Being brash, frank paid off: Farah Khan

The film-maker and TV host adds that being on the small screen helped her become the brand that she is today.

She rose to fame in Bollywood as a dance choreographer. Then Farah Khan tried her hand at film-making and acting, and former proved to be rewarding for her. Today, with hits such as Main Hoon Na (2004), Om Shanti Om (2007) and Happy New Year (2014) to her credit, Farah is known as a versatile film-maker, who has also appeared on various television reality shows. As Farah is set to host a cookery show, she shares how TV has established her as a “brand”.

How do you balance your film and TV careers?
It’s because of good time management. When I make a film, I just focus on it, and post that, I take on TV projects. I enjoy doing TV shows, and I always wanted to have my own food show. I am a foodie. I wanted it show to be fun, and also give homemakers recipes that can be made at home.

As a choreographer and film-maker, you were always behind the scenes. But TV put a name to your face. Do you think it has contributed to your popularity?
Absolutely, I am more than just a film-maker; I am a brand, and that’s because of TV. People come up to me at supermarkets and tell me how connected they feel with me. Being candid has really helped me. I think being brash and frank paid off.

Last year was good for you, but your brother, Sajid Khan, had his second flop in a row (Humshakals). What advice do you give him at such times?
There is a way of giving advice to family, and at a certain point (low-phase) you just have to love them. When he was riding high with three hits, I told him to take it easy. But when you have a failure, you find advice within yourself. As family, you just have to be there, and I’m there for him.

Is it true that you’re working on a small-budget film for Shah Rukh Khan’s production company?
My small-budget film will be worth `50 crore (laughs). But I am not working on anything right now.

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