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A role to model?
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CINEMA Pankaj Kapoor plays a dacoit-turned social activist Siddhu in ‘Halla Bol’
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Photo: Sandeep Saxena
SPEAK UP Pankaj Kapoor says he worked in ‘Halla Bol’ because he believes in the power of expression
Very careful with his language and gesture, Pankaj Kapoor is extremely patient with young journalists asking repeat questions over and over again. A child-like smile spread on his lips if one compliments him on any role. He takes it graciously with d
rooping eyes and a coy ‘thank you’. He makes a mild salutation when a ‘tea-boy hands over a cup of tea to him. And he doesn’t hesitate to address young journos as ‘beta’ – a rare geture, especially among film fraternity.
A glance at Kapoor’s 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 roles for – 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 Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol too. He plays a dacoit, Siddhu who throws weapons and starts doing street theatre to create awareness and some positive changes in his vicinity. Says Kapoor, “I have 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 his 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. Though he admits that he so far, didn’t actually spoke violent about any issue as such. “I didn’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 Office Office that is successfully running for seven years. And because this serial has a huge mass base, it is earning great money too.”
Kapoor was seen very little in a few years gone by. 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 admits.
What muck?
If films like this give him creative satisfaction, the content on television serials upset him no end. “Television serials are very poor in content these days. Through the countless crass serials there is 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 some smile back. “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 the people to watch this film. Though it almost went unnoticed from theatres but I believe it is reaching the right minds through the VCDS and DVDs. After sometime, it may come on television also.”
For now, Kapoor is concentrating on his directorial debut and is keeping film roles at bay.
RANA SIDDIQUI
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