"I'm only being used to communicate the director's vision to the audience," says Shah Rukh Khan who has two films running in the theatres right now -- the much awaited "Swades", which has just been released, and the hit "Veer-Zaara".

So, whether it is the role of an Indian Air Force officer romancing a Pakistani girl in "Veer-Zaara" or the NASA scientist who comes home to his village, Shah Rukh says he would "rather go with the creator's vision than try to confuse the issue with my own input".

The superstar, who has also done the voicing for the main character in the Hindi version of the animation film "The Incredibles", states "Swades" falls within the purview of commercial cinema but says things "untouched by the genre". He calls it a film with a stark and minimalist appeal.

In an interview, Shah Rukh says he will make a James Bond film one day. "Bond films are the simplest and therefore the most successful."

Q: "Swades" again looks very different.
A: (laughs) Like "Veer-Zaara"? I'd say "Swades" was a more difficult role to play. Here I had very few props and crutches. Every project comes with its own requirements and baggage. Every film of mine crosses a certain budget and is targeted at a specific number of people. The whole world is the target audience. One cannot afford to be different just for the sake of being different. Even when I play "Devdas", it has to be a little bigger, a little richer, larger than life. I've to play my roles on that level.

Q: How larger than life is your character in "Swades"?
A: It's hundred percent the director Ashutosh Gowariker's interpretation. By virtue of what it says, "Swades" is a very important film. It addresses itself to a core issue regarding the shape and destiny of a developing nation like ours. Hopefully, it will make the audience think, if not change their thought process. Being in the entertainment business, it's important to be focussed on the job of entertaining people and yet at the same time try to make a difference to our world. "Swades" attempts to do that.

Q: So now you are doing films which make a difference...
A: I always have. The social message is never the main point. It's subservient to entertainment. I think I've got a sufficient fan following to watch me entertain them. So if a message is teased into my film I'm all for it. It's like someone as important as Amitji talking about polio on television. Even if  "Swades" makes only some people think, I've succeeded. I don't know whether "Swades" will be liked --that's not in my hands. But I hope the issue will be driven home.

Q: Would you like to do more issue-based films?
A: It's not about what I'd like to do, but what I'm offered. I can't go down on the streets and shout for issue-based films. If someone comes to me with an idea that appeals to me, I'm fine with it. I've been doing so many films which discuss issues. But sometimes the issue gets overpowered by the entertainment value. My cinema is feel good cinema.

Q: I see a director lurking in you.
A: I'll make a James Bond film. Bond films are the simplest and therefore the most successful. It's about Good making Evil look stupid. There's Ravana within all of us. We need to use the Rama within us to eradicate the evil.

Q: Your voice and your son's will be heard in the animation film "The Incredibles" on the same day that "Swades" is released.
A: It wasn't as though I had a hand in his being chosen. My son joined me much later. He was part of an audition with many other boys. He was chosen from among many hopefuls. I was told that they were in two minds about Aryan because they needed an older boy for the dubbing. But after two-three days they decided to go with Aryan. I didn't want Aryan to get into a situation that would tire him. But it was easier for him to dub than me.

Q: How long did he take?
A: Three-four days for an hour every day. But there were beautiful ladies to handle Aryan. They took very good care of him and the other four kids who also dubbed. He had a good time with them. He would go every day at 3 p.m. and return at 4.30. 

Q: What was it like dubbing for another character?
A: It was nice. In animation films, the voice is decided first, then the character is created accordingly. "Shrek" or "Sharks Tale" had characters designed on the way Antonio Banderas or Martin Scorcese sounded. In my case, it was the other way around. I think the character I've dubbed for in "The Incredibles" could've been a slightly different personality from me. If I had modulated my voice accordingly, then the whole purpose of using my voice to get the Hindi audiences interested would've been defeated. The whole point is to get audiences to see Shah Rukh Khan speak in the film. But it's okay. I think it works well.

Q: What does your production house plan to make in 2005?
A: We're producing a film to be directed by Amol Palekar in February. I like the story he had to tell, and he was on. It was very simple. We didn't have a big discussion or anything.

Q: Will it be typical Palekar kind of film?
A: I wouldn't know. I haven't seen any of his films. I don't know what kind of films he makes. But it's a good, sweet story. Finally it will be a typical Shah Rukh Khan movie. Simple, interesting and nice. Rani Mukherjee has agreed to do it. So the cast is also agreeable.

Q: What else?
A: So far that's the only film I'm producing in 2005. Then I'm doing a film with Karan Johar in April. Farah Khan is working on her script. I'll most probably produce her film as well. These are the three on the anvil.

Q: And Aditya Chopra's next?
A: I don't know. He hasn't spoken to me about it yet. I've agreed to do the three films I've mentioned.

Q: Why did you tell Aaj Tak that there's an ice-hockey match in "Swades"?
A: They just come with questions for which they don't want to hear the answers. Ice hockey or not, audiences won't go away disappointed from "Swades".

Q: Finally, how's your back and neck now?
A: I'm okay. I'm fine. It hurts a little only when I laugh.