Anil Kapoor may have played the dominating patriarch Kamal Mehra in Dil Dhadakne Do. But in real life, he is as easy-going as they come. In an exclusive interview with SpotboyE.com, the actor shows his fun side. Read on
You were the first choice for the role of Kamal Mehra and the only actor in the cast who wasn’t replaced?
When Zoya (Akhtar) offered the film to me, Ranbir (Kapoor) and Kareena (Kapoor) were supposed to star in the film. Then, I heard that they are not doing the film. Zoya told me she has offered it to Ranveer (Singh). After some days, she told me that she is considering Priyanka (Chopra). So I told Zoya, “Sab change ho raha hai. Toh mujhe bhi change kar do.” But she said, No way, I am not going to change you. So I had to do the film for Zoya (grins).
Reports suggested that Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi were the first two choices for your wifes role.
(Cuts in) Tu mujhe controversial questions kyon pooch raha hai?
I'm just trying to ask you, would that have made any difference to you?
(Looking at the cameraman) See, your journalist is trying to get me in a soup. Yes, some actresses were being considered. Madhuri's name had come up. I remember even Tabu's name had cropped up. But I don't think Zoya was considering Sriji (Sridevi). Raveena Tandon was being considered. Don't ask me about this, ask Zoya. I want to work with all these actresses Madhuri, Sriji. So do you want them not to work with me? You want to get me into trouble? (laughs)
You received all-round appreciation for your performance. Had you expected such a reaction?
While taking up a film, an actor is always nervous, wondering whether he can pull off the role or not. Of course, I knew that Zoya is a very good director and the script is very good. When you are surrounded by good actors, you feed off each other and your performance automatically becomes better. Similarly, whenever you work with good directors, your work improves. Whenever I have worked with good directors like Danny Boyle, Subhash Ghai and Shekhar Kapur, I have always found myself performing better. So I knew I would be appreciated for this role, but I didn't expect so much of appreciation.
Sometimes you work on a good film with good actors and directors. Yet your work and the film goes unappreciated. God has been kind this time.
You played a dominating father in the film. Are you similar in real life too?
What do you think? Do I look dominating in real life? No, yaar. I'm completely different in real life. That's why I had fun playing this role. In real life, I am always being scolded at by my family. In the film, I was always scolding everybody. He is very dominating, I'm not dominating at all in real life. So its exactly the opposite.
You're 58 years old but you hardly look it. How do you manage to look so young?
That is exactly why I did this film. I wanted to see how I will look after 40 years. There are other aspects to my personality too. I act well, I do good films, I get good roles. But wherever I go, everyone asks me this one question how do you look so young (laughs). So I thought, let me just do this film where I will sport salt-&-pepper hair so that people stop asking me this question (laughs). Thankfully, after this film, people are talking about my performance and not about my young looks.
On a serious note, do you follow a strict regime?
I think one should lead a disciplined life. I work out 6 days a week, keep a check on what I am eating. It also depends on your mind. I don't take too much of stress, I try to find the humour in every situation so that I can laugh and make people around me laugh.
My house is filled with comedians. Rhea, Harsh, Sonam and Sunita they all have a brilliant sense of humour. So we keep pulling each others leg, keep making each other laugh. We have a very happy atmosphere even in my office. I think its all about being positive, that's what keeps you young at heart. I try to avoid negativity.
Coming back to your work, when can we expect the second season of 24?
It will start very soon. All I can say is that people liked season 1 of 24, so we are trying really hard to make season 2 even better. We are working harder this time around. That's why we are taking long.
Can you tell us how you're making it bigger and better?
If you spend big money, it doesn't necessarily make the show better. Were working harder on the script. Were taking better actors this time around. The cast will include some stars from the film industry and some senior actors from television. Were trying to cast some TV actors who have a great fan following.
Your son Harshvardhan has already begun shooting for his debut film
(Cuts in) I think it'll be wrong of me to talk about Harsh. Rakeysh Mehra, who is making the film, will talk about him. There's a lot of time before the film releases.
I will talk about him when the time is right. Right now, lets talk about me. I get very upset when you all talk more about my children. Nobody talks about me. Arey, people will forget me. Don't do that to me (grins).
Sir, nobody will forget you. So lets talk about your other films.
Now, I have Welcome Back 2. I enjoyed playing the role of Majnu bhai again. Its always fun working with Nana Patekar sahab. The best part is that I finally got to work with Naseeruddin Shah sahab after 13 years. Paresh (Rawal) has become the MP of Gujarat, so he has become very selective about his work. He is a part of this film. Then there's John Abraham. We've done 2 films together Race 2 and Shootout At Wadala. Both films did well. So were hoping to score a hat-trick with this one.
Buzz is, you have been offered a film with Madhuri.
No. If I were offered a film with Madhuri, I wouldn't be sitting here and talking to you. I would go crazy with happiness that I am doing a film with her (laughs).
So besides Welcome Back, what are the other films in the pipeline?
(With a mischievous grin) I wont tell you that now. If you want that answer, you will have to come again and do another interview with me.
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