Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; October 17, 2017)

Sanjay Kapoor may not have enjoyed the success that his brothers Anil and Boney, or niece Sonam and nephew Arjun achieved. But the actor, who made his Bollywood debut with Prem (1995), has no regrets.

“All five fingers are not the same,” Kapoor reasons, before adding, “The fact that I have been around for 22 years, and am still getting offers is enough for me. I do not harbour any negativity. My father [Surinder Kapoor] would tell me, ‘Don’t look at five people in front of you, but the 95 people behind you’. Success is a relative term. Even Anil may think he could achieve more. The same stands true for Arjun.”

For now, he is returning to the small screen with Vikram Bhatt’s show, Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara. He was earlier seen on the tube in Karishma — The Miracles of Destiny (2003), which starred Karisma Kapoor.

Ask him what prompted him to give his nod and he says, “I am playing my age. It is about an older man falling for a younger woman. There are mostly women-oriented shows on the tube with the leading men not having much to do. But this one has a compelling storyline. I am even sporting a grey beard to look my age.”

The actor, who turns 52 today, will also be seen in Dibakar Banerjee’s short film. The short is a part of the anthology that sees the reunion of Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar and Banerjee after Bombay Talkies (2013). “I will be seen opposite Manisha Koirala in the film. I consider it a big deal to work with a talented director like Dibakar. Shooting with Manisha and him was an outstanding experience.”