In real-life, he’s been a father for years now, but on screen, one has rarely seen Anil Kapoor play a father, and definitely not to grown kids. He says, “I play a patriarch named Kamal Mehra in Dil Dhadakne Do, a Punjabi businessman who started from scratch and became rich. He’s a total control freak but everyone looks up to him. In real life, I am not like that at all.”.
Daddy ke dost
He’s 50-something, but is possibly the youngest at heart. “I am really a friendly father. I am possibly the coolest dad ever. I am not a patriarch at all. I won’t say I am a bum-chum buddy, but my children are very comfortable because I am very friendly with them.” Not just that, he discusses every film with his children. He adds, “I am basically a fun, positive person who wants to make people laugh. I am like the one who will say, ‘Kaam karo yaar, khush raho yaar.’ For that, I cannot wait for them to come to me. I go to them instead and I am like, ‘Chalo, kuch karte hain’.”
Just be happy
Anil lives by one funda, be happy and keep everyone happy. “We make fun of each other and obviously they make more fun of me. I intentionally trouble them and I tell them I am doing Majnu bhai again. And they will be, ‘No dad, no!,” he tells us as he bursts into laughter. For Anil, his children are his biggest critics too. “Fortunately they haven’t disliked any of my performances of late,” he smiles. “But Sonam was not happy that I did Race. These things happen but I was very happy. It was a huge success and masses loved me. There are times when you can’t do exactly what they tell you to do but it’s all fine,” he adds.
Proud papa
Sonam and Rhea have been instrumental in bringing success to his production house. Harsh is all set to make heads turn with his debut film Mirziya. “It’s too early to talk about Harsh. Rakeysh (Omprakash Mehra) will speak about the film and Harsh will speak about himself. He is a strong individual and a different beast. So I don’t want to take away their individuality. As for Sonam and Rhea, I feel they are doing a fabulous job. They are trying to make these girly films, chick flicks and I encourage them always,” he tells us. “I am a proud father. Sonam and Rhea have not benefited from my company. Rather it is my company which has benefited from the presence of Sonam and Rhea. Even Harsh has got his film on his own. I had not even spoken to Rakeysh about it. I am a very proud father because like me, my children too are self made,” he signs off.
