‘‘Despite the divorce twist, it’s an ‘over-current of comedy” says Anil Kapoor whose chemistry with Neetu Kapoor is jhakaas in ‘JugJugg Jeeyo’

Versatile senior yet rejuvenated super-actor Anil Kapoor seemed charged with zealous delight as he spoke about his latest family entertainer ‘JugJugg Jeeyo’ , (releasing on June 24th) directed by Raj Mehta and co-produced by ‘showman’ Karan Johar’s banner Dharma Productions - Chaitanya Padukone

The ensemble cast includes Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Manish Paul, Prajakta Koli and Tisca Chopra. . Shared Anil, “Having acted in this movie ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo, my long-standing dream-wish came true. That of working in ‘late’ Yash Johar’s iconic banner Dharma Productions.

Of course, when Karan narrated this subject-story to me I found it potentially a very engaging family-entertainer with contemporary massy-appeal-connect for all ages, peppered with hilarious humour and yet laced with an underlying social message.
When I signed the movie initially Neetu Kapoor had not yet come on board. That happened later, “discloses the evergreen ‘Mr.India’ actor Kapoor.

How was the ‘Tezaab’ (1988) star-actor’s experience shooting with amazing actress Neetu Kapoor who is staging her latest comeback into Bollywood with ‘JJJ’? Jogging into a flashback mode Anil says, “It was spontaneous natural chemistry.

We have known each other for the past so many decades. My mother was close to Neetu’s mother-in-law (Mrs Krishna Raj Kapoor) and they were more like sister-friends. We often used to all meet at family get-togethers.

So there was absolutely no breaking-the-ice (getting to know each other for the first time) situation. We mutually hit it off very well and audiences will love to watch us especially during the intense, comic-dramatic, volatile emotional scenes.

Despite the sensitive ‘divorce’ twist in the story, it’s an over-current of comedy,” smiles Anil. To use Anils favourite catch-phrase, we may call them the ‘jhakaas’ screen-jodi!

Not many are aware, that evergreen slim-trim Anil Kapoor has completed 43 years (!!) in Bollywood as an actor, with ‘Hamare Tumhare (1979) being his first cameo-role debut. Asked about his longevity success-mantra the ‘Parinda’ actor shares.

“All these years I have been honest with my work, and that with passion and dedication. Most importantly I have always enjoyed my work. Some of my films have not done well, maybe wrong choices on my part.

But most of my movies have been landmark musical hits. Also I have moved steadily with the changing times and tried to remain relevant,” explains Anil whose landmark musical hit ‘period’ movie 1942-A Love Story (1994) is still fondly remembered for its evergreen haunting songs ( composed by late genius R D Burman) picturised so beautifully on him.