Q: Why are you re-making the 70s’ blockbuster? It’s the one Amitabh Bachchan flick that has stayed with me since my childhood. I think of all the cool films he did in the 70s, Don was the coolest. Of course, Deewaar and Sholay are superior films. But Don is cooler and funkier. I’d put Mr Bachchan’s character up there with Dostana in terms his sharp-witted and wry dialogues and attitude. It’d be a re-interpretation of one of my favourite films. It will be much lighter to do than Lakshya.

Q: All these are films co-written by your father Javed Akhtar.

Yes. But among them Don stands out for me. It was a film that I thought of making after Dil Chahta Hai, but opted for the more original Lakshya.

Q: Why is this the right time to do Don? It would be fun to do. Lakshya was tough. Don would be a good change. It’ll be an exploration of a completely new genre. It’ll take me into an escapist zone. I’m sure smugglers and gangsters exist. But like Don? No way! I don’t think such baddies exist beyond Don.

Q: Would it be like a James Don? Ha-ha. My Don will be gadget-friendly for sure, though I won’t overdo the gizmos. I want to stick to the ideas and characterisations rather than relying on gimmicks. We’ve to keep in mind the technological advancement since Don was released. For instance, the mobile phone would play a big part in my Don. Such things have to affect my story. It’s my homage to one of my favourite films.

Q: Chandra Barot’s direction in Don was very stylised.

I’ve heard stories from Dad about how much financial compromises the director of Don had to make. Given that the director Chandra Barot and producer Nariman Irani, who also photographed the film, had so little resources I think the film achieved a lot in terms of shot takings, etc. Today the film may look very ‘1970s’ but I think it was very cool for its times and budget. I’ll try to do something that’s equally cool for our times. Unfortunately, when we think of action thrillers they take us to Mission Impossible and James Bond. I’m sure my Don would be influenced by those films and The Bourne Identity because I love them too.

Q: And your new Bachchan?

Shah Rukh is playing the double role of Don and Vijay. He’s absolutely the correct age for the part. And he also loved the movie. He’s extremely excited about playing Don. We’re both fans of the film. So it would be great fun to recreate the magic.

Q: And Zeenat Aman’s part? That has gone to Priyanka Chopra. I don’t think Shah Rukh-Priyanka are doing any other film together. Priyanka will play Roma. She remembered the script by heart. The only thing she didn’t remember was her own character. But Pran, Iftekhar and Helen’s roles are still not cast.

Q: Would you be getting Mr Bachchan to make a cameo appearance?

I don’t think so. It would be too gimmicky. Besides Don isn’t an archival classic like the old Devdas. Don is familiar to today’s generation. Mr Bachchan’s presence in Don doesn’t need to be reinforced. I don’t want to aggravate the comparisons by getting Mr Bachchan into my Don.

Q: Will there be a Khai ke paan Banaraswala?

It’s one of the biggest USPs of Don. To recreate it would be impossible. I’ll therefore make Shah Rukh do Khai ke paan Banaraswala. It’s left too strong an impression on me to be tampered with. As a viewer I’d feel cheated if I didn’t see Shah Rukh doing Khai ke paan. It’s like re-doing Qurbani without Aap jaisa koi. Khai ke paan is the highlight of the film. Why remove it? The rest of the songs are being done by my favourites, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

Q: You had a bit of a problem getting the copyrights? Why not just remake the darned thing unofficially?

It’s just that a certain procedure had to be followed in getting the remaking rights. We had to put in a public notice in the trade papers announcing our intentions to remake the film. Also, I know the late producer Nariman Irani’s wife, Salma Irani, and there was no question of making the film without her consent. Don is extremely precious to her family. And also, I wanted to make Don with the title and the characters being called by their original films. I want to remake Don as I’d like to see it. Mera apna Don. We’ll be shooting between February and June in 2006. It’s better to do it at one go. Lakshya was a slow shoot. It will be hard to find a tougher film to do.

Q: Does the original weigh on you?

Comparisons are bound to happen. That won’t deter me from making Don the way I want to. I don’t want either my Don or the other Don to look foolish. I feel more people will come to watch my Don just to compare it with the old one.

For me, it’s exciting because everyone involved with my project is equally excited. Everyone on board is here for the love of Don. I can’t wait to get started.

Right now, I leave for Venice to shoot for The Fakir in which I’m playing the lead. I’m enjoying the experience. My director (Anand Surapur) seems to like my acting. Either he’s a good liar or a good friend. They want to premiere the film at the Venice Film Festival.