Shakti Kapoor discusses 'Love U Family' and the changing trends in Hindi cinema in an exclusive interview with A Potpourri of Vestiges

A Potpourri of Vestiges Feature


A Potpourri of Vestiges recently caught up with the legendary Indian actor Shakti Kapoor who was in Delhi to promote his upcoming film 'Love U Family' wherein he makes a special appearance. Directed by Sachindra Sharma, Love U Family stars Salman Yusuf Khan, Aksha Pardasany and Kashyap in the lead roles. Releasing on June 9, 2017, the film co-stars Manoj Joshi, Navni Parihar, and Soneka Gill.


Excerpts

You have reached a point in your career where there is nothing left to prove. So what is it that drives you and inspires you today to continue acting?

See, the day you start feeling you have achieved everything you are a dead man. My children too ask me this question. Today the world has changed so much that despite having done over 730 films I can tell you that today there are more options than ever. Television is opening new horizons. I did Nach Baliye then I was one of the judges for comedy shows and there is so much to do. A man can work till he is happy. I am very happy working.

Your son and daughter have followed your footsteps and both have chosen acting as a career. How has your presence inspired your family?

I am very happy seeing my children work. And they are very happy to see that their father is still working. It in turn inspires them and gives them energy when they see their father jogging in the morning, traveling, still doing movies. IT inspires my whole family. When we are at home we only discuss how to live a good life. How to be pure to the work. How to be nice to the society, the society which has given you so much. I see it as our duty to give it back to the society. That is what my daughter is doing now. She loves animals. She loves plants. She loves good environment. She has pledged to give away 10-15 percent of the money she makes towards these causes as well as towards the education of underprivileged children. It is a wonderful feeling to have your family so close to you. And I am so happy doing a film 'Love U Family'. I feel deeply indebted to my profession as I fele that it has given me everything that I have today.



What do you look for in a script. What made you say 'yes' to Love U Family?

I got associated with the film because of the director, Sachindra Sharma. I have known him since he entered the film industry. See, I don't have a main role in the film. I am doing a guest appearance. I am always there with him. Whenever he needs me all he needs to do is to give me one call. This is a good family film, a clean film. Even my children encourage me to support such films. We may not have big stars like Salman, Aamir and Shah Rukh,  but today if you make a good film it works. Just look at how well Hindi Medium performed at the box-office. I feel the same thing about this film. 

There was a time when you used to do these beautiful comedy films with Kader Khan, Govinda and others and before that was this trend of iconic villains like Jeevan, Ajit, Pran, Prem Chopra, Amjad Khan and yourself. What has happened to these two trends over the years?

Well, to tell you the truth, earlier when the films were made they had a vamp like Kalpana Iyer, a dancer like Helen, a comedian like Asrani, and a villain like Pran Sahab. Today if there is a requirement for a villain or a comedian, the hero himself would do it. If there is a requirement for a vamp, the heroin herself takes care of that. The setups have become bigger but the scope for say a typical Kader Khan-Shakti Kapoor films is just not there. Basically, you have to be a good actor today to be in this film industry. So you start doing character roles. Today the likes of Paresh Rawal, Danny, etc. are doing some nice work as character actors. So the times have obviously changed.        
   
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