel very free in that way.

How much fun did you have with Don 2?
I just want to be happy with what I am making. For me it’s the people, its all about entertainment for people who are watching this. They just go on with the story and enjoy the character and enjoy the action in the film. That is the total hype of doing an action movie. Fortunately, it was a break from having something, which is the same and to just go and have fun.

Were you scared about doing justice from the original?
There is such a huge fan following of the movie but then again as a story maker that is something to get excited about. There is a whole new generation, the younger generation, that is not so aware of that movie, who have rediscovered that film. For me, that is also a kind of an achievement with the re-make of Don that people have rediscovered that 70s again.

How do you sleep at night with all the pressure?
When you are doing an action movie and you are constantly working, you actually sleep pretty well (laughs). It really takes a lot of energy. By the end you are so tired that you are already in bed and you are hoping to wake up in time for the next morning.

You are taking action films to another level…
I love watching action movies. When you get to do action movies like Don, you finally do it your way. That is a lot closer to my take as a director and a writer on the action film concept. There is a lot of fun for me to discover that area. And to me, the actual film itself is really very good. It truly made it a dream come true. I am really happy with it.

What was it like working with the likes of Shahrukh and Priyanka?
It is more conservative between the actor and the director. But when you know the characters playing in the film and once that is defined, you have understood that everyone is here for the good of the film, everyone works with each other, the work goes very smoothly. With Shahrukh nothing goes wrong and Priyanka was completely enjoying this character that she was playing. She is now getting a chance to break away from the regular song and dance routine that she does for every other film and create a character that really makes her tough and hard. So everyone is living their dream.

Did you not want to be Don at any point?
(Laughs) When I was a kid, I did want to be Don. There was this whole fascination and I am such a huge fan of Amitabh Bachchan but I get scared when I see Don and imagine his character. When I started writing and thinking about doing it again, I just knew it had to be Shahrukh.  Knowing him personally, his character makes the perfect sense for this role.

What can we expect from this film, compared to the last one?
It is a lot closer to my take on the action genre and I am very fortunate that I have got a couple of characters from the first one that everybody knows in order to introduce a new story and fortunately I don’t have to exchange too much with the audience in trying to explain to people who these characters are. The people are aware of that already.  I can do that in a very quick manner and go straight to the proper film. To me there was a huge advantage in writing this.

Are you worried that people are going to be comparing the first Don to the second one?
I am over this comparing thing. I don’t bother about that. Even if it is the first sequel, people are going to compare it. People just love comparing things to one another. It is a part of filmmaking, films will be compared and people will say things – some maybe good, some maybe bad. But as long as people can talk about this film, it is clearly important enough.  

Which do you prefer the most, staying behind or in front of the screen?
When it is the same person doing both the things, it’s very difficult to separate one from the other. I just want to play with the story just as I have enjoyed watching the film that someone else is making. I just want to make fun and interesting stories for people to watch and that is all I can really hope for.

WIN! CD SOUNDTRACKS FOR DON 2 

Seeing 2011 out with a bang, the most cutting edge Indian film of all time raises the bar higher than ever before as Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, reclaims his elusive avatar in ‘DON 2’, releasing in cinemas in UK on 21st December 2011 by Reliance Entertainment. The buzz continues to build across international territories in anticipation of ‘DON 2’, Indian cinema’s most awaited sequel, which is set to dominate box offices globally.

 
Reinterpreting the 1978 original for a new and international audience,  Farhan Akhtar once again directs the world’s biggest Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan alongside Bollywood beauties Priyanka Chopra along with Lara Dutta, Boman Irani and Kunal Kapoor who will be seen playing pivotal roles in the film.
 
The edge-of-the-seat narrative is complimented by a musical soundtrack courtesy of maverick composing trio, Shankar Ehsan Loy, who have crafted a hypnotic score including their futuristic reinterpretation of the original film’s iconic background theme.
 
DON 2 will set screens ablaze in UK on Wednesday 21st December 2011, 2 days ahead of its India release. The Film is in 2D and 3D with English Subtitles by Reliance Entertainment.
 
To celebrate the release of DON 2 in cinemas, we are giving away four CDs for the music soundtrack for DON 2. For your chance to win, simply answer the following question and send your replies to sonia@asianamag.com.
 

Q. Who composed the music of DON 2 soundtrack?