Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, whose new film Fan has been garnering positive response, said that he took a chance with this film as he wanted to present before the audience something which they had never seen before.

“Fan is not a film that the heartland audience will like. But we took a chance thinking, that hopefully they will like it. But they need song and dance. I am not unrealistic,” Shah Rukh told PTI.

Shah Rukh, 50, has delivered blockbusters such as Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Chennai Express and Happy New Year. But some of his films like Swades and Chak De! India did not do good business at the box office as compared to his other commercial films.

“My last film Dilwale had cars flying. There was dance and all, so more people saw it and the non-heartland didn’t see it. The idea is to make a film that everyone would watch,” said Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh praised filmmakers who propose unique ideas.

“While we were making Swades, I had told Ashutosh Gowariker (director) that I hope you know this film will not make much business as the other commercial films do. But he had the guts to make a film like Swades with a star like me,” said Shah Rukh.

“I think this is what we should celebrate. When a new kind of a filmmaker comes, and makes something different with new people as he doesn’t have access to others stars, I really appreciate that. I think it is more appreciated when an established director, producer, star does something unusual like Fan,” said Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh added that he chose to do different stuff onscreen as it excites him.

“As a person, it keeps me going. I feel that I have done something different. It also enhances your way of making cinema. Then after six months, you can make a commercial film. Will Smith does that. He makes a film for numbers as well one, which don’t make that much numbers. I feel most actors should try and do that,” said Shah Rukh.

According to Shah Rukh, there are two types of audience – one that enjoys offbeat films while there are others who like commercial films.

“There is thinking and talking audience that views world cinema and assumes our cinema should reach there soon. Then, there is an audience in the heartland of the country, who still believe in values and thoughts and entertainment in a certain way,” he added.

“Language is a barrier. Everybody does not watch English and Spanish filmd. So, when you make a film like Fan, you know that the film is not going to be universal. The heartland people are not going to understand. I don’t think anyone is a hypocrite as far as this is concerned,” said Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh isn’t disheartened with the fact that unusual films do not do much business as compared to the commercial films.

“Filmmakers are clear about the target audience. You just have to believe that this film is meant for these people and release it. Beyond that, if these (unusual) films do more numbers than you thought it would, it’s really good. When I made Dilwale, the attempt was to get much bigger numbers. Like Chak De! India was a beautiful film, but it did not have the numbers that Chennai Express had. But, you can’t get disheartened,” said Shah Rukh.