Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 28, 2019)

There’s something cool and pleasant about Karan Kapadia. He says that he’s a regular 25-year-old, who wanted to be an actor and it is was mere luck that he found an unconventional role to debut with. It took him eight years to become an actor after he decided to take the plunge. He’s been there, done that: learnt horse-riding, martial arts in Bangkok, riding a bike, acting workshops and assisted on film sets from the age of 15. “I wanted to be prepared to take on anything as part of my role,” says actress Dimple Kapadia’s nephew Karan, who will make his debut with Blank, where he plays a suicide bomber, who suffers a memory loss. Excerpts from a conversation with the debutant:

It’s somewhat strange that even though you are Dimple Kapadia’s nephew and Akshay Kumar’s brother-in-law, not everyone was aware of your acting aspirations…
Honestly, people still don’t know much about me (smiles). And that’s because I’ve led a very normal life, largely away from the spotlight. I did the Juhu routine – went to Jamnabai Narsee School and then to Mithibai College. My mother, Simple Kapadia (Dimple Kapadia’s sister), was a single parent, who raised me until I was about 11 with my grandmother. Eventually, when she fell sick, my aunt Dimple took over. The kids from film families usually have a circle of their own, but I led a life away from all of them. I didn’t have the chance to hang out with them, and I didn’t miss it either. In my friends’ circle, everyone is a professional like a chartered accountant, lawyer and doctor. The other fraternity kids have known each other for years, but all of this is new to me.

Given that my mother did some of her best work behind the scenes in the latter part of her career, I saw everything from a distance. I went to a few premieres but never tried too hard to socialise. I’ve led an aam zindagi so far. Maybe, with this film, things will change.

Your aunt Dimple, your brother-in-law, Akshay and your cousin Twinkle Khanna are all well connected. Wasn’t it hard to stay away from the limelight?
I have had a lot of anxiety issues while growing up. I wanted to act because it gives me a sense of accomplishment and I will stop acting the day I stop feeling it. I love being in front of the camera, but never in the spotlight. I was such an introvert that I couldn’t even tell my mother that I wanted to act while she was alive. I was never really tempted to break into the film circles until I felt I was ready to be an actor. Maybe, the fact that I had anxiety and suffered from lack of confidence never let me jump the gun. Today, I realise that acting is just 15 per cent of the job. There’s so much more that an actor has to do.

How involved has Akshay been with your professional decisions?
It was his idea that I should train in martial arts in Bangkok for six months. Akshay sir has never given me specific instructions, but he has his way of guiding me, and without that, I wouldn’t have been here. His advice has always been incredible. As a boy, being raised in a family full of women, he was the first male influence, which I value immensely. Even while growing up, I was a fan of his work. He doesn’t mollycoddle or hand-hold me, but I know that he has my best interest at heart. If he had to, he would have produced my first film or acted in it, or done both. He saw the rushes and decided to do a song for us, which speaks volumes. My family believes in supporting one another without spoon-feeding, because they have all led adventurous and struggle-laden lives, which taught them a great deal.

Is that why you chose an unconventional film like Blank to make your debut with?
This was the only thing offered to me, apart from another film, which I couldn’t do. I’m lucky that this movie has turned out fine. Apart from the fact that the film was intriguing, it was the lack of opportunities that made me take on this film. Honestly, I didn’t have the option of picking. This film came when I needed it. Jo mila, woh kiya. When this film came to me, I was in a phase where things were difficult, nothing was coming my way and the auditions were not working out. When Behzad Khambata (director) told me about this film, I was blown away.

Who was the first person to know you were doing this film?
My aunt! She was so excited. My aunt is my biggest fan; she just loves everything I do, including the most ridiculous short film that I have acted in. So, sometimes, I don’t trust her opinion, because I know that she will love everything. I can’t have been good at everything, right? (Laughs!) She and my sister (Twinkle) were particularly happy because they had seen my struggle, up, close and personal. My sister even asked me if I was sure about this film, as there were chances that it could become controversial. I told her, ‘Yeh nahi karun toh kya karun?’ Akshay sir had told me, ‘Kaam bada ho ya chota, you’re starting out, you should do it. Why are you even thinking? People will kill for this role.’ I just took the plunge.

Dimple Kapadia has a degree of irreverence, apart from being a supremely talented artiste. Have her personality traits rubbed off on you?
Yes, some of it has, because I was very young when I moved in with her. Initially, I was like my mother, who always called a spade a spade. But gradually, a lot of my aunt’s traits became my own. My mom was a lot like the way Twinkle is today. She was outspoken and a bit of a hot-head. My aunt is a lot calmer and it takes a lot to make her angry. Also, she is my best friend and I can talk to her about anything. She once jokingly told me that I should get laid if I wanted to get rid of the zits on my face. That’s the kind of equation we share. She and Twinkle have prepped me for my run in this film industry. Initially, when they told me that nothing will be easy and things will be hard to come by no matter who you are, I thought they didn’t support my idea of being an actor. Soon, I realised that they were right, and nothing ever comes by easily here.

Your co-star Sunny Deol and your aunt Dimple are close friends. Given their equation, was he paternal towards you? Also, your mother worked with him for a very long time…
I have been on his film set when I was a kid. My mother was his stylist. It was surreal to share screen space with him. He was the best thing that happened to Blank. His experience of 30 years has rubbed off on all of us. We’ve had to work very hard to match up to his standard. I don’t know if you can call it being paternal, but he was very caring and accommodating towards me. He’s not the laughing-joking type. As a newcomer, you need a seasoned actor who is patient with you when you ask for retakes. He was patient and didn’t get frazzled ever. On the contrary, he made sure that I was calm and I gave the shot just the way I should do it. He would have done this for anyone. Sunny sir is unlike his angry-man image. His advice to me was that I should not load my head with too many thoughts. I was very nervous shooting with him on the first day (which was an interrogation scene), in fact, I was more nervous than I was with Akshay sir. I had seen Sunny sir since my growing up years; the pressure was too much, coupled with nausea. Gradually, it became easier, but mere director ne pehle hi din, pehle scene mein rula diya.

You’re making your debut in a year which marks the entry of many promising new actors. What do you make of the competition?
It’s inevitable. The only way is to do my own thing, my way. There are such good films being made, but few promising actors. With more of us coming in, filmmakers will hopefully have more options. Healthy competition drives you and keeps you prepared. So, I welcome it. I’m not the plan A and plan B sort of a person. I only have Plan A. I don’t want to have a backup plan, which can make me complacent. Hereon, let’s see how things shape up for me.

Hiren Kotwani (DNA; April 19, 2019)

Never mind what the world says about nepotism, kids with famous surnames will always be welcomed by the film industry. And even as we look for and point out their similarities with their star parents, we also expect them to be their own people and root for them. Come May 3, another industry kid will make his debut with an action thriller, Blank. Karan Kapadia, the nephew of yesteryear diva Dimple Kapadia and son of late actress Simple Kapadia (of Anurodh fame), is making his debut. Simple, also a famous dress-designer, was Sunny Deol’s costume designer for nearly two decades.

Given that every newcomer comes prepared, Karan is no different. He went through the drill of preparing to become an actor. He also assisted director Tony D’Souza on Boss (2013), starring Akshay Kumar and acted in a short film that went to Cannes.

Next, when his friend and co-AD from Boss, Behzad Khamnata, narrated the subject of Blank, Karan not only liked it, but also became a part of its journey from the onset. Excerpts from a chat with the 25-year old debutant...

When did you realise you wanted to be an actor?
When I was about 11-12 years old. Earlier, I had a lot of anxiety issues. I wanted to take part in plays, etc but I couldn’t muster up the courage to do it. I always regretted it. So, when I act or perform on stage, there’s a feeling of personal accomplishment for me that I was able to overcome this barrier. The feeling you get when you perform in front of people is what drove me. That’s why I started coming out of my shell a lot more. I don’t know what it was in particular, but I instinctively knew this is what I wanted to do.

Would you say Blank is an unconventional debut?
Most definitely. Not many people have come out with their first film, in which they have portrayed a character where there is no specification whether he is good or bad through the trailer. There are so many shades of grey. I personally love that, there’s intrigue about the character. It’s not about me or the family I come from, it’s become about the character,  the film and the intrigue behind it. People are really liking the concept and the story.

Speaking of which, those who’ve seen the rushes say that for a first-timer, you’re quite confident. Which is hard to believe seeing you talk about anxiety.
I think it’s a great compliment that people think it doesn’t look like my first film. But I know I can grow a lot more and have the potential to do so. When you watch your work, you think you could have done this better or that differently.

That’s different. That you’ll be doing even after 100 films.
That’s inevitable because hindsight is such a thing that you’ll always feel that. But, honestly, I take pride when people say that. Obviously, I won’t let that get to my head. Though I know I have a lot more work to do and do better in terms of performances, better than what I’ve done, in future.

Talking about family, you’ve been brought up by one of the most beautiful women in the film industry.
Yes, I’m extremely fortunate that I’ve been raised by women. I always say that I was very fortunate to have two mothers. My mom (Simple) was with me till  I was 15, then my aunt (Dimple) took over and how! She’s absolutely incredible and never made me feel that I missed out on anything growing up. Even my sisters, (Twinkle and Rinke) have always been protective of me. Because of the age gap between us, there are maternal vibes. There is an age gap of nearly 18-19 years between us, as my mom got married really late.

While growing up, as a kid, I was observing all this. They set the bar so high, especially at that time, because women were not taken as seriously as they are now. I’m talking about the 1980s. So, to do things like that at that time.. of course, they’re the most inspirational people I have in my life and I couldn’t have asked for better role models.

Were you ever able to tell your mom that you wanted to be an actor?
No. The other day I told my aunt that was my only regret that I couldn’t tell my mom (that I wanted to become an actor), so I can’t gauge what her reaction would be like. My aunt said that she would be proud, but I don’t know what my mom would have made out of it. She would have been scared for me because this is a scary industry, I feel. And she was Mr Sunny Deol’s costume designer, so then to see her son in the same frame with him would have been a big thing for her.

It would have been a little overwhelming for her.
Yeah, it sort of hit me when I was doing a scene with him. I hadn’t thought of it until then. So, yeah, not being able to tell her is one of the regrets I have.

Your mom was also known to call a spade a spade.
Yeah, I liked that. She was so spunky. She was the opposite of what I am. I think I’m more like my aunt. She is calmer and believes in just staying in her space. Maybe because I’ve lived with her for so long, it has rubbed off on me. I was a very naughty child; I was quite a pain. But I’d like to think that my aunt’s personality has influenced me in so many ways.

Do you feel fortunate as an actor that you got the support of Sunny Deol in the film. Also, there’s Akshay Kumar (cousin Twinkle’s husband).
Definitely, that’s a strong support system. I’m a first-time actor, working with a debutant director as well as the DOP. To have someone who is seasoned like Mr Deol — I think it’s his 99th or 100th film — and his experience on the set, obviously, you’re grateful for the position you’re in.

On the set, we were a bunch of newcomers so much in awe of everything going on around us. He just makes everyone better. When I have a scene, I see it as a chance to try to match his level of performance. He brings out the best in the cast, crew everyone on the team. As for Akshay sir, we didn’t know he was doing the song till about two weeks before we shot it.

They’ve always been encouraging. But I think when they saw some portion of the film, they were proud and confident that we did a good job. After that, maybe it was his way of saying good luck. I’m so grateful. None of us could see it coming. I told him, now, I can’t sleep. Then, there was so much anxiety. But we’re glad everything has worked out organically.

Dimple Kapadia’s debutant nephew Karan explains why he isn’t a product of nepotism, reveals he gangs up with brother-in-law Akshay Kumar to ‘roast’ cousin Twinkle, says it was surreal to work with Sunny Deol
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 19, 2019)

In hindsight, running into Dimple Kapadia before meeting her nephew, Karan, seems only fitting. The 25-year-old aspiring actor, who is making his debut with the action-thriller Blank, has been living with his aunt since the demise of his actress-mother, Simple Kapadia, 10 years ago.

Dressed in pastels, Dimple is fussing over a large canvas, a paintbrush in her hand, as she stands in a corner of her luxurious Juhu apartment. Karan arrives minutes later, in casuals, something “his stylist usually doesn’t approve of.” As if on cue, Dimple soon exits the room, while Karan settles down for a chat.

You were 14 when you confided in your aunt and cousin (Twinkle Khanna) about your acting aspirations. What triggered it?
I suffered from anxiety growing up. While in school, I never had the courage to participate in plays even though I wanted to. When I started doing short films, it gave me a sense of accomplishment, something I wanted to feel all the time. That’s why I chose to become an actor, besides being inspired by my family members.

Were you also inspired by your brother-in-law Akshay Kumar and his Khiladi image?
I have always loved his movies, the comedies more than the Khiladi turns as I was too young during that phase. It was since the Hera Pheri films, when I really started becoming a fan. He was a major inspiration. But I want to be like him in terms of discipline and fitness and not his screen persona. Everyone is different, and I can’t do what he does even if I tried. I must make my own path.

What are your earliest memories of him?
My sister (Twinkle) and he dated for a while before getting married, so I remember the first time he had come home, I was like ‘wow Akshay Kumar is here’. I was nine when they got married (2001). He’d always play with me.We have spent a lot of time together.

Over the years, our relationship has matured. Now, we joke around and pull my sister’s leg together. She is always roasting him, so I try to support him every now and then.

Why’d you choose to play a suicide bomber in your debut?
My director Behzad (Khambata), co-writer Pranav (Adarsh) and I had met on the sets of (Akshay-starrer) Boss. We remained in touch and a few years later, Behzad reached out with the script of Blank, which I loved. He had seen my short film (Crescendo) that had gone to the Cannes Film festival and thought that I could act. I was auditioning a lot when Blank came my way, so the timing was perfect. I took it up as I found it extremely intriguing. What you see in the trailer is just a part of it, I know what happens in the film and after watching it, you’ll know why I took it up.

Your co-star in the film, Sunny Deol, has featured in several films with your aunt and they are still close. What was it like working with him?
My mom was his costume designer for over 15 years. Even when she was sick, she worked on his production Chamku that had Bobby Deol and Priyanka Chopra, with her assistants’ help. Since she was a single parent, she’d sometimes take me along to film sets and that’s when I saw him. I have been to many of his sets, including Indian and Jaal: The Trap. Working with him 20 years later is surreal. Whenever I got flustered because I wasn’t getting a scene right, he would calm me down. I was scared during our first scene together. Fortunately, it was an interrogation scene, so the nervousness helped.

You lost your mother when you were 15.
It was one of the toughest times of my life. Which is also why I am so grateful for my family and for their support. I could have gone down the wrong way. I lost one mother but found another one in my aunt. I am lucky that way.

How would you describe your equation with her?
It’s the way it was with my mother, but my aunt is my friend too, since I am a grown-up now. I can talk to her about anything. Last year, I had a bad skin breakout and a lot of zits. One day, she randomly came up to me and said, ‘you have gone to these dermatologists and tried so many creams, how about you just get laid and see if that helps’. (laughs) That’s the kind of relationship we share. Our relationship is amazing, special and unique.

Why isn’t she taking up more work? The only film she will be seen in next is Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra.
I tell her to do more, but it’s her decision. She wants to do something she would really enjoy. She started working when she was 14. This year, she turns 62. After so many years, its understandable if someone gets tired. She loves to travel, going to Manali, painting, listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

Speaking of relationships, are you dating anyone?
I am not. I was dating someone for a long time, but it’s been about a year since we broke up.

While you have said earlier that you don’t consider yourself a star kid, you can’t be spared from the nepotism debate...
You know, I got my first film because of my equation with Behzad, but I wouldn’t deny that I wouldn’t have been on the sets of Boss if it wasn’t for my family. Nepotism means to use one’s power to help someone out and I don’t think that’s applicable to Blank. You don’t see any of my family members’ name in the credits. No one came to the trailer launch. I always say I am not getting launched, I got a break, so where is the nepotism?

But Akshay features in a special song from the film…
That happened after we wrapped up shooting. It was also after he saw most of the film, told me that he was was proud of me and that the song was his way of wishing me luck. And as far as the support goes, if someone opens a sweet shop, won’t their family help them publicise it?

Has your cousin Twinkle’s writing talent rubbed off on you?
I have been writing a sci-fi script with Behzad and Pranav for almost two years now. I never fancied myself a writer, but I thought this idea had potential and began developing it. It’s not about flying cars but it’s a humane story. We will pitch it to a digital platform as its very detailed and can’t fit in two and a half hours. I am excited about it.


Then and now: After meeting Sunny Deol on film sets as a kid, Karan shares screen space with the actor in his action-thriller

KALPANA LAJMI (1954-2018) 

Actor Arif Zakaria remembers Kalpana Lajmi, the director of his debut film Darmiyaan, who passed away on Sunday following a prolonged illness
Arif Zakaria (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 25, 2018)

The most tangible takeaway of meeting Kalpana Lajmi was not her razor-sharp intellect, her erudite manner or her candour, but the pink cheeks on her baby face. Her cheeks and guffaws stood out all through our association. I’d seen them change colour — from flaming to pale — depending on whether she was angry, amused or indifferent.

I met her two decades ago in the office of Pravesh Sippy, who was producing an English TV show. After a brief introduction, she handed me a copy of Leo Tolstoy’s novel, Resurrection, which she was adapting, and said she wanted me for one of the major roles. When Kalpana spoke, you listened. She was a true raconteur and an astute observer of people. In that first meeting, she wanted to know which books I read, the movies I watched and my taste in world cuisine. Her inexhaustible appetite for literature and her command over spoken English were impressive.

I was finalised for the TV project and so began a series of interactions with her as we started rehearsals. Over time I met her partner and mentor, the late singer-musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika. She always addressed him as Bhupsu. It was, and remained till the end, a fascinating alliance that manifested itself in myriad ways. Father–daughter, guru-student and musician-muse.

Shooting in Assam and travelling to various parts of the state was an indescribable experience as Kalpana, the director, was in her element in this Brahmaputra fiefdom of Bhupen Hazarika. At some point, she sounded me out for a one-scene role in an unusual story she was developing for a film, Darmiyaan. She had assurances from a few major stars for the lead role. I was thrilled and memorised the entire script to show off. Over time, the lead actors changed and Kalpana was furious over the merry-go-round (flaming pink cheeks). A few months passed by.

One clear September morning, I got a call from Kalpana asking me to come over to Kirron Kher’s apartment in Juhu urgently. No reason or context was given. I recall reaching an hour early and pacing Juhu beach nervously. I walked into the apartment where both Kalpana and Kirron were seated on the floor with a copy of the script.

That’s when Kalpana broke the news that I was to play the lead in the film and I had to surrender the next few months to the project.

Thus, started my journey on my first film. It was abject surrender to Kalpana and her entourage of actions and words. Each page of the script had to be mastered and memorised. She put me through extensive rehearsals with the late Simple Kapadia, who was her associate. We began filming soon after and more facets of her personality emerged. She was relentless in her dislike for complacency. There were days when I shuddered to get to the location for fear of inviting her wrath with my inexperience or inability to follow instructions. I recall Kalpana hollering over the megaphone as I shot for the climax scene in a stupor, holding an infant while addressing the character played by Tabu.

Her acting commands that seemed insulting then are today testament to her knowledge of character nuances.

I always felt she was disdainful towards the physical aspect of filmmaking (dull, pink cheeks), but a true craftsman of intricate screenplay. Through various interactions later, even when illness had started to take a toll, she remained a bouncing board for ideas. I always felt she was a misfit in the film business and its flattery. Maybe she’s found her true calling now and is at work in a room full of books, with pen and paper, and a Bhupen Hazarika melody playing in the background.






Soni Razdan, Shyam Benegal and Shabana Azmi (seen here comforting Kalpana’s mother, Lalita Lajmi) attended the funeral


Arif Zakaria with Kirron Kher in the film

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 29, 2017)

Simple Kapadia’s son Karan was 14 when he confided in his actress-aunt Dimple Kapadia and cousin Twinkle Khanna that he wanted to act too. “They were initially surprised but understood that having grown up around their sets as a child, it was inevitable that I’d want to follow in their footsteps. They pointed out the risks involved and warned me I should be ready to work hard. And since then they have been very supportive and helped me get ready for the road ahead,” informs the 24-year-old actor-to-be.

He also reveals that he had earlier been obese at 112 kg but following regular gymming, he is now a fit and healthy 88. “I’ve learnt to ride a horse and the bike, I’ve been swimming and I trained in martial arts for six months in Bangkok,” informs Karan, who having learnt acting at the Jeff Goldberg Studio is now gearing up for his Bollywood debut to be directed by Behzad Khambata. It will be an action-packed entertainer, produced by Shrikant Bhasi, Nishant Pitti, Vishal Rana and Tony D’Souza. Karan had assisted Tony on the 2013 Akshay Kumar-starrer Boss.

He knew Tony was working on this film but was shocked when he approached him to play the protagonist a few months ago. “I have known Tony and his team for a while now. Working with people you’ve known for a long time is great. I play a 26-year-old boy who is trying to find his way in the world. As soon as I heard the script, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” says Karan who starts shooting in January.

The debutant lives with his aunt Dimple who has been both a mom and a dad to him. “I lost my mom when I was 15 but I feel extremely lucky to have two moms. I can talk to my aunt-mom about my girlfriends, fights with my friends and work too,” he says.

Prod him about his mother who succumbed to cancer when she was 51 in November 2009 and Karan says emotionally, “She was amazing, the toughest person I’ve seen. To date when I’m on a film set, people come up to me and start talking about my mom. She spread love and happiness around and left an impression.”

Karan is also “super close” to his cousin Twinkle who turns 43 today. “She lives a minute away so we see each other all the time. She’s awesome and was destined to be a famous writer. She’s killing it!” he gushes, as connected with Rinke too, noting that being almost 20 years older that him, they organised his birthday parties, took him for meals, swimming and movies.

Twinkle is in Cape Town with actor-husband Akshay Kumar to ring in the New Year. “I couldn’t join them as I am busy with prep but I will Skype to wish her,” he smiles, admitting the best tip came from Akshay who told him that no work is big or small. “Work is work.”