Anil Kapoor on 10 years of Dil Dhadakne Do: ‘My son Harshvardhan Kapoor convinced me to play Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra's father'

Indian Express

2 days ago

On Koffee with Karan season 6, host Karan Johar recalled what Rhea Kapoor told him about her father Anil Kapoor playing a father on screen. When Abbas-Mustan reached out to their Race collaborator to play his real-life daughter Sonam Kapoor's father in their 2012 heist thriller Players, Anil clapped back, 'Do I look like Sonam's dad?'
From saying that to playing Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra's father in Zoya Akhtar's 2015 hit family drama Dil Dhadakne Do, Anil seemed to have taken quite a U-turn. 'No, that's all false. It's all bullsh*t! I was never approached for Players,' Anil tells SCREEN in an exclusive interview now, ahead of the 10-year anniversary of Dil Dhadakne Do on June 5.
Do you remember your first reaction when Zoya approached you for Dil Dhadakne Do?
Yes, my first reaction was 'No.' The first time when she spoke to me about it at Javed (Akhtar, father) sahab's house, she was thinking of casting Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor as the leads. I hadn't heard the story then. Later, when she narrated the script to me, Ranveer Singh was on board then. I said, 'Ye kya Ranveer ke baap ka role, nahi yaar.' Because in India, you get stuck in a stereotype.
Then how did you come on board eventually?
As usual, my son Harsh (Harshvardhan Kapoor) was responsible. He'd also convinced me to do Slumdog Millionaire in 2007. He told me, 'It's okay yaar, you've done enough of running around the trees. Do this grey character!' With Dil Dhadakne Do again, he told me to not think of it as a father, but as a character. Sometimes, it's good to have youngsters around who know the landscape of cinema and the way people think is changing. But you also have to be a good listener. I'm so happy I did it.
What was it that Harsh could see and you could not?
For him, it was the filmmaker. Both the filmmakers had made good films. You shouldn't miss out on the opportunity to work with a good filmmaker. I've always been like that in the past as well. Whenever I've worked with good filmmakers, it's been very enriching and rewarding. I've learnt a lot from them.
Since you've worked with Javed sahab as a screenwriter on Shakti (1982), Mashaal (1984), and Mr. India (1987), did you see glimpses of him in Zoya?
No, all three of them are completely different. Zoya and Farhan (Akhtar, brother) have their own individualities and strengths. Of course, Javed sahab is Javed sahab yaar. You have talent like that once in a century. But I feel Zoya and Reema's (Kagti, co-writer) scripts are like actual scripts. They know what a screenplay is. Unlike most scripts I get, which are just scenes stitched together.
How do you see Kamal Mehra, your character from Dil Dhadakne Do?
He's a businessman going through tough times. But sometimes, you've to put up a front. He's not quite progressive in his thinking, and is a male chauvinist. It's either his way or highway. He doesn't get along with his wife, but has to put up a front for society. Everything is about money and business.
How did you prepare for the role?
He's from North India, so I had a few references. The look from one of my uncles who stayed in Delhi. I used to stay with him as a young kid. His name was JC Suri. Zoya also had the reference of a gentleman in Delhi who used to say the dialogue, 'On top of the world!' Satish Kaushik (friend and late actor) also helped me out with the dialect. I did a few workshops with him. He's a North Indian who's spent a lot of time in Delhi during his NSD (National School of Drama) days. I'm a Kapoor, but basically a Bambaiya from Chembur. When I get these heartland roles, from Woh Saat Din (1983) to Karma (1986), I have to dive deep into them to get the nuances right because they don't come as naturally to me. I take help from dialect coaches or people know better than me.
You were quite supportive of the makers' decision to cast Priyanka Chopra as your daughter. Was that because Kareena had already acted opposite you in Bewafaa (2005)?
Ranveer was final, but the girl who'd play his sister and my daughter wasn't final. We had a lot of choices, we kept on discussing. Ultimately, Zoya said Priyanka is a team player. She'd worked with Excel Entertainment on Don, and is very hardworking and professional. So again, I got a little hesitant. 'Come on Zoya, first Ranveer, and now you want me to be Priyanka's father?' There was supposed to be a film where she was opposite me. Not much, I'd done only one or two scenes there, but still… There was also a lot of discussion around who'd play my wife, but I think we got the best in Shefali Shah. I can't imagine the film without Shefali, Ranveer, Priyanka and other ensemble as well.
Your old co-stars like Madhuri Dixit, Dimple Kapadia, Raveena Tandon, and Tabu were also approached to play your wife. Did they turn it down because it was a mother's role?
I don't know. You'll have to ask them.
I love you going all jhakaas in Gallan Goodiyan. What are your memories of filming that song?
Zoya was very clear she wanted to do it in one shot. I remember in Parinda (1989) also, there was a song that Jackie (Shroff, co-star) and I were supposed to do in one shot. But ultimately, we had to break it into two. We rehearsed Gallan Goodiyan first in Mumbai, and then on cruise. So we were very prepped. But we also really had a lot of fun doing that song.
Dil Dhadakne Do is all about family. Have you watched it with yours?
My family doesn't watch anything with me, yaar. They're not interested with me (chuckles). But it's surprising that this film has got such long legs. People still resonate with it. There are several cruises named Dil Dhadakne Do. There are still weddings and bachelor's parties being done exactly like Dil Dhadakne Do. When I'm on flight, there's one person or the other who comes up to me and says they've watched this film again and again. Zoya has made very good films, but this one's turned out to have the longest legs.
How did you avoid the stereotype of being offered only dad roles after the success of Dil Dhadakne Do? You played a father much later in Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022) and Animal (2023).
That way, I've been very careful in my career. When a film becomes successful and people love me in a role, I try not to do that soon. I always try to give gaps. I did a lot of characters like Welcome Back (2015), Malang (2020), Rennervations (2023), and Fighter (2024), which are very different from Dil Dhadakne Do. I try not to repeat myself.
Also Read — 'Sharminda' Parmeet Sethi kept apologising to Anil Kapoor as they ran 3 kms across airport to catch a flight for Dil Dhadakne Do shoot: 'He was in a towel'
But what if it's a great dad role right after you've played a father on screen. How do you say no?
I say N-O, simple (laughs). Typecast toh hone nahi doonga khud ko, hopefully. I've been quite blessed that way. Sometimes, you've to sacrifice and let go of money. You need to have patience for the right roles to come your way. It's a global scene now. So there are a lot of great filmmakers around the world I want to work with. I may not play the lead or have the best role in the film, but I just want to work with those great minds. Otherwise I'd have gotten stagnated doing the same thing. I've explored and taken risks, and I'll continue doing that.