PicShik Blog

Her beauty has been described by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali as “classic”, and indeed amongst the new breed of actresses in Bollywood, Sonam Kapoor has the perfect Indian look. So, it should not come as a surprise that it’s the Indianness of Rajasthan that bowled this lovely damsel over when she was here shooting for her film Dilli 6 with Abhishek Bachchan. “I love Rajasthan! I have visited the state several times — while my dad was shooting here or during holidays. I am bowled over by its desi touch. I am not only smitten by its palaces and forts but also by the eclectic mix of tradition and westernisation it offers,” she says. And when the traditional touch appeals to her, could she have stayed away from the tasty Rajasthani cuisine?

“Oh! The food is just yum… I can’t forget gatte ki sabzi and thick jawar-bajre ki roti. My diet went out of the window when I was there. Whether it’s a dhaba or a five-star hotel whenever I had time I just went out and ate,” says the actress who is known to have shed her extra kilos for her role in her debut film Sawaariya.

So, are there some funny incidents that she can remember during her shooting stint here? “Well, my sister Sheila Khan had come from New York to spend some time with me and we used to travel to Sambhar daily for the shoot. Both of us are city people and have hardly seen shepherds.

So, on our way to Sambhar one day, we spotted a shepherd at a distance. He was of course in his colourful turban paired with a white outfit and a lovely patch-work shawl. So, my sister got all excited and said, ‘look his sense of style and the colour co-ordination is really cool.’ To this day, I tease her about that man we saw from a distance,” she shares.

That’s about teasing her sister. But is there a cool looking dude in her life? “I want to stay away from guys just now. That’s because most of my friends are guys and I spend a lot of time with them so I know how they think,” she laughs and adds, “Moreover, I haven’t found a guy who is as humble, honest and funny as I want my Mr Right to be.”

Ask her about her dad and she can’t help brimming with pride. “It is very embarrassing when people say that my dad and me can’t play our real life roles in reel life because he looks so young. Actresses like Katrina Kaif are not much older than me and they are sharing the screen space with my dad as his heroines. Well, people still love to see him as a hero and I am proud of that fact.” The proud daughter is in fact all set to follow in daddy’s footsteps. “I want to be like my dad. Like him, I want to do commercial cinema that entertains and also gives some message to the masses. I want to do unconventional roles but not art films because there is no point doing a film that is meant for a niche audience only,” she signs off.

Anil Kapoor, who was one of the most bankable stars of the ‘80s, is having a successful second run at the box-office. So much so that he is giving stiff competition to Amitabh Bachchan. There have been several instances in the recent past when producers decided to settle for Kapoor rather than Bachchan. Kapoor says, “I got back to the grind thinking that occasional films will keep me busy. Fortunately, I bagged the right scripts, best directors and everything fell into place. Trust me I have never enjoyed doing films as much as I do today.”The story goes that Aditya Chopra also discouraged Tashan director Vijay Krishna Acharya from signing Bachchan to play a crucial negative character in the film. The role eventually went to Kapoor. Apparently, Bachchan’s portrayal of the modern-day Gabbar in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag was one of the reasons why he wasn’t offered the role in Tashan. A source from the production house reveals, “Adi (Aditya Chopra) felt that Anil will portray the sexual streak in the character more effectively than Mr Bachchan. Also, unlike Mr Bachchan, Anil isn’t overexposed.”Similarly, Percept Picture Company was insistent on making Johnny Walker with Kapoor. But director Shoojit Sircar took the same script to UTV Motion Pictures as he was rooting for Bachchan in the lead role. It’s a different story that Kapoor begged out of Percept’s Johnny Walker as Bachchan has already shot for Sircar’s film, which is now titled Shoe-bite.Kapoor explains, “I clearly told Shailendra Singh, Joint Managing Director of Percept Holdings, that there is no point in making a film with the same content. It would have only resulted in negativity and that’s why I stepped down.”Trainspotting director Danny Boyle also cast Kapoor as the Kaun Banega Crorepati host in his film, Slumdog Millionaire, which releases in October.Kapoor’s young looks, ability to convincingly play flamboyant characters, and his conscious decision to stay away from brand endorsements have only worked to the actor’s advantage. “Like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor, I have never believed in brand endorsements. Although my children think that I’m a fool, I will never endorse any brand. Naturally, I’m not overexposed and it has definitely given me an edge over the rest,” adds a rather frank Kapoor.A trade analyst, on condition of anonymity, says, “Anil Kapoor has suddenly become a very, very interesting option for filmmakers.

The second coming
He is a good and versatile actor and he has been choosing his roles very cleverly. Welcome, Black and White, Race, Tashan and Main Yuvraj is a great and varied line-up. Also, he is playing a prominent role in all these films. Kapoor’s biggest asset is that he still looks young and fresh and he can confidentially carry off roles alongside Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna. His market value has certainly gone up recently.”After having essayed the role of the Kaun Banega Crorepati host in Slumdog Millionaire, Kapoor will be soon seen on television as a chatty host. Without giving out too many details, Kapoor says, “I have been offered two television shows, and I’m looking forward to hosting them.”

Soham Shah has been trying to make his follow-up movie to Kaal for a long time. The one time faithful assistant to Karan Johar left his clan to make movies outside of Dharma Productions. He will soon be ready with his next film. It stars Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Tusshar Kapoor and Imran Khan (Aamir Khan’s nephew). An industry source reveals, “After leaving Dharma Productions, Soham was to start a film with Kumar Mangat and then with Sanjay Gupta. But neither film materialised. It was his dream to work with Sanjay Dutt and now three years after Kaal, he will finally start working on his new film. It is being produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision (SACV). The script is already complete and the shooting will begin later this year.”

Exclusive
Sanjay Dutt is under an exclusive contract with the production company and that’s the reason he is on board this project. Anil and Tusshar have had a script narration and have said okay in principle.“The movie is said to be an adventure film and has a big budget. Three top actresses are going to be finalised for the film,” the source concludes. Soham remained unavailable for a comment, but SACV spokesperson Parag Desai admits, “We have indeed signed Soham for our next. The cast is being finalised. Once that happens, we will make a formal announcement.”

The 40-plus Anil Kapoor seems to have rediscovered himself. Parked behind the desk in his freezing office, he’s beaming like an actor who’s just in his prime. This year, he completes 25 years in the movies and anyone who’s had as many highs as lows in over two decades as he has, has earned the right to feel a little giddy about it. On a roll with his scene-stealing act in Welcome, Anil now prepares for his new film Black and White, which releases next Friday. In a no-holds-barred encounter, Anil talks about his big ‘comeback’, beti Sonam and everything else that matters like never before.

Black and White looks like an arty film. Is it?
Subhash Ghai cannot make an arty film. But yes, it’s very different from what he has done before but still, it is a Subhash Ghai film it has a story to it. Drama, emotions and songs. It’s a kind of a first for both of us. For the kind of films we have done together in the past. Meri Jung, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Trimurti and finally Taal have all been typical mainstream films.
Let’s talk about your role.
I play a professor who teaches Urdu. It wasn’t a conscious decision to do this film now. But my relationship with Subhash is such that I can never say no to him. He’s the only filmmaker for who I can start shooting even without reading the script. He told me that the whole cast is new. So I asked him, ‘then why do you want me? And he said ‘No one understands me like you and so I want you.’
Maybe for the star value?
(Uncomfortably) I don’t know what was in his mind. So I said, ‘Ok, I will do it.’
The Welcome tapori image works for you, So won’t B&W hamper that?
I always have had totally different kinds of films releasing one after the other but it has never affected my career adversely. Years ago, I had a Ram Lakhan followed by an Eshwar. I remember Subhash Ghai and Shekhar Kapur told me that it was a big blunder. Now two weeks after Black and White, I have Race that is again a hardcore commercial flick.

With many children of filmi families entering Bollywood, it would seem logical that they would be in films with their famous parents. However, this is not the case, in fact it is just the opposite; Bollywood parents are being very careful that they not be in films together with their children. Anil Kapoor, is one of those Bollywood stars that is also a parent of a new actress and he has declined offers to be in a film with his daughter Sonam.

Anil said that he has decided that for now he and Sonam will not be seen together on the big screen, “In fact, there have been 8-10 offers, but nothing that would tempt me into sharing space with her right away. Unless something really exceptional comes up, I wouldn’t like to work with my daughter at the moment. In fact, she is opposed to it much more than I am. She feels even more strongly about it. So I’d rather wait.”

Sonam agrees and said, “I’ve shot twice with my father and have done an AIDS feature. He was more worried about me than himself throughout the shoot. So, I don’t think it’s fair to him to have me as a co-star. Right now, I am too raw to remove my father from the character he’d play with me.

“Besides, I wouldn’t want to play all and sundry characters with him. It has to be something special for both of us. But if he produces a film that has a role for both of us, I’d definitely want to do it because he produces only quality-conscious products.”

Anil even turned down a chance to work with Sonam on her new film Delhi 6, “It’s true Rakeysh Mehra offered me a role in Delhi 6, but I declined it.”

Anil is very proud of his beti and her performance in Saawariya, “Sonam has been appreciated unanimously. People like Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar have praised her. Sonam couldn’t have hoped for a better debut. I’m very proud of my daughter. She has a long way to go. I think her second film is as exciting, if not more.”

Adding, “Who wouldn’t want to work with Rakeysh after Rang De Basanti? Sonam is lucky to be working with him in her second film after (working with) Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”

We will look forward to when the perfect project comes along and we can see these two fine actors share the screen!