Anil Kapoor pays tribute to his mentor

National Award-winning director Bapu, who passed away in Chennai on August 31, is the one who helmed memorable Bollywood films like Woh 7 Din, Hum Paanch and Bezubaan.

Anil Kapoor, who has been busy supervising his daughter Sonam Kapoor's next releaseKhoobsurat, couldn't make it in time to Chennai on August 31, when his mentor and veteran filmmaker Bapu passed away after prolonged illness.
Besides Anil, the 80-year-old filmmaker and two-time National Award-winner has also worked with other prominent names in Bollywood, including Mithun Chakraborty, Naseeruddin Shah, Raj Babbar and Gulshan Grover.Recalling his association with Bapu, Anil, who was introduced by him in the Telugu film VamsaVruksham, says, "He was my mentor, and his contribution to my career is immense. I was heartbroken when I heard about his demise."

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He adds, "He had so much faith in me that he cast me in the lead inVamsaVruksham. The discipline he instilled in me formed the foundation of my career. I also did a few Hindi films with him, andWoh 7 Din was the turning point in my life. It's because of his guidance that I could act in the same frame as Naseeruddin Shah and PadminiKolhapure, who were established actors then. I'd kept in touch with him, and met him a few years ago, when he was in Mumbai for his last film, Sri Ramarajyam. Even then, he looked frail and I was worried for him. He was like a father figure. On that day (August 31), I called up on his mobile phone and spoke with his daughter-in-law."
The actor also adds that the veteran filmmaker was an encyclopaedia on comedians Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton, Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin. "It was Bapuji who introduced me to these greats through their works, which he had restored," Anil sums up.