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Intimidating is how most people describe him. As he stands there, issuing orders brusquely, he sure looks daunting. We're doing a shoot with him at Mehboob Studio and my young colleagues are scurrying for cover. But 10 minutes with Rishi Kapoor and you know all the bluster is just a defense mechanism. In fact, if he's gruffy, it's a sign that he likes you. It's when he's polite that you need to worry. He laughs, "That's my nature. People who know me accept me, people who don't know me find me intimidating. Later they realise what I'm all about. If I throw my weight around, it's my pyaar ka nature, the way I am. I'm the same at home with my kids and wife. I don't mean anything." Sure enough my colleagues are singing his praise within minutes. Adorable, delightful, is how the girls refer to him.
Professionally, things couldn't be better for the veteran. He's like a mall. A one point shopping centre for filmmakers. You want someone to play a mean guy? He's the man. You want someone to play a gay principal? He's the one. You want someone with comic timing? You want an underworld don? Yes you're right. He's the one. Of late, he has embodied one volcanic character after another, serving up equal helpings of intensity in action and emotion.
It's a joy talking to Rishi Kapoor. He says it like it is. No mincing words. Whether it's his less than friendly relationship with his son Ranbir Kapoor, Ranbir's Casanova image or speculations about his marriage, he answers with a rare candour. Over chilled chaas and Perrier water, I ask him:
Q. You seem to have become the flavour of the season.
It was important for me to make the younger generation discover me. Because people would say Ranbir toh Raj Kapoor ka pota hai (Ranbir is the late filmmaker Raj Kapoor's grandson). They'd forgotten that Ranbir is Rishi Kapoor's son. Raj Kapoor is a legend, of course. But I had to reinvent myself to show ki beech mein ek kadi hai (there's a link in between the two generations). Kids who weren't even born when Karz (1980) was released, have seen the film and tell me it's my best film. Films can do such magic, they make you live forever. It's a great high when kids tell me they loved me in Chashme Baddoor or Aurangzeb. And then they talk about Karz in the same breath.
Q. You're enjoying playing negative characters these days?
Someone asked me, why I was doing negative roles. What do you expect me to play at my age? I don't want to play boring characters. I want to play characters that appeal to the younger generation. I want to play someone who's daunting, someone who'll horrify them or make them laugh. Having said that, what roles do actors of my age get? You either play a father or a professor. So I'm thankful to both Karan Johar and Karan Malhotra for giving me that role in Agneepath. But the characters I played in both Agneepath and Aurangzeb are not evil per se. I didn't play 'the typical bad man' where you understand from the background music that the villain has arrived. So Mr Gulshan Grover please don't be insecure! I'm not joining your league. In between I did a romantic comedy, Chashme Baddoor. Then I played a gay principal in Student Of The Year. I did an important scene in Jab Tak Hai Jaan. I also did a comedy, Housefull 2. So I'm not only playing negative roles.
Q. Was it easy playing the role in D-Day?
No. Nikhil (Advani) told me Titanic was a ship that sank. But the love story in Titanic was make-believe. So is the case with D-Day. We will make the story around that person, trying to get him back in India. The beauty of D-Day is that it's part fiction, part fact. We have not stepped on anyone's shoes. We've humanised the character because it's Rishi Kapoor who is playing it and not a regular villain. It's a thriller and you believe it though you know it's fiction, that's the beauty. In terms of screen space, it's less than other roles. But whenever he comes on screen, there are engaging moments.
Q. You did get a lot of flak for your role in Housefull 2.
Sajid Khan's Housefull 2 was over the top. It was bound to be an embarrassing film. I did it because I wanted to do a Sajid Khan film. I wanted to tell people that I take equal pleasure in doing a Sajid Khan film as anyone else's. Sajid Khan is a genius in his own way. He does what he believes in. Unfortunately, he went wrong this time. Although he's a friend I don't think I'm the actor he should be working with. Because audiences expect me to do something more. Yes, I got a lot of flak for Housefull 2. I don't think Sajid knows about it.
Q. You think you're getting a better variety of roles now than you did in your youth?
Of course. Those times were different. Today cinema is experimental. The multiplex culture has an audience of all kind. In our times there was only one kind of an audience. So everything was bundled into one movie. Anything that didn't fall into that bundle was considered art cinema. I call it 'nonsense' cinema. My cinema is art, my act is art. It's not easy to dance and entertain people. That was boring, nonsense cinema which was only meant for television. We were not offered those movies. We were typecast. I was only meant to do romantic films. Today is the time for experiment. So Ranbir can play a deaf and mute and get accepted in Barfi! He played a romantic in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, a rockstar in Rockstar, a sardaar in Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year. I'm glad that my son has broken the norm of playing a romantic hero with 40 dancers behind him. He's had the guts to walk the path less taken. I've also broken the tradition of doing just passive father type roles.
Q. Was the transition from being the leading man to playing character roles difficult?
Not at all. I was at the helm for 25 years from 1970 to 1998. Karobaar directed by Rakesh Roshan, opposite Juhi Chawla released in 1998. By then I was bored. I was flying to Switzerland, singing songs, flying to Ooty, singing songs. I was making money but there was no sense of happiness. So my wife Neetu told me, you're looking bored, you've worked enough, you should hang your boots. I had signed five movies. I returned their signing amounts. I had put on weight and the Khans had arrived by that time. I was 45 and I gave up. If I had been fit, I could probably have carried on. I directed a film (Aa Ab Laut Chalen) within six months. Then my friends Veeru Devgn and Rahul Rawail gave me character roles in Raju Chacha and Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi. The transition was smooth. You must know when the time is right to bow out. Iske pehle ki public aapko jootey maarey (Before the audience boos you out).
Q. What do you think of Ranbir as an actor?
There are actors and there are non actors. There is nothing like a good or bad actor. Either he can act or he can't. Ranbir fortunately falls in the category of an actor. Good, bad, indifferent, it's too early for me to assess. The audience likes him. I'm happy that he is taking the Kapoor legacy forward. That is the biggest high in my life that I passed on what was Raj Kapoor's to Ranbir Kapoor. There is no bigger happiness for a father than to see his son do well. I hope he keeps working hard. Also, he has the foresight to choose the right roles. Today I hear his colleagues want to do his kind of roles. At least, he is a leader on that front.
Q. How much of yourself do you see in him?
I see myself biologically in him. He doesn't copy me. He has his own style and he's worked on evolving it. He's not a stylised actor, he's a natural. He is blessed with a good voice and he expresses himself well. I don't involve myself in his creative process. He makes his own decisions.
Q. But you do control his purse strings?
Yes. I control everything else. We have a lot of people working for us. I tell them what is happening where and what to do. But he chooses his movies. That's his domain.
Q. So you're a proud father?
Yes. Neetu and I are proud parents. Ranbir has made us proud. But the best thing about him is he is understated. He is most unlike me. I was an absolute brat when I was his age. I simmered down later in my career. Ranbir has got his feet on the ground. That makes me happy. I have never seen a person like him. There was no reaction on his face when Barfi! became a hit. He is indifferent, he is chilled out. He is only interested in his work.
Q. What kind of a relationship do you share with him? Are you friends?
No. That's the only thing that makes me unhappy. We're not friends. There is a glass wall between us. We can see each other but we can't reach out. That's the way I was with my father. Maybe I could have broken this… but then I feel we should maintain this father-son relationship. I can't be on backslapping terms with my son. We have a drink together sometimes, sort out our issues. But he definitely has aankhon ki sharam, baap ki sharam.
Q. Do you feel you should be closer to him?
Sometimes I do and then I think no, izzat honi chahiye (there should be respect). Thoda distance hona chahiye baap bete mein. Maybe I'm old fashioned. I want to have a relationship with my son. But it's also important that ek parampara jo chali aa rahi hai, we follow it. I love my son and it doesn't lessen my love for him and vice versa.
Q. What do you think of his Casanova image?
It's an image given by the media. He's not that kind. Even if he is why not? He's successful. Any girl would like to date him. Abhi nahi karega toh kab meri umar mein aakey karega? This is the age to find a soul mate. (Laughs) He's seeing everyone because I keep seeing A B C and D in the house. But I don't think that A knows about B and C knows about D. The staff knows and I know. I'm still the boss of the house. The news reaches my ears.
Q. Does Neetu miss you now that you're busy?
No. We are not at an age of missing each other. We are grandparents now. In fact, for her it's a high. How many women have their husbands as busy as their son or vice versa? The cook makes two dabbas. It's a great scenario for any woman. Ab toh main pee bhi nahi raha hoon (I'm off alcohol). So my wife is happy.
Q. Really?
Yes, I'm in a terrible mood. I'm grouchy and at my worst when I'm not drinking. This is the worst period of my life. When I don't drink, I get depressed. But I have to lose weight for Sudhir Mishra's Mehrunissa with Amitabh Bachchan. I go for a walk, I do yoga and I'm on a diet.
Q. Does the lack of privacy affect you?
Yes. I get irritated when people recognise me. That's the price I have to pay. I don't like to be recognised. I don't like to give autographs. This is the only negative thing I do knowingly in my life. I'm not a good person with my fans. I have a complex about feeling important. I don't like to give autographs or pose for photographs. Which is why I like being abroad where no one knows me. It gives me a sense of freedom and peace. I'm sorry but I don't mean to be mean.
Q. There were talks about your marriage being on the rocks.
Every house goes through problems. We are normal human beings. We also have ups and downs. Every couple has problems. If they don't fight then it's unhealthy. Sometimes two minds don't agree on certain things. And that's okay.
Written By Anuradha Choudhary
Executive Editor
Posted Mon, Jul 29, 2013
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