IF MEN LIKE MY DAD EXIST IN REAL LIFE, WHY CAN'T THEY EXIST IN REEL LIFE?
Sonam Kapoor admits that her
upcoming film Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (PRDP) looks nothing short of a
fairytale and yet, beneath the grandeur of it, is a simple story about
family values. Drawing inspiration from her close-knit family, Sonam
talks to Bombay Times about her father Ani Kapoor, who is an ideal man
why her on-screen characters are never an extension of her image and how
kalyug is instrumental in eroding family values. Excerpts from our
chat....
You said at the trailer launch that it is a privilege to be a Rajshri heroine. How did it come about?
Sooraj
Barjatyaji liked my performance in Raanjhanaa. It released in June 2013
and I got a call in July saying that they are considering me for this
role.Soorajji wanted me in the film and they were discussing it with
Salman. They told me not to mention it to anyone. There were reports of
every heroine supposedly doing the film, but in my head, I knew it was
me. I just didn't talk about it then. I was confirmed around January .
Soorajji really wanted me in the film and was sure that I suited the
part.
Do you think you have upped your game with PRDP?
I feel that every
movie ups your game and helps you grow. It is definitely a huge
privilege to be part of the film. Gauging success based on numbers is an
oldfashioned way of looking at things. I am not someone who chases
things like that. It's all about having a good experience and learning
something with every project. I wanted to do this film to learn
something new.
I wanted to know if I fit the bracket and I really appreciated
Soorajji's faith in me.The very fact that I was his first choice was
humbling. There is nothing wrong in being the second or the third
choice, but when you know you are the first choice and the director has
really fought for you to be in the film, for me, that just shows how
much he believed I was right for the part. I wanted to reciprocate with a
similar level of commitment. With every film, I learn and get better.
There is a certain image of a Rajshri heroine and you are more outspoken and bold. How was it pulling off the demure character?
What
I am in my personal life is never reflected in my movies. Whether it's
Saawariya, Delhi-6, Raanjhanaa or Mausam, they all reflect my varied
choices. I am not a girl from Benaras, Kashmir or Chandni Chowk. Neither
am I the South Delhi girl Aisha. I am Anil Kapoor's daughter, who has
lived in Juhu all her life. An image is not a reflec tion of your
character. If you see my fil mography , I consciously never played my
image in my films.
Yours is a close-knit family. Did that make it easier for you to gel easily?
My
dad has never worked with Rajshri Productions. One of his first films
was Ek Baar Kaho in which he was associat ed with the production house,
but that wasn't a lead role. Shabanaji (Azmi) saw him in that movie and
that's how his career took off. He didn't have much of a professional
relationship with them. But when you are from the same fraternity , you
know the family and how they bond with each other. Soorajji saw the
connec tion when it came to casting me, despite
not working with my father. He saw the kind of relationship we have with
our family members and the way I have been brought up. I have kept my
personal life pristine and private and I am close with my sister,
brother and parents. All these things played catalysts in my casting,
added to the fact that he liked my performances in my films Mausam and
Raanjhanaa.
Sooraj said that to make a family film, you have to be a family. What was a typical day like on the set of this film?
We
were always shooting. When you are working with Salman Khan, every day
with him is precious. There has never been a day where I had the luxury
of wasting time. But, we would always have lunch with Salman and the
whole unit used to eat together. It was very happy and positive on set,
sans any drama.Everybody was there because they believed in the film and
the reason why we are making it. It's been an overwhelmingly positive
experience.
Do you think Sooraj Barjatya-kind of heroes exist?
I do
believe such men exist. I have grown up watching one of them -my dad
(Anil Kapoor). He is an ideal husband, father, son and brother. I don't
think anyone has done more for their family and people around as much as
him. So, if people like my dad exist in real life, why can't they exist
in reel life?
In this new-age cinema, do you think the audience will resonate with the theme of this film?
Drama
is a part of cinema. Raanjhanaa might be melodramatic but it was a
dramatic film. Just because you are wearing black kurta with denims does
not make you look real. There is a certain way of telling stories and
if there is honesty in any story , no matter what the medium of
communication, it will work.
Are you going to call Charlie Chaplin
melodramatic or old-fashioned?His films are still relevant. It's not
about old or new, but cinema is heightened reality . Do you think
Ramleela is not relevant today? It's a perception and that too, a wrong
one. What is said honestly always resonates with people. Such
demarcations are not a fair way of looking at things. Is the idea of
love, family , truth relevant today? Of course it is and will always be.
What's your takeaway from the film?
Kalyug is eroding all our positive values.
This
is what my nani keeps saying. All the idealism we've shown in the film
makes sense. No matter how messed up your family is, in the end, they
are important.
You don't get to choose your family . They are your
blood and their love will always be unconditional and they will forgive
you no matter what you do. I think as far as Indian culture is
concerned, these values still hold true, even though in cities, things
are fast changing. We are so removed from what is actually around.
We
are always on the internet, laptop, phone and social networking sites. I
am guilty of doing that as well. There is no real connect with people
at all, even fami ly. I know when I am at a party, 60% people are on the
phone and seeing the party through their phone as opposed to having
real connections or conversations. The film reinstated these values in
me and that is my biggest takeaway from it.
