by Subhash K Jha

"We're looking at a Diwali release. The film is almost complete," says Farhan sounding far less relaxed than he usually does. "I'm not stressed. But it's a very hectic round-the-clock schedule. We're working like crazy."

He's been shooting vigorously in Malaysia, and will continue to be there till of June. "Malaysia is almost like a character in my Don. See, the whole point of re-making a classic featuring Mr Bachchan was to give it my own twist.

I've tweaked my dad and Salim Saab's script a bit. The essence of Don remains the same. But in terms of look, mood and flavour, my Don is very different. I'd say it's my homage to the original. Yes, I'm very happy with what we've shot so far."

The tuning between Farhan and his leading man Shah Rukh is the talk of Bollywood. "We were friends from before Don. See, both Shah Rukh and I are ardent fans of Don and Mr Bachchan. When we finally started started working together it was like his enthusiasm combined with mine.

Shah Rukh's energy level is very infectious. He gives very intelligent suggestions. And since I'm always open to suggestions—who says I'm not, that's totally untrue-- I enjoy Shah Rukh's inputs.

We're having a a whole lot of fun. Though I must tell you it's a lot of hard work. I can't even begin to describe what it's like over here (in Malaysia)."

Talk veers to the much talked-about Khai pe paan benaras wala song-and-dance whuch they recently shot. "We knew what Mr Bachchan had done to the song in the earlier Don. Shah Rukh and I weren't even thinking about it when we took the plunge. First of all, we're a great fan of the song.

It's truly a monster of a song. But what Saroj-ji (Saroj Khan) did with Khai ke paan is incredible. Of course there's an element of deja vu in the choreography. But Saroj-ji has taken the number somewhere else."

The feisty filmmaker takes a deep breath. "In fact all of us here in Malaysia are paying a homage to the earlier Don. It's true that we've improved on the technical value immensely. But how far could we go with technique alone?

Whether it's Shah Rukh, Priyanka, Arjun Rampal, Isha Koppiker, Boman Irani, Om Puri, or Kareena doing that incredible number Yeh mera dil pyar ke deewana by Helenji, we see our efforts as a tribute to a film we've all seen and loved featuring our ultimate screen hero Amitabh Bachchan."

Farhan regrettably doesn't recall ever going on the sets of Chandra Barot's Don as a child which his dad Javed Akhtar had written.

"All my nostalgia for the film comes from watching Don on screen. It's taken me to a totally new territory.

It's fun but also very stressful, and not because people are going to compare my film with the previous Don. That doesn't bother me. I just wonder if my vision would come through in the film. The rest is all hypothetical right now."

Farhan is sixty percent through with Don. "We've a long way to go still. But we aren't complaining. It's a challenging job. But also very very exciting. Just to re-do those infectious evergreen songs Khai ke paan and Yeh mera dil is a treat that takes away all the stress."