Even as he basks in the success of the first season of The Night Manager where he steals the show as Shailendra ‘Shelly’ Rungta, Anil Kapoor is reviewing the offers that are pouring in, including from down South.
Excerpts from a conversation with DC
Q. How do you always manage to steal the show?
I’ve often been told that I’ve stolen the show, but, in the film industry you cannot take these headlines seriously. I have never taken appreciation or criticism to heart. Baad mein dekhte hai is my approach.
Q. Tell us about the career choices you’ve made.
Choices are very important in chalking out your career. Sometimes khud bhi nahi soochna chahiye, you should trust the confidence that others have in their script and you. A career is not about one or two films, it’s about 40-50 years in the industry. It’s not possible to always get the best role in every film, but you have to take advantage of doing many films. I have chosen to do films in which my role may have been slightly less than others, like Judaai; I have done films in which Jacky Shroff’s role was better than mine. I feel one should not let such films go if the script is good. If I had let such films go, it would have been a loss to my career. If you have a huge bank balance and want to do just one film in five years, it’s OK, but I’m not from that league of actors. I love my work and want to keep working always.
Q. Do you feel OTT shows are doing better than theatre releases?
I enjoy both equally. Basically, I belong to theatres, I’ve been working in films for so many years and the big screen is what we love. But you have to adapt to the times, it’s all about storytelling. In OTT you get more time to play your character. That way you can make your work more nuanced, and show how a character develops; on the big screen you have to show everything in minimal time. There’s excitement in both. The challenge right now is to make films which will resonate with the audiences’ sensibilities, both across the country and the world. It has become more exciting now, you get to work with people of all ages, with great ideas.
Q. Tell us about the live-in relationship angle of your role in Night Manager.
It’s that relationship which gives the twist to the story; the conflict starts from that point in the screenplay. As you age, relationships seem more complex, the pain greater. When you are young it may not matter as much. But when you face betrayal when you’re older, you feel there is less time and the anguish, the frustration, the pathos, are more. Shelly is an older person, and that’s what makes his character so layered, I feel. When his young girlfriend is snatched away, the pinch is felt more.
Q. Bollywood heroes are working down south, specially playing the villain. Sanjay Dutt and others are being offered villain roles. Are you open to work in the South?
I have got many offers. If I work down South, what will be of paramount importance is the director. Money is secondary. I will work with a director whose work I respect. I understand the world of Hindi films, as I was born in this environment. If I don’t understand the regional film environment, it’s best to go with a filmmaker whose work I have seen and admire, rather than consider the remuneration factor. I don’t want to fall flat on my face by making wrong choices. I have given the voiceover for Mani (Ratnam) saab’s work but if someone else offers me more money I will not take it up, whether it’s a big filmmaker or a new one.
