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Vashi2Panvel.Com : Navi Mumbai : Sept 20 : In a tete-a-tete RISHI KAPOOR tells Jyothi Venkatesh that he is blessed to continue to be an active actor after having put in 33 years of his career in this rat race.

Isn’t it strange that though you had started your career with Dimple as your co-star, you have acted in only three films together till date?I have acted in the romantic lead opposite Dimple Kapadia in three films. The first one was in Bobby before 33 years, and then Sagar two decades ago and now I have been cast opposite her in Hriday Shetty’s Pyar Mein Twist. Dimple was offered both Kuch Khatta Kuch Meetha as well as Hum Tum but she had turned both the roles and Rati Agnihotri was cast opposite me in those films.

What is your new film Pyar Mein Twist all about?
Pyar Mein Twist is about companionship. It is actually a very progressive thought in today’s times. It drives home the subtle message that life should be lived, not just passed and a socially relevant message that we should not lose hope. Love can happen at any time. The film gives you the hope that you can meet your soul mate at any age, because age is only a matter of digits. It also teaches you that as far as life is concerned, there are no retakes at all. Fifteen years back this kind of a film would not have possibly run at the box office because it sets out to challenge the existing norms of the society. Even Kya Kehna wouldn’t have run if it had been released say fifteen years ago.

How would you rate yourself as an actor?
As an actor I have always been the same. I have never been a stylized actor. I have always been a spontaneous and natural actor. I have never evolved but garnered a lot of experiences. I set out to enact all my roles with all my experiences. I was never a method actor but it took me a lot of time to understand the mechanics of acting.

Why have you not directed any film after Aa Ab Laut Chale?
I know people blame that we at R.K Studios are not doing any film. The reason is that we are not conveyor belts to go on manufacturing films by the dozens. As a director, I should be charged to make a film. I cannot make any and every kind of film just to sustain our production house. When the right time comes, we will definitely make a film. Choprasaab had not made any film for nearly ten years till Baghban. Basically I am a die-hard actor but I would love to direct. I have acted in not one but three films with Raj Kapoor.

What do you think ails the film industry today?
Today the biggest tragedy is that almost every producer has become a proposal maker. When Mera Naam Joker flopped, dad didn’t set out to make a proposal film. He made Bobby, which was a big risk at that time. Like many production houses main pudiya nahi banana chahtha hoon. Rakesh Roshan made a film again and again with Hrithik Roshan and resurrected his career when several films of his started flopping at the box office. Hats off to Sanjay Leela Bhansali to have dared to make a film with a 63 years old character and a top rank actress who plays deaf, dumb and blind. However there are very few gutsy filmmakers like these people.

Which are your upcoming films as an actor?
Besides Pyar Mein Twist, I am also working in Love Ke Chakkar Mein, which is out and out a rib tickling comedy. It is a character based film in which hold your breath- I play a lecher Then there are two lovely English projects made abroad. One of them is Don’t Stop Dreaming and the other is Sambar Salsa, which is being directed by cousin Aditya Kapoor, who happens to be the son of my uncle Shammi Kapoor. It is a total crossover film, which is being targeted for Asians settled abroad.

Is it true that you are playing Kajol’s father in a film?
Yet another film, which I am eagerly waiting for the launch, is Kunal Kohli’s Fanaah, which means Destroyed In Love with Aamir Khan and Kirron Kher. I am playing Kajol’s father in Fanaah. I am looking forward to working with Aamir Khan in Fanaah .I have worked with almost all the Khans in the industry including Salman, Shah Rukh and Saif besides Ajay Devgan. It is a good film with an element of mystery in it. I want to do roles, which would make an impact in the psyche of the audience. Like Salman Khan did in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Rajesh Khanna did in Andaaz and Raj Kiran did in Arth.

How do you look back at your career?
I was never a top actor but I have always been working all through my life. My first ball itself proved to be a successful one unlike Amitabh Bachchan or for that matter Anil Kapoor who had to face initial setbacks as far as their career was concerned. I have worked with top class filmmakers in 135 years in a span of just thirty-three years. I should say that I consider myself blessed that I at the age of 52 am continuing to be active as an actor. I’d have hardly sat at home without work for more than a month in all these years.

Will Neetu Singh work in films once again?
As of now Neetu Singh is not at all keen on acting. I am not responsible if she is not acting in films. In the first place, contrary to what people think, I never asked her to quit acting in films. Tell me what is the point of her working when senior actors in this industry are not getting their dues or the scope to act? The grammar of cinema per se is the same whether it is an old or a new director. It is only the thought, which is different in both the breeds of the directors now. Sometimes the thoughts of the new breed are very abstract. I should say that I consider myself blessed that I at the age of 52 am continuing to be active as an actor. In fact all through my career of 33 years, I’d have hardly sat at home without work for more than a month. I had worked with 23 new heroines who made their debut in films with me.