I’m partial towards my girls: Kapoor
models keep on changing. According to him, “When you are a kid, in school, you are inspired by your teachers. Your parents are your role models. Then as you grown up there are the world leaders to motivate you. For me, when I was starting off, I was inspired by actors like Marlon Brando, James Dean, Tom Cruise and Dilip Kumar
– I was very fortunate to have worked in three movies with the legend – Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah, but its not only senior stars, you could also learn from youngsters. Even the common man on the street can inspire you. There are countless people around you who can motivate you,” said Kapoor.
Digital platform
Digital media is the best thing to have happened to people who are in the business of creating content says the actor. “The biggest advantage is sitting in a place, like Mumbai, I can connect with the whole world online. Even for someone in Dubai, if he has a story to tell, he can pitch it to a digital platform, and if they like it, it can become a global success. So the possibilities are immense. In the past, I had to travel all over the world to showcase and promote my films, now I don’t have to go anywhere. I can sit in the comfort of my home and do it (digitally).”
Preparing for a role ahead of Kapoor is very close to his daughters – Sonam and Rhea (pictured). “Many of you know that a daughter is a father’s princess. I am fortunate to have two daughters and a son. Though all my children are equal for me, I must admit that I’m partial towards my girls. I am very proud of Sonam. I have always encouraged her to be independent and honest. She became an actor on her own. Rhea is a producer and started making movies at a very young age, she’s done well for herself. Harsh had made two films and his role in Bhavesh Joshi received critical acclaim. My wife (Sunita) and I are childhood sweethearts, we were in school together, we were friends for 10 years and then started dating and got married. We are now together for about 45 years. Being an actor’s wife is not easy, but she has stood by me at all times – through thick and thin, my crazy working hours, my successes and failures.” facing the camera is the most important thing for Kapoor. “Prepare, prepare, prepare, there are no shortcuts. It’s the most important thing for actors. In the earlier days, artistes would do things spontaneously in front of the camera, not anymore. I always prepare well, study my character, learn the accent, body language and even study the characters’ background. Today, hard work and preparation is the norm. You cannot expect to find success without preparation.”
Facing challenges
For Kapoor, every film is a challenge. “You have to be up to the challenge every day of your life. Be physically and mentally fit and keep with the times. My job is such, I cannot entrust anyone else with it. I have to face the camera and emote, no one else can do it for me. In any other field, you can deputise someone else to do your job, but actors can’t do that. We can’t fake in front of the camera we have to be perfect in every which way. The producer has crores of rupees at stake and if you don’t deliver, you will be dumped. Every morning, I prepare myself for the challenges that lie ahead of me. I motivate myself and when I face the camera, I believe that this is the first day of my career and give it my best shot,” Kapoor concludes.
Kapoor ends the thoroughly enlightening and entertaining session with his iconic dialogue from his 1985 film Yudh: “Manta hoon tere pasand ko, maska hain re maska, ekdum jhakaas!”