Anil Ambani to make film on graphic novel
Anil Ambani to make film on graphic novel
On Sunday night, I saw him performing at an award ceremony. His act was the most cheered one that night.
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While all other performers that night simply went through their motions, he enjoyed every bit of it. It reflected in his eyes and in his energetic gyrations.
That's Anil Kapoor He's an Enthu Cutlet. When he commits to something, he wants to make it work.
Now he is gearing up for the Oscar ceremony. I met him at his office in Juhu, and DVDs of his best films were stacked on his table.
There is a Anil Kapoor Doll somewhere behind my chair and the man himself in front. These days you just can't escape him.
He admits even his family is complaining. Read on for excerpts from a chat.
What are your thoughts just before leaving for the Oscar's?
I am only thinking about Delhi-6, my daughter Sonam's film and about my production's next film Shortkut, which is releasing in April. These are my only thoughts there days. I have completely zoned out of the whole Slumdog-at-Oscar thing for a few days.
What are you most excited about, at this point?
On Oscar night, I am doing Oscar trivia on CNN Worldwide. It will be intercut with the red carpet and I will be hosting that. This has already been recorded.
Do you know where you will be sitting at the Oscars?
No. But this time we are taking all the kids who acted in the film with us. Twenty of us will be there and that's wonderful.
Have you seen any of the films that are in the running with SM?
No. There's Milk, Frost/Nixon and I think the closest rival to us would be The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. You never know which way it will go, you just have to hope for the best.
What are you wearing on the big day?
Armani is dressing me up for the event. They've also done my suit for BAFTA. I am leaving on the 19th and it's going to be a packed week. I am going to be at the world's biggest party. And now, I am looking forward to it.
The protagonist is Dev Patel, but you and Frieda Pinto seem to be hogging the limelight. How come?
Maybe that is the perception in India. When a film is a big success, everyone gains from it.
But Frieda and you have got more out of it. She is a hot favourite of the Hollywood press.
Ok..there are different reasons why that happens. See Frieda is the glamour quotient, and you may be in the any part of the world, that always gets noticed.
And what is it in your case?
I feel it is the role. It's an integral part of the story. And it's a very performance oriented role. It has lots of layers. And critics from The Washington Post, NY Times, London Times and others have singled me out for a mention. I don't think people have ever seen an actor play a host. A lot of people asked Danny (Boyle) if I was the host of the show back home.
Have you hired an international agent?
Not yet.
Why not?
Times have changed. In this month alone, I have gone to LA four times. I can just hop and go across if there is anything exciting happening. People have my number. They can call me. So my whole approach is different. Yes, acting is my first passion but I am looking at making big international films, rather than just being a part of them. There are so many things on my mind, and I had lot of meetings with people there. Now I will be staying back for 15-20 days and take that forward. Also I will be travelling to LA a lot, because my son is there for the next four years.
But you have a publicist there, right?
Yes. And that's helped me interact with a lot of people. A lot of managers have gotten in touch with me but I have not settled on anything yet. You know when a film is a big success, pressure follows. But for me there is no pressure of what my next film is going to be. It's not about where my next cheque will come from, and how to take my career forward. I am not thinking about the next one. If I never do another English film again after Slumdog Millionaire, I am fine with that. If anything happens, good. If not, fine. I am happy with the way I am over here and the work I am doing here.
Have you got the kind of appreciation for SM, from your B-Town colleagues?
My only focus has been on working and excelling in my craft. People tell me that other actors are jealous of you etc, but I have never felt it. In my entire career, I have never bothered about these things. I trust everybody and I look at everyone in a very positive way. Mere ko sab achche lagte hain. I am fine with everyone and I believe everyone is fine with me. And whenever I have seen films where actors have done exceptional work, I have picked up the phone and called them up to congratulate them. You can check with Shah Rukh, Aamir, Salman, and Akshay.
How many of these actors have done the same for you?
It doesn't matter to me. SRK met me in LA and we talked. Aamir has spoken to me and said, 'Enjoy the success.' Akshay Kumar has congratulated me. Sanjay Dutt too. Also Akshaye Khanna, but he does that every second day (laughs) who else...
Amitabh Bachchan?
(long pause) Bachchan and I spoke to each other but we talked more about the controversy than the film.u00a0 He clarified that it was not his opinion but the reaction of people to what he posted on his blog. I am a huge admirer of his. I feel he has shown us the way in many ways. Salman stopped his Yuvvraaj event and spoke about Slumdog.
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What was the one compliment you got for SM that you hold dear.
Dilip Kumar's. His words were so special. I truly believe Dilip Kumar is truly the greatest that Indian cinema has seen. Every 20-30 years, there are actors who become big for sometime but he is still the greatest star. He started the trend of natural acting. I have worked with him in three films, and I have tried to emulate him. He has never done ads or endorsements.
Neither have you.
Yes, because I was following the school of Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar.u00a0 Somewhere I wondered if I had taken the right path, but after Slumdog, I feel that it has paid off. And now I might do an ad (lets out a peel of laughter)
Ok, solve the mystery. Where did you get the accent from?
(laughs out loud) This Farah (Khan) must've told you, hundred per cent. I have no accent. This is Shirish and her sense of humour. They also joke with me. No one else says it.u00a0
How has your family reacted to the success of slumdog?
My family teases me about it. They keep telling me, 'Control, control.' They rag me and say, 'Stop giving all the these interviews now. Enough!' My wife says, 'You are coming out of everybody's ears. For heaven's sake, stop! Wherever you go, London, US, LA, you're just doing interviews.' I tell her, 'What can I do? Rahman is impossible to get. Toh ghoom phir ke main hi aa jaata hoon." Maybe I should also try to play hard-to-get now. But I like to be myself. And I have been told the foreign press appreciates that I am myself. When I am happy and excited, I show it. More than the success of Slumdog, they are thrilled with how I behave and how I speak.
How do you manage to remain so enthu after all these years, pray tell.u00a0
I think it's because I am doing something I love. And I do few films, but when I commit to something, then I really, really enjoy it. In the nineties, I'd hurt myself while shooting and I was bedridden for two months, and that's when I decided that no more trying to be Number One. I decided I would just enjoy my work and think about the next 40-50 years rather than the next six months. And it's been a great journey. And the last five years, have been the best.
How do you react when people say SM's success has gone to your head.
(Smiles) It can't yaar. Mere saath nahin ho sakta. If it had to happen, it would've happened thirty years back. I have seen this kind of success many times in my career.
What if this had happened 20 years ago?
I would've been too stressed. Now producers call me and ask, 'What to offer you now?' And I say offer me any role. People will forget Slumdog in six months. It's just another film. Adi spoke to me, 'If I offer you a role, I don't know if you will do it.' I asked him why I wouldn't do it. I told him that people will forget about the Oscars in the next three months and that is how I am thinking. That's why before leaving for Oscars, I thought: sab se pehle award night mein ja ke dance karo. I haven't done that for almost a decade. Now I am starting Anees Bazmee's film.
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