‘It’s brought in a lot of fun and positivity’
Actor Anil Kapoor, whose wax statue has been installed at Madame Tussauds Singapore, is “thrilled” with the honour
Everything happens at the right time’, goes the popular saying. For Anil Kapoor, this is absolutely true. A Bollywood superstar in his youth, an international actor in his later years, and now the latest entrant into the club of megacelebrities who have their wax statue at Madame Tussauds (Singapore) — Anil probably never had it better in his 38 year-long career. And the actor knows it.
“If this had happened within the first 10 to 20 years of my career, I may not have valued it as much, as there’s always an arrogance of the youth. So, you’re like, ‘Arrey, theek hai yaar (Oh, it’s ok). I deserve it.’ But I haven’t got anything in life only due to my good fortune or good wishes. I have put in a lot of blood, sweat as well as hard work for everything. And that gives a different kind of thrill (smiles). Since all of it is happening at this stage of life, and not 20 to 25 years back, it’s brought in a lot of fun, positivity and value. It’s a good feeling,” says Kapoor, as he talks about the honour, films and more.
Were you surprised with the honour?
The whole process takes about eight to 10 months to be completed. And I must have started off (with measurements, posing for the statue, etc.) about a year back, so I knew about it. It’s time consuming. But I am happy that the way the statue has been completed is very real. My makeup man, Deepak, who has been with me for the last 30 to 35 years, took a lot of interest and worked on details right from matching my skin tone, to every single strand of my stubble.
If this had happened within the first 10 to 20 years of my career, I may not have valued it as much.
Also, you must be thrilled about Sonam getting a special mention at the National Awards…
I think that was a much better and bigger moment for me than this wax statue of mine (smiles). I can’t tell you how happy I was when I heard about it.
Is it Anil Kapoor ‘the father’ talking?
Honestly, I am not talking as a father. I feel Sonam’s performance was too real and honest. Till today, it’s very special. When special things are rewarded and given their due by the highest authorities, you feel great. Even the film got a National Award. The way Prithviraj Kapoor comes into mind when one thinks of Emperor Akbar (the late Kapoor played Akbar in Mughal-E-Azam; 1960), Sonam’s face will flash in people’s minds even if they think of Neerja (2016) 50 or 100 years later. ■
ANIL KAPOOR, ACTOR
From when people doubted that he could sing to now having recorded a track for an Amitabh Bachchan starrer, Navraj Hans has proven his worth and how. “Mujhe koi singer hi nahi manta tha (Nobody considered me a singer). In school, I was taken out of the group that sang the national anthem. It took me long to get my first break,” recalls the son of popular singer Hans Raj Hans.
Navraj, however, never lost his confidence. The singer, who sang ‘Raj karega khalsa’ for the film A Flying Jatt (2016; starring Tiger Shroff and Jacqueline Fernandez) and ‘Rail gaddi’ for Prabhudheva’s Tutak Tutak Tutiya (2016), feels honoured to have bagged the opportunity to sing for the third instalment of Sarkar franchise. “I was so happy to sing for Amitabh Bachchan,” says Navraj, who says his voice can suit anyone. “I’m a versatile singer. That’s how I’ve been trained.” He has also sung for Arjun Kapoor in the upcoming film, Mubarakan.
Navraj’s goal is to continue his father’s legacy. “He is my idol, my guru. Some people do compare us as they don’t see that I just have six-seven years of experience. That puts a bit of pressure on me, but I sing to impress my father,” says the singer, whose journey has been “full of ups and downs”.
Recalling the initial phase, he says, “My business partner Puneet Singh, who is like my brother, got me to Mumbai. He believed that I had the talent to become a national singer from a regional singer.” But here’s what happened when he came to Mumbai. “People would come and tell me, ‘Aap toh Punjabi artiste ho, Bombay mein kya kar rahe ho (You are a Punjabi artiste, what are you doing in Mumbai). But luck was on my side. Exactly a week after [I got] this comment, I got A Flying Jatt, and then ‘Rail gaddi’ happened,” he says, adding, “A loser is one who leaves the race. It’s important to believe in yourself.”
Is Navraj, who has acted in Punjabi films, eyeing Bollywood too? “Only if the script and role is good. I don’t want to take on a film just to get that stamp of Bollywood,” he says.
Mujhe koi singer hi nahi manta tha (Nobody considered me a singer). In school, I was taken out of the group that sang the national anthem. NAVRAJ HANS, SINGER