 "Anil Kapoor")
He has spent over 35 years in the entertainment industry and has worked with every possible big name. Anil Kapoor, 56, has been around a long time. His one-time contemporaries like Jackie Shroff and Sunny Deol are no longer the lead heroes they used to be. But Kapoor remains in demand. Now, he's preparing to make his TV debut with the Indian adaptation of the series 24. In an interview with Aabhas Sharma, he shares his successes, failures and how he has managed to have such a long run in an industry where stars are known to fade away with age. Excerpts:
Thirty-five years in the film industry is a long time. What keeps you going and what prompted you to make this new beginning with television?
Throughout my career, I have looked for roles that have challenged me as an actor. I have never been scared to take risks - be it as a producer or an actor - and I am always prepared for failure. I felt that there was a void on TV which 24 can easily fill. It was fun doing television for the first time and this is a show which is more relevant to the Indian audience. I worked on the international version and realised that it had potential to succeed in India. We've got a young cast and crew who have worked hard on the series - Abhinay Deo who directed the much-acclaimed Delhi Belly is a great guy to work with and it was a great experience as a producer and as an actor. I never felt the additional stress of a producer as the crew knew what was expected and they've delivered a very good show.
You've been around forever. I've grown up watching you and your films…
(Interrupts and chuckles) You make me sound very old. And why do people keep reminding me this?
But it's true. You've had an exceptionally long innings and seem to be always around. What's the secret?
Mein bahut shaana hoon (I am pretty clever). Unlike some actors, I changed with time. I realised that being the leading man is the key to survival - and unfortunately in India our mindset is the 'hero' can only be the leading man. I did films like No Entry, Taal, Welcome and Race where there were younger, bigger names but my role was such that it left an impact. I don't romance heroines in the traditional song-and-dance way and yet I am the main guy in the film. Moreover, I love acting and have always done so. I make sure that the films give me a chance to consistently reinvent myself as an actor.
In such a long career, surely have been a lot of highs and lows. What has been the worst point in your career?
I think the failure of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. We felt that we had made a very good, lavish film which would be loved by the audiences. We spent an exorbitant - unheard of sum in those days - amount of money on the film and it bombed badly. It shook me and my family badly. But I learnt from that as well and made sure that such mistakes aren't repeated.
While filming for 24, you didn't sign on any film. Now that the show is about to be aired, what are your plans?
I am doing Sharma ji ka Atom Bomb with Abhishek Sharma who directed Tere Bin Laden. There's a film with Raj Kumar Santoshi as well and I am doing a sequel of Welcome. These are films which again challenge me as an actor. It is good to see young directors with fresh ideas approaching me. In fact, working with a young cast and crew gives me newer perspectives about the craft.
You've recently joined Twitter. What's your take on the social media invading our lives?
I think it's a great way of being in touch with fans - though I didn't join to gather millions of followers and make a statement about my popularity. My daughters coaxed me into joining Twitter and so far I haven't been abused, so it's pretty good. But then it's been only a month and I do feel it's necessary to be in touch with what's happening around the world.
Your life and career could make for an interesting book. Have you ever thought of writing one?
Yes, I am working with Khalid Mohammed on a book on my life. I haven't been able to give much time to Khalid but hopefully with 24 out of the way, I will be able to do so. So far I have only reached the school days of my life and it's still at very early stage. A book on my life would make for an interesting read, don't you think?
