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Anil Kapoor turns Sikh, Muslim for Mubaraka and Fanney Khan
For the first time, Anil Kapoor will be seen playing a Sikh and a Muslim character in his next two films, respectively.
He has been acting in Bollywood films for over three decades. But, so far, Anil Kapoor has never played either a Sikh or a Muslim character. Now, the 59-year-old is set to essay these roles in his next two films — Mubaraka and Fanney Khan, respectively.
Read: I started my journey from scratch: Anil Kapoor
“In Mubaraka, from the first frame to the last, I am playing a sardar. I have done songs such as ‘Hai hai mirchi’ (Biwi No 1; 1999), and another track in No Problem (2010), in which I played a sardar. But this time, I am playing a Sikh character in the entire film. I am looking forward to it,” says the actor, who will work with his nephew Arjun Kapoor for the first time in this movie.
Family talk
“Arjun has a double role in the project. He is the hero, while I am just a supporting actor (laughs),” says Anil, adding that he’s “looking forward” to teaming up with Arjun. “I am extremely excited about working with him. It’s going to be a good journey,” he says, calling the young star a “fantastic” actor. “Abhi toh shuruwat hain uski. Aage dekho kya karta hai woh (his career has just started; see what he does in the time to come).”
Film-maker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Fanney Khan will see Anil play a Muslim character. The actor says this movie is going to take him on a trip down memory lane. “I remember, as a kid (while he was growing up in Chembur), I used to go to Mohammed Ali Road, Bhendi Bazaar and Masjid Bunder a lot. I have spent quite a lot of my childhood at those places. I would just go there and walk around aimlessly,” he says.
Anil says he used to watch a lot of films during his growing up years in south Bombay. “I remember watching films at several theatres there. Cinema halls like Novelty and Alankar are famous nowadays. But there were other smaller theatres too, which would screen Dara Singh’s films, and sometimes, a few R-rated movies as well. We used to watch these films at times,” he says.
Anil also has fond memories of eating at Lucky Biryani (Bandra West), and at a few other eateries in Mohammad Ali Road, Masjid Bunder and Bhendi Bazaar. “Now that I have got an opportunity to play a guy who is from Bhendi Bazaar, and I’m playing a Muslim character for the first time, I’m looking forward to it. It is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it,” he adds.
Going international
Although Anil has been part of a number of big-ticket films in his career, he admits that the Hindi remake of the 2010 Hollywood action film Red is going to be his “most ambitious” project so far. “I am making it with an international production house. They are as excited as I am. Without revealing anything, I can only say that it is my most ambitious venture,” he says.
The original film stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren, among others. “I am excited about the way the script has shaped up. It is outstanding,” says the actor, who, besides the second season of his TV show, has also secured the rights to remake Modern Family and Prison Break in India.
Read: I never took my success for granted: Anil Kapoor
“As soon as I get done with the second season of my show, I will start working on Modern Family. There are a lot of ideas on my mind regarding that. But I am yet to put them in action,” he says.
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