Anil Kapoor: 'I'm the coolest dad ever

On the man he is
"Well, I don't know if I'm looking 20 years younger but yes, I definitely feel 20 years younger. I can proudly say that I've preserved myself well. It's a combination of good food habits, proper sleeping habits and my positive frame of mind. I'm happy and on top of the world right now. My family life is happy. See, money is important, but it's good health and good memories that make you happy. I genuinely believe that I'm the most successful man in the industry today."

On his screen-innings
"From Woh Saat Din till today, I've grown not only as an actor but also as a person. I think every year has been better than the previous one. An actor should be open to every kind of role. One should be equally convincing doing a Danny Boyle film, or a 24 or even an Anees Bazmee film. He should have that kind of range. You have to take a chance, only then will you hit the bull's eye. If you keep playing safe, you'll only reach national level, but if you want to hit global, you have to take that chance."

On his children
"Harsh is still a student learning cinema in LA. Sonam is a star. People like her. I'm proud to see their reaction to her. It's fantastic how filmmakers love her, still-photographers and cameramen love her. What I love the most is that no director wants to give her run-of-the-mill projects; instead they want to wait and sign her for a role that they think is unique. They have their own set of difficulties. My wife (Sunita) keeps telling me, 'Their lives are much tougher as they constantly have to live up to being Anil Kapoor's children. You came from Chembur, nobody knew you, and no one had any expectations from you'. My children are working harder than I did."

On being the coolest dad ever
"I'm not at all strict. Yes, there are deadlines. Would it be alright with your father if you returned home at seven in the morning? No, isn't it? Does that mean your father is strict? I am the coolest dad ever. In fact, my children are the ones who constantly interfere with my decisions. They keep telling me what to do, what not to do. It's helped. I've got a younger perspective in my life. So we enjoy the best of both worlds with my experience and their new-age ideas."

On Sonam, his daughter
"Sonam makes her own decisions. She shocks me the way she says no to international projects regardless of their magnitude and importance. She says, 'Dad I want to get established in India first'. She is making a niche for herself slowly and steadily. She does a film only if she likes her role and she surprised me when she said no to so many big films! Her foundation is strong and she is in no hurry. I have a positive example to cite for every incident she thinks has gone against her. I tell her from my experience of how I lost out an opportunity in 1987 and the actor who gained from it is nowhere today and look where I am. Ultimately, you must win. And within seconds Sonam is fine. I tell her not to take things too seriously and keep moving on in life. I tell her, 'No pain no gain' and the longer it takes to reach the top, the better. Be patient as it's just a matter of time. There are no short cuts'."

On the men in Sonam's life
"It's a part of growing up. Like my mother-in-law says 'at least she's a normal girl'. I'm happy that she is attracted to boys and boys are attracted to her. In today's day and age, what makes me happiest is that she is a normal girl!"

On Sunita, his wife
"My wife is totally different from what one can imagine a filmi wife to be. She's the one who keeps us grounded and on our toes. My life and career graph is completely different from other heroes. Tell me one name you can compare my career with. I never seek publicity for anything else but my work. Whatever I have achieved is solely because of my hard work and talent. Unlike others, I've never used my personal life to gain mileage."

http://www.filmfare.com/articles/anil-kapoor-im-the-coolest-dad-ever-515.html