Annu Kapoor, who was in Vadodara recently ahead of an antakshari event that he is set to host in the city, got nostalgic while remembering his association with Gujarat. Kapoor, who hosted the popular show Antakshari on TV for over a decade and has done films like Vicky Donor and Jolly LLB 2, tells us, “I can never forget the date – January 28, 1994. Who would have thought that stage pe antakshari ka live show kar sakte hain? This was my first live show and I told the audience in Vadodara, ‘I don’t know what’s in store.”

Kapoor shares, “I told them, ‘Agar aap ke aur mere beech mein baat jam gayi, toh fir alag baat hai. But otherwise, this will be my first and last live stage show.’ There were 5,000 people and just 15 minutes into the show, the audience shouted, ‘Abhi bahut lamba chalna hai ji.’ At the interval, someone offered me a show in Ahmedabad and soon after that, I did a show in Dabhoi too. The audience in Vadodara has great knowledge of music.”

He adds, “It was in Vadodara that I met Ustad Mehdi Hassan for the first time. Also, Abhay, my first film as a director (it won the National Award for the best children’s film in 1994), was shot in Rajpipla. Gujarat has played aspecial role in my journey.”

Kapoor, whose journey in showbiz started 43 years ago, says that “struggle is never-ending for everyone, including successful people. We tend to associate struggle with money, but life itself is a struggle.”

He adds, “I don’t watch films, TV and OTT shows or news channels. I don’t even read newspapers. Mujhse jyaada murkh aadmi aap ko nahi milega. However, I study a lot and I have a great collection of books, which includes banned books as well. Main paison ke liye kaam karta hoon. There’s nothing wrong with working for money; everyone does it, but very few admit it. If I am not stealing or cheating anyone, aur agar main apne desh ko nahi bech raha hoon, then why should I be apologetic about working for money?”