‘I love acting. Money has
never excited me to a certain extent. I have been lucky. The gods
have been smiling on me. It’s not just hardwork, dedication
or box office success… it’s a combination of all these
that has contributed to my success. I’m fortunate that I’m
still around,’ he said.
The actor-producer, who has became popular across the shores
after Danny Boyle’s Oscar winning film ‘Slumdog
Millionaire’ where he played a game show host and the
American TV series ’24', says he is lucky he has never
been out of work since his debut in 1979 with a bit role in
‘Hamare Tumhare’.
‘Over the last 30 years there never has been a single
year when I didn’t have job opportunities. I have always
decided what I want to do. The choice of films has always been
mine. I pray to god that this remains all my life… that
I work so hard that only I decide when to hang my boots, rather
than people telling me ‘We have had enough of you’,’
said Anil.
And why not? Except for a bit of his receding hairline, the
actor looks as young and dashing as ever. Dressed in a shirt
and grey-coloured waistcoat and a spiked hairdo, he looks extremely
fit.
He is awaiting the release of his home production ‘Aisha’,
the production hassles of which have been taken care of by his
younger daughter Rhea, while elder daughter Sonam plays a title
role in it.
‘The film is really by the young, for the young. I am
very happy the way it has shaped up. All credit to the young
team,’ said Anil while chatting with this IANS correspondent
over a breakfast of omelette and toast at a five star hotel
here.
He was here to promote ‘Aisha’ at the Pearl’s
Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week.
Anil’s earlier production ventures – ‘Badhai
Ho Badhai’, ‘My Wife’s Murder’, ‘Gandhi,
My Father’ and ‘Shortkut-The Con Is On’ –
didn’t manage much success at the box office, but he is
quite confident that Rhea’s efforts will pay off when
‘Aisha’ releases Aug 6.
He is planning to let Rhea take over the mantle of producing
films under his banner, Anil Kapoor Film Company.
‘Now I feel I can seriously think of producing films
regularly because I have a great support system (in the form
of Rhea). I am geared to do one or two films a year as a producer,’
he said.
Handing over production tensions to Rhea would also mean more
time for him to act. So what’s in the pipeline now?
‘If I had my way, I won’t do films at all. But
whenever I feel my bank balance is dwindling a bit, I do one
film. If I want to help someone or I need money to bail out
someone… my wife says do one film,’ he said in a
jocular tone.
His hands are full with sequels right now.
‘I am doing ‘No Problem’, it is a fun film
with Anees Bazmee. Then I am doing ‘Race 2', ‘No
Entry 2' and probably ‘Mr. India 2' – all sequels!’
And international projects?
‘I’m in talks with Sophia Loren’s son and
hopefully there are things working out with Ben Stiller also,
and Fox Television. But these are all in the pipeline. Once
they are completely materialised , then I would love to talk
about it. But really… my whole life has changed after
‘Slumdog Millionaire’.’