‘I consider myself a director’

Says filmmaker-actor Rajat Kapoor who awaits the release of Fatso.

Keeping his love for offbeat films alive, Rajat Kapoor is finally ready with his first love story, Fatso, that releases on May 4. “I don’t make conventional films. I wanted to make a love story with a dose of jealousy and drama. Fatso is about love with a twist. It might be my most commercial film so far,” says Kapoor. He discloses that the twist is about a lover returning from hell for love.

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“Ranvir’s character is of a shy, fat, slow guy, who is the butt of jokes yet loved by all his friends. He is secretly in love with Gul’s character.”

The delay in the release did affect Rajat, who says, “As a filmmaker, it’s painful. I don’t know why the film was delayed, my job is to make the film and deliver it. I guess the marketing and production teams had other ideas.” Having directed films such as Mithya (2008) and Mixed Doubles (2006), Rajat gained fame for his role in Bheja Fry (2007). “Currently, I’m in a great place professionally. I direct when I can and act when I can. I recently wrapped my next directorial Ankhon Dekhi, which should be ready for release by the end of this year. It is a mad film set in Delhi. I am doing Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children, where I play the role of Adam Aziz, Salim’s grandpa.”

Fatso has been part of international festivals such as the South Asian International Film Festival in New York, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and Shanghai International Film Festival. Apart from Ranvir Shorey, the film also stars Gul Panag, Purab Kohli and Neil Bhoopalam.

Rajat has a wishlist that he wants to make into films someday. “Motivation for a story comes from within. I want to make movies in all kinds of genres, including horror and sci-fi.”