What one must add here is that Zayed has also inherited the famous Khan charm and can be quite endearing as well. No wonder Shah Rukh Khan was overheard telling a friend that he wants his son Aryan to grow up to be just like Zayed.

«I?m so fortunate and extremely proud to be part of this project,» he begins. «It?s cinema at its best. Very expressive, progressive and racy. Farah Khan?s hit the nail so hard on the head that the movie covers a huge socio-economic group. Main Hoon Na is not just aimed at the overseas market or a metro market. It?s a film recommended for every family no matter where they reside or which class of society they belong to.»

Of his contribution to the movie, the young actor says confidently : «My role is central to the whole film. I play Shah Rukh Khan?s kid brother, step-brother actually. He constantly blames his past for the way he?s turned out, he fails in college and is proud of it because he has no ambition whatsoever. I can say I?m the fun part of Main Hoon Na. Of course the film also shows my transition from boyhood to manhood. And Shah Rukh Khan plays the catalyst who brings about the change in my character.»

Zayed recalls the day he was signed for the film. «I actually went to meet Shah Rukh for something personal. Main Hoon Na was not on the agenda. I had just returned from Goa and my hair was long, I had a stubble, a complete tan and looked ragamuffin-ish. When I went up to meet SRK, I found Farah and him scrutinising me from head to toe. SRK took in my appearance and shot me a question: ?Okay, Zayed, the important thing is, can you act?? All of a sudden my blood just rushed to my head and I was like, Yo, who are you talking to man? I turned around and told SRK, «I was born to act.» And I think he liked that. That is where our meeting ended. He had made his decision right there. I guess he liked my attitude.»

Zayed makes no attempt to hide the adoration in his voice as he says, «Shah Rukh is one of those superstars who are very patient with actors like me who have a lot of gusto and drive. Working with him was like attending a mini acting lesson. He is so responsive. He would be involved with you like an artiste and not be aloof like a superstar. There was no ?I want to eat you up alive? attitude. Instead he had the manner of a friend-guide-teacher. And we started working out of a synergy. He was so convincing that you just said, `Wow?. And imbibed everything he said.»

Working on this movie was also nostalgia time, Zayed says. «Going to Darjeeling and St.Paul?s, where we shot Main Hoon Na, was very nostalgic. I am a boarding school product and looking at the basket ball court, the canteen and the dormitory almost made me feel I was back in school. So, to keep in touch with my character constantly, I spent a whole month in one pair of jeans, slept with the jewellery he wore and kept my hair long.»

There were some qualities, says the Khan cub, that he didn?t need to work on too much for his role. «Oh, I used to be quite a brat. I had this craving to be mischievous. I would take things to the extreme. But there was no malice, it was all in fun. I was carefree at that point. Now there is a certain responsibility that goes with my job. Of course it?s not like, ?Oh my God, yeh kya tension hai.? Change is inevitable. It has to happen to everyone,» he says sagely.

And continues in the same vein: «In this country you are only as good as your last film. My debut film Chura Liya Hai Tumne flopped. But I got positive reviews for it. And I thank everyone who really thought I was worth it but inside me I find so much lacking. So much more to be done,» muses the young Khan.

What next? «After Main Hoon Na, I have a film titled Idiot. But there are some issues being sorted out on this project. I also have Pritish Nandy?s Shabd and Vashu Bhagnani?s Vaada. Of course, I?m fortunate to be in a situation where I don?t have to make my decisions based on the worry about where my next meal will come from. Being Sanjay Khan?s son really helps. But if I have the privilege, I also know it comes with the responsibility of not squandering things away. I can?t make mistakes. It would be foolish of me to be in an enviable position and make the mistake of over-committing myself, just because I have an urge to be in every spectrum of colour that there is in the universe.»

Whew! Let?s move to easier topics, I say, like his hyperactive partying. «I kind of enjoy partying. There is no actual reason why I do it, I just like it. Meeting people is my favourite pastime. I?m an observant guy. And I draw a lot of inspiration for my screen characters from people in real life. One of the reasons I step out so late is that I write a lot of scripts. It?s a hobby. I stay locked in my room for hours on end and when I open my window I notice how dark it is outside. And then I want to step out and have some fun. I?m in my early 20s. Now is the only time. So why not?»

Why not, indeed. But what about his well publicised brawls? Zayed laughs, «I try and avoid brawls. But when you go into a club atmosphere, your chances of not getting into a brawl are narrow. Everyone is in a different state of mind. I haven?t had too many brawls. I?m not the guy who starts anything. But hey, if it happens, I?m not the guy to shy away either»

One of those brawls happened at Esha Deol?s birthday party. Esha, another spirited star kid, has been linked with Zayed for some time now, though both have consistently dismissed any such talk. Zayed makes his position clear now: «We are good friends. Esha and I hit it off well because we come from similar backgrounds. I guess my friendship with Esha comes under scrutiny just because we?re both actors. I don?t want to say more. People are welcome to their thinking. My conscience is clear.»

For those not in the know, Zayed is currently engaged. His fiancee Malika keeps largely away form the cameras though. «I love her a lot. But I don?t get to spend too much time with her. And sometimes I have to buy my way into the relationship. So I go berserk and give her the most expensive gifts?Louis Vuitton or something even more expensive,» he says in typical Khan style.

Tell him that and he guffaws, «I?m six feet one inch tall and yet I?m the bachha in the Khan family. My cousin Fardeen loves me to death. And so do my sisters, Farha, Sussanne and Simone. They are all very protective about me. They all know I?m the only guy who can make a mistake and get away with it. My brother-in-law Hrithik Roshan also loves me but he doesn?t show it. I must add that Hrithik is incredibly hard-working and so honest. It is hard to find a breed like him. I?m the kind of guy who likes those students who get punished once in a while rather than those students who get their attendance straight and have a squeaky clean record.» Yeah, we guessed, Zayed.

? I?m the kind of guy who likes those students who get punished once in a while rather than those students who get their attendance straight and have a squeaky clean record. ?

Source : Filmfare India

by Meena IYER