Priyanka Chopra has seven husbands. And Annu Kapoor is one of them. Don't gasp at theage difference. Also stop scouring film tabloids for this bit of gossip. The two are only playing an on-screen couple in Vishal Bharadwaj's “7 Khoon Maaf”. “I play Keemat Lal, a cop investigating murders committed in the state where Susanna (Priyanka Chopra) lives,” says Annu Kapoor, who accepted the offer because he found the script, the director, and the production house fantastic.
Multifaceted
“In 1994, I produced and directed ‘Abhay',” for which I received a National award. Vishal Bharadwaj scored the music for my movie and now I am in his movie,” says the multi-faceted actor. Annu has been into production for quite some time and has now set up his own production house — Amadeus Entertainment. “My creative team heard around 60 concepts and shortlisted 15 to 17. I have finally zeroed in on one. But it is too early to talk about it,” he says. The formal launch of the production house will take place in March.
Apart from that Annu is busy hosting shows on television. “I am shooting for ‘Idea Jalsa' with Durga Jasraj and working on ‘Wheel Smart Shrimati Season Five'.” Having hosted ‘Meri Awaaz Suno', one of the first music competition shows in the country, what difference does he see in talent-based reality shows these days? According to Annu, the focus has shifted from good singing to gimmickry and manipulation. “Those days, television was in its nascent stage and participants were judged solely on their singing skills but now, you see judges fighting, participants crying and so on. Nowadays, everybody wants to be a singer or actor whether they are talented or not. Not just television, even films have undergone a drastic change. We have advanced, but it is also true that films are losing their soul and spirit,” feels the veteran actor.
“I will complete 29 years in the entertainment industry this June,” he smiles. But, strangely, acting wasn't his first preference. He wanted to be a surgeon. Unfortunately, his family couldn't afford his higher education. So, after completing 10th grade, he joined a theatre group. But, even after three successful decades in the industry, he feels he would have been able to give back more to society had he been a surgeon.
He says, “I come from a family of freedom fighters. My grandfather was hanged to death during British rule. I have a commitment to society.” That's probably why he feels so strongly about patriotism. He continues, “I hoist the National Flag everyday in my farm house. A granite slab there has a line that I came up with: Manushya hona bhagya ki baat hai, Lekin desh bhakth hona sowbhagya ki baat hai .” (One is lucky to have been born a human being, but luckier to be a patriot)
