Kapoor and Sons Updates Thread; In cinemas on 18th March - Page 75

The shoot is at McIver Villa, also called 180 McIver, because it provides a 180 view of Coonoor town and the surrounding hills. A 115-year-old colonial bungalow, now a Heritage Hotel, is used for the shoot as the home of the family patriarch, played by Rishi Kapoor. Ratna Pathak Shah and Rajat Kapoor are his daughter and son-in-law, andSidharth Malhotra and Fawad Khan are the two grandsons. Alia Bhat is Sidharth's girlfriend. I play Rishi's fast friend.

It's a party scene in the spacious garden area where they are celebrating Rishi's 90th birthday. Rishi, who is 60, needed five hours of make-up to look 90 and another three hours later to get back to normal. We see 16 dancers, who were specially flown in from Mumbai, on the dance floor while the oldies are sitting down playing cards. The stars take their positions and the shoot is about to begin when the clouds open up. There is a drizzle. We all rush indoors. To save time early lunch is announced. Post lunch, the weather doesn't improve and the director decides to call it a day.

Next day we are called to the shoot early. The weather gods are favourable. The shoot starts. As guests arrive they are given fancy hats to wear, whistles to blow. Garlands for the ladies, music is on full blast, confetti bursts, a couple of kids play with it and the cake with 90 candles arrives. We all surround Rishi and sing Happy Birthday and feed each other the cake.

At one stage Rishi pretends to die in the midst of laughter and some of the guests take Rishi on his wheelchair round and round. This is a typical Bollywood party scene, but it doesn't get over in one shot. First a couple of rehearsals, then let's take it guys', ready','cameras roll', cut cut', Alia move a bit to your right', Fawad go back a bit', OK, roll', and this goes on and on till the director is satisfied with the take. Two full days went by shooting this one scene, which on the screen will probably be watched for five minutes.

The next day is when my moment finally arrives. Rishi, myself and two guests sit over a game of cards. Sidharth, Alia, Rajat and Fawad join in to watch. Sidharth introduces Alia to Rishi. Alia wishes him Happy Birthday and tells him "Dadu, aap 90 ke ho ya 19". Rishi jokingly whispers to Sidharth "I think woh mere pe line mar rahi hain!'.The tte--tte goes on. I get impatient and tell Rishi "Chaal chalo bhai,chaal chalo!". We start playing teen patti with the card on head variation. I see Alia whispering something to Rishi. I find something fishy and shout at Rishi "Ye sarasar cheating hai!", and a big fight takes place till I am virtually bodily lifted and moved out. The shot is over. I felt I was on a theatre stage, with the audience giving us a rousing ovation at the end of the show. One major scene " that's all I had " and it took six days to shoot. That's the movie world for you. Both me and my wife enjoyed every moment of it. The movie Kapoor & Sons will be released early next year. Who says Life can't begin at Eighty?

The author is a well-known stage personality

http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-charlie-chacha-s-encounter-with-co-star-alia-bhatt-2116939

http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-shooting-for-six-days-a-star-for-barely-six-minutes-2122358