I don’t see television as a cash cow: Anil Kapoor

As a fan of Jack Bauer, I had binge watched all the seasons of 24 long before Anil Kapoor decided to make it in Hindi.  I wasn’t gung-ho that one of my fav shows was about to have a desi version. I didn’t even want to watch it. But one day, while channel-surfing, I chanced upon the show and I stuck around to see the entire episode. I was impressed. They’d got it right. And credit for that goes to the protagonist. If he didn’t work, the show wouldn’t have either. Now the show returns in its second season and Anil is enthusiastic as only he can be...  

Tell me about Season 2.

I am very excited. I am looking forward to the second season. We are at this stage where we got huge critical acclaim for the first season and we built a fan base. Hopefully, the TRPs will be better than the first season. We have an interesting mix — film, television and theatre stars, all of who have a huge fan following. Like there is Sakshi Tanwar, who is playing a very important role in the show, and Surveen Chawla. Yes, Surveen has a huge fan base and Sakshi is playing something completely opposite to what she has played in all the other shows. She plays the ATU Chief, which is a very strong role with lot of layers and in my absence, she runs the cell. There is Neil Bhoopalam. After he got great acclaim in the first season and in NH10. And Sikander Kher, who is going to be the surprise package of the show.

Why was there was such a big gap between the two seasons?

That was because I got busy with Dil Dhadakne Do and Welcome Back. Also, the three producers — Viacom 18, 20th Century Fox and my Company Anil Kapoor Productions — had so much trust in each other that we finished the first season without actually signing the long agreement. This timem I said, “Yeh first season toh kar diya, but now let’s get it on paper.’ So, trying to finish these films and contract took a lot of time; that is the reason for the long gap. But I think the pace and the fan following of the first season — whatever it was — is strong, solid and alive. And I saw to it that I kept it alive. I saw to it that it wasn’t diluted, so wherever I went, I spoke about 24.

I want it to succeed, so I am putting all my force — all my emotional and physical effort and everything in my capacity, to see to it that it works. The show gives so much employment to actors and technicians. Today, on 24, there are a minimum of 200 people employed who don’t have to worry about their families being looked after for one year. It’s not like films, where you do a film and then wait for the next one, so there is a gap in between. I am happier that this show is giving so many job opportunities to so many people.

This character, Jai Singh Rathore, has become so popular. Do you see yourself taking it to the screen?

That’s the first thing I really wanted when I spoke to them. In my contract, I got everything... It will be a great character on the big screen, and I’m still pursuing it, but legally, I still don’t have the rights.

The original makers had also planned to make the 24 film.

They planned to make it, but they have not yet succeeded. With my relationships with them, one day, I’ll be able to convince them. That will be phenomenal because it’s really a fantastic character. In fact, my name on my Twitter page has been Jai Singh Rathore for a year now. Because I’ve not done anything, but 24 for that time. I have committed and devoted myself to this show as an actor and producer. I wantto lead by example. I don’t see television as a cash cow. I don’t look down upon it. For me, television, today, is something I am totally committed to.

Did you have anything to do with Arjun doing Khatron Ke Khiladi?

No, I didn’t. But Raj (Nayak) said that because of my association with him, he felt like Arjun was family, and he felt comfortable approaching him to host the show.Raj has a good relationship with me and Boney also... Somewhere, I feel it was a very brave decision for Arjun to take up a TV show.

Yes, although Big B, Aamir, SRK and Salman have been on TV, the Gen Next have not yet explored that world yet.

I think that today’s times are such that any content you get excited about — and it might be any platform, you have to do it. That’s why I am really looking forward to doing something on digital. I am talking to a lot of people, but I’m not yet really sure what it is going to be. So I think it’s very cool for Arjun to do television. Maybe the next time you meet me, I will be telling you about what I am doing on the digital platform.

Do you see yourself doing as many shows as the international one?

They did nine seasons. I was there in the eighth season. I think we can do even more. (Smiles) Now, it depends on the people who are backing it to believe in it as much as I do. But I feel every show has its own destiny and if you believe in it and if you put your heart and soul into it...why nine seasons, it might go on for even more.

We haven’t seen you in any international film for a long time. Have you decided to concentrate on your films here and your shows?

I have been offered some interesting films, but they are not as exciting as I want them to be. There were certain films — for example, this year, I was supposed to be in Cannes to announce that film — and then I had to make a choice to be there because I was committed to this film, which I can’t tell you about now. Then there is Jugalbandi and 24. It was coming in between 24 and Salman’s film. Then I weighed the pros and cons, I said the role is good, but not great enough for me to sacrifice so many exciting things happening over here and so I just passed it up. I feel I have done three things and they have been hugely successful. I have done 24, Slumdog Millionaire and Mission Impossible. So that equity is there with me, I can cash it whenever I want to cash it.

So you have been nixing offers?

I just want to cash in at the right time and I want to take a step ahead, not backwards. In teeno ke baad fourth cheez bhi jo main karunga has to be either bigger or better. So I would rather... because for them I am not a hero, I am a leading man, I am a character actor and I feel I have 15 more years to choose the right film. I’ll wait, everybody knows me and I have my agents and I am doing a lot of business, I have put my energies into the business part and the entrepreneur in me. So, why not wait for the best?

What’s happening to Modern Family?

So,  after 24, which I am working on, these are the two formats: Modern Family and Prison Break. So, if these three formats work, I don’t have to look anywhere all my life. Even one life won’t be enough. My children will have to take all these franchises forward and I know they will. All of them are very creative. There is so much available to me. I want my company to be a boutique one. I don’t want to go into mass production. Nobody is really there to, you know, want you to go slow and steady and do one thing at a time.