Deepali Singh (DNA; June 8, 2018)

Sanjay Kapoor sounds out of breath as we start chatting with him over the phone about his upcoming anthology Lust Stories, which will be streamed on a digital platform. “Before you jump the gun and think I’m so much in character that I stay like that even during interviews, let me clarify that I’m on the cardio cycle!” he chuckles. Lust Stories has four short films on love and lust, directed by Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee, and Sanjay stars in the one made by the latter, which also features Manisha Koirala and Jaideep Ahlawat. Here, the actor tells us about his debut in the digital space and waiting for the right roles to come his way...

How did Lust Stories happen?
I had never met Dibakar in my life, but I had seen his work and liked it a lot.  Apparently, the casting team was having a meeting at a club that I frequent. They happened to see me, felt I suited the character and got in touch with me. Then, Dibakar narrated the subject to me and I loved it. It was a great privilege to work with him.

We have never seen you attempt a bold subject like this before. Were you comfortable doing it?
Initially, this was supposed to be Bombay Talkies 2, but the title was changed later. I’ve not seen the other three stories as yet, but there is no sexuality or skin show or foul language in our plot. Lust is always taken in a negative way, but it’s just another expression of love. So, there was no question of feeling uncomfortable.

You were working with Manisha Koirala 13 years after Anjaane. How was it to re-unite with her onscreen?
I’ve done two films with Manisha, out of which Chhupa Rustam was a huge hit. So the comfort level was there. We were working together after 13 years, but nowadays, you do a lot of workshops and readings before facing the cameras. When you come on sets, you have already spent a lot of time together. Similarly, I have never worked with Jaideep (Ahlawat) before, but I did many readings with him. We are playing friends, so we needed to look the part. Due to the readings, we were comfortable when we faced the camera.

Are you excited about making your digital debut with Lust Stories?
Absolutely! You know, I was returning from London on the day of the trailer launch and I didn’t want to miss it. So, I didn’t even go home. The launch was at 4 pm and my flight landed at 2.30 pm and I went there straight from the airport. And I’m glad I did. It was an honour to be on the same dias as Karan (Johar), Zoya (Akhtar) and Dibakar (Banerjee). I realised that I have worked with all of them earlier. I was in Zoya’s Luck By Chance, I did a cameo in Karan’s Kal Ho Na Ho and Anurag (Kashyap) was one of the producers of Shaandaar. So, it’s exciting to be a part of their movie and make my digital debut with them. Digital is no longer the future, it’s the present.

So you are open to doing web series?
Hundred per cent! Main toh darwaaze ki taraf dekhta rehta hoon ki koi achcha offer aa jaye! However, now, I’m being more patient and choosy. I feel jahaan itna wait kiya hai, let’s wait for some more time. If you get such an opportunity, you can’t just take up anything for the heck of it. We all need money to survive, even I need it. But you have to be patient.

Are there any specific kind of roles that you want to take up now?
It’s no longer about your role, but the whole film. It’s extremely important to be part of the right film. There is no point thinking ‘mera role toh zabardast hai’. But if the director is not good or the subject is not going to work, then nobody will even come to watch the movie. Your role has to be important to the subject. For instance, when I was offered Luck By Chance, I was quite sceptical because that was the first time I was doing a movie with an ensemble cast. But Zoya was convinced about taking me on and she got back to me with the dialogues. When I heard them, I realised how important I was to the film. Today, when I look back, I realise Luck By Chance is one of my best experiences. When I was facing the camera, I felt I was the most important person, which was such a good feeling.

You also did a TV show, Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara, last year. How was the experience?
I had such a fantastic time. I had not realised the kind of reach television has until I got the appreciation that I did. It’s been around three-and-a-half months or so that the show has got over, but not a day goes by when I’m out and I don’t meet somebody who asks me, ‘Arey, why did your show end?’ If I do television again, it has to be a show like this one, where I could identify with the character and believe in the story.

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.”