“He’s so cool, so much fun,” was a common refrain repeated umpteen times since that day. One could well see the reason why - Khan was witty, funny and articulate. He certainly stole the thunder but almost always stepped back for his team members - Deepika Padukone, Imtiaz Ali and Dinesh Vijan - to have their say. And when necessary, came to their rescue with an arsenal of clever quips.

Strumming the guitar at the music release, appearances at multiplexes, reality shows, special photo sessions, Khan has done it all for the maiden production under his banner Illuminati Films. It would be no exaggeration to say that Khan is stellar in his new role as the producer of Love Aaj Kal, a contemporary love story that tests its strengths at the box-office this weekend.

Excerpts from an interview at the actor’s home in Bandra where between fervent messaging, instructing his domestic help and strumming the guitar, he takes a few questions on films and film stars.

Clint Eastwood comes up rather frequently in your conversations. Has he been an influence?
Clint Eastwood is the ultimate action hero. An icon. He’s so old and still so good. His films like Dirty Harry are iconic. And now as a director he’s made brilliant films that are also economical. He set up a production house called Mal Passo which means Bad Step in Mexican. I am inspired but no, there is nothing common between us.

Film characters can sometimes become paternal influences. When people really look up to you, you stand for something.
Films are all about the balance of art (critical acclaim) and commerce (box-office success)…As an actor and producer, what tilts the scales for you?

You have to know your target audience. To want to make a 50-crore English film would be impractical. Actors have an appetite for different things - so it all depends on your thirst to be critically-acclaimed or popular. And then there are actors that have struck a balance. Richard Burton, for example, has done a lot of theatre and films. Clint Eastwood was a bigger star. The function of cinema is to let people escape reality. Among my films, Being Cyrus and Ek Haseena Thi were off-beat but not for the sake of being off-beat. One needs to strike a balance. Eventually it would be great to have it all.

Usually, actors who turn producers do it for helming films with themselves-is Illuminati going to be any different? Also, since you have at your disposal a quite a talent pool — your mother, sister and Kareena, would the banner then produce films with them?
People make films for their children, so why not for people you are fond of or related to? But a producer should try and be faithful to the film. The director has to take a call on the actors and that’s the way it should be. I don’t come from a film family and we have been brought up with a democratic approach, therefore the person best suited for the role, in all likelihood, would get it.

We would work with different actors and directors. At the moment there are two films with me (Love Aaj Kal and Agent Vinod). If I don’t suit the part I would happily step aside for someone who does.
Considering that you are first an actor, are you lenient over creative spends?

Well, let’s just say I am more lenient about making the actor’s fears disappear. If it could be done better, then I will say yes…in order to create the best environment.

Is another project with Imtiaz on the anvil?
Yes, he’s still working on the story though. There is Sriram Raghavan’s Agent Vinod before that.

You have said it before but once again spell out for us the premise for Love Aaj Kal…
On one level it’s a very touching love story and a look at relationships as they are today. It’s about two people under very modern pressures who are brave enough to negotiate their relationship in a fairly uncharted way. They discover each other after parting ways and being with other people. The circumstances in which they find themselves are new and identifiable. Imtiaz has that touch that absorbs the audience.

Almost everybody on the team said you gave gyan on life, relationships and everything in between. True or false?
Giving gyan is just an attempt at understanding things better. I am just listening to what it sounds like to articulate my thoughts (chuckling) I think a lot! I don’t quite fancy the strong, silent type… Do you?

Not quite. But what’s your next film Qurbaan about?
Qurbaan is a politically-relevant film about international terrorism. Rensil D’Silva (Rang De Basanti) is directing it. The film shows the difference between fundamental terrorist and modern Islam. It makes a comment on people who kill other people-people who don’t belong to any god. It’s a very entertaining thriller with some as wonderful Sufi music.

And what about Agent Vinod?
I love escapist cinema. Agent Vinod will have the tone of James Bond films but with a realistic touch.

Has there been a shift in your choice of movies and therefore the roles you are playing?
Well, for a while with Yash Raj and Kal Ho Naa Ho, I was in some way playing the metrosexual man. I had perhaps fallen into a niche perhaps more classy, for instance, none of those films would require me to do a raunchy song. With Race, I have cut out of that -it was a film for the masses.

Are you also producing Race 2?
No. I am going to be a part of it but Mr Ramesh Taurani is producing it.