International Khiladi - Anil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor speaks about ruling Middle America with the hit TV show 24 and other home truths. Filmfare whips up the soap opera

It must be easy for actors to play perfect fathers, husbands, lovers in real life as they do it all the time on screen. Practice makes perfect, as they say. Anil refutes that statement and remarks that it is actually vice versa, at least in his case. "I don't know about the others but I've always drawn on my own experience when it comes to playing a husband or a father. My wife and my children are my greatest assets and thinking about them buoys my acting."

The actor gets nostalgic talking about his family and says that he's only getting to know his children at a time when they have all grown up. He adds that he was so busy doing his films and shows during their growing up years that he never actually took a proper family vacation. "Yes, my kids have travelled abroad but only when they visited me on the sets. And even then I could only give them limited time. It's a sore point with us actors that we don't get to spend time with our family. Sivaji Ganesan once told me the same thing – that notwithstanding the love and respect of his children he feels they are strangers. Thankfully, my children have followed in my footsteps. Rhea is a promising producer, Harsh is learning the ropes in the US and Sonam is already a star. So by the grace of God I'll continue to be part of their lives in days to come."

I ask him to name one childhood memory of Sonam and he remarks that she was always possessive about her toys. "Even her most basic Barbie doll was better than other people's dolls and she wouldn't dream of sharing it. But slowly, she changed. In her teenage years, when people are normally more rebellious, she mellowed. She became quieter, more thoughtful, more focused. That's when I knew that she wouldn't have any problems when she became a star."

From starting his career as a non-entity to becoming a global phenomenon, thanks to Slumdog Millionaire and 24, he has indeed come a long way. The actor says God has been kind to him in many ways. "There wouldn't have been any 24 if there was no Slumdog. The film introduced me to the West but the serial has taken me to the heart of Middle America. The masses there know me now and that's quite a journey. It was fun to be part of a popular American series, to learn new things working in their production-line environment, to meet and work with Kiefer Sutherland (The star of 24), one of the warmest human beings I've ever met. You know, I thought the Americans were cold and practical but during my last day at the show, they showed their warm side. After my last scene was canned, everyone on the sets gave me a standing ovation. They must have clapped for 10 minutes. I was overwhelmed. Afterwards, they cut a cake and we shared some pizza; it wasn't anything fancy but it came straight from the heart."

24's last season will be hitting Indian shores shortly and Anil is doing his but to promote the show in India. He says he wants to do more work in the West and after knowing the system would have no hassles adapting to it. "I've always adopted a compounder-like or a baniya shop-approach to work. Priyadarshan ko ek pudiya bandh di, Subashji ko doosri, Anees Bazmee ko teesri, abhi apun aadmi dekh kar pudiya bandne mein expert ho gaya hai (I've become an expert in giving people what they want), so I think I can open shop in the West too." Munna Bhai chale America, shall we say...

Devesh Sharma

http://www.filmfare.com/articles/anil-kapoor-international-khiladi-1332.html