Arjun on working with Anil: I wanted to be worthy to stand in the same frame with him

Arjun Kapoor will be sharing screen space with his chachu, Anil Kapoor, in Anees Bazmee’s ‘Mubarakan’. Recently, we met the young Kapoor for an interview, where he spoke about his experience on working with his uncle.

When Arjun was asked how was it on the sets to work with Anil Kapoor, was it personal or professional, he said, “With no co-actor you are professional-professional. You have an equation that you build with anybody you are working. I already had a pre-existing equation with him for 32 years. See I was very clear when I started. To work with Anil Kapoor was a part of my wishlist. I have grown up admiring him; I have been inspired by him. But, I was very clear that I wanted to be worthy to stand in the same frame with him. Not for once I wanted to be like chachu mere saath picture karo. I wanted it to happen authentically and organically where material comes that lends itself for me and him to be in the same frame.”

“He called me when he heard ‘Mubarakan’, and he said he feels I am the best choice for the film. Then when I heard it I felt that confidence that Anees Bazmee and Anil Kapoor who are the masters of this genre, feel I am good, so my excitement was this man believes in my ability. So, I have reached somewhere in life. Anil Kapoor wants to share screen space with me that in itself is bigger than the awards you would get in your life because your family members are harshest critics you have. So, the day I stood with him on the set, I felt very proud what I have achieved to reach that stage that I can stand in same frame as Anil Kapoor being Arjun Kapoor the actor, not just as a chacha-bhatija. Of course I look up to him, I loved working it him. It is always said that don’t mix personal and professional life, it gets complicated. Mere saath ulta hua hai, I think mera chacha-bhatija rishta tha uske aage badhke we have a friendship now. We have an equation that goes beyond age, beyond the social norms of how a chacha-bhatija should be. I had a blast doing the film,” he added.

When asked if he always wanted to do a comedy film with Anil, he said, “No one thinks that much, I had just thought I will do a film with him when I will be ready and will feel that I am capable of working with him. Khayali pulav pakana mujhe pasand nahi, mujhe pulav khana pasand hai. I never went to that degree. The thought was that when I work with him I want share screen space with him feeling comfortable. It should not be that I am requesting him to do a film with me or asking him to do a role with me.”

Further when questioned if there’s a downside of working with Anil as they are relatives and they both might be too comfortable with each other, Arjun said, “Actually no because you don’t become Anil Kapoor without being very good about your work. Once the camera is on rishtedari, dosti sab ek taraf hai aur aapka kaam ek taraf hai. Some places I had to shout at him also, so I shouted at him, and he has only told me tu kar bindas kar. This is not that kind of film where I have to awkward, it’s family entertainer. If it was something where I had action, we had to raise hands on one and other that would be awkward, but we never faced all that. So, it was a fun journey for us.”

‘Mubarakan’ also stars Athiya Shetty and Ileana D’Cruz and it will be hitting the screens on July 28, 2017.

Murtuza Iqbal

‘Eat Sleep Bollywood Repeat’ is his life Mantra. Dance is his first love and Rani Mukerji is his eternal crush. He is someone who loves being himself, and as for the ones who don’t agree, his reply? “Talk to my hand!”