

You could dub it the ‘middle-age spread’. Rishi Kapoor, in his 60s, is enjoying a sumptuous buffet of films, which promise to take viewers into a never-before territory. More recently, the consummate actor wowed audiences in D-Day, Aurangzeb and Shuddh Desi Romance, all of which demanded singular nuances from him. What’s more, Subhash Ghai’s Kaanchi, will see him back in the Karz groove. He doesn’t look down upon masala entertainers for taking leeway with logic. Rather, he blasts all the naysayers, who fail to value it as a craft. The glory of his superstar son Ranbir Kapoor is yet another laurel in his kitty. He credits it to Ranbir’s resolve to break free from the herd, never mind if that leaves him alone… at the top! Much like him…





You seem to be in an experimental mood, balancing a serious film like D-Day with the lighthearted Shuddh Desi Romance and an entertainer like Kaanchi.

That’s what an actor’s job is. To surprise! Such chances didn’t come earlier. I should try to play different characters in each film. Be it negative, positive, comic, tragic, or anything — I should be capable of doing it all. I’m no more a character actor. I’m the second hero in my films, my role is equal to that of the main lead.





You and Subhash Ghai created a stir with Karz. What took you 33 years to get back?

Only Subhash would be able to tell. I was 27 when he shot the Om shanti Om song with me for Karz. Today I’m 61, and he’s shooting a song in Kaanchi with me, which seems to have the same energy.



Do you still enjoy dancing?

It feels weird. I’m 61 still dancing. I remember in the South, all the heroes like NTR, MGR… danced and romanced with 16-year-old

actresses like Sridevi and others. And now I’m dancing with Hazel Keech in this song, who’s half my age. But I view this as an honour. It’s God’s grace. I enjoy my work and I don’t believe I’m doing this under any compulsion.



Recently NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI said it’s easy to romance heroines and run around trees. your take?

I’ve read that some actor named Nawazuddin (Siddiqui) said that romantic heroes just run around trees! Even his forefathers couldn’t have done the work our heroes have done, leave alone him. It’s difficult to bloody sing songs and romance the heroine. How could he say such a thing? Who are you? Do you know that talent is needed to do all that? Ask Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar. Jeetendra, Amitabh Bachchan saab…! My friend, my dear Nawazuddin, I’m not demeaning your talent; I’ve heard that you’re a good actor. I’ve even seen one or two of your films, in which you were just average. But it takes hard work to do what others are doing. You haven’t done it in your life; neither will you get a chance to do it. And you aren’t capable of doing it either. You don’t have the image; you don’t have the talent!



What change Have you noticed in Subhash Ghai?

His passion is the same; only, he’s greyed a bit. Even I’ve greyed. We still have the same love and respect for each other. We are still passionate about cinema. I’m shooting with him after pack-up here, it will continue late into the night. But it’s fun. How many people get such a chance?



What’s your role in Kaanchi?

It’s a negative character. The kind of over-the-top character that Subhash Ghai creates. It is inspired by Vijay Mallya; it’s been styled on him. But it’s not the story of his life.







No. Slap all those actors who talk about research. Ask them what research they have done and even if they have, what’s great about it? Attempt commercial cinema first. Basically, we are commercial actors, all entertainers. I’m doing just that for 40 years.See, the poor chap has worked hard. He does only one film at a time and each time he takes a huge risk. And if that one film doesn’t do well, he can lose work. People will say, ‘Forget him’. When you do a Barfi! you say no to three films and they are Rajkumar Hirani, Rohit Shetty and Abhinav Deo’s films. Which other actor has such guts? No actor has the guts to do such experimental films because money is important to them. And that includes me.Not initially. People would ask, “What’s wrong with your son?” Even I used to wonder. But he has shut us all up. Earlier when he was roaming around in the get-up of a sardar (Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year), then grew his hair for Rockstar and then played the role of a deaf and dumb in Barfi!, people said all sort of things. But today he seems to have told all, “Shut up! I’ll do what I want.”No, I never did. I give him his space. The world knows that I don’t interfere with the creative aspects of his career. Today he has proven himself in the commercial zone by doing Ye Jawani Hai Deewani. A film like Barfi! did business worth 100 crores, which is a huge achievement. God has been kindto him. Just keep working hard and do your job, that’s what our elders told us. I tell my child to work the way he has been doing - with dedication.According to me the RK banner has shut down; no film is going to be made under it. People who say that the banner is about to launch a film are lying.I have no time for that. I turned director (Aa Ab Laut Chalein) by mistake. I’m basically an actor; filmmaking was never my passion. Acting is what I love.I like Irrfan Khan; he’s a good human being as well. Arjun Rampal has improved tremendously through the years. Sushant Singh Rajput, Ayushmann Khurana and Arjun Kapoor are good from the fresh lot. They have immense range.Anurag Kahsyap is supposed to be good. I watched his Gangs of Wasseypur. I liked it, though it was a bit slow and long. n