MUMBAI: This Sunday, on Koffee with Karan meet two popular faces of Indian Cinema: Anil Kapoor and Akshaye. The show will air on Star One and Star World at 9 p.m.
Having acted in films like Taal and more recently Salaam-e-Ishq, the dynamic duo is back with ‘Gandhi-My Father’. Anil who has been a part of the film industry for over 30 years now, shares that he owes everything to the industry and cherishes every moment that he has spent. Anil tells Karan that he is not at all tensed about his daughter Sonam, who is all set to make her debut with ‘Sawariyan’ as he feels she is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s responsibility. Akshaye shares that he was completely moved when he read the script of ‘Gandhi-My Father’ and in fact when he saw the film with his family, he was extremely emotional.
Excerpts from the interview:
Karan: 30 years… so you’ve been through ups and downs and hits and flops and always maintained your stature… always maintained your dignity… and always maintained your stardom. It must have been a tough ride. How does it feel today?
Anil: I feel honestly… god has been very kind to me and the film industry has been wonderful, all my directors and co-stars have been wonderful. I have some great friends and my family has been wonderful. I don’t know what I would have done if I was not in this film industry. I’ve had a great time… every moment I have spent over here has been wonderful.
Karan: So how old are you Anil?
Anil: I’m 30 years old. I was born in ’78 when I first faced the camera.
Karan: Fine…Great… And I’m the Queen of England (Laughs), but we just have to move on. So we’ll just stick to the fact that your 30. Today how does it feel? You have done such tremendous innings, you’ve done such great work, you’re a lead actor and your daughter is making a debut with Sanjay Bhansali in Sanwariya. Does that scare you at all? The thought of it…?
Anil: Not at all. Because I have two more children so I hope to be a leading man till they also come into entertainment. Sonam of course is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s responsibility so that’s taken care of. The focus is Harsh and Riya. Till they come and make a mark in the entertainment world, I have to be a leading man.
Karan: Is this a real fact that both of you are really close friends which doesn’t really happen… two actors being real friends… That doesn’t really happen in the industry though people pretend but this is a genuine friendship… So how did that happen? How did it all start?
Akshaye: From my side it was out of respect really.
Karan: You both did Taal and then Salaam-e-Ishq also.
Anil: Yeah, that was more recent. But basically for me it started from Taal. I remember on the first day of shooting… I was waiting on the sets of Taal and looking at the watch and I was like, ‘Subhaashji aapka hero Akshaye to aaya hi nahi abhi tak’, and he said, ‘woh aayega… who aayega. And he came after 12 o’clock and he came very casually on the set and he said, ‘Subhaashji, sorry, I overslept’. (Laughs)
Karan: So, was Akshaye your first choice for the film – ‘Gandhi-My Father’?
Anil: Well… when I heard the script, he wasn’t the first choice … there were other actors who were considered…
Karan: You didn’t know that Akshaye?
Akshaye: I did
Anil: But, I always wanted Akshaye to be in the film
Karan: What was your reaction, when you saw the film for the first time?
Akshaye: I saw it, with my family… emotions… it really stirs you … it shakes you up… makes you cry… I sometimes cry just watching the promos…
Karan: It has that kind of impact… what was your father’s reaction… when he saw the film…
Akshaye: He hugged me and he hugged Anil… Anil said, he wouldn’t let me go, he was hugging him for so long… he was so happy… so happy…
