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| Pic/Rane Ashish |
The interview is scheduled at his Juhu bungalow. We’re escorted to the fourth floor to a room that the actor calls his den — it has a pool table and it’s said he plays a pretty mean game. Anil Kapoor works hard at everything he does, which is why he’s so busy in 2008 as well — Race, Black & White, Yuvraj, Tashan and his own production Shortkut.
He enters the room, casually dressed in denims and a shirt, worn in his inimitable ishtyle, but the ankle length boots add a classy touch.
Your tapori role in Welcome has audiences in splits.
(Smiles) Aah, yes. There are certain roles that people love to see you in and this is one of those. Ya phir pichhale janam mei mein tapori hoga. I’m basically from Chembur na… (laughs).
I have been fortunate that I have clicked in every genre, be it Tezaab, Karma, Virasat, Eeshwar, Ram Lakhan, Mr India or Beta. So every time there is a phase in the industry, I’ve tried to fit in.
The chemistry between Nana Patekar and you was appreciated too.
Everyone is talking about it. But I feel everyone should equally share the success. So, you can’t say that it’s just Nana and I. All said and done, the chemistry worked.
There are reports that Akshay Kumar is trying to hog all the credit for Welcome’s success?
(After a pause) See, 2007 was a very good year for Akshay. But his biggest hit of 2007 is Welcome and Nana and I are part of it. And the fact is that he is the hero of the film, so I’m happy for him.
It’s like this: When people say that a particular movie is Subhash Ghai or Shekhar Kapoor’s best film, I feel proud because I’ve been a part of their project. If Yash Chopra says that Lamhe is his best film, I feel happy. N Chandra’s Tezaab was a big hit too. He has done bigger films, but not as big as this.
Didn’t Akshay want his name to come before yours in the credits?
(Impatiently) Trust me, it was all media speculation that died a natural death. I was so surprised when such a small issue was played up. It doesn’t matter where my name comes.
In Race, my name in the credits comes after Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna. It’s the work and your role that counts, not where your name comes. When Welcome worked, I felt happy. When you are a part of a project, everyone gets credit for it (smiles).
Now that Welcome is a hit, has your price gone up in the market?
For me, the role comes first and the money later. I never follow commerce, commerce follows me. I think my success is my longevity, that people still respect me, that I have a healthy family and three children on the threshold of their careers.
Today, there’s not a single corporate in India or abroad who doesn’t want to invest blindly in a project with me. That’s what my first home production Gandhi My Father has done for me.
Let’s talk about your looks in Race and Tashan.
You know everyone is saying I’m looking better than before. Maybe what they mean is that I’m ageing better. So I turn around and say — thank you very much (laughs).
Being an actor, I’ve to evolve to match up to the audience’s expectations. I am also excited about Black & White. It’s unlike a Subhash Ghai film. Everyone’s raving about the promos. The first reaction is positive. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Like everyone, I like looking good. Even Kareena (Kapoor) and Bipasha (Basu) complimented me on my looks in their interviews.
You also put in the effort by getting up at 5.30 am to exercise.
(Laughs) How do you know? I prefer my early morning workouts, but it also depends on my shooting schedule. I like sweating out in the morning… that makes me feel fresh and alert the
whole day.
Many actors want to play it safe and don’t experiment with their roles like you have…
To each his own. There are certain people who want to become the biggest stars and there are some who want to remain a star for the rest of their lives. I keep working as an actor.
I don’t think over what went wrong in a film and at the same time, I don’t spend too much time enjoying my success. That’s basically because I’m insecure. Insecure to do good work, to get good scripts, to work with better co-stars.
If that’s true, then why didn’t you work with Priyadarshan after Virasat became a hit?
I’m to be blamed for that. And Priyan is very upset with me. It may sound untrue, but I refused to work with him because I didn’t like the scripts he came up with. I wanted something better than Virasat. I give full credit to Priyadarshan though — despite refusing him several times, he still offers me films. He has offered me another movie, the script for which is getting ready. Let’s see what happens this time. I am the villain where Priyadarshan is concerned.
I’m still keen to do a film with K Vishwanath. He offered me scripts, but I always felt what could be better than Eeshwar?
What about Rajkumar Santoshi? Pukar won you a National Award.
Yes, it did. It’s the same story with Santoshi… though I did work in Lajja for him. I did Lajja against my instincts. I didn’t even want him to make the film and had told him so. After that, I never found a script more appealing than Pukar.
Haven’t you signed Nana to direct a film for your production?
No, we’ve just spoken about it. Actually, we were in Pune and Nana just said loudly, ‘I’m directing a film for Anil’. That got picked up in the media. But it was Nana’s way of paying me a compliment for Gandhi My Father.
Do you plan to turn director yourself?
I don’t think I have the mindset to direct a film. It’s a tough job. At least till now, the instinct isn’t there.
Is it tough being a producer?
I know how to cajole people to make good films. Also, actors are sensitive by nature. Because I’m from a producer’s family, I’ve seen early on how actors behave. They are like children. You can make them happy like this (snaps his fingers). That’s why Akshaye (Khanna) says I am the best producer to work with. I’m very lenient. Though now, I have to become strict.
Are you strict with your children?
No, I’m not. I’m only strict with myself. I pamper them a lot. They can get away with murder with me. They can talk to me, make fun of me, even fire me. But when I get angry, they don’t get scared, but they do feel bad.
What about your wife?
My wife and I have been together for the last 32 years. We were friends, then lovers and then got married and now we are friends again (laughs). Earlier, I used to call the shots;
now she does.
How often do you guide Sonam?
She didn’t really need my advice. Fortunately for her and me, her first two films are by two respected directors.
She built brand equity for herself. I’ve seen actresses who take many years to learn what Sonam did in her first film.
And there were no rules against entering the industry?
No, my family is not like that. You do what makes you happy.
Saawariya didn’t do well at the box-office. Were you disappointed for her?
Not at all. For debutants to get the kind of opening that Saawariya got is phenomenal. A film that’s done half the business Saawariya has, is known as a super hit. Saawariya’s net, if you go to see, is so huge... the money which it recovered. But of course, expectations were so high.
It may not have come out in the media, but internally, we know what they have gained. Everyone has unanimously liked Sonam and the boy (Ranbir Kapoor).
There’s talk of Sonam and Ranbir seeing each other. Does that affect you as a father?
See, I’m sensible enough to understand what happens in the film industry. And what we’ve taught our children is whatever they do.
Right or wrong, they should come and tell us the truth. They always tell us. So whatever comes in the paper doesn’t matter because we know what the truth is.
So, what’s the truth?
What’s the truth? There’s nothing. That’s what
she says.
