Forever young
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Rishi Kapoor. Click for bigger pic!
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This is one unlikely role for Rishi Kapoor, that of the fading star. But when his films began doing badly, he saw the writing on the wall, and turned to direction, debuting with Aa Ab Laut Chalein.
But if it is irritating having Rajesh Khanna, who also stars in the film calling him Chintu ji, it is worse having the heroine Aishwarya Rai calling him the same thing.
"Just call me Chintu," he tells her.
While anyone will admit that Rishi Kapoor doesn't command the price he used to, he retains his wry yet childish smile, his uncanny economy of movement while dancing, all of which contributes enormously to his charm.
Like most Kapoors, Rishi is a romantic. His clothing may have undergone a drastic change from the bell bottoms that were the rage in his youth, but those Rishi Kapoor turtle-necks are still a craze. And new sirens in tinseltown, about the same age as his niece Karisma, are still eager to work with him. And he holds the record for working with the maximum number of debutantes.
But now Rishi is turning back any producer coming with an offer to run around the trees again, claiming he does not want to talk about acting till AALB is complete. It took some time to pin Rishi down. And when V S Srinivasan finally cornered him, Rishi would not talk much, except about his film.
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Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai in Aa Ab Laut Chalein. Click for bigger pic!
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Are you scared of interviews?
No. I do not dread interviews, but I am scared of the masala which you spread through these interviews.
Is that why you are so tense?
You just saw this producer going back without signing me on. Don't mention his name, for he might not come back to me... The fact is I am totally glued to my film Aa Ab Laut Chalein at the moment. I want every aspect of my film to blossom. Hence, I do not want to talk about anything else. But then I also hate hurting them and sending them back empty-handed. I have sent quite a few people back like that.
But aren't you are hurting them and jeopardising your career as an actor too?
I know, but I presume they will understand my side of the arguments as well. I've been acting for 25 years. I guess I needed a break to concentrate on film-making. I don't think people should get upset if I want to examine certain talents I might possess. There comes a time when everyone gets time to do something. It is our job to realise what to do and when.
So it took you 25 years of acting to realise your capability as a director?
I wanted to become a director long ago. But I had so many acting assignments in hand that I could get no time for direction. I was caught in two minds and wondered whether I should stop acting and go in for direction. But at that time I was pretty happy doing what I was. Later, my family was with me. They advised me to take the plunge. My wife Neetu was very instrumental in me taking up direction.
So will you act again?
I don't know. Let me first finish what I have taken up.
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With Juhi Chawla in Daraar. Click for bigger pic!
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Will you maintain the figure to continue playing the hero, or will you too, like all the other Kapoors, become overweight?
See, I was never worried about my body structure and I don't intend to get tense about it either. I have been bagging films on the strength of my acting talent and I will continue to do so. There's nothing great about just having a great physique. Be it Amitabh Bachchan, Steve McQueen or John Wayne, they didn't concentrate on their bodies. But they still gained a superstar status. There is this trend to copy western films and, so, concentrate on muscles. Otherwise, these things hardly matter.
Why did you choose to bring Rajesh Khanna back from the wilderness for this film?
I felt that he was the right person for the role.
How far do you plan to carry on as a director?
I know I have a huge responsibility on my shoulders. There are a lot of expectations from me too. A lot of hard work and enthusiasm has gone into the making of this film. I want to do my best and see the results before deciding what to do. As far as I know, I am trying to get some rest now because Rishi Kapoor the director does not get as much rest as Rishi Kapoor the actor used to. I just want to make a good film.
But how do you distinguish between a good and a bad film?
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The Bobby days. Click for bigger pic!
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The film that's appreciated by audiences is certainly a good film and the one they reject outright has to be a stupid one. The audience is the final judge as films are made for them. I will hold the producer and director responsible for a bad film because, ultimately, it is the director who must be capable of catering to the needs of the masses.
Earlier, you brushed aside reports that you would do R K's next venture after Prem Granth. You said Randhir would direct it. So how come you are finally doing the film?
Randhir Kapoor was to direct our next project. But he wanted to act for some time. I too was tied up with my acting assignments. So I finished them and I started directing a film because my subject was ready.
Your previous home production, Prem Granth, took a lot of time to materialise? And then it failed. Why?
The R K banner has had this tradition to make good films, and good films always take a lot of time to complete because of the hassles involved. This film was no different from other R K films in terms of quality. Hence the delay.
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With brother Randhir. Click for bigger pic!
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As the old adage goes, the time may not be right for everybody. This holds good in the industry too. Leave aside me, not even the best of trade pundits have been able to assess what the people want at a given point of time. Yesterday, Deewana was a hit, later Hum Aapke Hain Kaun! had the cash registers ringing. We try to hide our shortcomings by claiming that this is not the trend today. I feel there is nothing called a trend. A good film will always do well.
Your unit hands allege you flirt around with your heroines on the sets. Could you clarify?
( Smiles), Listen sir, I am not new to this industry, nor are such allegations a novelty. When we work on the sets for 15 hours at a stretch and then have a bit of fun on the sets, it is totally harmless and not unethical. Moreover, Rishi Kapoor has not done anything in his life for which he has to feel ashamed.
What about newspaper reports about you attacking your wife Neetu?
Even reacting to such bakwas, faltu lies would be idiotic.
I don't know what fun newspapers and magazines derive from interfering in people's private lives. The problem is that even the newspapers, which should know better, are indulging in such mud-slinging.
There are ups and downs in every relationship. But that does not mean that couples should separate or get down to inhuman behaviour. Neetu and I have been together for such a long time and reading such lies about our lives certainly upsets us.
How did the rest of your family react?
My entire family has been part of the film industry for many years. They know this is the price you will have to pay for being a star. The Kapoor family is not at all affected by such rumours today because we realise that it is part of the parcel.
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In Daraar. Click for bigger pic!
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The usually grand Holi celebrations at R K Studios, which also used to be telecast on Doordarshan, have been stopped. What was the problem?
Raj Kapoorji developed an asthma problem in the later stages of his life. The colours used during the festival did not suit his health. Moreover, people we invited always failed to turn up. On the contrary, outsiders and uninvited guests used to barge in. On such an occasion, we could not turn them away. This made us cancel or, rather, stop, the Holi festivities at R K Studios.
What do you think about the future of films in the face of the competition from television?
This competition emerged the day television entered our households. Now with the advent of the channels, there is more competition. We should have started making better films the very moment television came in. But now the stiff competition will make the film-makers make better films with the better one getting more viewers.
Whom do you think will replace Amitabh Bachchan today in Hindi cinema as the numero uno?
The void left by Amitabh has not been filled till date. No one has been able to get that kind of fame and popularity. If one actor has a hit today and people feel he may be the next superstar, his very next film plunges to immeasurable depths and he is out. Another chap with a good hit takes the former's place. This cycle goes on. Among the new crop of actors, the only five worthy chaps are Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Saif Ali Khan and my hero, Akshaye Khanna.
Talking of direction, who is your favourite director?
Raj Kapoor. After Nargis, I have worked in the maximum number of films made by him.
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