As Kunal Kapoor is all set to take charge of the hockey team as coach Samrat, to win 'gold' in Olympics as free India, the actor gets in touch with mid-day online for an exclusive interaction.
Kunal Kapoor. Picture Courtesy: Instagram/kunalkkapoor
Kunal Kapoor, one of the most unexplored actors of recent times, is back to woo the audience with his amazing acting chops. The actor will be seen in this year's most-awaited film Gold, with Akshay Kumar and others. His performance in Rang De Basanti is still cherished by everyone. When asked him the reason for not gracing the big screens as often as his peers, he is clear that if it (script) doesn't relate to him, he won't do it... be it one film a year. A pilot, a tech entrepreneur, and a filmmaker-in-progress, Kunal speaks to mid-day online about the challenges and learnings he went through while preparing for Gold. The film will hit the marquee on August 15, 2018.
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Excerpts from the interview:
How was your experience working on this film?
It's been wonderful and a lot of fun. I've always enjoyed ensemble cast films. I've done two in the past – Rang De Basanti and Aaja Nachle. It's always fun to come together with a bunch of like-minded people. Even before filming for Gold, we (Amit Sadh, Sunny Kaushal, Vineet Kumar Singh) and other players started playing hockey together for three months in advance. Every morning, we would go to Versova and practice together. We practiced here (India) for two-and-a-half months and then we went to the UK and practiced there as well for another month. So obviously, we all bonded really well.
Did you specifically learn hockey for this film or you always knew the sport?
I have watched the sport a lot of time but never played it. I had to start from scratch. The only one amongst us that have actually played the sport is Vineet Kumar Singh. For the rest of us, we had to start right from the beginning.
Was it tough to get the nuances of hockey right in such a short time?
No, it was really fun, and that's the joy of being an actor. Where else will you get a chance to meet people like Michael Nobbs (Former Australian hockey player, played at the Olympics and Indian National Hockey Team Coach from 2011-2013) and Sandeep Singh, on whom we had Soorma released recently? He also worked with us. Where else will you get a chance to pick up a sport and play with the best people in the world? I think that's the great part of the movie.
Tell us about your character in the film and the preparations you underwent to enhance the character
I play a character called Samrat. He is somebody, who has only one dream... he has been the captain of this side (India), while we won under the British. His only dream is that one day, the country will be free and will win 'gold' as a free nation. Samrat is somebody who is incredibly inspiring and leader of the men and passionate about this sport. Firstly, it was a chance for me to go back to an era that I particularly enjoy, which is the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. I feel there's some magic to that time and secondly, it was also a chance to play a sportsperson. So, the combination of that magical era and playing a sportsperson is a dream come true for me. Samrat is the kind of character that I have never played before. This is very different from anything that I have done before.
Do you personally relate to Samrat's character?
His passion! I only do things, which I really feel passionate about. When I end up doing something I don't like, I do it single-mindedly. That is something that I could relate with instantly. His love for the game and what he wants, his dream and willing to push himself to any sort of extreme to get to that dream, that for me was very relatable.
On that note, what are your dreams, apart from acting?
What I really enjoy is learning new things. I'll be going on holiday with my wife next month, and each time we go on a holiday, we not only see the place but we also learn something. Learning is something that I find very exciting. Apart from this, there are a lot of things that I learned. I also fly planes, I also race cars, and now I'm learning how to dance. Chances of learning something new and also to grow along is very exciting for me.
Now that we also have the digital space expanding rampantly, would you want to foray into it?
Yes, of course! For me, Netflix is the best combination of two things that I am passionate about, which is technology and the movies' content. Tech and content coming together is the most exciting thing for me. It's definitely something that I'd like to explore.
You aren't seen much on the big screens. Is it because you have become very selective with your films?
I wouldn't say that I'm way too selective. I'm very clear about the sort of work I want to do. If something doesn't fit into that, then I don't want to do it. If that means doing one film every two years, then that's what I'm going to do. Ideally, I would love to be on the movie set 24*7 because I enjoy being there. I have been on the movie sets since I was 22 years old. I started as an assistant director, that's where I feel alive. Unfortunately, the scripts that I have been getting, they haven't been the ones that I have my heart in. Two years back I decided that if I don't get such scripts then I will develop the scripts that I want to be a part of. So, I have been writing and developing scripts. In fact, one of the films is going into production very soon.
Will you also be acting in the films you write?
Yes, I'll be acting in them.
What do you love doing more, being behind the camera or acting?
In front of the camera! I started off behind the camera and I remember when I was an assistant director, I was always behind the camera. If there were lightings for Mr. Amitabh Bachchan or Manoj Bajpayee, and they needed a stand-in then I would do it. Even if they were lighting for Raveena Tandon, I would go and stand. I was the one who would be rehearsing all the lines for the actors. There was one day when Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and I were sitting in the evening, we had packed up and were driving back home from the studio. He told me that I've realized you spend more time in front of the camera even though you are an assistant instead of behind the camera. So, that is where you really want to be, and that's where you should put your energies and focus on. After I finished Aks, I went to Delhi and did drama.
What are the genres that you want to explore?
Oh, lots! There's so much that I haven't done yet. A lot of my films that I have done are drama. I would love to do an out-and-out comedy. I've also never done a romantic film. I've had movies where there's romance in the film but haven't done an out-and-out romantic film. I've been training in martial arts since I was very young, action is something I would like to explore. The first time I did action was in Veeram (trilingual film). I think I have just begun, there's too much to explore.
Also Read: Team Gold Gives Us An Insight Into The World Of Gold In New Video
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