Rajit Kapoor back in action

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Rajit Kapoor (TOI Photo) "I can’t accept every offer that comes my way"
We haven’t seen you in movies of late. Are you being choosy?
Yes I am. I can’t accept every offer that comes my way. It has to challenge me as an actor. For that matter, anything as frivolous as shooting in Egypt or any interesting remark made by the director with regard to the movie could excite me enough to take up a project. Actually, I’m an instinctive when it comes to signing a film.
You’ve mostly done offbeat films. Aren’t you missing out on commercial success?

I’m more bothered about the kind of role I’m doing in a movie than whether it’s a commercial or an offbeat film. Besides, the money spent on the movie or the amount I earn from it has never been my concern. As an actor I feel that the role should just be challenging and satisfying.
You’ve done almost 10 movies with Shyam Benegal. What makes you his pet choice?
(Laughs) That you’ll have to ask him. We’ve developed a sort of affinity a mutual understanding. And no matter how many movies I may have done with him, he’s always given me a different role. Our understanding is such that in his movie Mammo, I was given just two scenes, and I still accepted the offer!

How was the experience of playing Mahatma Gandhi in Benegal’s The Making of the Mahatma, for which you won a National Award?
Great! The role came to me by chance. I was initially offered the role of an African rebel in a movie named Kachale. A few days later I was leaving for Europe when Benegal called me and handed over the book – My Experiments with Truth as he offered the role of Gandhi to me. And reading that book was my only preparation for this role.
Do you think these subjects justify their place in today’s time?
Of course they do. It’s important to make such movies for the youth so that they know about our leaders. Besides, through books these stories may not have a great impact but through films woh chhaa jaati hain.
How important are awards and recognition for you?
Awards are encouraging. And any actor would want his/her work to be appreciated. But that’s about it. Not that my picture in newspapers excites me or I wish for more popularity. I have been so much a part of dramatics and sports in school and otherwise, and gathered so much appreciation and popularity, that I don’t miss it.
Do you think theatre is still as popular?
Theatre is not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s like live performance and there’s nothing that can match that. But still to promote it well, its economics has to be worked out. In the West, to watch a play, people pay three times the amount they pay for a movie ticket. But here people are not ready to buy even a Rs 100 ticket. But the ones who like it, love it even today. My recent play Girish Karnad’s Flower was received by a packed audience, which shows theatre still has its magic.
Having shot to fame with the character Byomkesh Bakshi on TV, do we see you coming back to television?
No, I don’t think so. Saas-bahu serials rule the TV today. I can’t be a part of it. The other section on TV is occupied by reality shows, that’s searching talent with even celebs participating in them. And I don’t think I need a platform like reality shows to showcase my talent anymore.

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