One of India's most well-known Bollywood actors, Anil Kapoor has carved a name for himself not only on the subcontinent, but also overseas in markets like the United States. Most moviegoers in the west will recognize Anil for his role in the Academy Award-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire in 2008. His performance in the film earned him a Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.
But, long before his breakthrough role for western audiences in Slumdog Millionaire, Anil was one of the biggest celebrities in India. He first won acclaim for his role in the 1984 film Mashaal and three years later was part of another critical success in Mr. India. Anil went on to appear in a number of highly lucrative films during the 1990s and was given several Filmfare awards during his career.
For Anil and his family though, it seems that the acting bug runs in the family. Anil's daughter, Sonam is also one of the country's biggest Bollywood stars. Born in 1985, Sonam has appeared in a number of blockbuster hits, including the smash hit Delhi-6, opposite Abhishek Bachchan.
Anil and Sonam Kapoor spoke to Becky Anderson on CNN International’s ‘Connect the World’ about Slumdog Millionaire, nepotism in movies and working together as a father-daughter duo amongst other things. Here is the full interview transcript.
Becky Anderson, Host: In the west, Anil Kapoor shot to recognition with his depiction of a game show host in the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. The film took home eight Oscars and turned its cast into international movie stars.
Anil Kapoor, Bollywood Actor: Everybody tells me is that, "Then when we see you, we get a smile to our faces." That's what everybody feels. Everybody feels I'm full of energy and excitement.
Anderson: But for Indian fans, Kapoor has been one of cinema's greats for decades. He first won acclaim for his role in the 1984 film Mashaal. And three years later, captured the heart of the nation in Mr. India.
Like many film stars in India, Kapoor's family has gone on to become one of the great acting dynasties. His daughter Sonam is now one of Bollywood's up and coming greats. And this month, she stars in the film Aisha, produced by both her father and her sister.
Keeping it in the family in the best possible way. Anil and Sonam are your Connectors of the Day.
Anderson: Yes, they are, and I started by talking to Dad and asking him, what was it like, producing your daughter on Aisha? How different from previous projects was it? And this is what he told me.
Anil Kapoor: It's been a phenomenal journey for me, because what I did was, I let them be – I just gave them all the freedom. And I said – Sonam is an actress, and Rhea is a producer, and I just feel that it was a right decision I took. They were the entire team. That's the reason, I think. If I was there every day and on their heads trying to make this film happen, I think we'd be having a terrible film.
Anderson: You created this acting dynasty. The family is extraordinary. There are going to be charges of nepotism here. I'm assuming you don't care. Do you, at this point?
Sonam Kapoor, Bollywood Actress: It's been – I've done most of it, but it's easier for me, because I'm my father's daughter. Honestly speaking. I'm not going to take that away from him at all. It's like 30 years of his experience that has helped me out. But that's in every industry. Whether you're in journalism or whether you're a doctor, a doctor's daughter, a banker's daughter, or a businessman's daughter, you're selling soap, for God's sake. It doesn't matter.
Anderson: We've got some questions from the viewers here. Taabish has written to us. He says, "Anil, you are a fantastic actor. But what do you enjoy more, acting or producing?"
Anil Kapoor: Acting.
Anderson: Really?
Anil Kapoor: No way. Producing – I'm so happy that my younger daughter is wanting to produce films so I have given the baton to her. And I'm going to LA next month, and I might not come back. I just don't like producing films. It's too much of a – it's a thankless job. I feel – I'm from a production family. My father, and we all have been making films for the last 50 to 60 years now, and we made a lot of films. I've been involved in every department of producing films, from any odd job, from creating marketing, funding, everything. But I love acting. That's my first passion.
Anderson: Sukh asks you whether it's been tough being critical when working with Sonam? And, perhaps, how do you feel about working with Dad as well?
Sonam Kapoor: I would love to work with Dad. But as an actor. I think – because I'm a selfish actor. And I think if you work with great actors, acting is all about reacting. So when you have great actors around you, you just become better. You know what I mean? So just to make my performance better, I would love to work with my dad as an actor.
Anil Kapoor: We did an endorsement together, and it was great fun. I was quite taken aback by her and her growth as an actress. And she's a natural, which is not that because she is sitting with me, but I was quite taken aback by her – the way she is so relaxed in front of the camera.
Anderson: Satylk's got an interesting question. He says, "With all the misgovernance and corruption in the Indian political system, why don't celebrities like yourself speak out more?" He argues, "You are possibly in the best positions to create and help change." Do you do much? Do you get involved in the political sphere?
Anil Kapoor: To be honest with you, I do, but I don't do enough. I'm being very honest with you. And I would rather – I would love to do more. And that's my regret. And I'm being very honest about it. I would like to do more, and I would like to be – make certain issues more public so that people are aware of. There is a lot of corruption. There is a lot of misgovernance, and there's a lot to be changed and improved in our country. But I'm very, very happy and very proud of the younger politicians who are now making a great impact and making things – working more towards the villagers and the have-nots than the haves.
Anderson: Did you ever have any sense of how big Slumdog was going to be?
Sonam Kapoor: My dad didn't know who Danny Boyle was.
Anil Kapoor: I don't know, actually, to be honest. They made me aware of it.
Sonam Kapoor: My – it's really funny – but my brother has a picture, like a poster, of Requiem.
Anil Kapoor: And Trainspotting.
Sonam Kapoor: And Trainspotting. And my brother's like, "Dad? Do you know who he is? You have to do this thing!" He read the script in one night, and is like, "It's fantastic, it's fabulous, you have to do it!" And that's when my dad read it, and he loved it.
Anderson: Really?
Anil Kapoor: So that's the way – and so, it has been a life-changing part of my life. I think for everyone connected with Slumdog it has been life-changing. And I'm very happy that they knew who Danny Boyle was, otherwise I wouldn't be sitting in front of you giving this interview.
Sonam Kapoor: No, but Dad. You did it because you loved your role.
Anderson: Fabulous.
Courtesy: CNN ‘Connect the World’
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