Rajit Kapur may not have the looks or the trappings of the ‘regular’ actor. Not very tall, no six-pack figure, not the flashy kind of ‘filmi’ hero. He can be quite invisible in a crowd. His unconventional good looks apart, Rajit’s USP is his intense acting and that uncanny ability to slip into any role rather effortlessly.
A man of many parts—theatre, screen, television, modelling—Rajit’s heart firmly lies in theatre. It remains his first love and strongest inclination.
One of the co-founders of the Mumbai-based ‘Rage’ theatre group, Rajit was in the city for ‘Centre Stage’, the JTPac Theatre Fest, where two of his popular plays Love Letters and Class of ‘84 have been lined up. Rajit spoke to The Hindu MetroPlus hours before he stepped on stage for Love Letters .
It was 14 years back that Rajit and Shernaz Patel were in the city with Love Letters . They virtually set the stage ablaze with their brilliant acting. While this play has completed more than 250 performances since its opening in 1993, Class of ’84 , ‘the roller-coaster ride on friendship’ has completed 200 performances.
“Neither of us ever thought that these plays would last so long. The plays have not changed, the lines remain the same. What changes on is our emotional response, and what we create on stage. Personally, Love Letters has been responsible for so many good things in my life. It set ‘Rage’ rolling and more importantly, got me the role in Shyam Benegal’s The Making of the Mahatma ,” says Rajit.
The Making of the Mahatma won the National award for best actor for Rajit and also strengthened the bond between him and Shyam Benegal. The actor and director share a special chemistry which is evident in films like Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda , the trilogy Mammo , Sardari Begum and Zubeidaa they have done together.
Despite all his roles in films and theatre Rajit is still identified as Byomkesh Bakshi, the television role he did years back. But for the last ten years or so Rajit has kept away from television. He has his reasons. “I have consciously kept away. Things have changed drastically here. There are so many restrictions, encumbrances. Time management goes haywire once you are committed to television. Reputed directors have kept away.”
Shyam Benegal’s new series
Rajit reveals that Shyam Benegal is coming up with a new series for television after a long time. “Shyam told me that he will be doing a 10-part series on the Constitution of India for Doordarshan Rajya Sabha channel.”
This year has been particularly special for Rajit and ‘Rage’. They produced their first Hindi play, which he directs, and are also ready with a new English one. “The play Mahua is based on issues of the tribal people of Odisha. Jaal The English play, The Bureaucrat , has already had six houseful shows in Mumbai.”
While theatre takes most of his time Rajit also divides it between films and modelling. “ I usually commit myself to two or three films a year depending on the subject and role in the project. Modelling in ads is not very exciting. I have done a few but I don't find it very stimulating.”
Rajit’s latest film Do Paise Ki Dhoop , Chaar Aane Ki Baarish , Deepti Naval’s directorial debut that has been screened at various film festivals abroad, won rave reviews and even won for Rajit the best actor award from a festival in Spain, is still waiting for theatre release. “The film has a very emotional and sensitive subject. But I don’t know why and when the film will be released in the country.”
It’s been a long time since Rajit made his debut in Malayalam with Agnisakshi . The film also fetched him the Kerala State Award for Best Actor. Have there been no offers from Mollywood? “I did Dam 999 , though strictly speaking this was an English film. Most of my scenes were shot here. Otherwise I have not got any complete offer from Malayalam.”
One thing that excites Rajit is the increasing audience for theatre. “I believe that even in Kochi there is a growing audience. It is interesting to explore this new audience. There has been a turnaround here, which I saw at The Hindu MetroPlus Theatre Fest last year. These are signs of the development, culturally, of the city.”
