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STRAIGHT TALK

You’re now 60. Out of these a good 50 give her a chance to do the background screen. He told me that it was the secret of
years have been spent in front of the score in the Tamil film, Unnaipol Oruvan. his future success. I assured him my style
camera. Aren’t you wary of acting? It wouldn’t matter to me if she failed as a would also be a winner. He turned around
I have never looked upon acting as work. movie actress. But right now it looks she is on to say, ‘Fair enough. You do your thing and
Working for money or fame saps you. I a winning streak. I’ll do my own.’ Rajni is a phenomenon too.
stopped doing it 30 years back. The only Both of us were young actors who started
time I am really happy is when I am in from scratch. He was the bus conductor with
front of the camera. When I am not, I start acting aspirations. I was the clapper boy
retrospecting. I equate acting to building who got the clap in my very film (Kamal
card-houses which I used to do as a child. Haasan played a character with venereal
For me it was building the Taj Mahal. My disease in his first adult role). We didn’t
work is my card-house. I truly admire what have fathers to make movies for us. But we
they do on the beaches of Orissa. They had the same godfather K.Balachander.
create true work of art on the beaches and
then watch the wind and the waters sweep Will there be any replacement for you and
it away. Rajnikanth as actors?
There are so many gifted new boys. And
Has your perception of acting changed I’m eager to encourage them. People said
over a period of time? there would be no one like Warren Finnerty
The first 100 films that I got were market- until Charlie Chaplin came along. In Hindi
driven. They were films which everyone cinema there are stunning performers like
presumed were going by the market Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah,
demand. Fortunately for me, people Pankaj Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan in
advised and counselled me about my certain films. I’m inspired by them even
career. So one day I woke up and decided though some of them aren’t driving the same
to nurture Kamal Haasan, the actor. car as me. As actors they win hands down.
I brought out a side of Om Puri’s talent in
Chachi 420 that hadn’t been seen before.
You are often forced to take over He calls me Anna. We are like brothers.
problematic projects. Wouldn’t you just I’M SURE IF I HAD
like to focus on acting?
I was always a reluctant actor and I will DONE SWATHI You once came close to working with Raj
Kapoor. Do you feel regretful that the
continue to be one. Once I announce a MUTHYAM WITH
project and the camera rolls, I’m happy. project did not come through?
I continue to do leading parts even now RAJ KAPOOR-SAAB This was soon after the release of my
apart from the exception of my mentor K I’D HAVE FOUND Telugu film, Swathi Muthyam. Raj Kapoor-sir
Balachander’s films, for which I can do even A PLACE IN HIS liked my character very much and humbly
do a walk-in role. When he directed his offered to produce it in Hindi. If it would
100th film, I just walked in to do a small HEART have worked out, I’d have become a part of
role. I just clowned around on camera. the RK family. Unfortunately the director K.
Balachander is my inspiration. Vishwanath had already committed himself
Don’t you want to act in a film with her? to another Kapoor for the Hindi version.
Having lost that opportunity I think of myself
Are you enthused by Hindi cinema? as a big loser. I’m sure if I had done Swathi
Shruti has been telling me that we should.
Yes, some of it. I am very happy Aamir But I don’t want her to do it just for the heck Muthyam with Raj Saab I’d have found a
Khan is now attempting films that should’ve of it. She is a star now. I want her to act in place in his heart.
been done ten years ago in Hindi. People one of our home productions for the glory of
attribute this new cinema to the entry of our banner. By the way for the Tamil version
corporate houses in Hindi cinema. But these of Dasavtharam she was my coach for my
corporate houses were nowhere in existence American accent. She had just returned from
when Hrishida (Hrishikesh Mukherjee) made the US and was the perfect medium to help
his films and Gulzar-bhai made Achanak. me master my American accent skills. She
Brilliant films are possible in every corner of was a bully. She made me do many retakes
India and at any time. in the dubbing. I had once asked
Your elder daughter Shruti Haasan has Rajnikant why he
made a career in both Tamil and Hindi What do you think about Rajnikant as an chose to be so stylised
films. Are you happy for her?
actor? on screen. He told me
I’m proud of her because she isn’t doing a When we were in our 20s, I had once asked
product of our home banner Rajkamal Films. Rajnikant why he chose to be so stylised on that it was the secret of
The only thing Rajkamal did for her was to his future success

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