I intend to stay away from Bollywood - Rajat Kapoor
What makes Rajat Kapoor an intriguing director, producer, writer and an actor? The fact that he says, "I don't exist in Bollywood. I direct my style of films, act in my kind of movies and produce what I believe in". The fact that he's not necessarily interested in his all round image but more in becoming the character and trying different things. You wouldn't think it to look at him, and certainly not to listen to him, but Rajat has turned out to be something of a risk taker and a survivor.
Having spent a few years in the direction doldrums (theatre and films), unsure even as to whether he had chosen an appropriate, 'dignified' career, he moved on to acting and is now known for his memorable roles in films like Dil Chahta Hai, Corporate, Monsoon Wedding and Bheja Fry. With additional career moves such as writing and production, he is now termed - 'Jack of All Trades'.
Now, the shabby looking actor (that's how he described himself to each of the interviewers over the phone) talks about his latest film Siddharth where he plays a prisoner. The actor also gave some bizarre insights to some 'not-so-bizarre' questions in an interview which happened in a bizarre looking ambience which looked more like a prison anyway (and that again is what Rajat thought of). Over to the man of few but fiery words. Here are excerpts from the interview:
What
satisfies
you
as
an
actor
with
so
much
versatility
in
you?
I
don't
know
really.
The
feeling
of
having
done
a
good
job
satisfies
me.
When
you
look
back
at
a
film
and
say,
"Oh
God,
this
looks
fake.
This
doesn't
look
real
enough
to
what
I
wanted
to
show".
For
things
like
that,
I
wish
I
could
go
back
in
time
and
re-do
it
but
I
can't.
So,
a
film
where
by
and
large,
we
don't
get
that
feeling
that
it's
fake
when
we
watch
it,
I
think
that
is
what
is
satisfactory
for
you
as
an
actor.
How
different
is
Siddharth
the
writer
from
Rajat
the
writer?
Not
very
different.
Quite
close
I
should
say.
I
somewhat
identify
with
that
guy
in
the
film
because
he
is
also
as
shabby
as
I
am.
The
external
appearance
is
quite
close
to
me
and
internally
he
is
as
passionate
and
intense
as
I
am
when
I
write.
He
is
also
a
believer,
something
I
associate
myself
with.
What
type
of
a
writer
are
you
in
real
life
and
what
inspires
you
to
write?
I
only
write
film
scripts.
I
need
a
hook
to
get
into
a
script.
Like
I
had
a
hook
in
Raghu
Romeo,
I
had
a
hook
in
Mithya.
The
beginning
of
any
story
has
to
be
very
strong
and
that's
when
you
get
hooked
initially.
Then
there
is
no
stopping
you
to
get
inspiration.
You're
doing
acting,
direction,
production,
scripting
and
theatre.
Don't
you
think
you've
got
your
feet
in
too
many
holes?
I
would
say
'too
many'
if
I
couldn't
do
it.
If
I
can
do
all
the
roles
then
I
don't
think
there
is
a
problem.
I
hope
I
am
doing
justice
in
what
I
am
doing.
But
it's
not
that
I
am
doing
this
continuously
all
the
time.
The
last
play
I
did
was
eight
years
back.
I
am
now
doing
a
play.
So
it's
not
that
I
am
doing
theatre,
running
to
my
shoot,
scripting
a
film,
it
doesn't
work
like
that
for
me.
I
try
to
phase
them.
Theatre
gives
me
as
much
joy
as
cinema
does.
So
I
don't
want
to
abandon
either
of
them.
How
was
Pryas
Gupta's
story
able
to
convince
you
as
an
actor?
It
wasn't
the
story
of
Siddharth
which
convinced
me.
It
was
Pryas
Gupta.
It
was
the
passion
that
he
had,
the
vision
that
he
had.
It's
quite
an
abstract
film
as
you
may
or
may
not
know.
It
wasn't
a
fabulous
script
but
the
kind
of
film
he
had
in
mind
that
made
it
interesting.
The
film
explores
the
renunciation
as
a
true
path
to
enlightenment
and
freedom.
Is
the
film
exploring
the
psyche
of
each
individual?
These
are
ideas
which
are
conveyed
through
the
overall
film.
It's
not
about
how
will
I
play
a
character
of
a
prisoner
who
is
enlightened.
When
you're
playing,
you're
playing
a
scene.
Your
effort
is
to
be
as
truthful
to
that
scene
and
situation.
And
it
is
the
director's
job
to
see
that
his
ideas
come
through
with
the
whole
film.
How
did
the
debutant
Sachin
Nayak
stand
up
to
you
as
your
co-star?
He
is
very
good
in
the
film
and
so
are
all
the
other
actors.
I
think
if
the
casting
of
any
film
is
done
correctly,
then
half
your
battle
is
won
anyway.
Sachin
is
a
good
find
and
now-a-days,
we
do
have
actors
like
Purab
Kohli,
Abhay
Deol,
etc
who
are
doing
good
yet
different
stuff
which
pleases
the
eye
sometimes.
How
careful
do
you
have
to
be
to
articulate
your
point
of
view
as
an
artist
to
your
director?
Why
do
you
have
to
be
careful?
As
an
artiste,
you
don't
have
to
be
careful
to
articulate
your
point
of
view.
You
have
to
be
yourself
and
your
view
point
comes
across
to
whomsoever
it
may
concern.
If
you
become
careful,
you
are
not
an
artiste.
What
do
you
want
the
audiences
to
take
back
with
them
after
watching
Siddharth?
That
they
saw
a
good
film.
I
don't
exactly
know
how
to
answer
this.
You
don't
take
anything
from
watching
a
film.
When
you
listen
to
music,
you
take
the
feeling
of
joy
and
fulfilment.
You
don't
learn
anything
when
you
see
a
film,
or
watch
a
painting
or
listen
to
music.
I
think
art
is
a
representation
of
beauty.
So
what
do
you
take
from
a
beauty?
I
guess,
just
the
enjoyment
of
it.
Off
late,
we
haven't
seen
you
in
many
commercial
flicks.
Do
you
intend
to
stay
away
from
Bollywood?
Yes,
I
intend
to
stay
away
from
Bollywood
because
I
am
not
a
part
of
Bollywood
filmmaking.
I
am
not
Bollywood
at
all.
I
am
quite
happy
existing
on
the
margins
and
living
my
life
on
the
edge
and
to
be
able
to
make
films
that
I
want
to
make.