ONE thing that most A-list heroes in India have always had in common is their desire to remain in their Bollywood comfort zone.
Stepping away from the security of safe projects, familiar faces and a ready-made fan base has enabled Anil Kapoor to break new ground for Hindi film stars and connect with a whole new audience.
Starring in Slumdog Millionaire, Mission Impossible 4 and hit TV series 24 alongside appearances at high-profile international events has enabled the actor to expand the reach of Hindi cinema.
He has balanced projects in the west with lead roles in Bollywood and is now on the verge of changing the face of Indian television with a remake of the popular crime drama 24, where he plays the central character originally portrayed by Keifer Sutherland.
Someone who still has the hunger to do good work, the iconic star of countless classics only wants to focus on what is happening now, instead of talking about his achievements and basking in past glories.
“I never look back, actually. I just look ahead and at the moment I am looking forward to the release of Shootout At Wadala on May 1. I’m currently shooting for the TV series 24, so I am looking forward to doing some good work in the next six months,” explains Anil.
Although he has enough star presence to light up a small city, the most amazing thing about the actor is that he doesn’t seem to have aged and looks the same as he did 20 years ago.
He says that staying in great physical shape helps him to keep up with the kind of demanding schedule someone half his age would struggle with. Discipline has enabled him to remain physically and mentally at the top of his game.
“You need to be aware of your intake. By that I mean not only what you eat, but what you take in mentally also. So you need to eat well, think and take mental notes which are positive. A fine balance in the intake helps me to a certain extent.
Eating the right stuff, reading the right things, listening to the right artists, doing the right films, working with the right people, all of these things are the intakes. If the intakes are perfect, maybe not perfect but nearly all there, it changes you for the better. You look the way you look and do the work you do.”
This disciplined attitude has enabled the actor to remain in the A-list since he delighted audiences in 1983 classic Woh Saat Din.
He has combined this with an ability to deliver a powerful performance on the big screen in a wide array of characters in different genres.
He says the secret of a good performance is preparation.
“If you are a working professional, whether in filmmaking, business or anything, it’s all about the preparation. You should not leave anything to chance or luck. You have to see that all the necessary things are there to make a project work, to make a film work, to make a performance work.
You have to prepare yourself to the extent that by the time you go on set, you are so ready it looks effortless. If you’re unprepared or just prepare 60 per cent and then leave the rest to luck; that is when you become tentative and not very confident. Then the effort shows. Preparation is the most important thing.”
Even though he has delivered iconic performances in movies including Parinda, Ram Lakhan, Lamhe, Beta, Pukar, Tezaab, Virasat and many more, he is unable to single out a favourite because he is very much living in the moment.
“I prefer to talk about the present and forget about the past,” he says, smiling.
Anil admits that the most amazing thing to happen to him in the present is the incredible international exposure that Slumdog Millionaire, Mission Impossible 4 and TV series 24 have given him around the world.
Connecting with non-Bollywood audiences is something the charismatic actor has enjoyed doing and in the process, has opened doors for Indian actors around the world.
He is now thinking on a much bigger scale and that is evident in his forthcoming Indian adaptation of 24. “With 24, yes, it’s being done on a bigger scale, according to Indian standards. It’s much bigger than the other shows, but still not as much as the one in America.
What we are trying to do is to match the scale and aesthetics of the original, but most importantly, to adapt it to Indian sensibilities. People who watch Indian films and Indian shows all over the world should be able to identify with 24.”
Shooting for the big budget series is in full flow and the actor has got himself into top shape to play a secret agent battling against bad guys.
When he is asked if the Indian version of 24 will be a game-changer, he says, “I am no one to say that and it is up to the audiences to decide if this will be a game-changer. If it is a success, then it is a game-changer.
If it doesn’t do well, then it is not a game changer. I am the kind of actor, the kind of producer, the kind of person who never thinks about what is going to do well or not do well. I just go with my conviction and do my best.
I give my best shot; get the right team and people to help, support, and fulfil the dream. And that dream right now is 24. I think the way things are going and the kind of team we have put together for this, there are more chances of this show becoming a big success because the preparation,” he says confidently.
Apart from playing the all-action hero, Anil is also producing 24. And though he has also successfully produced hit movies and worked with some of the best filmmakers in the world, directing is something he isn’t considering at the moment.
“A lot of my directors have, to a certain extent, encouraged me to direct a film.
But I still am not getting the real instinct to direct a film right now. In the future, you never know, I might direct a film.”
So does the hard-working actor have any unfulfilled ambitions away from films or is he happy to eat, breathe, live and dream cinema?
“Is there anything beyond that?” he asks, laughing. “I think after death also I would breathe cinema. I will go up to heaven and I will still be making films. And I will humbly ask God to play a part.
“I feel privileged, I feel honoured and blessed by the Almighty that I can get this opportunity and chance to be in front of the camera. I just love it, there’s no explanation. It’s not something I can put into words. I’ve loved it ever since it came to my senses. I just always wanted to be an actor.”
One of the things that have strengthened his passion for acting and cinema over the years is watching great movies that have made a big impact on him. “When I saw Slumdog Millionaire, when I saw Schindler’s List, when I saw Godfather, these are films which made a lasting impact (on me).
They have made a lasting impact on people all over the world. People see these films over and over, so I feel these films made an impact on me also. Among the Indian films I feel Sholay, Mughal-e-Azam and Mr India made the biggest impact.”
He also gives credit to fans for keeping him at the top of his game for more than 30 years, and says it is only because of them that films like his recent release Race 2 are big hits.
Anil is positive about the future of Indian cinema and hopes more international collaborations happen.
“It’s my bread-and-butter. It’s very rare that you find a profession you are so passionate about, and you are being paid for it. Certain people have a passion for collecting things, but it’s not financially beneficial, that is just a passion.
Acting in films is something I am very passionate about. Instead of me investing money, I am being paid for being part of it.”
“I am passionate about cinema. It has given me fame, respectability and a chance to go out and do things for others. Cinema has enabled me to spread happiness, not just in terms of donations to charities, but also visiting someone who is not well and putting a smile on their face or supporting an important cause.
It has enabled me to put smiles on audiences’ faces with my work. Cinema has helped me to do that, so it is not only material gains, but all the other things that come from cinema. I can’t add more, that is what I love about it,” the actor said.
Shootout At Wadala will be out on May 1 and 24 is due to be aired later this year.
