Post Slumdog Millionaire success, things are looking evergreen for the 49 year old actor Anil Kapoor who's flying high from the Slumdog Phenomena
BY SUPRIYA DAVDA & HARMEET VIRDI | MAR 23, 2009
Not only winning this year Academy's Best Motion Picture of the Year, the feel good movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' marked veteran Bollywood star Anil Kapoor's first international film. XEHER met with the 49 year old actor and chatted about Slumdog and when we can all anticipate a film with him and his daughter
Q: How did your role quiz master Prem Kumar come about?
KAPOOR: I have a very vague memory of having received an SMS from the director of the film Danny Boyle. It didn't immediately register that the director of 'Trainspotting' was approaching me but my kids were extremely excited when I mentioned the SMS to them. In fact, they were the ones who pushed me to explore the project. I went through the script and the role and had really liked it.
Q: What made you sign 'Slumdog Millionaire' initally?
KAPOOR: This film was a first for me in many ways. It is my first English film and also my first Hollywood project.
Q: What where the things in the film that you felt the audiences responsed to so wholeheartedly?
KAPOOR: All the characters are identifiable to a certain extent and the way Danny Boyle has decoded the entire Bollywood formula. Internationally, it is something very new. It had the usual Bollywood mix. It has also got the ingredients of all the great movies, but the way the game show has been evolved is something fresh. It is the game show, which makes the film unique.
Q: How was your experience working with British director Danny Boyle?
KAPOOR: See the best part of Danny Boyle is he makes you feel as if, he wants things for you rather than for himself. He completely gives to you; actually he gives alot. He doesn't instruct you too much, it's just a word or whisper here and there, and he just lets you be and that's what he did with me, he'll just let me be. I prepared for the role, and went to the workshops but he just let me be. And where he felt he needed to give guidance he would just come and instruct me.
Q: Do you have any more desire to work with any other mainstream director/s or actors?
KAPOOR: They should have the desire; beggars can't be choosers.
Q: From Tezaab to Mr.India and a career spanning over 30 years, all your roles have been so different from one another. How has your journey been?
KAPOOR: My journey has been like a film. Starting from scratch, where nobody knows you or where you come from. 'Slumdog Millionaire' had also been a film whereby a young boy comes from nowhere and grows bigger and bigger to being somebody. And that's what my life has been. It's been a rollercoaster ride even till now.
Q: You?ve worked with your brothers, Boney and Sanjay Kapoor. Going down a generation it would be amazing to see you working with your daughter Sonam Kapoor on a future project?
KAPOOR: Is it, wouldn't it be boring? Nothing as of yet has been materialised but let's see, you never know.
Q: Can you describe Anil Kapoor to us in three words?
KAPOOR: How can I describe myself? I'm normal, completely normal, and straightforward and a little confused sometimes.
Q: What is your life mantra that you go by?
KAPOOR: There's no substitute to hard work, and the mantra is no matter what the situation is, you're happy, you're tired, you?re well, your unwell, your exhausted, your depressed. Just work.
Q: What's next from you now?
KAPOOR: So many exciting things are happening and I'm going to grab them with both hands.
'Slumdog Millionaire' DVD is due for release on 1st June 2009
DID YOU KNOW?
Initially, Amitabh Bachchan was offered this role of the quizmaster since he had played the part on the actual famous game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' with great effect. But after he expressed his inability, Shah Rukh Khan was approached but then cited date problems and excused himself out. Anil Kapoor was then the next choice and he lapped up the chance immediately.
