'I'm getting more careful about what I say': SRK

Rajdeep Sardesai: So, do you think that after 20 years in Mumbai, being a Mumbaikar, you should be learning Marathi. Should SRK be someone who needs to learn Marathi to prove that you are a true Mumbaikar.

Shah Rukh Khan: That would be hugely difficult as I am very bad in languages and personally (not politically) I am quite ashamed that I have not been able to learn the language in 20 years. But my children know it. It's a natural progression. They are born here; they are surrounded by it. But I don't think it should be a prerequisite.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Then why not make a Marathi film?

Shah Rukh Khan: Well I would love to make a Marathi film. I think it's a great cinema.

Rajdeep Sardesai: There is a sense that there is a Shah Rukh Khan who wants to be more than a star take up a political position in general and maybe be a Neta?

Shah Rukh Khan: Sometimes, some mornings I wake up with this nightmare that I will join politics (laughs), because then I can also take very clear stands.

But the unfortunate part of me not wanting to be a politician is that I don't have a small agenda. I have a very generic agenda: humanity, progress, economy, and democracy. I ask my self: If I don't have an agenda, which party do I join? I am bereft of a smaller localised agenda.

I cannot be a politician because I have a generic goodness, modern-ness in my head. It's too generic for anyone to accept me as a politician. Maybe I would not get the votes. Maybe I will be thrown for charges of corruption; maybe I will not be accepted. I don't know if jeans and while shirt goes in politics. Maybe I will be thrown out because I am too modern in thoughts.

Maybe I would not be thick skinned enough to take the jibes. I sometimes wish I was in a profession where I really be untouched, unhurt by this vulnerability of being a big star for years.

Rajdeep Sardesai: The reason why I am asking you this is because in the last week, the statements you made has generated a controversy even though you said you never meant that.

Every tweet you put out people follow it closely. Given that kind of adulation that you have would you even going in that direction given that in the past stars like NTR, MRG formed their own political parties?

Shah Rukh Khan: The only reason I wouldn't do this is that for one I am not selfless enough. I think the politicians need to be hugely selfless.

And secondly, I don't know I am educated enough in this line to be able to take this onslaught because I am quite sure. When I get these onslaughts while being a small star or having said something, which certainly takes a positioning.

It's the first time maybe I have taken a positioning or second time and the onslaught is so harsh and my selfish motives so strong that I want my film to release that I just feel that maybe I will not be able to be facing it. But, you never know.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Do you believe that the stand that you have taken after 26/11, whether it was during the racial profiling incident, now on IPL players from Pakistan, that you will consistently take a stand every time you believe strongly or will it only happen when a film of yours is release? That is how the cynics would put it.

Cynics would say that Shah Rukh is doing this for publicity. Do you believe that this is naturally coming to you now that you have taken a stand on other issue as well? Let's say when the North Indian students are beaten up in Mumbai, will SRK take a stand tomorrow?

Will you take a stand when Taxi drivers in Mumbai are beaten up? Why can't we hear you speaking up on these issues?

Shah Rukh Khan: It happens during film releases because that is the time when I make myself accessible to press and television and media because otherwise, one is normally shooting and not coming ahead.

During 26/11 you called me and said that I got to speak, you are an Indian Muslim and it's important. And yes, I agree with that strangely 20 days later, my film was coming on which we didn't know when it would release because everything was thwarted that time but it happened that time so it hurt a little.

Now too, somebody called and said that you said that statement and there is a big hullabaloo over it. If I am asked about it--

Rajdeep Sardesai: --Hollywood stars take a stand on Iraq, Afghanistan and abortion. Why do you require the media to question you to take a stand? When taxi drivers are beaten up by the MNS, when the north Indian students are beaten up, why doesn't Shah Rukh Khan speak more often on issues that trouble you if you are as humanitarian?

Why only tweet? Why not take a stand in public? You have a strong voice. Why not make it heard for the faceless taxi driver?

Shah Rukh Khan: You are completely right. I think the time has come--and maybe one has been younger and scared because one is vulnerable--and even after being scared, these things happen to you and things go wrong. I think the time has come that whenever there are issues that I feel for or have an opinion on. Not only necessarily a stand because I am not a humanitarian. Not to that extent. I am just a self-serving pompous film star.

But, on grounds of humanity, which if I have to be righteous on that, I will, you are correct. Beyond the Internet, I would like to do it. Maybe next time I think of something, I will call you up and ask you listen put my opinion on board and that is the good part. You can sell innerwear with your voice, if you can sell your film with your voice; it's time you sold your good ideas also through your voice besides the films that you make.

Rajdeep Sardesai: My last question and it's the one that should bring smile on your face. Your kid won a Taekwondo competition over the weekend. It seems that they have their father's competitive jeans.

In the last 10 days, when you have been hearing about these headlines, about SRK Vs Sena, your film's posters being torn down, the possibility that your films might be disrupted. What is it that has held you together or should I say or what matters more 'My Name is Khan' becoming a hit or the kids doing well Taekwondo.

Shah Rukh Khan: My kids are braver than I am because maybe they are sillier and stupider. Maybe they don't know the world enough.

Maybe they are the ones who make me more vulnerable than I would like to be. Maybe, if I did not have kids, I would be as strong as they are. But, they have the grit, they have the tenacity, they have the talent and they are hard working. Their winning the Taekwondo made me so happy. Not just because they can fight, but the fact that they can fight fair and they can stand the ground.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Shah Rukh, thanks for joining us tonight and being so candid on so many issue.