I have been called choosy: Kunal

Kunal Kapoor (right) made his acting debut opposite Tabu in Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004), which was directed by the late painter MF Hussain. However, it was his role as Aslam in his second film, Rang De Basanti (2006), which truly brought him recognition. The movie was a nationwide success and still finds a place on most people’s list of favourite Hindi films. “I think that is one film that is going to be difficult for any one of us to match up to, owing to the kind of impact it has had,” says Kunal. “I remember I was just starting out my career and Aamir Khan told me that I should enjoy the phase, as such things happen probably once in an actor’s career. I disagreed with him at that time, as I believed that such movies will keep coming your way when you are just starting off in your career. But he was right. The sort of impact that this film has had cannot be recreated.”

The actor is all set to be seen in a historical drama. “This is the first time that I play the part of an anti-hero. It is a complex and layered character. It has been extremely challenging for me, physically as well as mentally, but it has been rewarding,” says Kunal.

At a time when most actors are doing two to three films a year, Kunal maintains that he is willing to wait for a good film to come his way. “I have been called choosy. But if being choosy means that I would have to wait to be a part of movies that I like, I don’t mind being choosy. I’m always going to value quality over quantity.”

The actor tied the knot with Amitabh Bachchan’s niece Naina Bachchan last year. Ask him how married life has been, and he says, “It’s been wonderful. I believe that she has been a positive and solid influence in my life.”