‘I have never made a film to exploit any issue’
The room springs to life the moment he walks in, flashing his trademark smile and age-defying dapper looks. Actor Anil Kapoor has never shied away from talking about everything under the sun. Here’s a freewheeling chat with the jhakaas man whose film Fanney Khan hit the theatres on Friday.
Your first Hindi film as a leading man was Woh Saat Din. You played a musician in that. Thirtyfive years later, you are again playing one in Fanney Khan (FK)...
I don’t know why you want me to go down memory lane... I never try to go back. I did Taal (1999), which had a lot of music. In Woh Saat Din (1983), I played the harmonium. In Fanney Khan, I am not a full-time musician. I write and compose songs and I do playback. I’m Rafi saab’s fan but I am not getting a job as a lyricist. I get to sing Badan Pe Sitaare in a chawl.
Do we treat music the same as before?
Music hasn’t changed. That’s what my daughter in the film (Pihu Sand), too, feels. What’s changed is that today, people don’t just hear music, they ‘see’ music. They see you sing, and not just hear you sing. That’s the change, and this is why she talks about what she is going to wear and look, the make-up, the jewellery. Earlier, it was simple: just go in front of the mic and sing. Only talent mattered, now it’s the entire package.
You are popular for looking impeccable and playing stylish characters. Was it a challenge to play a middleclass man sans glamour?
When you have a good director, acting is a joy. We had a lot of workshops, and tried to make it as real as possible. The clothes I wear, the places I have shot in, the chawl areas, they are not alien to me. I have been through that in my struggle. I am a Chembur (Mumbai) ka ladka!
FK talks about bodyshaming. Your daughter Sonam and nephew Arjun, both have battled body issues in the past. Did that motivate you to take up this film? That was not the main reason... it was just one of the reasons. I don’t belong to that school of thought that I should make a film to exploit any issue. I have never done that in my career. I never exploit. I am not a person who will sensationalise or politicise things. It is just one of the aspects of the film. I loved the story, and the fact that it was probably the first time someone was tackling this. My daughter in FK is going through this situation. Also, if there’s any script which I feel like ‘main pehle kar chuka hoon’, toh main nahi karoonga.