“I am lucky that my mind was working properly for me to say yes to the right offers reject the wrong offers” ANIL KAPOOR tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive interview to bollyy.com and Mayapuri

It was after a very long time that I had the opportunity to meet the evergreen and exuberant ‘young’ old actor Anil Kapoor, who is part of the star cast of Karan Johar’s latest film Jug Jug Jiyo which also stars Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani and Neetu Singh, beside Anil Kapoor. The venue for the promotional interviews was the Hotel Sun N Sand in Juhu.

At the outset, I asked Anil what made him agree to be a part of the star cast of the film Jug Jug Jiyo which has been produced by Karan Johar, Anil said honestly, “For a long time, it was my desire to act in a Dharma Production because Karan Johar’s father the late Yash Johar was a good friend of mine but I never had the opportunity to act in a film produced by him.

I persisted. Considering the fact that he has always been over selective about the role that he takes up, was there any other reason that he said yes to the project, I asked Anil.

And he replied, “There are in general several reasons when I decide to take up a project. I say yes to a project depending on how good the story of the film is, who the director is and who my co-actors are. Also I make it a point to find out whether the role will suit me and I too will suit the role.”

I interrupt Anil, who I know right from the time he was just the production controller for his father Surendar Kapoor’s film Hum Paanch way back in the 70’s at the far flung Melkote 100 kms away from Bengaluru.

“Did you take up the film because you are also fond of Rishi Kapoor’s wife and actress Neetu Singh”? I asked him. Pat came the reply, “When I signed the film, believe it or not, I did not have any idea that Neetu Singh would be part of the film.

I came to know only after I was told by Karan that he had also signed on Neetu Kapoor for the role. People will like to see Neetu Singh on the screen after a long time because she has not been seen on the screen for a long time.

When Karan narrated the subject, I had that emotional hook. I liked the plot and the film sounded very funny”.

How important is the director of a film for you, as an actor?

For me, the director is the captain of the ship and the most important on the sets. People ask me what the reason is for my longevity as an actor.

I’d say that one of the reasons is that I always repose my trust in the director of the film. I know that Raaj Mehta had directed Good Newzz earlier and this is his second film after that.

Raaj likes to make entertainers as his forte is that. I think I am fortunate enough to be directed by good directors as far as my career is concerned.”

Anil continues, “Raaj knows how to make scenes watchable and relatable. I did not at all feel the cringe of the film because even the fake scenes do not look larger than life. I am 100 percent sure that Jug Jug Jiyo will prove to be yet another feather in the cap of Raaj.”

Is it true that the film deals with the subject of divorce but not in a serious manner?

For that you will have to watch the film. Marriage is one of the oldest institutions in the world.

Times have changed a lot. Earlier, two people who did not get along well would still live together and not dare to think of opting for divorce, because the society frowned upon them but today if a couple does not get along well, they have the choice to go in for divorce.”

Anil elaborates. “Films are always a reflection of what is happening in the contemporary world and society and people will be able to connect with the goings on in the film because what was contemporary way back in the 80’s may not necessarily be considered contemporary today because times have changed a lot”.

Anil pauses for a minute and confesses. “I have never followed the trends in my life. A person who loves his job and is sincere to it will never follow trends.

My role in Jug Jug Jiyo is different; I play the role of Bheem who is a businessman who is living with his wife and two children- a son and a daughter.

The film is about how a mid-life crisis catches up with him and he becomes selfish and thinks more about himself than his family or people around him.

The film has an overcurrent of comedy. If you make a film which is able to connect with a wide range of people and it also has a pertinent message, it will always work very well. Take my word.”

To what extent do you bank on the success of your films?

Success and failure are just a part of your life. Happiness, sadness, stresses, distresses are always a part of your life and no one is here who does not go through these.

How a person handles the ups and downs in his life is quite different from person to person. Everyone goes through failure. I do not think there is any person who has not gone through failure.

Some learn from their failures whereas some do not. It is a process which every one goes through. The grass is always greener on the other side.

To what extent is money important in your life?

Money is of course important but certainly not at all the most important thing in my life. You do not necessarily have to go after commerce.

It will come to you on its own if you have the patience. I have been lucky enough to have been surrounded by good people and that includes my wife Sunita and my son Harshvardhan and daughters Sinam and Rhea.

How was it being approached by the B.E.S.T Undertaking in Mumbai to model for their digital app Chalo?

Frankly speaking, I was touched a lot when they approached me to do the ad for the app. They told me that Sachin Tendulkar and I were two guys who were born in Mumbai and used to travel by the local BEST transport when he was staying in Shivaji Park and I was in Tilak Nagar, Chembur. They told me that it would look believable if Sachin and I were to do the ad for the digital app Chalo.

What is the secret of your success as an actor in the film industry for the last 45 years since you began your career with Hamare Tumhare way back in 1977?

Right films from the right filmmakers came to me at the right time as far as my career is concerned. I am also equally lucky that my mind was working properly for me to say yes to the right offers and reject the wrong offers.