10 years of Vicky Donor: Why Annu Kapoor felt let down by makers

Vicky Donor (2012) was a path-breaking film by director Shoojit Sircar. The movie is not just remembered for its unconventional plot, but also for its unique characters, including that of Dr Baldev Chaddha, a fertility expert who runs a clinic and a sperm bank in Daryaganj, Delhi — played by actor Annu Kapoor.

On this day, 10 years ago, the film which dealt with the topic of sperm donation and infertility in a Punjabi-Bengali household was released and introduced us to Dr Chaddha. How does the actor look back at these years? “I have always given my best to every project

I did. But certainly, Dr Baldev Chaddha will remain one of the best roles I could do, or rather, one of the best roles written for me, with equally superb direction,” Kapoor shares.

And while he recalls the journey with happiness, he does have one complaint. “It was all good during the making. But I felt let down by the producers for not giving me any space or promotion during the release. They just wanted to highlight and promote the hero (actor Ayushmann Khurrana), and not Annu Kapoor. I have always faced this kind of partiality, whether it is for a movie or a TV or radio show. Perhaps they don’t like ugly faces like Annu Kapoor,” the veteran actor laments.

Speaking further about the role, and whether he was ever apprehensive to take it on, given that the subject was taboo, Kapoor explains, “Sex may be taboo for the majority, not only here in India, but also in the western world. But for me, not at all. I never had any apprehension.”

In fact, his character continues to be so popular that the dialogues remain etched in people’s minds. According to the 66-year-old, what worked in the film’s favour was the sincerity with which it approached the topic, without being “vulgar”. “The audience accepted the passionate Dr Chaddha as a professional, genuinely looking for a breakthrough,” Kapoor says.