Page 60 - Tehelka Issue 15 August 2018

elming this change is Rishi and has clichés. But riding on the sheer Khulla, Kapoor has mentioned that while
Kapoor, along with Amitabh performance of two of our best actors, Bachchan has often acknowledged the
Bachchan who has been this one touched a chord with audiences, contribution of writers and directors
enjoying the most interest- bringing huge word of mouth revenues in his meteoric rise and consistency as
H ing and engaging parts of and staying on in theatres. Made on a low superstar, he has never spoken about
his career. But it is Rishi Kapoor’s cur- cost of under 11 crores, 102 Not Out went the part that other co-actors, like Kapoor
rent career path that makes for the most on to make more than 75 crores. Kapoor himself, have played in enhancing his
visibly progressive story of change in and Bachchan brought alive the senti- films. A tone of bitterness is hard to miss
Hindi cinema. ments and experiences that young stars in that statement.
Rishi Kapoor will play a Muslim can only imagine; such is their range and That Rishi Kapoor feels left out from
father whose son reportedly has links versatility. the race to the top in the peak of his
with Islamic terror in Mulk. When his Speaking to the media, Kapoor re- career is obvious. Despite his debut as
son comes under scrutiny, the father, a called that each time around when he leading man in Bobby (he made his film
law-abiding citizen and his family, face works with Amitabh Bachchan, he learns debut as a young boy in Mera Naam
social estrangement, humiliation and something new. “We’ve played brothers, Joker), a love story that broke all records
have to fight a court battle to prove that friends in the past in many successful and became the legend, Kapoor rarely

At 65, Rishi Kapoor still

sparks in Bollywood

Traditionally, Hindi film industry does not welcome senior actors in leading or key roles.
However, in the current landscape of evolving films, senior actors have become relevant
once again, writes archita kashyap

they are not collectively engaged in acts films… This time, he plays my father. We got a chance to go beyond the mushy
of terror. The film co-stars Taapsee Pan- are both disciplined professionals, and romantic hero. As he often states in in-
nu, a promising young star and Prateik each time, since I consider myself a stu- terviews, filmmakers like Hrishikesh
Babbar. The lead role belongs to the sixty dent of cinema, I learn something new Mukherjee and Shakti Samanta never
plus yesteryears star, as this statement from Mr Bachchan. This time around I cast him or even thought of him for
film by Anubhav Sinha counts entirely on learnt how easily and flawlessly he gets meatier character parts. Instead, he
the strength of his performance to pull in character for a part.” would wear sweaters and serenade
through a tough and potentially contro- Kapoor’s comment is pleasantly sur- heroines in scenic backdrops in Kash-
versial look at social prejudices. prising for it is well known to insiders mir, Ooty or Switzerland. Whenever he
Kapoor seems to be flourishing at a and experienced journalists that both did get a chance to flex his acting prow-
time when most retire from acting. Roles these movie stars never did get along. ess, he displayed a controlled performer
worth his time and characters that chal- Amitabh Bachchan’s angry young man way ahead of his time. In films like Karz,
lenge him as a performer have gradually persona was so overwhelming in the Ek Chadar Maili Si, Barood, Doosra Aadmi,
begun to emerge since the past decade, seventies, that Rishi Kapoor would Prem Rog and Damini, he tackled grey
making him visible to the present gen- always have to play the part of a second characters and progressive men with
eration of moviegoers. Earlier this year, lead. Despite great potential for intensity panache. Unfortunately, not many of
Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor and emotion, he was relegated to play- these films did well.
starred together in 102 Not Out a super ing a romantic hero. Bachchan is the It’s filmmakers that turned Thirtyish
hit film that tackles the relevant social one that writers wrote a part for; Kapoor around the late Nineties that spotted the
issue of poor treatment of ageing par- just came along to join in ensemble casts. latent talent in Rishi Kapoor to bring heft
ents. Per se, the film isn’t artfully made Which is why, in his biography, Khullam and value to key characters. As he often

Tehelka / 15 august 2018 60 www.Tehelka.com