Q&A WITH ANIL KAPOOR
Anil Kapoor, actor, on eating sweets, singing in the shower and watching his kids suceed
Q. The best twist in Race 3 was that you were not Salman Khan’s stepfather. But it was still hard to buy you as Bobby Deol’s father. What’s the secret to your ageless appearance?
This is the feedback I was waiting for. (Laughs) My wife Sunita is very strict. We have sweets coming to our place and they are there precisely for five minutes. She sends it to the office or has them distributed on set. Her hand is constantly hitting mine whenever it nears a dessert or junk food.
Q. Fanney Khan is about a father who takes extreme steps to realise his daughter’s dreams of being a singer. Are you happy with the career trajectory of your three kids—Sonam, Rhea and Harshvardhan?
I couldn’t have asked for anything better than this. Sometimes my friends and well-wishers say ‘Jaa jake nazar utaar de’ (Cast off the evil eye). They don’t get stuck. They’re very confident.
Q. Harshvardhan’s initial years are like yours in many ways.
Sonam too had it tough first. Harsh keeps telling me ‘Dad, do you want me to change?’ I say, ‘Do what you feel is the best’. He will do the so-called commercial films too but when the right script comes along. I am happy he has learned the craft working with two great directors.
Q. You are a taxi driver with a penchant for music in Fanney Khan. Are you a good bathroom singer?
I used to learn semi-classical vocal music, and was under the wrong impression that I have a good voice. I recorded a song for Chameli Ki Shaadi, it was so bad that I decided I will never sing again.
Q. Almost four decades in the film industry— is there a sense of accomplishment?
It’s still a work in progress. I am still learning.