/> Shah Rukh is about to take a long-due sabbatical. "I want to take time off with my kids, and also work on a project that's very precious to me. I want our production company to become truly FX-savvy. "

Shah Rukh is currently looking at various creative and business options for this cherished project. "When I am asked what next, then I guess this is what I want to do next. This is where my heart is at the moment. I want our FX to be comparable with the best in the world. Dhoom 2 and Don got it right. I want to take the optical illusions even further."

As excited as ever, SRK says, "For me there're no real challenges. I need to create them."

Shah Rukh has been in too many places at the same time. His hugely enjoyable stint on KBC is over. "I'm just about done with all the episodes. I had myself a good time, I don't know about the others," he jokes. "But I wouldn't mind returning with another season. Let' s see, talks are on."

Talk veers to contestants with acting cocky or nervous on the show. "It happens...I took it all in my stride. For example the lady who chose to say she wasn't a fan of mine. That's her choice and I respect it. She was a school teacher and probably thought of actors in a particular way. I respect that.

What is there to get upset about it? Incidentally she spoke to me after the show and explained her point of view to me. I was also asked why I gave away watches to some contestants who were eliminated and not to others. My watches, my choice I guess."

But Shah Rukh was very clear about the motive and purpose behind his interactions on KBS. "I wanted the contestants to carry back that experience with them as a special one.

Otherwise there would be no real purpose behind the exercise. Yes, I knew most of the answers to the questions. But when I didn't, I made sure I asked Siddharth Basu (he and I go back a long way to the time both of us did English theatre together in Delhi) or someone else on the sets.

Yes, KBC was fun. I like my work to be fun, and I make sure it is. Which is I don't want to do the kind of films I don't enjoy watching. With due respects, I don't want to be in the so-called offbeat films. I'd rather do my enjoyable stuff. Farah's film Om Shanti Om which I'm now shooting is again a lot of fun.

Shah Rukh is making his choices really well at the moment. Family gets top priority. "I decided to see you now while my son has gone to his friend's birthday party."

We're in Shah Rukh's newly done-up office. And Shah Rukh is looking as boyish, exuberant and ultra-energetic as the last time I met him. He now needs to take a break....But with a specific purpose.

"I want to spend the next three months honing up the F-X in our production house. Have you seen films like 300 ? That's the level of special effects we should be aiming at. And I'm going to go for it," says Shah Rukh with characteristic enthusiasm.

There are innumerable activities awaiting his attention. But Shah Rukh has the ability to make it all look disarmingly basic and simple.

"Sooner or later everything does come together. And there's no point in fretting over. I lost both my parents very young. That made me kind of fearless about life and death. Now I fear for those who are close to me.

I fear for what such a loss would do to my friends. My father was a freedom fighter. He gave a lot to his country. Now it's my turn... but with the added perk of getting recognition in return."

He then pauses. " People say I've gone through a lot. And that the health and other setbacks are God's way of equalizing my success, stardom, whatever. I think that's rubbish. God doesn't have an accounts department.

I don't think my neck injury was in reaction to the successes I've had. ...Now I'm asked, what next? Frankly I've no clue. My journey hasn't been mapped or planned. Whatever had to happen has happened."

Coming up, another book on Shah Rukh this time by journalist Anupama Chopra.

Says Shah Rukh, "It's a journey through Indian cinema in recent decades as seen through my career. Interesting and insightful because of the amount of rigorous research Anupama has taken on. I'm still amazed at the amount of interest my work generates.

Either we talk about these interesting aspects of cinema vis-à-vis my career. Or sensational quotes comparing me to Changez Khan or unnecessarily harping on my so-called differences with Mr Bachchan can be attributed to me. The choice is entirely yours."

Shah Rukh also has his own memoirs on the anvil. "I've been working on that for some time. But I feel the need to add new chapters constantly. I'll just have to find a place to stop it."