I took Anil's remark in right spirit: Johar

Mumbai, June 27 (IANS) Anil Kapoor's comment during a rapid fire round at an awards ceremony that he would like to see Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan in "Brokeback Mountain" was "very funny", says the director.

Johar says he didn't take any offence to Anil's remark that came in a mock segment of "Koffee With Karan" at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Dubai. "Brokeback Mountain" was about gay love.

"There's so much self-deprecating humour at the award functions in the West. Why not here' I took Anil's remark in the right spirit," Johar told IANS in an interview.

He says an item song he is shooting for "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" (KANK) with Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan will rock 'n' roll.

"It is a huge song on a huge set choreographed by, of course, Farah Khan. It's a big item song. The two Bachchans are jamming it up in the song. It'll rock 'n' roll."

He is also set to return to the small screen in October with his chat show "Koffee with Karan".

Excerpts:

How was IIFA (International Indian Film Academy)'

Wonderful. It is so gratifying to see how far Indian cinema has travelled. I did a mock segment of my talk show "Koffee With Karan", which returns on STAR World this October.

Anil Kapoor said he'd like to see you and Shah Rukh Khan in "Brokeback Mountain"'

It was in fun. I had a sense of humour about it. Why not others' What Anil said was very funny and I laughed it off. Anil and his wife Sunita are dear friends. I can never take offence to him. There is so much self-deprecating humour at the award functions in the West. Why not here' I took Anil's remark in the right spirit.

Which song are you shooting now'

It's the rock n' roll track. And we are shooting it at the film-temple Yash Raj Studios. It was pending because it needed Amitji. It features him and Abhishek.

Otherwise I have completed the entire film. We'll be shooting this song for 10 days. It is a huge song on a huge set choreographed by, of course, Farah Khan. It's a big item song. The two Bachchans are jamming it up in the song. It'll rock 'n' roll.

Are you rocking and rolling'

I don't even rock and roll in my sleep. I hardly touch the pillow and I am gone. My heart is rocking with nervousness and my head is rolling with pressure. I am an internal mess.

The "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" score has been released to mixed reports.

So what's new' It happens every time my film or soundtrack comes out. The music has gone to No.1 across-the-board. I had the same experience with my other soundtracks. They said K3G ("Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham") wasn't as good as "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" and that "Kal Ho Naa Ho" wasn't as good as K3G.

Now KANK's music is being compared unfavourably with KHNH...The flak will settle down. Real music lovers will finally come forward. Those who are trying to pick holes will vanish. The music has energy and soul.

How do you compare Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's efforts here with "Kal Ho Naa Ho"'

I am not much into comparisons. But there were more item songs in KHNH. Every film has its own rhythm and melody. Why do we have this terrible penchant for comparisons' For heaven's sake, you can't compare "Black" to "Devdas". They come from different mindsets and they are both great films.

How much did you participate in the creation of the songs'

For me music is an integral part of not just my life: but my life as a filmmaker. I can't imagine Hindi cinema without songs. I only listen to Hindi film songs. Creatively I live in the moment. And the moment describes the music that I do.

The order of the day is fusion music. We have to hold on to our roots and yet imbibe all that we want from the West. Today's music has to be accessible to the youth. Some of us are doing the fusion in an aesthetic way. I'd like to think that the fusion in a track like "Mitwa" is aesthetic. I like the fusion concept as long as it's done decently.

Does the music of KANK reflect its New York setting'

Not at all! Even if the film was set in Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata, the music would be exactly the same.

You have a Pakistani singer in the film'

Yes, Shafqat Amanat Ali from the band Fuzon. I heard their song "Aankhon ke sagar" and I immediately wanted Shafqat to sing for me. Shankar and I decided to let him do the "Mitwa" track. He can reach the highest note without straining.

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Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna