I have not become a producer to promote my career as an actor: Sanjay Kapoor

Sanjay Kapoor is producing Tevar, starring his nephew Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha, They are currently shooting in Agra. On the set, Sanjay is a cool producer, comfortable with his unit and at ease with the cast and crew, no sign of stress. You'd think he was a veteran producer, ins stead of a first timer. He reveals that his secret is delegation. Once everyone knows what they have to do, they handle it. This is a new start for the youngest brother of Boney and Anil Kapoor, who was a lead actor having worked with the likes of Madhuri Dixit in her prime. Here he talks about his new role, family and his brothers. read on…

What made you get into production?
Well, being a producer is in our blood. Now I am producing this film but when I was acting in Boney's films too I was acting as a producer. I have been wanting to get into production for more than 15 years. I had just completed Auzaar with Salman Khan and I wasn't happy with the kind of films that I was being offered so I was toying with the idea of turning producer. I was to produce my first film with Salman but Boney got in between! (laughs wryly) I had spoken to Salim uncle and Sohail and Arbaaz as I was close to them. I don't even know if Salman remembers this, but once while we were drinking at Piano Bar he had told me that whenever I become a producer he would do a film with me. Because I had built a relation with the Khan family especially Sohail. When I did Auzaar I was at that phase in my career where I was this new, hot guy doing hit films like Raja and Kartavya. Even today Sohail tells me, 'My career started because of you.'

What happened?
Fortunately or unfortunately at that time Sirf Tum became a hit. Ironically I don't even know whether to be happy or sad for if that hadn't run, I would have been the producer of a Salman Khan film and by now I would have produced at least four films with him. But Sirf Tum ran and that encouraged me to continue acting. At the time i thought, 'If I get into production at this juncture, I will be closing the chapter on acting. Also at that time the trend of actors turning producers wasn't such a big one as it is today. So I didn't get into production and continued to act in good films like Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche or do a negative role in Qayamat.

Please continue...
At that time Sohail and Salman had approached a couple of big stars for the film but they refused because Salman was there. Only I said yes and till today he hasn't forgotten that. When Salman and I started out we were on par but by the time Auzaar released Judwaa and his other films had become blockbusters and my Kartavya hadn't done well. I remember when the producer put up the first hoarding of Auzaar in Juhu, it had a very big face of Salman and a comparatively small face of mine on it. Mine was the bigger role as I was the main guy. and I have to say this about Salman and Sohail and their family… they called the producer and said that if I wasn't given equal importance they wouldn't be a part for the film. These are the qualities in the Khan family, that encouraged me to go to Salman when I was toying with the idea of production. I guess that wasn't the right time then and today it's right because I am making a film with Arjun who is Salman's protégé so if it's not Salman it has some connection to him. Maybe sometime in the future I will also do a film with Salman also.

Was Boney supposed to produce Tevar?
No, but Boney will always be a part of all films that I do. He has so much knowledge and experience about filmmaking... and Arjun is doing his first film with me. He couldn't produce Arjun's debut film as YRF did that so for Boney this is Arjun's first film for the family. I think it is after 20 years that I am seeing Boney so involved in a film.

Arjun was a natural choice because he is family?
This role required a young boy and when Arjun suited the role so why not him? He is perfect for this role. He's young, extremely talented and very hard-working. The way he came down from 140 kgs to what he is now shows he has passion for his craft and wants to do well, so why not him?

What is Tevar about?
It's a commercial film but sensible too. We have taken care of aesthetics and detailing and correct casting. Like for the negative role we have signed a good actor like Manoj Bajpai. It's a fantastic role so we have not gone with the trend of signing a hero and making him into a negative character. That becomes like a two-hero film. The director believes in those things. We have been shooting in extremely difficult locations. It would have been easy to shoot at shooting-friendly locations or on the sets but the director wanted the real locations. We loved his work. Though he is an ad filmmaker of Google's 45-second ad films his characterization and storytelling in those few seconds is superb! We believe in him and that's why we are going with his vision Amit is going to be one of the names to reckon with in the future. I am extremely fortunate to have a director like him. It's the love story of a boy from Agra and the girl from Mathura and how their love story travels.

Will you be doing a surprise appearance done in the film?
Not in this film. There is no role for me in it. The three most important roles are being played by Arjun, Sonakshi and Manoj. Basically the story revolves around the three characters and there is nothing for me to do and I have not become a producer to promote my career as an actor. Sometimes when I see actors becoming producer I think it's a mistake. It's important to first establish your production house and then pick and choose your part. People like Akshay, Aamir, Shah Rukh, Ajay have established themselves first and then opened production houses and produced film where they act also. But they are what they are but people like when we get into production we have to take it as alternative career. Or people will say produce bhi aap karte ho aur act bhi khud karte ho aur picture bhi dekhte aap hi ho (laughs)!

Has acting taken a backseat completely?
No. In fact I got so many positive reactions to my role in Luck By Chance but I am surprised that nobody offered me a role after that. A couple of years after Krissh released, at a trial Ashutosh Gowariker took me aside and we spoke for 15 minutes and we only spoke about my role in LBC. I am not a super star that he has to praise me to please me. I only can do good work but if after that I have not signed a film it's destiny. I want to act but I don't want to do anything that comes my way. Neither an I expecting main roles to come my way. I am not expecting to do a Gunday, Dabangg or Chennai Expressed as I have crossed that stage. But I would have loved to do what an Irrfan did in Gunday.

Do you feel your brothers Boney and Anil could have helped your career move?
No. In the long run it never helps. I honestly think that this film industry is not driven by dynastic rule. It's not a factory where you are taking over anybody's business. In fact many people thought that being Boney and Anil's brother I got good films like Raja and Kartavya. Today I say I am still their brother so why is my acting career still not happening today? That never happens. Where Anil and me are concerned for the last five years I haven't done even a single photo shoot with Anil, forget a film. That way I feel good and am happy that I have never piggybacked on Anil - not then and not now. Everything I have achieved is on my own.

You look fitter now than you did when you were an actor. Comment?
I am a happy person and I am a positive guy and that reflects in me and my circle. I have some great friends in the industry and because I am positive people enjoy being with me. I don't regret things. Nor am I bitter about anything. I take things in my stride. Though we all want to be successful and certain things in life but I am content with what I did.

Quote
These are the qualities in the Khan family, that encouraged me to go to Salman when I was toying with the idea of production. I guess that wasn't the right time then and today it's right because I am making a film with Arjun who is Salman's protégé so if it's not Salman it has some connection to him. Maybe sometime in the future I will also do a film with Salman also.

Where Anil and me are concerned for the last five years I haven't done even a single photo shoot with Anil, forget a film. That way I feel good and am happy that I have never piggybacked on Anil - not then and not now. Everything I have achieved is on my own.

I want to act but I don't want to do anything that comes my way. Neither an I expecting main roles to come my way. I am not expecting to do a Gunday, Dabangg or Chennai Expressed as I have crossed that stage. But I would have loved to do what an Irrfan did in Gunday.