Farhan Akhtar is excited but nervous too. His 'Don' stands the acid test in the box office this week. Read on for his chat with TWF correspondent Vickey Lalwani

Q: Why did you remake 'Don'?
A: Don has been one of my favourite films since childhood. It had stayed with me. That way, a lot of Bachchan's films had stayed with me. But I think Don was a real fun film, which I think was a good one to do after the heavy film 'Lakshya' which I did last.

Q: Don't you think that releasing it with 'Janemann' will cut into its collections?
A: I don't think so. Since it's Diwali time, both will get its share of opening. The better film will sustain and run for a longer time.

Q: Why are all your films co-written by your father Javed Akhtar?
A: Since he had written the original with Salim Uncle, I think it as perfectly alright in this case. As for other films, I am comfortable with my dad. So why shouldn't I ask him to do it for me?

Q: How do you feel on the eve of its release?
A: Nervous but it has been fun. It was an exploration of a completely new genre. It took me into an escapist zone. I'm sure smugglers and gangsters exist. But like 'Don'? Not at all. I enjoyed making 'Don' till the last day.

Q: How did you do the casting?
A: Shah Rukh is playing the double role of Don and Vijay. He's of the absolutely correct age for the part. Zeenat's part is being played by Priyanka Chopra.

Q: Was it tough to get the remaking rights?
A: We put in a public notice in the trade papers announcing our intentions to remake the film. Also, I know the late producer Nariman Irani's wife Salma Irani and there was no question of making the film without her consent.

Q: There will be comparisons with the original?
A: Comparisons are inevitable, but unfair. I feel more people will come to watch my 'Don' just to compare it with the old one. So, it's a win-win situation for me. And I promise you that I have done my best (pauses).

Q: Go on...
A: You are seeing the remake, and that is true until some point when the whole thing changes, and you begin seeing an entirely new film. You will know what the differences are, but you won't stop to think about them.

Q: Tell us about the 'Khai ke paan banaras wala' sequence.
A: It's one of the big USPs of 'Don'. As a viewer, I'd feel cheated if I didn't see Shah Rukh doing 'Khai ke paan'. I can't tell you more, else it would tantamount to giving away everything. There's a lot of buzz about the film, and I want the people to come and see my film in the theatres.

Nothing more please, I don't want to spill all the beans right here. The curiosity factor which has built around my 'Don' needs to remain.