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He is one of the most accomplished actors - be it cinema,
theatre or TV - and when Pankaj Kapur takes up a film it
automatically attracts attention. Right now he is under limelight
for playing a reformed dacoit in Rajkumar Santoshi's "Halla Bol".
The film, which is inspired by murdered theatre activist Safdar
Hashmi, also stars Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan.
Talking about his character, Pankaj said: "Well, this man has
not been the best of people and goes to jail. In the prison he sees
this rehabilitation operation going on and decides to get involved.
In the process he gets reformed. When he is released, he tries to
work towards what could stop his fellow people from turning into a
bad person. And he takes up street theatre to spread his message."
That sounds like the story of Valmiki, who authored great Indian
epic "Ramayana".
"No. I did not have anything of that sort in my mind. I played out
the role of Sidhu from my imagination. I don't know if there was
any such perception in the director's mind. I was not informed of
it if there was," the veteran actor told IANS.
"I look at it from a different point of view. I see the character
as an artist who wishes to uplift people and want to do something
good for them, but he has a past, which is not quite good."
To make his character authentic in "Halla Bol", Pankaj grew beard
and kept it till the shooting continued.
"As an actor, I am not comfortable with an artificial beard. The
character had to look authentic and real and a little menacing. So
I grew the beard."
Panakj says he chose to play a reformed dacoit because it offered
him to explore different avenues as an actor.
"I thought it was very different and as an actor I would get to
explore something I hadn't done before. Hence, I went in for the
film on the narration."
His last film "Dharm" too saw him playing a person who is reformed
and a reformer. Pankaj calls it a coincidence.
"It's not a conscious decision. I have always taken up films that
I like. And in the process if I have done films, which bring out
something that could do society good I think it's great. It is
always a responsibility on us that we should do something for a
good cause. As an artist if I am able to do it, I would surely do
it."
The actor, who has done some very thought provoking films, says he
gives importance to three things while selecting a film.
"First, the content; second is the script, and third the director.
It's very important that the director is capable of doing a good
work out of the whole story. The director needs to have a vision
and clarity in his mind. It's not enough to know the story, he or
she should have the knowledge and efficiency to execute it
articulately.
"Also the story is extremely important. Small events and some songs
and dance do not make a film. A film needs to have a proper
structure and there has to be an output which would be relevant to
people who watch it."
Though this is Pankaj's first film with Santoshi as a director,
they know each other for a long time.
"Yes, this is the first time I have worked with him. But we have
worked together when he was chief assistant director to Govind
Nihalani. Even then we believed that he had great potential. And he
has proved us right. Look at his body of work. He has done almost
everything and done really well.
He is equally thrilled working with Ajay and Vidya. "They are good
actors and it's been a nice experience working together. I really
enjoyed working in 'Halla Bol'."
Asked what he enjoys most - TV, films or theatre, he said: "Nothing
like that. I don't have preferences, but then TV has become very
limited for me. We all know that it's saas-bahu sagas. I don't
quite identify with these. Theatre of course gives you a different
kind of kick as the feedback comes immediately."
Indo-Asian News Service
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