Art & Entertainment

Anil Kapoor

The Bollywood heartthrob has acted in the internationally-acclaimed <i>Slumdog Millionaire</i>

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Anil Kapoor
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You’ve never shown much interest in working outside Hindi films, unlike others.

This film happened at the right time, I guess. I could pick and choose what I wanted to do.

So how did the role come to you?

I got an SMS saying that Danny Boyle wants to meet me. He had apparently seen some of my work and offered me the role.

Your reaction to the script?

It was a good role. My son, a big fan of Boyle’s, read the script first and told me he’d be very upset if I didn’t do it.

Playing Premkumar—what were your references—if any?

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When I discussed the script with Danny, he said he wanted a larger-than-life character like Al Pacino in Scarface. He wanted that kind of flamboyance. I watched European, American, and Indian versions of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and did a mock-up with Siddharth Basu too.

Was it difficult?

Difficult? I thought I’d leave the film. In comparison acting is simple.

Do you feel you can anchor a show?

Yes, I can.

Did you have any idea it’d become so big?

Nobody connected with the film did; even for Danny it’s the first time. We knew we were making a good film, that’s all. It’s a film made with peanuts, not aimed at the awards at all.

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What are you feeling?

It hasn’t sunk in yet.

The music has been nominated for the Golden Globe—what kind of signal is that giving out?

The Golden Globe is big, but the Screen Actors Guild Award for acting is the biggest—this film has been nominated for an outstanding ensemble performance. That’s an achievement.

What do you attribute it to?

It’s all destiny.

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