Anil Kapoor: ‘I just wanted to become an actor; I became a star because of God’s blessings and audience’s love’

Anil Kapoor in a still from Fighter, which released in theatres today.

At 67, Anil Kapoor is raring to go. His last few acting projects – whether it is the husband with a roving eye Bheem in Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022), arms dealer Shelly Rungta in The Night Manager (2023) or the arrogant and negligent father Balbir Singh in last year’s blockbuster hit Animal – have seen him play diverse characters with aplomb. Kapoor, who debuted in 1979 with Hamare Tumhare in a small role has over the years performed in a number of noteworthy movies which have gone on to attain cult status. However, as many of his actors and directors have noted, the decades have not diminished his passion for the craft and the love for cinema. With Siddharth Anand’s action film Fighter released in cinemas today, the Slumdog Millionaire actor shares his recipe for success. Edited excerpts:

Anil Kapoor and director Siddharth Anand on the sets of Fighter.

You have been working in the film industry as an actor for more than four decades now. How do you look upon your journey as an actor and a star?

When I started working in the film industry, it was just to do work. I started my career with bit roles and when I could not find work in Mumbai, I did Telugu and Kannada films. Later, I got to do Hindi films. Once that happened, I started getting work, started hearing scripts, got an opportunity to work with good writers, directors and talented leading ladies. Wherever I went people would call me by my character name. Someone would call our Mr India, someone would say Munna, someone would say Lakhan, some would say Majnu bhai. Recently, my film Animal came out and people were calling me Balbir Singh. I just wanted to become an actor, galti se star bhi ban gaya (I became a star by accident). It is because the characters became so popular and because of my directors, writers and co-actors. I got to work with Yusuf saab (Dilip Kumar) and Naseer saab (Naseeruddin Shah). If Naseer saab had not worked in Woh Saat Din or Padmini Kolhapure had not agreed to work with me in the movie, people might not have gone to watch the film. It is because of them that I became a little more accessible and saleable. The stardom is a result of the blessings of God and the audience. There are so many people in this world who are more talented, hard-working and better looking than us. I think this is God’s blessing that I became an actor and then people made me a star.

A still from Fighter.

Hrithik Roshan worked on your film sets as his father’s assistant many years ago and now, you play his mentor in this film. How was it to work with him?

I think Deepika (Padukone) is right when she says that one wants to enter Hrithik’s mind. Is he normal? How can he work so hard? I have been very fortunate to have worked with the best in the world and I would rate him among some of the phenomenal actors I have worked with. He is sincere, honest and an actor to the core. If you want to work only 10-12 years, then it’s a different process. If you want to work 50 years or till the time you die, then you have to become Hrithik Roshan. I have not seen an actor who is so generous, honest and giving.

Fighter also gave you an opportunity to work with Deepika. Tell us about your experience of sharing screen space as well.  

Why do some actors and actresses resonate from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and then they cross boundaries and resonate with the world as well. Kuchh toh baat hogi (there must be something about them). God has blessed her with good looks, and she has used her potential to the fullest by working hard and her dedication and raising the bar. When I was doing my scenes with her, the reaction I would get is just minimal but it was always in the correct balance which would convey it all. In the process of shooting with them, I was also discovering them as people and co-actors. We didn’t get much time as it was a very challenging film. When the film is about the nation and the Armed Forces then your responsibility increases by ten per cent. Then you don’t get to spend more time with your co-actors because you want to do your best during the filming.

Your last film Animal has become one of the highest grossing films of all times, crossing the Rs 900 crore mark. For someone who has been working for so many years, how do you react to this kind of stardom?  

I loved what Deepika had said earlier in an interview, that it is all about how you use that stardom. Or as Siddhath says, how do you use it to make better films? He had all these successes and so he could make Fighter the way he wanted to. When you get success as a filmmaker or as an artist, how do you use it professionally and in other ways? I would love to share things about how I look or my fitness. Deepika has spoken about her mental health, reaching out to so many people going through similar issues and has gone all out to speak about it. I have had the opportunity of travelling all over the world because of work, met so many filmmakers and studio heads and all I do is speak about India and the talent we have here. I tell them I may be a good actor but there are thousands better than me in India. So, when you get that platform (because of the stardom), you go and speak about your country. Our country has everything.