Page 8 - Seniorstoday July 2022 Issue
P. 8
Technically Anil’s Bollywood debut sought to repeat him film after film. He was
happened with a teeny tiny role in a Mr Reliable.
romantic film titled Hamare Tumhare in
the year 1979. Young Anil starred in small
supporting roles and cameos in seven films
(like Shakti, Ek Baar Kaho, Hum Paanch,
etc). It was only in 1983, with Woh 7 Din
that he got a break as a solo lead actor. The
film also starred Naseruddin Shah (his
early idol) and Padmini Kolhapure.
From then on, there was no looking back
for the hardworking and deeply invested
actor Anil Kapoor. He blazed his way Labelled “Mr Reliable” he’s a professional to the core
through the decades, with near 100 per Ghai always encouraged Anil. In an old
cent success. Every role that he performed interview, Ghai had admitted to Anil that
earned him plaudits, often even when the he paid him less and exploited his talent.
films did not fare well. At four decades But Anil’s earnestness and hunger to prove
of working as an actor, today, it is near his craft made him silently stick it out.
impossible to list the number of noteworthy Ghai had said, “Real drama comes from
performances given by this man, pain and I’ve seen that in you. You’ve faced
Anil laughs it off, “I’ve never really humiliation.” Anil has always had great
experienced the changing times as people respect for Subhash Ghai as a director.
call them. I just moved from one job option Added Ghai to Anil, “Very rarely has it
to another, from one film to the next. There happened that an actor has continually
were filmmakers whose work was ahead of inspired me, praised me and told me I’m the
the times and some whose work ran with best. You kept doing that and motivating
the times.” me. You are a director’s actor. It’s not
The early eighties and the nineties saw possible for me to do a film without you.”
film after film ring success for Anil - If you believe Anil’s mantra, you’ll believe
Mashaal, Meri Jung, Karma, Mr India, what Ghai has said. Anil believes: “Always
Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Beta, Parinda, be on time, say yes to the director. And
Laadla, Judaai, Hum Aapke Dil Mein when the director is working, let him direct
Rehte Hain, Biwi No 1, right into the new you. Give your opinions only when they
millennium where the kind of films being are asked for and never above the director’s
made saw a difference. But Anil continued vision.”
to dance and sing his merry way through Anil has taught his children (who are now
the myriad commercial pot-boilers he was actors) this too. He grins, saying: “Become
so much a part of. A huge plus in his favour a bad habit with your directors so that they
as Subhash Ghai said, was that “Anil never can’t do without you in their films. It’s very
repeated himself as an actor in any role.” important that directors work with other
He brought new dimensions and facets to actors, but when they look back, working
every character he played. Little wonder with you has to be the most satisfying
then that many directors he worked with experience in their recollection. That’s all
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