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I am very tight-fisted with my daughters; Anil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor on being a cautious producer for films and a generous one for TV and how his wife Sunita is responsible for his children knowing the value of everything

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It’s been over a year since Welcome Back released. September 4, to be precise. But Anil Kapoor hasn’t signed any film yet. Word is, he has given the nod to a few films, but is not ready to talk about them yet. But there is plenty more for him to talk about.

Like Indian actors now being sought after by the West. Something that started post-Slumdog Millionaire, his reinvention as an actor and the head of the production house run by his daughters Rhea and Sonam,  his sudden interest in doing ad films and last but not the least, the role his wife Sunita has played in his life.

Why haven’t you signed any films since Welcome Back?

I am talking to a lot of people and almost said yes to quite a few exciting projects. I just don’t really like talking about films... let everything come together. I feel it’s the prerogative of the producer and the director to really make announcements, as it’s up to them and the marketing team how and when they want to announce their films. Of course, I have confirmed a few films...

You have reinvented yourself completely. At a time when actors two generations younger to you are not being able to connect with the youth, you seem to be the epitome of coolness. Have your children anything to do with that? Or is it all you?

See, I feel that you reap what you sow in life. I have always lived my life in a certain way. In the past, I was called a boring person, I was too much into my work, not into networking, I only talked about my work, I was that kind of a guy. I gave time to my wife...and I would do only one film at a time...Somehow that was seen as a minus point. People said I was out of work and that was the reason I’m doing one film a year and committing so much time to one film. Now, it has become cool to be like that. And everyone is doing that now.

I remember you used to work very hard on your looks for different characters as well, at a time when actors didn’t think it was important. 

Yes, I would change my look, I used to  commit myself to transforming myself,  not only internally, but physically also. 

That was not cool then. I used to have parties at home and I would go to sleep at my fixed time, even though the party would continue. Sometimes, my wife, Sunita would say, “Badtameezi lagti hai ki sab guests baithe hai aur tu jaake so raha hai.” The media wasn’t interested in writing about me because I wasn’t into any controversy, so there was nothing really to write about me.

I remember some controversies.

(Smiles) A little bit here and there. It was very little and it died down, nothing really big. It was only about my work... film chali, nahi chali or something like that. Or unnecessarily misinterpreting something I said something about some actor. Things that became clear soon... I am friendly with everybody.

So you are saying you didn’t become cool overnight, your lifestyle is cool now.

Yes, I am the same.

You were ahead of your time. No wonder, actors from Farhan Akhtar to Ranveer Singh speak so highly of you.

No, it’s not like that. Times changed. Of course, I think somewhere, my wife Sunita should get the credit for the way she’s brought up our three children. They are not fans of mine, but they don’t look down upon me either. They respect me and I have given them that freedom that whatever they feel like telling me, they can. Even if they don’t like my film or if I’m doing something wrong, they can point it out. I think that has helped me. Not that I listen to everything they say, but whatever best I can take from them, I do, and vice versa. So it’s a win-win situation at the moment.

You and your children always speak so warmly about Sunita, but she was always in the shadows. Why?

Somewhere, Sunita being media-shy also helped. She could focus on her children and was more a mother and a wife. I think it really helped the children become the individuals they are today. It’s not something that has happened overnight. There are a lot of sacrifices and work and ups and downs in every which way, emotional or financial. All these things are there. but it was never too drastic.

When you do a TV show, you make it one of the most expensive TV shows (like 24). When you produce films, you keep your budgets low and in control, like you did with Aisha and Khoobsurat, what is the thought behind that?

I am very tight-fisted with my daughters. Sunita is also like that with them because I want them to know the value of everything. Unlike me, they have had a seven-star life. But that’s in our personal life; that’s our money. But in business, it is other people’s money, so you have to be more careful with that. Where work and business are concerned, I am very tight-fisted and we have seen to that.

Is it because you have come from a production house and you have made lavish films in the past that didn’t work?

No, I don’t want them to repeat whatever mistakes Boney and I made in the past. My thing is, we might break even, but I want all the people who back us, to make money. And I don’t want to burden the film by spending too much and increasing the cost of the film. That’s the thing. Rhea has become very conscious, Harsh is completely conscious about these things. He doesn’t believe in splurging or wasting money and going beyond the budget.

We live life king-size but as professionals, we are all hungry beggars.

You are the only actor of your generation who, even back then, resisted doing ads and commercials. Why?

I want to do more. Somewhere, I think this is also one of the reinventions that is happening in my life. Looking back, I felt my thinking wasn’t right. Sometimes you learn from your mistakes also. Now, I feel that I should have done and it was a mistake declining all the brands that  came to me.

Why didn’t you want to do endorsements?  You felt it would dilute your brand?

No. Pehle yeh nahi tha ki jo dikhta hai woh bikta hai, pehle yeh tha jo nahi dikhta hai woh bikta hai. And today, it’s different. The  whole scenario has changed. I still feel a little exclusivity has to be there. You cannot go totally berserk. You have to maintain the correct balance. I did Renault. And now, with Maruti Suzuki, one of the reasons they are backing 24 is not only because of the show itself, but because of me also. So it’s a combination.

Did you do an ad for them?

This is almost like an ad. I am driving the Maruti S-Cross throughout, in the show.

Until recently, almost like a year ago you would spend a lot of time in LA, you’d go there constantly, have you consciously decided to concentrate on your career here now?

No. Before I started 24, I was there.  This time, I was there with Sonam, so it was great fun. They all know her very well because of L’Oreal and I could see the excitement for Sonam and obviously she is very conscious of what she wants to do. She has her own mind. As soon as 24 gets over in July, I have decided to go there. I meet my friends and meet all the executives and casting directors and producers and actors when I am there.

Do you feel that today the acceptance for actors like Priyanka and Deepika has a lot to do with the roads paved by you and Irrfan?

I think it was basically  Slumdog Millionaire —and not me or Irrfan — that turned things around. Nothing reached the kind of success that film did. And as far as the United States of America is concerned, it’s all about numbers. When they feel that casting of diverse people will help to get them eyeballs and get their bums on the seats, they will cast anyone from anywhere in the world. It’s all about that. They keep experimenting and exploring the world as they are not wholly satisfied that this is the kind of business they want to pursue. For example, when I was speaking to them why China is doing so much business and not India, they were curious.

Yes, we are a big population and casting an Indian actor means attracting those many eyeballs.

Yes, Slumdog Millionaire  won so many awards and got so much love that it had a long shelf life and longer recall than many other Oscar-winning films. It is still there in the psychology and mindset of the people,  it’s not yet forgotten. Everybody wants to make the next Crouching Tiger or Slumdog Millionaire. If you see my interviews  from 2008, you’ll see that I had said, This is just the beginning. Brown skin will be accepted and it is accepted now.

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