Anil Kapoor on the secret behind his 40-year career, his ‘zabardast’ support system, and why Sonam and Harshvardhan are different from other star kids
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 7, 2018)

What is more tedious — producing a film or being the father of the bride at a big fat Indian wedding?
I haven’t done either entirely by myself. Sonam’s wedding was put together by my wife, Sunita.
Whether it is films or a wedding in the family, I appear when I’m needed. Nobody disturbs me otherwise. I am lucky that I have such a zabardast support system. We’re a great team — my family and friends. All of us can stand alone independently as well as come together during a crisis. For most of last year, I’ve stayed quiet. I thought it was better to talk to the media when I have a film releasing. The business of movies is so public, you have to be mentally and physically prepared for whatever comes your way. But this year has been sensitive and all of us thought it best to keep silent. In hindsight, it was a good decision.

In 2019, you will feature alongside daughter Sonam in Shelly Chopra Dhar’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and with son Harshvardhan in Kannan Iyer’s Abhinav Bindra biopic. Excited about playing dad to your children on screen?
We’ve almost finished shooting for Ek Ladki... with only the climax pending. I am proud of the fantastic actress Sonam has become. She has found her own way with Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Saawariya), Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (Delhi 6), Ram Madhvani (Neerja). Working with her is like working with any other actress — she’s professional and makes my job easy. My son, too, has found his way with Mirzya and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero. If I was producing or acting in their debut films, I wouldn’t have been so proud of them, I’d have felt guilty of trying to promote them too hard. But I’m fortunate because they’ve made it on their own. They’ve always found directors who want to work with them. They may be Anil Kapoor’s children, but there are so many others from well-known families in the industry, but how many of them are raising the bar?

Are you tired of playing dad on screen yet?
I am not delusional. There are times when I say ‘no’ to a film but it often depends on who the writers, directors and producers are. There is no such thing as certainty in life and you have to be smart and sensible with your choices. Fortunately, I am aware of my capabilities and of the things I can do better than others. I know exactly how much value I add to a film.

You are also working with debutant directors like Atul Manjrekar (Fanne Khan) and Shelly Dhar…
I would have been careful early on in my career but now I want to take risks. I am not one to force opinions on set but if I don’t like something I tell my director about it. I also suggest how I think it should be done. Fanne Khan has an experienced producer like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra backing it and with Ek Ladki... there’s Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whom I have known closely for 23 years. So the debutant directors are well-cushioned. Their new energy is balanced out with experienced producers. It’s a lethal combination.

You’ve been a part of the film industry for nearly four decades now. To what do you credit your longevity as a leading man?
On June 23, it will be 35 years for me as a successful leading man. It’s a combination of goodwill, the right choices, hard work and working with the right people. My wife and family have kept me going. Sometimes, I also made the call to do something at someone’s behest and payback came later. You cannot have a cut-throat attitude for momentary gains. At the risk of being called boring, I chose to preserve myself physically and mentally. I’d slip out of parties when they were just warming up. There were always other actors who were more in the news than me, but I chose to only be written about for my work. Everyone seems to be in it for a quick fix, while I have patiently run the marathon. Today, I am reaping benefits from seeds I sowed many years ago.

You are the only actor who has been a part of Ramesh Taurani’s Race franchise for the last ten years. How has it been so far?
Every time I heard the script of a new Race film, I was confused whether I should do it or not. Almost each time, I decided not to do it but you can’t always be selfish. I was producing Feroz Abbas Khan’s Gandhi, My Father when the first Race came to me and he said that it wouldn’t hurt to do it. I’m used to films in which I appear in all the scenes and I was reluctant to be a part of a bheed-bhaad of actors. I did the film anyway, with my character entering only minutes before the interval, but the film worked.

During Race 2, I told the makers to give me something that would add value. During discussions, Deepika (Padukone) walked out. When I look back, I realise that the stars always align for this franchise. The script was rewritten, Deepika came back, and I was given a better role. Race 2 went on to become Deepika’s first big commercial hit. God was kind and we had all made the right choices once again. Then, last year, I turned Ramesh ji down for the third time. I had scenes to wrap up with Aishwarya Rai in Fanne Khan, my dates for Ek Ladki… were locked and I was to begin Total Dhamaal with Ajay Devgn and Madhuri Dixit. All the films had different looks and needed time. Once again, the stars aligned. I eventually signed Race 3 for many reasons that I don’t want to revisit now. The Abu Dhabi schedule was pushed by four months for me, and I shot in Mumbai last December. Despite a lot of stress surrounding (leading man) Salman Khan during the schedule of the film earlier this year, we wrapped up at lightning speed.

This time, Remo D’Souza has taken over the reins from Abbas-Mastan, who directed the original as well as the sequel.
Do you know that only Indians think of sequels in this manner? Internationally, there is always either a new director or new team or a change of a few actors. It works best to take the fatigue away from a franchise with a new team. In the West, they’re pragmatic, while in India, we are more sentimental.
Remo has brought freshness to Race 3. It wouldn’t have been in 3D if not for him. Also, the smartest thing Ramesh ji has done is retain writer Shiraz Ahmed (screenplay and dialogue) for all the three films so there’s continuity, but with new energy.

You seem to enjoy acting in big-ticket potboilers...
I act in films like Race 3 so that I can produce different content. There are mainstream-commercial films and then there are out-of-the-box films, which we are trying to make more commercial, but essentially their purpose is to raise the collective standard. I need to be cushioned in order to produce high-content films and my acting keeps my production house secure. We can do a 24 and Veere Di Wedding in India because I am doing a Mubarakan, Race 3 and Total Dhamaal. Thirty years ago, Mr India could be made because of the same reasons.

Upala KBR (DNA; August 16, 2015)


Rohit Patel in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
I was the last of the second leads. I felt a coming-of-age. I was working with the very best in the industry. Director, co-stars, DOP — and I held my own. I felt Shah Rukh taught me so much — mainly the responsibility of the main lead, but keeping up with him was a real challenge. This role led to me getting my first solo lead.

Karan Kapoor in Hum Tum (2004)
My first leading role and first solo “hit”. I worked hard to make it casual and conversational. Rani’s timing was impeccable. A great artist and co-star, she made the movie so watchable! Aditya Chopra introduced the “muliplex hero” and it worked out well. I got a National Award. Also it was an amazing production. 40 days and the shoot was complete in Amsterdam! Siddharth Anand was Kunal’s assistant. They used to fight and I would laugh! Kunal directed well. A lot that happened was not regular fare but unexpected and that made it I feel.

Karan Singh Rathod in Ek Hasina Thi (2004)
Ram Gopal Varma and Sriram Raghavan! My first grown-up kind of bad boy role. RGV has said he says things and then watches the effect it has on people — [so there was] a lot of mind games and a charming b&*$#@d’. It was great fun! People liked my role though the film didn’t do well at the BO, but had a cult appeal! I wasn’t chocolate boy at all, but sexy mafia!

Sameer Mulchandani in Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
I will never forget how Farhan offered it to me. He was really the beginning of the new-age cinema — sync sound and so amazingly well-organised. The whole AD (assistant director) culture and cinematic culture changed with this film. Top technical talent and great co-stars. The film was wrapped bang on the date it was estimated at the start! What a lovely part I had! I was worried about keeping up with Aamir and Akshaye Khanna, but it worked out well though — hair, make up (the lovely Avan and Tanuja) made it an unforgettable experience. DCH was too cool. Excel is another ballgame. They show what all you can do in India, if there is a will. Farhan was so at home directing, you could hear a pin drop on set when silence was called. It was an incredible atmosphere. Any actor would be lucky to get that environment. I remember rebelling against the sync sound (it was too hot and they were turning off the ACs etc) then I heard the quality of Nakul Kamte’s sound — it was unreal!

Ishwar Langda Tyagi in Omkara (2006)
Vishal offered me this after Dil Chahta Hai and what a transformation it was! I felt like a complete actor. He directed so well and gave so many great ideas on how to play the evil Langda Tyagi. Dolly aunty did the clothes and made it easier as did Vikram dada who did the make up. Buzzing my precious hair was the ultimate offering as in those days we didn’t take as many chances. As always, Ajay was a great and extremely unselfish co-star to work with.

Ranbir Singh in Race (2008)
My first outing as big brother — tough and responsible. It was a change of image and it worked! I got wonderful support from Akshaye Khanna... who killed it! And also the girls were amazing — Bipasha and Katrina — and it a very cool film. It will remain special for being so easy and fun to shoot. Abbas-Mustan presented me so well and Rameshji took us out every night. We were young, so there was a lot of partying hard and working harder — great days!

Jaivardhan Singh in Love Aaj Kal (2009)
My first production and it was a wonderful experience! Imtiaz had his amazing dialogue and a lovely love story. I enjoyed playing a Sardar for the first time. Deepika’s star was on the rise, we got lucky! Dinesh Vijan produced creatively and well, Illuminati was established. We had a blast in London and Patiala. It was double role and a really nice film as a result of everyone’s collaboration. We had a sad ending at first and then Imtiaz relented and gave us a happy ending. I now wonder which is better — I think Jai deserved to lose Meera, but we were very worried about being too clever! Also, we proved we could find beautiful Brazilian girls and make them look like demure Sardarnis. That’s the magic of cinema!