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A role to model
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Pankaj Kapur plays a dacoit-turned-social activist in “Halla Bol”, releasing this Friday
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photo sandeep Saxena
The veteran Pankaj Kapur says he worked in “Halla Bol” because he believes in the power of expression
Very careful with his language and gestures, Pankaj Kapur is extremely patient with young journalists asking repeat questions over and over again. A child-like smile spreads on his face when one compliments him on any role. He takes it graciously wi
th a gentle ‘thank you’. He makes a mild salutation when a boy hands over a cup of tea to him. And he doesn’t hesitate to address young journos as ‘beta’ – a rare gesture, especially among film fraternity.
A glance at Kapur’s meaningful roles in films and TV serials makes one wonder if he has been a kind of activist at any point of time. “No, never. Neither social nor political,” he quips. “It’s an urge to say something I believe in, that I pick and choose my roles – roles that satisfy me at the three levels; aesthetic, justice and conviction. Through my character I try to make it convincing. I feel responsible for my roles,” he says.
That’s why he has done in Rajkumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol too. He plays a dacoit, Siddhu, who puts down his arms and starts doing street theatre to create awareness and some positive changes in his vicinity. Says Kapur, “I had been attached to street plays during my early theatre days. The film is important for me as it emphasises on speaking one’s mind in case one sees injustice being done in one’s surroundings. See in Harbhajan’s ban case, when the entire nation spoke its mind, ICC had to eat a humble pie. That’s the power of halla bol,” he asserts. “I haven’t so far had any such testing times. But being an artiste I try to do so through my roles. This is the reason I am continuing with the serial Office Office that is successfully running for seven years. And because this serial has a huge mass base, it is earning great money too.”
Crass serials
Kapur was seen very little over the past few years. With Dharam he established his strong stature once again. “I had decided to sit at home rather than doing roles just for money. I waited for good roles,” he says.
If such films give him creative satisfaction, the content on television serials upsets him no end. “Television serials are extremely poor in content these days. Through the countless crass serials there is a gross misrepresentation of Indian culture. I am really worried about its impact. It has started showing its adverse effect on our young minds. Why don’t you people write about it,” his forehead begins to show creases.
The very mention of his last film Dharam brings back the smile on his face. “This film was immensely popular in film festivals. I have got to know that a huge number of VCDs and DVDs have been bought by people. Though it went almost unnoticed in theatres I believe it is reaching the right minds through VCDS and DVDs. After sometime, it may come on television also.”
For now, Kapur is concentrating on his directorial debut and is keeping film roles at bay. “My film is at a nascent stage. I would like to talk about it once everything is finalised,” he concludes.
RANA SIDDIQUI
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