"The scenario of television is rather boring" – Pankaj Kapur 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, June 5, 2007 - 05:40 IST
Pankaj Kapur needs no introduction as everyone is aware of his films and the character played by him. It may be Mr. Tarneja from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro or the title role from the most
popular tele-serial Karamchand or Mussadilal from the award winning Office Office, Pankaj Kapur made every character memorable through his performance.
His forthcoming film Dharm and his role of a pundit will be an addition to his best works. Being selective about the films and the roles that he plays on screen, actor Pankaj Kapur has
three releases lined up this year. He talks to IndiaFM about his forthcoming film Dharm and other forthcoming films as well.
Tell us something about your forthcoming film Dharm ?
Dharm deals with the family of a Pandit who lives with his family in a city called Banaras. He is the most respected Pundit in Banaras. A pundit, who practices the vedic way of life,
where he speaks about how a person should live his life. Certain things happen to him and to his family which changes his perspective and understanding of religion. That is precisely what
the film is about.
The role in Dharm looks different from the regular characters that you have portrayed in the past. How have you prepared yourself for the role?
There was some kind of preparation required to play the role, according to its script and character. Then you try and play that human being on screen and try and be that person. Make an
attempt to be that person on screen as much as you can so that you can create a new human being which is not you. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don't. That kind of ground
work was done. While the toughest thing for me as an actor was the shlokas that I had to sing. I am not used to that kind of Sanskrit and language. That was tedious for me but then
it was a part of my role so I had to deliver it the way a pundit, so conveniently and easily delivers them.
The toughest thing for me as an actor was the sholkas that I had to sing. I am not used to that kind of Sanskrit and language.
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What made you go for the role?
I read the script and liked it. I liked what the film was saying and of course my character. We discussed about the script for three months. We had discussions on things like the way the
director wanted to present it and the way I wanted to portray it. After three months we actually started working on it.
We haven't seen much of you these days. Why?
Frankly speaking I haven't done many movies. I like to give enough time to prepare myself for the part I am playing in the film, so I am choosy about my roles. This given year there was
pressure of television serials. I was doing Office Office which took of lot of time and there was nothing of that kind that I would like to play so I didn’t pick any film. But now there are
some interesting films lined up for release
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I like to give enough time to prepare myself for the part I am playing in the film, so I am choosy about my roles.
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How was it working with your wife Supriya Pathak after 18 long years?
Well it's always a pleasure to work with your spouse because there is certain level of understanding. We worked together in Mohandas BA.LLB , which was our home production and
directed by me. There was a long gap but that there has to be substantial part for both of us to work together for a film. I have regards for her as an actor. She is a fine actress. She has a very
different approach towards acting as compared to me. But in our own ways we have a way of handling a character. There are so many other factors which another actor or actress may not
consider while working but a husband and wife do because they know each other. They know the comfort areas of each other, so it becomes much easier for you to be able to give that space
required.
Is there any difference you see in yourselves since the last time you worked with each other?
She was always a very fine actress. I think her approach towards preparing for her part has changed. Now she has started looking at her character as somebody who is different than what
she is or what general characterization is. She has become more specific towards her character.
Can you tell us something about Halla Bol with Rajkumar Santoshi and Ajay Devgan?
In Halla Bol , I play a theatre actor with certain background that will be revealed in the film. Ajay Devgan happens to be person who used to work with me in the theatre who goes ahead
in life to become a big star and in the mainstream of his life this character of mine comes back at a given point. From there on, these two characters have a particular thing to take up and they
both move together further in the course of life to find solutions to certain dramatic situations that come up in the film.
Tell us about your forthcoming film The Blue Umbrella .
As the title suggest the film is about a blue umbrella. A little child finds a blue umbrella one fine day while walking down somewhere. Because of that umbrella, the girl becomes a star as
everybody wants to own that mystical umbrella and the shopkeeper also wants to own that umbrella. Then what follows is the story of the film. I play a small- time shopkeeper in a little village
in Himachal Pradesh.
Why the delay in the release of the film?
I don’t know the exact reasons for it. You should ask Vishal (Bharadwaj), the director and UTV, the producers about it.
You have also done a third film, Blood Brothers with Vishal Bharadwaj. Can you tell something about it?
I have done a small part in Blood Brothers . It’s a short film created for AIDS awareness. Vishal is doing another feature film in which I might be doing a role. Though I still haven’t
signed the film, talks are still going on. We will be deciding on the proceedings in a week’s time.
Tell us something about Good Sharma .
The shooting of my part in Good Sharma is completed. I am playing the role of Good Sharma’s friend. My character is called Hanuman who is a local village man. The film does
not belong to any genre as such as it has everything in it-drama, humour, romance, etc. The director Suri Krishnamma is from London and the producer is Bhavna Talwar’s husband, Sheetal,
also the producer of Dharm .
So how was it working for the second time with Sheetal.
It was very good. We have become great friends now. There is a great comfort level. I have my own space; I believe I can come in and go out whenever I wish to.
Are you a part of Rakesh Roshan’s production Krazzy 4 ?
I could not become a part of Krazzy 4 because I couldn’t organize dates. Though I like the part and the script, I could not become a part of the film.
Your son Shahid’s film Fool N Final released last week and Dharm is releasing this Friday. So do you see that as competition and how do you feel about it?
I feel very good about it. His film is releasing and so is ours. So it is very good for the family film business! People are going to see all of us, so it is fantastic.
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Shahid’s film is releasing and so is ours. So it is very good for the family film business!
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Is it true that you and Shahid are coming up together in a film?
We are open to the idea of doing a film together provided the subject is good, director is good, and the roles that we are offered are good. So there is no reason why we won’t work together.
So at some point in the future it is liable to happen but when exactly and by who is not known. Rajkumar Santoshi has approached us with a subject, but nothing has been finalized and the
work on the script is still going on.
What do you think about Shahid as an actor?
Shahid has great potential as an actor. For a long time he had a young, cute looking guy image, but after the release of Vivah people have started looking at him as a talented actor. I,
as a father and as an actor, feel that his real potential lies in drama and the moment he gets a dramatic role, he will come out with flying colours. This is my point of view. And I also feel that
now the directors and producers should give him interesting characters. He is doing well no doubt but there is something for him as an actor to do rather than just presence and dancing
around which should be seen as his old days now. If a part which proves his potential as an actor comes across as an opportunity, only then will he be able to prove his talent as an actor to
the audiences and producers alike. I think that is important now. Things will be said differently about his acting talent after some time. I am not saying these things just as a father but as a
co-star, colleague and somebody who has seen a small boy grow up and his potential.
How is Shahid’s relationship with you?
Just like how a father and son relationship should be. I advise him on his acting only when he asks me. I don’t interfere in his decisions and career. It is totally up to him to choose whatever
he wants to do. Because the way my father has brought me up made me believe to take your own decisions and be responsible for them. Take your decisions, learn from them and learn to
stand on your own feet. This rule is what I have extended to my family. If ever a forbidden situation comes up, parents are always there to help children, but to grow up, to be on your own
and to take on the world on your own you should have the confidence in yourself to do so. Nobody should spoon-feed you and tell this is right, this is wrong because everybody is different
and everybody looks at life differently and nobody has the same potential. So one should realize one’s potential on his own.
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Nobody should spoon-feed you and tell this is right, this is wrong because everybody is different and everybody looks at life differently
and nobody has the same potential.
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Which was the last film of Shahid you watched?
Vivah . I really liked the content and the message of the film, though I thought the film was a bit long. I think Shahid has done a great job in the film. Though the film belonged to the
girl, Shahid did a fantastic job in whatever little he had to do. I think he got a very good role to prove himself which he has performed well.
Among all your films, which is your most favorite?
It is very difficult for me to answer this question because whatever I do I do it with the best of my abilities. It’s like asking which one of your kids is your favorite. Though I can’t pin-point any
one, 3-4 of them are favorite because I am satisfied with them. They are- Ek Doctor Ki Maut, Maqbool , The Blue Umbrella, Dharm . These are the films that have given me certain level of
satisfaction with my work.
Your film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro is a classic in its own way. Tell us about your memories related with that film.
We had a difficult time working on that film as the budget was pretty low but each and every one of us had fervor in us to make that film. So everybody-the actors, the producers, and the
crew worked on a shoe-string budget. We were doing comedy in harsh conditions at our best and everybody’s efforts are what have made that film.
Would you like to do such a film with all your co-actors again?
Why not? I don’t mind. I would love to. If there is a good subject that gives good opportunity to all only then can we do it. If not then it will be a futile attempt. It will be a poor replica of what
we did around 25 years ago.
Tell us about your stint on television.
I am doing Office Office since a long time which should be winding up in some time from now. However, I am not too keen on doing television unless something spectacular comes my
way. The scenario of television is rather boring.
Your character Karamchand was quite famous on television
Karamchand was famous 22-25 years ago when it had come first than now. According to me this might be because the re-launch of the serial had no fresh value, no new thinking that
went into it and no modernization. Also there were no fresh stories that were formed. So I was not happy with the comeback but I am through with it.
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