‘I've played their father, lover': Rajit Kapur on his three-decade-long career, relationship with co-stars, style, and more

Indian Express

14-05-2025

It's no secret that Rajit Kapur is a master of his craft. Having spent over three decades in the entertainment industry, he is widely recognised for his rich and varied work across theatre, television, and cinema. From his iconic turn as the detective Byomkesh Bakshi in the acclaimed Doordarshan series, to his National Award-winning performance in The Making of the Mahatma, and impactful roles in Shaitan and Uri: The Surgical Strike, Kapur has consistently chosen substance over spectacle.
As a founding member of Rage Productions alongside playwright Rahul da Cunha and fellow actor Shernaz Patel, Kapur has been instrumental in shaping contemporary Indian theatre. His latest outing – as a narrator in Aadyam Theatre's production Mumbai Star along with Srishti Shrivastava – marks yet another chapter in his commitment to pushing theatrical boundaries.
In an interview with indianexpress.com, the veteran actor discusses the challenges of being a multi-faceted actor, his seamless transitions between the different performance mediums, his collaboration with Aadyam Theatre, and the invaluable lessons he learnt from a career dedicated to artistic exploration. Read the edited excerpts below:
Rajit Kapur: One of the earliest challenges was starting our own production company – Rage Productions – that I run with Rahul da Cunha and Shernaz Patel. We were inspired by seniors performing classics, but wanted to do something contemporary, in our own voice. With that shared vision, we started the company with just Rs 14,000 in the bank. It sounds filmy, but that is how it began.
Our first play was Tigers in the Congo, which dealt with AIDS, an important, topical subject. There were many challenges, but the idea was to keep going since we loved theatre.
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Rajit Kapur: Aadyam launched a decade ago with Mr Birla's backing, something rare in theatre. Few people are willing to invest in this art form. Aadyam provided fledgling and established groups the chance to raise the bar with capital, production value, and creative freedom. Rage's The Siddhus of Upper Juhu was one of the five plays in Aadyam's first season, and it's still running, even after 10 years. Guess we are blessed with that particular show.
For Mumbai Star, Devika, the producer, and Nadir, the director, are close friends, so there was already mutual trust and a certain comfort level.
The show originally existed as a dance production that Devika took to Japan. It was reworked to include narrative elements, and that's where Srishti and I came in. We had to integrate storytelling without disrupting the rhythm of the dance – something 15 incredible dancers put their soul, life, and everything into this production. It's high energy and quite the adrenaline rush.
Rajit Kapur: It's hard to explain, but I've got used to doing this balancing act. Recently, I spent a year and a half working on Sardar Patel: Game Changer for Doordarshan—my return to television after a long gap.
I think I look for material that excites and challenges me, across mediums. If something makes me stretch my limits as an actor, and I can say, 'I don't think I've done this before, don't think this is very comfortable,' I would try it. That's what makes me do this so-called balancing act.
Rajit Kapur: Lots of things. Discipline, for one. There's a certain sense of grounding, building step by step, brick by brick. The whole process of working on a play, the rehearsal, these are fulfilling. There's nothing to beat that. Every performance may differ, but the process becomes a part of you.
Cinema is more fragmented. Collaboration doesn't always happen in the same way, but it's changing for the good. On stage, you're the driver. Mistakes are yours to navigate. But in cinema, you're part of a much larger mechanism—direction, cinematography, editing—all of which shape the final product.
Rajit Kapur: COVID taught me a lot about slowing down and cherishing small things—walking on the beach, watching the sunrise. I've developed a deeper respect for nature, which automatically determines your day and lifestyle.
So I think giving myself me-time, whether it just means quietly sitting and reading a book, has become more important.
Rajit Kapur: On stage, there can be no one other than Shernaz Patel, because we've worked together for over 35 years. And when you build that kind of trust with and respect for each other, you can do anything together.
Another person I've built that connection with, because we've done films together, is Rajeshwari Sachdev. In both cases, I've played their father, and I've played their lover. It's something you build over time, but I think the most essential thing is trust.
Rajit Kapur: I've never really thought in terms of 'making it'. There was no fixed target or goal. I've always just wanted to do fulfilling work, projects that push me, energize me, and help me grow. So, there's no metre to judge that. I don't know whether that is successful or not, it has never played in my mind. I have never thought of 'I want to have this big mansion and that huge car.' I just want to do good work and have enough at my disposal to be able to travel.
Rajit Kapur: Oh, there are so many. And believe me, even in our country. I still sometimes tell myself, 'My God, I haven't been to Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves and it's just an hour's flight away.'
I want to go to Greece, to look at all those historical buildings and see what that has to offer, to Machu Picchu, to Cambodia, to the Kaziranga forest sanctuary, and to see the rhinos. The list keeps increasing.
Rajit Kapur: Oh, it's totally me. And that's something right from college. I used to wear bright coloured trousers when I was in Sydney and people used to look at me as if I'd fallen from some other planet.
I don't care about what anyone thinks. I create my style. I think it always catches eyeballs because there was a time where I was living in pyjamas and I would design them and create them myself. Not because I thought it was some style, but because I liked it and I thought they were just very comfortable.
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Rajit Kapur: It's a very simple story, but the most incredible thing is that the 90 minutes of this play is infused with so much energy that you are going to go back feeling good about yourself.
Rajit Kapur: There are no shortcuts. You have to build a solid foundation, whether it is through training, assisting, and doing courses. To play with yourself, to explore yourself, to open yourself out, you need to build it slowly. When your foundation is strong, nothing can shake you. And of course, that passion should be there because it's not going to be an easy path. And neither is it a '9 to 5' job where there is a structure.
Swarupa is a Senior Sub Editor for the lifestyle desk at The Indian Express. With a passion for storytelling, she delves into the realms of art & culture, fitness, health, nutrition, psychology, and relationships, empowering her readers with valuable insights. ... Read More