MUMBAI:

Shah Rukh Khan is hugely excited about Shimit Amin’s Chak De India.

Says Shah Rukh, “I feel hockey as a sport has been monstrously neglected in our country. I used to play the game during college. In fact I was quite a good hockey player. So the role was a lot like going back to my past.”

Shah Rukh has a whole lot of fun doing a sports film. “We had real Australian female hockey players playing for the film in Australia. And it was truly amazing watching them go through their paces. They were thorough professionals.”

Shah Rukh dismisses the myth that he only likes to work within the comfort zone.

“I do as many films for Yashraj Films or Karan Johar as I do for other directors. Swades and Don were with first-time directors for me. And now I’m working with Shimit Amin in Chak De India for the first

time. It’s interesting to see where he comes from, and where he hopes to go with this film. I think making a film based on the game of hockey is really cool.”