« Superman Returns : Sweet Sour Split | Home |  Badboy’s Life Rules for Pickup & Dating »

Chillin with Anil Kapoor

It’s quite interesting to see Anil Kapoor’s career graph. Sometime I feel his career decisions were like chessboard moves. One of the most interesting aspects is to see how he moves from here when his daughter, Sonam is working as a lead actress in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next.

akapoor.jpg

They were the trio ruling (not quite) Bollywood in the eighties. Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Sunny Deol. Jackie Dada seems to be done and vanished. Sunny Paaji - Ram jaane… but Anil Kapoor has this knack of kicking back in with a hit after every set of flops. I haven’t been a big fan of his choices in recent times. But his dedication towards the art of acting is unquestionable. Here’s one actor to whom even Mahesh Bhatt would go “Cut. Shot Ok… but wait let’s take another one for Anil’s sake”

Here’s a very casual relaxed interview by Sabir Masani for DNA where Anil talks about his joke of Karan Johar, his future plans, his fears and much more…

His Juhu office is buzzing with writers, ideators and the most genial man Friday this side of Jeeves. Boss is swivelling before a desk piled with CDs, DVDs and fountain pens, a tasteful touch that shows the influence of wife Sunita. Plus, there’s an oil painting of a man in red facing a world of grey. Lots of colours here, Anil Kapoor himself being attired in a moss green shirt and crisp new jeans.

I’m there to ask him whatever got into him at the recent IIFA conclave in Dubai. On being quizzed on stage by host Karan Johar about who would be the ideal cast of a remake of Brokeback Mountain, he said, “You and Shah Rukh Khan.” The quote made it to every glitterworld TV newscast and plenty of etc. Yup, so the question of the day is:

Wouldn’t you have been offended if someone had made such a crack against you?
Hey, why is my answer being taken so seriously? It was done extempore, in fun, without any malice. In fact, Karan said we must crack such jokes again. There was a time when I was the industry’s favourite butt of jokes but I took every jibe with a smile.

What jokes?
Oh so many. Like Jackie (Shroff) and I were having a scene. It was all over the magazines, but theek hai chalta hai.

Okay whom would you cast in a remake of Fire?
(Chuckles) I’ll answer that only on Karan’s show… I’m going to appear in the next season of Koffee with Karan.

Where has your new sense of humour come from? Is Anees Bazmee (director-writer of No Entry) the new influence in your life?
Kya bolta hai? Nothing like that. The humour has always been there, it runs in the family. In fact, my brother Sanjay is funnier than me, he’s constantly cracking mean jokes at my expense. Boney’s on the serious side… but Sridevi can be really funny at times.

Of my kids, Sonam isn’t the jokey type but Sunita and our other two kids Dia and Harsh are, they’re always making digs at me at the dining table. Like Sunita still hasn’t stopped laughing about my look in Bewafa, at my outfits in that movie and my gold-rimmed specs hovering all over the scenery.

Tell me, why take on an inconsequential role in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye?
I wouldn’t agree that it was inconsequential. I did it as a favour to the producers, the T Series guys, they wanted me to do three to four days of work. They even paid me my full fee.

Why does your skin look roughish on the screen nowadays?
That’s because I’d gone for that heavy stubble look..the stubble had to be coloured. Otherwise, as you can see my skin’s perfect.

Why have you been making so many quick trips to Los Angeles of late? Any plans for an international production?
Keeping tabs on me or what? Yeah, I’ve made a couple of trips to meet friends who are into show business.. and check out the potential of producing films for a global market. I met up with Ashok Amritraj and followed up our meeting at the IIFA event in Dubai. Kuch ho sakta hai but not right now.

Are you majorly into comedies since No Entry clicked big time?
Comedies have always been there but of late No Entry, Garam Masala and Phir Hera Pheri have succeeded not only in Mumbai and the south as they used to..but have also opened up a lucrative market overseas. I think comedies will be made on a bigger scale now.

As for myself, I think I’ve always done pretty well in quite a few comedies like Andar Baahar, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Mr. India, Deewana Mastana, Biwi No. 1. If Badhai ho Badhai didn’t work, it was because halfway through it became unnecessarily serious.

I’m a bit sticky about comedy though. I go through the script with a toothcomb. Meanwhile, I keep doing dramatic roles which are my forte.

Have you been dropping in on the sets of Saawariya to check out how Sonam is doing?
I did go to the set before the film started, but not now. She shouldn’t get the feeling that I’m getting hyper about her.

Aren’t you?
Yeah, but that’s my problem, not hers. Every parent worries about his kid even on the first day of school.

What if your other two kids want to act too?
Arre, hope not, hope not, hope not. Two actors in the family are enough.

About this entry

You’re currently reading “Chillin with Anil Kapoor,” written by oz

Published:
06.29.06 / 1pm
Read by:
2,598 views
Category:
Bollywood


Related Posts