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Mr. India in a new role
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Anil Kapoor, enthused by the success of Gandhi My Father that won several international awards, is all set to produce more films
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Photo: S. Mahinsha
ACTOR TRANSFORMED Anil Kapoor has donned the mantle of producer with élan
Although the role of producer is a new one for Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, he carries it off with élan. “It was my instinct that motivated me to produce ‘Gandhi My Father’ and I have been proved right. I have recovered my money
and it is the Indian film that has won the most number of awards this year,” he says with unabashed pride, as he reels off the names of the awards won by the film at foreign film festivals.
“The Asia Pacific Screen Award for the best screenplay, the only Indian film in competition at the Tokyo Film Festival, in which Shefali Shah (who plays Kasturba) won the Best Actress Award. At the Lyon Asian Film Festival, it picked up three – the Critics, Audience and Junior Jury Choice awards …It has been included in the archives of Harvard University…”
“Actually, Firoz (director and scenarist Firoz Abbas Khan) and I had been discussing a play for some time. But when I came across this script, I knew that I had to do it. It sensitively unravels the troubled relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and his son Harilal. In fact, after the success of ‘Gandhi, My Father’, we are working on another project,” says the actor.
The critical acclaim for his film seems to have whetted his appetite to produce more films as he unambiguously says that he might consider making a film with his daughter Sonam Kapoor in the lead. “I am very proud of her. I think children should be allowed to do what they enjoy. I did tell her that acting involves a lot of hard work and heart break,” says the proud papa. And, he adds, like all proud fathers, ‘“Sawariya’ was one of the finest films made this year and I think it was the best film for her to make her debut.”
Anil is all praise for the pool of skilled cinematographers and technicians that have enriched the film industry in India. “Priyadarshan is one of the finest directors in the country. ‘Virasat’, in which I played the lead, is one of his biggest hits in Hindi. And yes, even the guest role in ‘Chandralekha’ was fun,” says Anil, with his characteristic wide smile. In the age of remakes and sequels, would there be a sequel to his blockbuster “Tezaab” as diva Madhuri Dixit has made a comeback to films?
“Why not? We are looking into a few scripts and there could be a film that I co-star with Madhuri. It is wonderful that she has started acting again,” says Anil, whose blockbusters include “Ram Lakhan”, “Parinda” and “Kishan Kanaiah” with Madhuri Dixit.
And who does he see as Mr. India 2? Pat comes the reply: “Only me”. “Ranbir could also be very good in that role,” adds Anil.
SARASWATHY NAGARAJAN
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