Regrets are not dear to Anil Kapoor, he likes to enjoy his work and move ahead in life. It is probably this approach that makes this man in his 60s a bomb-of-energy who can’t help giving major fitness and life goals. As his film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga releases this week, Anil reflects on his relationship with Vidhu Vinod Chopra and pay parity in his production house while admitting doing films for the sake of friendships. The actor also shares his parenting techniques and how he feels a sense of pressure every time his daughter Sonam shares her views.
Excerpts from the interview:
Your association with Vidhu Vinod Chopra has never failed. How do you look at your collaboration with him?
When I worked with Vinod in films that are directed and produced by him, we always made sure that our grandchildren should be able to watch those films and they should not feel ashamed. We are proud of the films that we have done together. I still feel I could do certain scenes better.
Sonam is a complete ‘no filter’, and people applaud her for speaking her mind. As a father, how do you look at her ‘no filter’ approach?
There is a sense of pressure when Sonam speaks and I will be honest I can’t fake it — I do get tensed. I do tell her that but you know what happens... She has no control, she speaks her mind, she is all heart! Sunita and I discuss over it but we can’t change anybody.
If she is good, she is good. And, if she has done something wrong, she will come to know… Let her live her journey and experience it. This is the rule for all our children. They are different for being who they are.
You are working with Sonam for the first time but when you look at your children’s work, do you look at it objectively?
It depends from situation to situation. All children are different from each other. For some kids you have to sugar coat it, some kids can’t take praise... So, I handle all my kids differently. Sunita and I are also learning. So, it’s also a trial-and-error for us. Of course, we have more experience but every child has to be set free and treated differently. I still don’t know 100 per cent about all my kids, but I am still learning.
After working for so many years you have a strong sense of script, can you foresee how a project will shape up?
Where I am concerned, it is a different bandwidth. Of course, you can sense a script but a lot of things come into consideration — sometimes the script is not great but the maker is great, so you hope he will rectify it; sometimes the script is nice but the director is taking it to a different trip, so you never know... You can’t foresee things because it’s a creative world.
Have you done films for the sake of friendship?
I have done many films for friendship and family. Also, I knew it will not work but to help someone financially, I have done that… I see positivity in everything I have done, I don’t regret anything.
Has money ever been the driving force for you?
Money has never been the driving force for me. It is something that gives me the security, so I just want to be a giver in life. I have been fortunate and privileged... since the time I started working, I have been blessed.
Has it been a conscious effort to balance it out between the commercial and parallel cinema?
My entire career has been like that. I have a mixed bag of filmography and I am proud of it. For me, it’s a combination of director and producer. And, yes, it has been a conscious effort and I will continue to do so.
You recently celebrated 30 years of Ram Lakhan. How do you look back at the journey?
I don’t look back. I do it. I enjoy it, have fun and all… I don’t look back so much. Also, I move on easily and that’s how I have been from day one.
Sonam has openly spoken about pay parity in the industry. When it comes to the actresses who work under your production, do you treat them all equally?
When I did Veere Di Wedding, I made sure all the girls were treated equally. There was no discrimination. All the four girls got equal prominence even for the promotions. All of them were dressed up by Rhea and were given the same amount of importance. Everybody cannot afford the same stylist, but all of them were given equal importance. At least we tried our best.
