Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who finds subtle things more sensuous than in-your-face sexuality, says he felt embarrassed doing pelvic gyrations as an item boy in "Kaal".

But the actor, who has played hero, anti-hero, supporting hero and now item boy, says he bent his own rules, thanks to close friend and co-producer Karan Johar.

"Why do my friends keep embarrassing me? I feel shy being talked about as a stud. In 'Kaal', Karan couldn't get a proper stud, so they made do with whatever they got," Shah Rukh told IANS in an interview while laughing at his own dance sequences.

"I'm a little shy about doing such stuff. I must tell you, I still find some of our dance movements a little strange.

"I don't think thrusting your pelvis in the camera is very sensuous. At least for me, it doesn't send off the right kind of signals. Sometimes I laugh through the movements. That's the only way to make them believable."

In "Kaal", Bollywood's King Khan will be seen alongside Malaika Arora in Salim-Sulaiman's erotic "Kaal kaal mein hum tum kare dhamaal".

"I've taken my shirt off before, even in 'Swades'. But that was in a different context. Actually, I've never before done an 'item song'.

His earlier song with Malaika, "Chaiyyan chaiyyan" in "Dil Se" atop a moving train had created waves on the music charts. So is Shah Rukh conservative about his dancing?

"Yes, a bit. I find subtle things more sensuous than the in-your-face aggressive sexuality.

"I think 'Suraj hua maddham' in 'Kabhi Khushi...' and 'Tumhe jo maine dekha' in 'Main Hoon Na' are very sensual. As for being the 'item boy' in 'Kaal', I did it because Karan asked me to. I can't say no to a friend."

As for Karan's almost 'fatherly' dependence on Shah Rukh: "I think they all take my age too seriously," he laughs.

"Both Farah (Khan) and Karan think of me as a father figure. It isn't my wisdom. Just my clear-headedness about the things I do and say. I've had a fairly long experience in life, most of it wonderful.

"They get bored with my advice, but finally listen to what I've to say because many times I've proven right in my instincts. Yes, they do give me a lot of respect."

As of now, it is the 'Khan-Chopra-Johar' group that seems to be dominating the industry. "I think we're close because we don't step on each other's toes. And we all want the very best for all of us. We share a great equation," he reveals.

"Our personal equations don't clash with the professional. If I'm not in a film by Yash Chopra I'm still there to help in every way possible. The same is true of them.

"The other day the screw of my camera-magazine broke. I just called up Adi (Aditya Chopra) and he sent me, not one but two magazines. There's a lot of love and trust among us.

"If the Chopras are making 'Dhoom 2', I wish it well. If I'm stressed I call up Karan or Adi and they reassure me that all's well. The power comes, not from the fact that we've collaborated over a number of successful films, but from our genuine comfort level.

"I'm more concerned about 'Dhoom 2' doing well than maybe even my own 'Paheli'," he says calling the trio his virtual family.

"When the awards functions were on, I genuinely wish Yash Chopra should've got the award for 'Veer-Zara'. The Chopras, Johars and I are really wonderful friends.

"We'd have been as close even if we weren't making films."