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.
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.Advertisement
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.
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June 29th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Oz,
I personally dont like this actor. He is just plain very loud. Infact i think he is one actor in bollywood who has been giving major hits consistently for x-number of years and still people dont take him seriously. Why? because he is plain lucky. He is an average actor.. nothing great. But i gotta say that joke of Brokeback Mountain was funny man. That was such a right choice. lol
June 30th, 2006 at 2:40 am
Anil Kapoor is one bollywood actor i’ve never been able to figure out.But he’s a good actor,that’s for sure.But he has acted in some truly shitty movies that still make me cringe at the very though.Some of them are
Andaz-The movie with some really disgusting double meaning songs,Ugh,why did Juhi Chawla act in this monstrosity
Loafer-Again a crap movie
Karobaar-Too behind its time
That weird southie directed movie he’d done with Shabana Azmi playing a mad woman
No Entry-Can’t believe this piece of crap was a hit
But then he’s acted in some amazing movies like
Tezaab-Raw,Gritty and Razor Sharp
Karma-He,Nasseruddin Shah and Jackie really clicked in this movie
Parinda-One of my favourite movies of all time
1942:A Love Story-Superb
That’s my list.what’s u’rs??
June 30th, 2006 at 6:31 am
I haven’t seen parinda, so can’t comment on that, but Karma is my Anil Kapoor Favorite, followed closely by Pukar. Nayak too, if the moronic comic relief scenes were cut out, could’ve been an excellent movie.
June 30th, 2006 at 7:08 am
Boss:
Add one more shitty movie to your list. Choclate…
The innumerable ones with Jackie Shroff and sunny deol…the 80’s - 90’s commercial cinema (usually written by kader khan)
Good movies…hmmmmmm
of the top of my head…
Sahib …Actually everyone put in a good job here
Taal…he looked good…the movie sucked…
June 30th, 2006 at 7:51 am
Oh Yeah.Saaheb.And Mashaal too.
And yeah dude,chocolate sucked badly.Thankfully,it was my cousin who was paying for the DVD.
June 30th, 2006 at 8:03 am
He’s got Survivor written all over him.
personally I think he’s got a good comic timing.My all time fav movie of his is Chameli Ki shaadi.
June 30th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Adding to the growing list…
Thumbs up: Eashwar, Virasat, Lamhe
Thumbs down: My wife’s murder (among recent ones)
humsafar.
July 5th, 2006 at 1:49 am
yeah i agree that he did a good job in virasat. he genrally is a good actor but i dont like his interviews all that much coz he goes on and on about himself(as in I did this I did that) eg. about his discovery of Madhuri, his selection of roles etc. but the brokeback joke was a good one. i havent seen it but 1 question how did KJ react instantly?
another good movie of his that i just recalled was Woh 7 Din.
hey theres Shakti as well (lol)
but seriously i like his Mr.India,Judaai cant rem much else that hasnt been mentioned already
July 6th, 2006 at 11:19 am
Not only was that remark about Shah Rukh and Karan Johar as cast for Brokeback Mountain in very bad taste it actually smacked of bitterness and jealousy. Well Mr Anil Kapoor you are never going to be a fraction of SRK’s brilliance and international fame.
July 6th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
sasui !!!!!!!
with due respect to u ….u really think Mr SRK can actually match up with the versatility of Mr Anil kapoor…
I can count only 3-4 films in which SRK is ACTING (Acting means loosing ur identity completely and getting into the character. Watch some of naseeruddin shah/sanjiv kumar/Irfan khan/marlon brando/kamal hassan’s performances)
SRK ‘acted’ in the following films
1. Raju ban gaya gentleman
2.Kabhi haan kabhi na
3.DDLJ
4. Dil se (till the last 15 mins of the film)
Rest everywhere he’s PLAYING SRK PLAYING HIMSELF.
Watch Aamir khan in DCH and lagaan…u’ll know wat acting is. Those roles are not done by AK, they are done by Bhuvan and Aakash respectively.
Anil kapoor is a pretty good actor and i dnt think he shld be jealous of SRK.
Seriously seriously..with due respect to u …u actually thought of comparing SRK with Anil kapoor ??????
July 15th, 2006 at 3:27 am
Dont’ Forget Mr. India, and Beta, 2 good movies with 2 good Actresses.
Decent, steady actor.
August 18th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
There are very few versatile actors in bollywood of his calibre, he is from the rare genre who had dared and still daring to do all type of roles .. he never sticked to any one character that people loved him like sharaukh did .. he was never afraid to try new things .. can sharukh ever dare to do eeshwar, virasat, mashaal, tezaab, Lamhein, 1942 A Love Story, My wife’s murder …
doing again and again same romantic roles doesnot count you as an better actor .. you can differentiate evry movie frame as different movie of anil but sharukh .. if you show any frame from his movie it looks same movie frame doing same type of acting .. i admit sharukh is the one of the greatest star in bollywood but plz don’t mistake star with an better actor ..:o
many came and many are gone but he is still there with his hardwork, sincerity and versality .. so give him his due friends .. !!! after all he desrves it ..!!! and he has proved it may be he is facing camera with amitabh may be it dilip kumar or the current crop be it salman or sharukh, may be it govinda or akshay .. say aamir .. or akshay khanna .. abhishek .. even coming as a supporting actor he has proved his metal along with top guns… its never easy to survive in any field if you don’t have it in you .. what u say friends ??? :)
May 1st, 2008 at 10:47 am
He is the finest actor and one of the best actor, Indian cinema has ever been produced.
Don’t compare srk with this superb skill actor.
He is a versatile actor.