'24' most taxing assignment of my career: Anil Kapoor

Actor-producer Anil Kapoor is set to fire bullets, throw punches at the bad guys and engage in stunts in the upcoming TV show "24: Season 2". The 59-year-old, who has been in the film industry for almost four decades, says the Indian adaptation of the popular American TV show is the most taxing project for him so far.

Anil will return as an Anti-Terrorism Squad agent Jai Singh Rathore in the second season of the espionage thriller, which will go on air on Colors from July 17 onwards.

"'24' is the most taxing assignment of my career. Doing a movie is much easier as it's just one movie. This is like eight movies... Eight action films together. That's the difference," Anil told IANS here, after the launch of the action-packed trailer of "24: Season 2".

Talking about the stunts in the show, the "Mr. India" star said: "My body is all bruised. I had to go to a physiotherapist as well. In fact, some of the stuntmen also got injured, but everyone is fit to work relentlessly."

The first season of "24", which also had veteran actors like Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher, was launched in India in 2013. It's an official adaptation brought to India by Anil, who even worked in the international version of the show.

Isn't he worried that people will lose interest in the show due to such a gap in the seasons?

"When we do this kind of a show, there is a lot of recall value. When you put in so much of effort and commitment, and the content is so strong... Even if it comes out once in two years, people will remember it and will want it back. There are so many sequels to films. They don't come every year. Still people go to see the films.

"'24' is more like a film. We shoot it like a film. The scale and the kind of commitment we have, are no less than a film. When you do this kind of work, it doesn't have to come out every year," said the "Welcome Back" actor.

The content of the finite series was greatly praised by the small screen viewers, but when it comes to other fiction shows with a different storyline, they don't always get a warm welcome. Isn't the audience ready for TV shows beyond 'saas-bahu' dramas?

"They are ready, but we have to give it (shows with different content) again and again. Whatever you do, takes time. I always believe in doing things that challenge me and motivate me... Which I feel passionate about.

"I felt challenged by the show ('24'). I loved the content. I don't care what others think. There's no time for that," said the global star, who refused to take up "an exciting international project" due to his commitment to "24".

The actor, who has featured in Hollywood projects including "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol", has also acquired the rights to American TV series "Modern Family" and "Prison Break" for Indian TV.

"I just like the way they (people in the West) work, their work culture. The content is strong. There is discipline, professionalism... And that's what I love about them. So whatever is good, why can't I pick it up and learn from them and adapt them," he shared when asked about adapting international shows.

And how different are the two film industries?

"Their budgets are big and technically they are much more advanced where special effects are concerned. For instance, a Disney film like 'The Jungle Book'... everything was done on a computer. Besides, they prep a lot. We (Indian film industry) are also picking up," he said.

--IANS