I don't think I was spoilt: Zayed Khan

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) He's always been the baby of the film industry and his family. But now Zayed Khan promises a new, power-packed version of himself - at least on screen.

"I don't think I was spoilt. I was sent to boarding school when I was 11. That changed my whole perspective to life," Zayed, who is the son of Sanjay Khan and nephew of Feroze Khan, told IANS in an interview.

"I've always been confident about myself. My goals are very focused and real. I've really avoided all negativity. I just wanted to be one of the best, and that's what I'm working towards."

He also spoke about his marriage, his upcoming films "Cash" and "Speed" as well as his three-month long illness.

"Marriage gets you more focused in life. All of the riff-raff are out of your life...It's like my life isn't my own. Marriage has become the centre of my moral universe," he said about wife Malaika.

Excerpts:

What brings on this new power-packed Zayed Khan?

You know, whenever people have told me I can't do it I've been even more determined to do it. As a child if my parents said don't go out, I did. Even at school, winning in sports wasn't a possibility. It was the only thing to do. My family has a lot to do with my growth as a professional. They've provided me with unconditional moral and emotional support. I exist in a never-say-die surrounding. My mom always says one has to keep creating opportunities regardless of what people say. I ignored cynics and just kept working. I feel I've come a full circle since my debut in 'Chura Liya Hai Tumne'.

How did you overlook the cynicism about your prospects?

I've always been confident about myself. My goals are very focused and real. I've really avoided all negativity. I just wanted to be one of the best, and that's what I'm working towards. No one comes to the industry to be the second-best. Not that there's any pressure to excel from my family. But I've been working with the best talents in the business like Shah Rukh Khan, Farah Khan, Anubhav Sinha, Sanjay Dutt...I don't know whether I deserve their support. But I was a very obedient person. And I followed the whole senior-junior thing, which is very important in the industry. I'm still defiant. But not so aggressively as in the past.

You must have been the spoilt son in a family filled with daughters.

I don't think I was spoilt. I was sent to boarding school when I was 11. That changed my whole perspective to life.

Last year you undertook your first world tour.

Yes, my Rock Stars concerts. The most important thing about the stage is it gives you a chance to interact with your fans. I understand I've a great international market. I'm told I've considerable crossover appeal. I wanted to go and see what it was all about - who are these people who are watching my films? Are they Americans or Indians? The world tour opened up a whole new vista for me. We covered three continents. It was nothing like dancing at an awards function. These international audiences are true fans. It's not just about live interaction. It's also very lucrative. If you get into the shows business you can monitor and check the quantity and quality of your films.

You were one of the junior-most members of the Rock Stars team.

You get to know your colleagues best when you travel and bond with them. For John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, Esha Deol and Mallika Sherawat this was the first concert. I got along well with Salman (Khan) and Esha (who's an old friend). The rest were all trying to find their own bearings. But we'd bond nonetheless. No matter what they wrote about our rivalry all of us were extremely supportive of one another. Backstage if someone didn't have a shirt, one of us would throw it at him. It was a huge learning experience. The world tour tag strengthened my whole persona.

How has your marriage changed you?

I got married in November 2005. Marriage gets you more focused in life. All the riff-raff are out of your life. It's like when my friends tell me about their first child. That's how I feel about marriage. It's like my life isn't my own. Marriage has become the centre of my moral universe. It has begun to affect my whole existence....Malaika and I were going around for 10 years. Very honestly marriage was a social obligation.

Do you take her advice?

I do take her advice. My wife is a hardcore filmy. She watches every film. She keeps telling me whom to work with. A woman's opinion has to be taken seriously.

You still live with your family?

We're very closely-knit. We're like those loud Italian families, eating, talking loudly, interrupting one another...We're very involved in one another's life. And I don't want it any other way.

So when do you stop being the baby of your family?

Never, I hope.

You know what I mean?

You mean when would a bigger baby than me come? Ha! Okay. Soon I hope. I'm very fond of children. I've six nephews and nieces who come home every day. They're like my own kids. We all live within a two-minute radius.

Hrithik calls your sister Farah Mother Teresa.

That she is. Besides other things she's fantastic with her work. Her jewellery can be compared with any international label. And she has great business acumen. She's eight years my senior. She just ordered me to come and I had no choice.

Does Farah bully you?

You want to know the truth? All my sisters bully me. I had shooting on Raksha Bandhan last year. All my sisters agreed to tie me their rakhi in the night. Susanne wondered if I could come before shooting. Then I looked at my other sisters Farah and Simone. And they expected the same. So I had to get up very early and get the rakhi tied by all my sisters.

What new films?

I've finished Anubhav Sinha's "Cash" where the opening scene has me surfing bare-chested. I'm toning up my body right now. I had to stop doing exercises because of my slipped disc. My right arm grew so weak I couldn't even lift a glass. That was unnerving because I'm a very physical actor. But god's great. I've recovered.

You've just revived a project called "Speed".

Yeah, it got stalled because during an action sequence I injured my back. I had a slipped disc and I was out of circulation for three months, bedridden for 40 days.

What did you do during that time?

I started writing. "Rocky" was one of the films where I've contributed immensely to the screenplay. Shyam Bajaj had the guts to sign me for a solo-hero film after "Chura Liya Hai Tumne". I think it is my first baby step into more screen writing. But no I won't take credit for it. It can't be all Zayed Zayed Zayed. I want the team to get their limelight.

Would you like to direct a film?

I wouldn't say no. When I was in the London film school, I used to edit my friends' scripts and charge them three to four pounds. That was fun. While seeing other people's works I also got to hone my skills in creating a graph and rounding off a screenplay.

You talk like you are 60.

Lots of people tell me I'm an old soul. This could be my seventh life, who knows.

What's the next thing you're looking forward to?

A great career, then fatherhood. My baby steps so far have been satisfactory. I'm very happy with my life, touchwood.

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