Creative spectrum
RAJNISH WATTAS
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Actor-director Rajat Kapoor dwells on the ‘high’ theatre gives him.
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PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY
RAJAT KAPOOR: still discovering his own voice.
The talented actor-director Rajat Kapoor was in Chandigarh recently for a performance of his very successful “Hamlet: the Clown Prince,” a rib-tickling spoof on Shakespeare’s work. Making his mark with successful films like “Dil Chahta Hai”, “Monsoon Wedding”, “Corporate” and “Bheja Fry”, the versatile 49-year-old strides across both theatre and cinema with ease. Tall, brooding and very intense, he made time to talk in the creative, if surcharged, ambience of the Tagore Theatre ——amid last-minute rehearsals.
How did you get into acting/direction?
My life has been series of accidents… I didn’t plan it. In 1983 while studying in Shri Ram College at Delhi, I had joined a theatre group accidentally; I had no idea what theatre involved. As a matter of fact I had seen just two plays at that point. But once the bug bit me, there was no looking back. Theatre has been a complete passion and a huge high.
What is that high?
In theatre the gratification is immediate. When things are going right, you actually feel you are an inch or two above the ground; you fly…But that is the performance. Before that is the joy of creating a play … 10 people get together and create something out of an idea; it is a high, ecstasy.
Your inspirations …
Initially it was K. Madhavne, who directed the first play I acted in. He was a dynamic man. Later Kumar Shahani and Mani Kaul, two great filmmakers; they made very personalised films. I consider both my teachers.
How is the experience of being in two different creative mediums simultaneously?
What I learn from theatre I take it to cinema and what I learn from cinema, I take it back to theatre. It is a mutually enriching experience. The two are very different media — there is in fact nothing in common — one works with actors as its raw material, while the other works with light and a camera records it. But what I might learn as a storyteller in one, I can use in the other.
Your learning and growth…?
An artist’s journey is private; to find his/her own voice. Mine began with my stint in Film and TV Institute (FTTI) at Pune. In fact my first film was hugely influenced by Kumar Shahani; like a hangover. Slowly, over the years, I discovered my own voice. In fact, I am still discovering it…
Which are the films that you have made?
“Private Detective”, “Raghu Romeo”, “mixed doubles” and “Mithya”…
You became a recognisable film personality after “Dil Chahta Hai”. Tell us about your role in it?
You know, I often say that that was my most difficult role. Because I had nothing to do; I was the wallpaper. So, if people remembered me despite that, I must have done something right. A film is about “being” and theatre is about “becoming.” In films, the externals play a very important role. What one wears, how one looks, how one stands… rest is instinct...
Are you comfortable switching from English theatre to Hindi cinema?
Our generation is like that only; we are comfortable in both languages. I have done lot of theatre in Hindi as well and even translated plays like Shakespeare “Taming of the Shrew”, Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” into Hindi.
Do you think that with the success of films like “Slumdog Millionaire” and recent Bollywood success stories, Indian cinema has become a worldwide product?
First, of all, we make very bad films. Our so-called success stories are seen only by audiences comprising of nostalgic NRIs abroad. “Monsoon Wedding” and “Slumdog” were not Indian films at all. In fact “Slumdog Millionaire” is a very ordinary film, though very well crafted. If you want to talk about great cinema then I would rather mention filmmakers like Coen Brothers or Woody Allen… or Pedro Almodovar from Spain, or Abbas Kariostami from Iran, or Wang Kar Wai. In fact “Batman: The Dark Knight” is a very good film.
What are your forthcoming films?
As director “Rectangular Love Story”. As an actor, “I am 24” and “Raat Gai Baat Gai”.
“Rectangular …” that’s an unusual name?
Usually there are triangular love stories. This one has a foursome.
You come across as a very intense and brooding person?
No way; I am a very “people” person. Doing a play is a party and a film is a picnic. I thrive on the energy of being around a film set.
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