Kunal Kapoor’s fan following is gaining in numbers

His cellphone inbox is flooded with ‘missing you’ messages from fans. Post Rang De Basanti,Kunal Kapoor has women eating out of his hands. And going by the promos of Hat Trick with some passionate cuddling between him and Rimii Sen, more swoons are in order. “Girls are missing me very much. I get a lot of SMSes that say so. It’s already a year since Rang De released. They want to see me in more films,” laughs Kapoor.

If you’ve been taken in by his intense gaze so far, get ready to indulge the child in him. “In Hat Trick, I’m playing an immature guy, who is a little spoilt and stubborn. It’s very different from my mature and sensible images in my earlier films,” he adds.

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Now, who wouldn’t love a childish Kapoor?

When we draw his attention to the intimate scenes with Sen in the film, the heart throb is equally ebullient, “Those scenes are not the crux of Hat Trick. But I don’t mind if they lend me the image of a sexy and passionate hero. I am sexy if people think so.”

He’s certainly not lacking in a sense of humour. We heard rumours that he had a tough time shooting a romantic scene, where he had to tease Sen with ice cubes. “There wasn’t any problem doing the scene. I only had a problem dropping a particular number of cubes,” he quips. Read the rest of this entry »

After playing Aslam in Rang De Basanti, Kunal Kapoor is now on the lookout for meatier parts.

The actor keeps himself busy with his two pet passions — the Art of Living, and Goju-Ryu karate — a form of martial arts that he practices religiously, with the help of a trainer, thrice a week. Kunal talks about his fascination for the alternative, finding mental focus and keeping calm…

Were you always inclined toward spirituality?
Yes. I find alternative things very fascinating. I love reading books on philosophy and spirituality. I have been learning martial arts for a while now. The style I’m learning, is Goju-Ryu karate. I learn from my teacher, Adil, who comes home to teach me for an hour and 15 minutes, thrice a week.

Prior to this, I was learning Tai Chi. I also go to the gym regularly, but focus more on freehand exercises, than on weights. As a form, Tai Chi is more meditative. I have a childlike fantasy to be a Shaolin monk; I find them really fascinating.

What about the Art of Living?
I got into the Art of Living course about 10 years ago, but couldn’t practice regularly. I lost touch as I was dabbling in a lot of other things.

I was introduced to it by a relative of mine, Sangeeta Jani. It was only in the last couple of years that I have taken it up again, and have been doing it regularly, since.

Tell us more about it.
Art of Living centres around a really powerful breathing technique, called the Sudarshan kriya. It has helped me tremendously, physically and mentally. It’s given me a sense of calm and focus. Also, in today’s hyper world, you tend to get disconnected from yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

‘Rang De Basanti’ has surprised every trade pundit with its unprecedented success. The success of the film has made its young ensemble into overnight stars. On a Friday evening at his residence in Juhu, Mumbai, I caught up with Kunal Kapoor- the lyrical and lanky Bohemian Aslam in the film. Dressed in light casual wear, Kunal, who suddenly finds himself as a heartthrob, talks about his acting aspirations and more.

Q. You began as an assistant director to Rakeysh Mehra on Aks? How did that happen?
A. Actually, at the time I wasn’t quite sure of what to do…and hence dabbled in a lot of things. One of my friends who used to work as an assistant to Rakeysh called me and suggested that I audition for an ad that Rakeysh was planning to do. Apparently, I fit the look they were looking for. I eventually shot for the ad. Once I got on the sets however, I loved the way it felt to be amidst that action. So I chased Rakeysh for around five months to allow me to hang around the sets. He finally relented and I started as a production assistant. I did that for about a year or two. In the meanwhile, he began working on Aks…and I ended up assisting him. I’d learnt the ropes by then because in advertising a production assistant and an assistant director are almost the same as you have to do everything.

Q. What prompted you towards acting from directing?
A. Acting was always at the back of my mind. I loved being in front of the camera. In fact, halfway through Aks, I’d decided that I wanted to be an actor. Whenever they needed anyone to stand in or give the cues, I’d volunteer. If a junior artist was missing, I used to fill in. I found the whole process very appealing.

Q. Are you sure the acting bug hadn’t bitten you much earlier? If I’m not mistaken, your first tryst with acting was when you were seven…for a film called Rustam.
A. (laughs) That was nothing. It was a one day shoot…very irrelevant. They even edited my portions out of the film (laughs again).

Q. You’ve done theatre as well. Which medium do you find more challenging and ultimately satisfying?
A. Honestly, I’m a big film-buff. Besides the acting, I love everything else that goes into the making of a film- the editing, cinematography, production design and all the other technicalities. I am fascinated by the elements of cinema. However, cinema and theatre are two completely different mediums. It’s difficult to say that I enjoy doing one more than the other. Both have their separate unique joys. Theatre is gratifying because you find instant appreciation. The audience is more active as opposed to the passive nature of cinema. Theatre in that sense gives an altogether different high. Cinema on the other hand allows me to witness the creation of an end product. Having been an assistant director, I know what goes into the making and I respect the medium for that fact.

Q. Having been associated with directing, does that part of you influence your decisions in choosing a role?
A. I’m sure that subconsciously it does. As a director you envision, so I’m sure that having been one…it affects my decision. More importantly, I believe it gives me a broader outlook of the story. I know lots of actors who just read their parts outside the story, but as a director you look at the film as a whole and see how it works on a macro level. In that sense, being an assistant has given me the ability to look at a film as a whole which I think is very important.

Q. What do you look for in a role?
A. There are different reasons for choosing a role. Just recently, a director called me and asked me to read only three lines. I can’t name him as I’m in the process of signing, but those three lines were so interesting that I immediately latched on to the project. There are also times when a script doesn’t seem appealing on the first reading, and it takes even three or more readings to see how good it is. It’s not always the role. Sometimes the story attracts you and sometimes merely the opportunity to work with someone you admire, irrespective of the fact that you may not like the story. But you’re certain that the director will embellish it with his trademark style and vision, and push you as an actor to bring the best out of you.

Q. When you signed Rang De Basanti, were you the least bit apprehensive that maybe your role wouldn’t eventually turn out as it promised to be in the script? Did the towering presence of Aamir Khan create doubts that perhaps at the editing table, you’d be given a raw deal in favour of the bigger star?
A. I was never apprehensive. Firstly, I’ve always been a big fan of Aamir. The opportunity to work with him was big enough for me. Secondly, I knew Rakeysh and I’d read the script that he’d put five years in for writing. I knew that Rakeysh would never compromise with his vision. So even though I’d heard these stories, rubbish actually, I was never insecure of being with Aamir. And Aamir as an actor has the greatest respect for the script. Aamir knew that Rang De Basanti is an ensemble film. Read the rest of this entry »

He is tall, lanky and every bit as good looking as he came across in the artistic caper, Meenaxi. Meet Kunal Kapoor as he shares the highs of playing his character, and why he thinks Rakyesh’s sense of humor is dead pan!

What was the most interesting aspect about playing your character?

In RDB, I play a character called Aslam, who is a middle class boy from Chandni Chowk. He is the most rational guy of the group; and is someone who looks at all the perspectives in a situation before deciding on what to do. But what was really interesting about playing Aslam was that his predicament was such that even though he himself is a people’s sort of a guy, who doesn’t like fighting at all, the situations around him are such that he keeps getting pushed into confrontations. Aslam is also a very sensitive guy, sensitive to others feelings, and someone who will go out of his way to make people comfortable. So he is basically the nice guy of the group.
(Smiles)

So does Kunal Kapur the guy draw any parallels to his character as a person?

(Thoughtful pause). You know Aslam is a very relaxed and peaceful sort of a guy, but like I said, it’s the situations around him that are volatile .But in my life; it is exactly the ‘ulta’! (Laughs) I’m very restless as a person and the situation around me is generally peaceful, so I think that would be the biggest difference , but I think I am quite a bit like Aslam also because just like him, I enjoy being around people, and meeting new people. Read the rest of this entry »

Why such a long break after ‘Meenaxi’?

After ‘Meenaxi’ I didn’t really get the kind of offers I was looking for. Also, for ‘Rang De Basanti’, the makers of the film had signed me up for two to three months at a stretch but then the movie got delayed. So there was a break in between. But the good thing that happened in the meantime was that I attended some workshops of Naseeruddin Shah and did theatre with him. So even though I didn’t do a lot of work that was not very much in media but I learned a lot.

What about ‘Rang De Basanti’?

‘Rang De Basanti’ is a young film. It has a mix of fun, drama and emotions. It is also a very inspirational film. So, it is very difficult to restrict it within a particular category.

What was the most interesting aspect about playing your character?

I play a character called Aslam, a middle class boy from Chandni Chowk. He is the most rational guy of the group; and is someone who looks at all the perspectives in a situation before deciding on what to do. But what was really interesting about playing Aslam was that his predicament was such that even though he himself is a people’s sort of a guy, who doesn’t like fighting at all, the situations around him are such that he keeps getting pushed into confrontations. So, he is basically the nice guy of the group.

How was it working with Aamir Khan?

Aamir was very much like a pal, a buddy throughout the making of the film. Many people say that the group chemistry of the boys was really great and I think the credit for that goes to Aamir. He never behaved like a big star. He was just one of the guys among us, and gave us so much liberty both on and off screen, so we were all very comfortable working together. In fact, now I can say that he is a very good friend of mine too. It’s only when I see the promos of ‘Rang De Basanti’ that I realize that I was working with Aamir Khan.

You weren’t the first choice for playing Aslam so how did the role come about to you?

Rakyesh was writing the script for the movie when I was busy with theatre in Delhi. When I came back, he had finished the first draft of the script, after which he had written some 17 more drafts, but after the first one, he gave it to me, and asked me for my feedback. So I read it, and I though it was fantastic. Though at that point they were considering someone else for the role of Aslam, but after four weeks, Rakyesh called me and told me he wanted me to come and audition for the role. So, he put me through two or three auditions, and gave me this role. Read the rest of this entry »

At first glance, Kunal Kapoor is this cool guy with a lot of attitude.

Speak to him a bit, and you realise he is just a regular guy. The ‘cool guy’ is dramatically shed, to reveal an unassuming guy with his feet well planted on earth.

The 29 year old, who will debut soon in Meenaxi, M F Husain’s second directorial venture after Gaja Gamini, lets rediff.com take a peek into his life.

I was an assistant director for Rakesh Mehra’s Aks.

After the film, I enrolled for an acting workshop at Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre and a course at Namit Kishore Academy. I also did theatre in New Delhi with Barry John.
That’s when I heard that the auditions for Meenaxi were on. Soon, the makers called me and asked me to audition for a role. They had only seen some of my tight close-up pictures, and so they were worried I was short [in height].

And that would be a problem because I was to act opposite Tabu, who is tall. Luckily, for them and me, I turned out to be 6 foot 2 inches.

The screen test was comical. They were testing for two parts: one was serious and the other comical. I got the serious one. I asked an assistant director how to go about it. He was quite hassled that day — he was new and it was his first day at work. So he told me to make it comical, not realising that I had the serious part. I was stumped; I wondered what kind of film they were making! Read the rest of this entry »

A hundred flashbulbs go off in a second, but there’s not a shade of shakiness in Kunnal Kapoor’s body language. Standing tall by his celebrated director Maqbool Fida Husain, co-star Tabu and cinematographer Santosh Sivan, the low-profile lanky debutant seems to have taken all the hype in his stride.

“Working for Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities was at times very interesting, at times scary and sometimes even frustrating,” smiles Kunnal (picture below). Having worked in a niche film like Meenaxi and being into several odd jobs “from stock-broking to exporting mangoes to Hong Kong”, the bearded actor is now waiting with bated breath for his next big break — in film-maker Rakesh Aks Mehra’s second venture.

Sharing screen space with him in Mehra’s story of four youths would be Aamir Khan, no less. While Atul Kulkarni will play the third man, the fourth is yet to be cast.

Script-reading with the Khan is on in full swing. “Aamir is very meticulous and passionate about his work. He is probing everything about the script in detail,” says the actor in his mid-20s, who got into the mechanics of film-making while assisting Mehra in Aks.

“I was eyeing the role I have been given for long, as Rakesh had written the script some three years ago and I was quite familiar with it. He was considering a whole lot of actors, but one day decided to screen test me. After a couple of tests, I bagged the role,” announces Kunnal. Read the rest of this entry »