Fenil and Bollywood: Vinod Khanna interview

Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; May 11, 2014)

Life seems to have come full circle for Vinod Khanna. The suave villain of films like Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Sachaa Jhutha not only became a hero, but also Amitabh Bachchan’s biggest rival in the 70s and 80s. After going through a lot of ups and downs, including a fiveyear sanyaas in Rajneesh’s ashram, he returned to play hero in 1987. And now, he is once again playing villain in Koyelaanchal. At 67, dashing-as-ever Khanna wears many hats, including that of a full-time politician. In a no holds-barred interview, he opens up on his sons, politics and ‘rival’ Amitabh Bachchan:

You started your career as a villain and now, you are back to playing a negative character…
(Impatiently) I did start as a villain, but that was a long time ago and I don’t think we need to remember that again and again. Even today, I love playing negative characters because you have so much more to do as an actor. Today, most stars want to do negative roles because they are meatier.

A film on the coal mafia can be dark, thematically as well as visually. What drew you to it?
I liked the script and my role. My character has a dark shade, but he is not negative. His family has been into this business for generations and he is just following the tradition. He is compassionate and looks after his workers. But for survival, he has to wipe out the opposition.

How come some star fathers these days are busier than their sons?
We take on more responsibility. We are indebted to society and want to fulfill our role as human beings whether it is being compassionate or to entertain. We are not limiting ourselves. The ability to share comes only when you have got enough. Maybe the younger generation has not reached a point where they feel they want to give back.

Do you think it has become increasingly difficult for star fathers to launch their sons?
Yes, that is why I am not launching Sakshi. I have left it to him. I told him, ‘You show your talent to people. Let them decide whether you are star material or not’. Sakshi is training hard to become an actor. He will be launched soon by Milan Luthria.

Do Akshaye, Rahul and Sakshi seek your advice?
I stopped giving advice to my sons Akshaye and Rahul after their first film because I feel they should be mature enough to make their own decisions. They should learn from their mistakes. I never interfered in their lives — in what they earn, what they do, what their love lives are (laughs). Of course, we sit and chat like friends. They give me advice and I just smile at that.

Akshaye has not been seen in movies for long. Does it worry him, you and the family?
He is one of the finest actors around. He is someone who has taken his career to a point where he feels he is not getting roles that can do justice to his ability. So, he’d rather take a break. He is never worried, he is so clear about it.

Why do your sons maintain a low profile?
Akshaye has always been like this. Actually, all three of them are just like me. I was always private and my sons are following in my footsteps.

Who do you like among the current lot?
Priyanka Chopra is one of the best talents I’ve seen in a long time. Ranbir Kapoor is also par excellence. Every generation has a mindset and a body language, which belongs to that era.

If you had to romance any of the girls, who would it be?
Romance… on the screen, you mean, right? All these girls are terrific… Deepika, Priyanka, Katrina… all are wonderful.

You seem to be doing fairly well in your political career, but there is not much hype around you.
I have done well as a politician because I have taken the responsibility of my constituency. I work in the background, never in the foreground. I went to Kutch and worked there during the earthquake there. I held a relief camp, lived there for 16 months, stayed in tents and took care of the 12,000 people in my camp. I never told anyone, I did not let the media know about it. There were people who set camps for 15 days, one month, two months, distributed materials and went away.

Politics is said to be a dirty game. Was it difficult for you to adjust to it?
Unless good people enter politics, change will never come. Simply saying that politics is dirty doesn’t work. People say business is also dirty. Earlier, there was casting couch only in the film industry; it is everywhere today. If somebody wants to make quick money, the means have to be dirty.

Have your good looks and charm helped you in your political career?
Initially, yes. When I came into politics, I was a big star. My looks helped because they trusted Vinod Khanna, the person they had seen on screen. Everybody believed in me, because I didn’t have a tainted background. I didn’t enter politics to make money, and I have never betrayed people’s trust in me.

What made you get into acting?
Acting just came to me, it dropped into my lap. I enjoyed acting in school and college. I never knew I would become an actor or a big star. I came from a business family and when a film offer came, I took it as a challenge. My family didn’t know anything about the industry. But my gut feeling was that I will do well. I started with modelling for print.

How do you choose films?
I first look at the script and then my character. Also, I do films for friends. Sometimes, they may say that they need me for two or three days. That can be called a friendly appearance (laughs).

Among your contemporaries in Bollywood, who are your friends?
I am in touch with everybody, but I don’t meet them on a daily basis. Whenever we meet, we are very friendly. At times, we even party together.

Was there any rivalry between Amitabh Bachchan and you?
There was never any rivalry, it was only created by the media. We were competitors, never rivals.

Any regret? You left the industry at your peak to join Rajneesh’s ashram…
I followed my heart. I have had a great life. I have lived every moment of it. I have never been untrue to myself.

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 7, 2014)

Actor-politician Vinod Khanna has just flown in from Gurdaspur where he has recently contested as a a BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha elections. He is eagerly waiting the results of the polls and the fate of his recent film Koyelaanchal that hits theatres this Friday. Mirror caught up with VK at his Malabar Hill residence. Excerpts from the interview:

So do you think you’ll win this time from Gurdaspur?
I think I’ll sail through. Last time I lost by a narrow margin of 4000 votes to Partap Singh Bajwa. But, he has not been able to flag off a single project in the last five years despite getting Rs 5 crore for development from the Central Government each year. Where have the Rs 25 crore gone? I’m told he didn’t even want to contest this time but the Congress had no other candidate to put up against me.

He’s been mockingly referring to you as ‘Mumbai Ka babu’…
I think he is insinuating that I’m not available when the fact is, I go to Gurdaspur at least twice a month. This time too I insisted on contesting from there since I have a list of road, railway and bridge projects which I have worked on and will further work on if voted to power. I’ve already sounded out Narendra Modi on this during a rally in Pathankot and he has announced a special package.

Do you think Modi will make a good prime minister?
Yes. Modi knows our problems and has the solutions which he speaks about in his speeches. Even if we fall short by a few seats we'll easily form the right alliances.

And Rahul Gandhi?
I don’t think that Congress has a chance. I can’t imagine Rahul as PM, he is so inexperienced. He has not even been a minister. How can he head the nation?

How confident are you of Koyelaanchal, a coal mafia expose?
I did a couple of films after Dabangg, but Koyelaanchal is the one role that has satisfied me after a long time. Director Ashu Trikha finished this hard-hitting film in one schedule. I think he has done a fabulous job.

Was it tough to shoot on real locations?
Actors are used to working in tough conditions. I am from an era when we didn’t even have vanity vans. I was the first actor to get one.

Is Dabangg 3 happening?
We have been talking about it. If it happens, I think I’ll be in it (smiles).

The interview will be incomplete without discussing your sons—Akshaye, Rahul and Sakshi…
Akshaye was on a sabbatical. He turned down several films. But he told me that he has now informed producers that he is ready to return. Rahul is busy with ads and stage shows while Sakshi will be launched soon as an actor in a Milan Luthria film.

It has become difficult for star fathers to launch their sons-Vinod Khanna

Akshaye is ready to return; Sakshi will be launched soon-Vinod Khanna

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