Maneesh Sharma: I expect National Award for Shah Rukh Khan after 'Fan'

Mumbai, May 4: Shah Rukh Khan's performance as both a Bollywood superstar and his much-younger look-alike admirer in 'Fan' deserves a National Award next year, feels film's director Maneesh Sharma.

The 50-year-old actor has received immense praise for his dual act, especially as Gaurav Chandna, whose love for his favourite star eventually turns against him. "I am actually expecting National Award for Shah Rukh for his work in the film. Let's hope he gets it. It feels great seeing the response Shah Rukh is getting for his performance. It is satisfying," Maneesh said.

"Shah Rukh is the happiest with the kind of response he is getting for his performance and the whole team is very happy as we think we have done something little alternate and getting appreciation for that is always way more assuring for any director, actor or producer."

'Fan' was one of the most anticipated films of the year and especially for a reason that from its story to his role, the movie was unlike what Shah Rukh had done in years and fans associated him with. In terms of bringing an "alternate" film to the 'Shah Rukh Khan-loving audience' and getting praise for it, Maneesh says 'Fan' has been an extremely satisfying journey.

"I am very satisfied in the sense that it was an alternate stuff for a Shah Rukh Khan-film and we all knew we were going for something little out of the box in terms of what is expected out of YRF-SRK combination." "Cinematically, we have done something which we are very proud of whether in terms of story-telling like not having song, dance, heroine or fulfilling any commercial expectation, which is what people associate with Shah Rukh and Yash Raj."

"In that sense whatever response that we are getting and the benchmark that we have set with VFX that has been very satisfying." Having Shah Rukh in a film is a dream for any young filmmaker but it also comes with a lot of pressure of not disappointing his huge fan base.

Maneesh, however, begs to differ as he feels every film regardless of its leading star is a risk in its own way. "Honestly, every time you make a film it is a risk. Filmmaking is a risky thing. Making 'Fan' did not weigh me down in terms of having Shah Rukh Khan on board... Any film comes with that amount of risk."

'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' comes with that amount of risk as you are making it with newcomers, at a certain scale, milieu... You don't know whether it will work. You just go with your conviction and hope for the best." His conviction with 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' surely worked as it not only got audience's love but also picked the Best Hindi Film Trophy at the 63rd National Awards.

"It is the most highly revered and respectable award we have. It feels like once in a lifetime opportunity right now and it also feels good that it has happened so early in all our careers. Hopefully, it will motivate us to come back again."