The Hindu : New Delhi News : Looking for quality, meaningful roles

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Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008
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New Delhi

Looking for quality, meaningful roles

Kunal Kapoor lends his voice to the character of Lord Rama in animation film ‘Mahayoddha Rama’

Photo: S. Subramanium

Sporty: Actor Kunal Kapoor at the launch of a game, “Spore”, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The length of a role is not important to Bollywood actor Kunal Kapoor. The lanky star, on whom lady luck has not smiled since the much talked about “Rang De Basanti”, says he doesn’t mind doing a small role as long as it is meaningful.

“I did a small role in “Bachna Ae Haseeno”, that of an honourable Sikh gentleman. I was deliberately kept out of the promos because we wanted to give the audience a surprise. Though the media labels such roles as cameos, I don’t pay attention to such descriptions. I just do my work,” says Kunal, who was in the Capital on Tuesday for the launch of a new game from legendary designer Will Wright.

Kunal says that as a child he was hooked to video games. “I have grown up on Donkey Kong. My parents used to scold me and tell me to concentrate on my school curriculum. Even now I find time to play animation games with my 12-year-old nephew. Games have mind-boggling options as you can create your own species. The best part of gaming is that even your grandfather and even nephew or niece can play!”

Describing animation as the future of the entertainment industry, Kunal said he was happy to lend his voice to a character portraying Lord Rama in a mythological movie.

“The animation film titled “Mahayoddha Rama” is based on the Ramayana. We have given a fresh perspective to Lord Rama. Besides his godliness, we have shown him as a multi-dimensional personality. So the animation character shows traces of anger and even romances. He has human qualities. Actor Gulshan Grover has done the voiceover for the character of Ravana,” he added.

Excited about signing a film with “Parzania” director Rahul Dholakia, Kunal says the film titled “Lamha” is centred round the Kashmir Valley: “We will start shooting after a month in the Valley. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu. I am happy that it is based on an issue. The audience looks forward to unadulterated entertainment but a film should have a message.”

As for films like “Hat-trick” “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” and “Aaja Nachle” that sank at the box office, Kunal says a film’s success or failure cannot be attributed to any one person: “Film-making is a collaborative effort. I hope all my films do well at the box office. Next year I will be appearing in some solo films.”

Sharing some nostalgic memories of Delhi, Kunal reveals that he spent his formative years in Panchsheel Enclave, adding, “I also have wonderful memories of Noida as I did theatre there.”

Madhur Tankha

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