He's famed for being ultra picky. Aamir Khan, though, has turned 'item boy' for 'Delhi Belly', a first of sorts for the Padma Bhushan winner. And the going will be great for future 'item boys,' or so opines Khan. The 'bhaag DK Bose' number from his home production embraced controversy and Khan reveals how he pacified an irked Amitabh Bachchan…

 

The confines were swanky, the star, an A list ace and although Aamir Khan was all togged up in a black tee and denims, the mood was far from morose. Au contraire, Khan was in his sparkling element at the Press meet centred around 'Delhi Belly' convened at a suburban Mumbai five star hotel.

As 'Disco Fighter,' Aamir Khan has revved up musical heat with a posse of beauties in the song number 'I Hate You (Like I Love You)', whipping up curiosity over his home production.

 Khan's get up in the song track is a crazy Indian Elvis Presley gone awry, his pelvic thrusts and gyrations are a combo of Mithun Chakraborty and Govinda and ah, believe it or swoon, he has the word 'Disco' displayed across his buttocks (ahem, over his flared white embellished trouser, that is). Aamir Khan's first 'item song' has fetched mass acclaim, apart from gladdening the (star) heart of the actor.

Excerpts from a chat with the Padma Bhushan winner...

It's rather late in the day when you've finally done your first 'item number' song…
I agree. Actually, the whole idea of the 'look' and the song was Abhinay Deo's, who's the director of 'Delhi Belly', though Kiran (Rao) had been telling me of late that I should do an 'item number'. I think the period of 'item number girls' has become a little jaded and now it is the turn of the 'item number boys'. I think after Ranbir Kapoor has done an 'item number' song for 'Chillar Party' and I've done my first full on number too, many more are likely to follow suit. And if I'm offered any more by outside banners, I'd love to do their 'item numbers', as well.

Your 'look' in your first 'item number' is quite funky…
Actually, my 'look' has a little bit of every big actor of the 80s. The hair style is Amitabh Bachchan, the chest hair is Anil Kapoor, the pelvic thrusts are Mithun Chakraborty and Govinda and I'm a big fan of both of them as dancers too. I hope that they like it.

You also have the word 'Disco' right across your buttocks in the song…
(States thoughtfully) The song says 'shake your biscuit'… remember… so 'Disco' just indicates that.

Why are you called 'Disco Fighter' in the song number?
You'll have to see the film to get the answer to that one…

Do you have a cameo in 'Delhi Belly' too or is it only the 'item number'?
I'm only performing a song in 'Delhi Belly' and in that sense it is a true 'item number.'

Assuming wins a National Award for 'Best Item Number Boy', would you accept it?
If I do win a National Award for the 'Best Item Number Boy', I will surely accept it.

Among your friends, who would you like to show your 'item number' first?
I'd like to show it to Salman, because he's a friend and he's done a whole lot of 'item numbers'. He's far ahead of me in this respect.

How come Imran Khan isn't grooving alongside you in the 'I Hate You (Like I Love You)' number?
Imran is there in the whole film, so I thought that I'd do it solo and more than that it was a necessity. I called up all the heroines to do the 'item number' of 'I Hate You (Like I Love You)', but nobody took my calls at all, so I had to do it. And I still don't know why they didn't take my calls.

Not even Katrina Kaif?
She didn't take my call either.

Strange, because she later told the media how much she was looking forward to doing it…
Really? (Looks surprised) Then why didn't you guys, the media, tell me about it?

There are talks that you're doing a home production along with your nephew Imran?
Let's say, there are projects that are being considered and we will look at one that will have us both together in good roles.

It's being said that Amitabh Bachchan didn't particularly fancy the 'bhaag DK Bose' number, since the word in it resembled a choice Hindi expletive…
(mock seriously) I'm not really aware of any such bad word.

Mr. Bachchan said that no actor should endorse any form of vulgarity…
When a senior actor like Amitabh Bachchan has objections and is going to tweak your ears over something… what do you do? Obviously, you wait a while and then… 'bhaag DK Bose… bhaag DK Bose… bhaag DK Bose… aandhi aayi aandhi aayi.' That's precisely what I did! And now my song 'I Hate You, Like I Love You' is my way of listening to Bachchan's advice. The song has no vulgarity and no objectionable terms and can be watched by anybody.

With all the mighty fuss created by the moral police over the 'bhaag DK Bose' song, will you edit it out of 'Delhi Belly'?
(Spontaneously) Nooooo. Why would I do that? It's a great and popular song and I love it!

Your film 'Delhi Belly' seems to be one of the biggest risks of your career, considering that the script is wicked with plenty of sexual overtones too…
I've always taken risks in my career, be it 'Lagaan' or 'Taare Zameen Par'. With 'Delhi Belly' I knew that I wasn't making a picture for children and so we asked for an 'Adults Only' certificate.