Shakti Kapoor
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DLD‰‰†‰KDLD‰‰†‰DLD‰‰†‰MDLD‰‰†‰C Jaago! Raveena’s The perfect ad THE TIMES OF INDIA realistic role is for an evening Sunday, August 3, 2003 a wake-up call... to remember! Man auctions wife on the Net Page 10 Page 2 Antiques and paintings are rs. ‘‘People are offering tho- passe. Because a man has usands of pounds and even put his wife up for auction asking if they could excha- on the Net! Andy Hoyle, 35, nge their own wives.’’ from Wrexham, advertised Despite being tempted by Mel, 30, on a website after an offer of an £ 8,000 moto- she suggested it as a joke. rcycle, with the owner’s wi- Hoyle’s ad re- fe thrown in, Ho- ads: ‘‘The chassis yle has decided is in excellent or- not to sell. Mel, der for the mile- in turn, is pleasa- age, and warran- ntly surprised by ty is given at no the response. ‘‘It extra cost.’’ Ho- is hilarious.’’ Of yle reveals that course, it takes a OF INDIA he has had an wife less ordina- ‘‘unbelievable’’ ry to be ready for THANK GOD IT’S SUNDAY amount of offe- auction. Photos: MANOJ KESHARWANI MANOJ KESHARWANI SHAKTI KAPOOR: THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME I was born as Sunil Kapoor: My earliest memories I lived off Mithun: After the initial ragging, I was are of a cramped house in Karol Bagh, where I was friends with Mithun. Each night, as he sat down to born as Sunil Kapoor on September 3, 1952. I was the eat, I would ask: ‘Mithun, thoda khana dega?’ He nev- second of four children born to Sikander Lal Kapoor, er refused. Since Mithun had moved to Mumbai bef- who had a tailoring shop at CP,and Susheela, a hou- ore me, I shamelessly landed up at his rented place sewife. Often, we fell short of money,but I was happy and forced him to pay double the rent. There was a with my siblings Renu, Parvin and Rummy. time when he told our common friends not to discl- I was thrown out of three schools: I was never int- ose his whereabouts, lest I land up at his place! erested in books and got through exams in the third Anil Verman eased my struggle: While at FTII, I division. In fact, I was thrown out of three schools — did ad films. These credentials secured a role in Khel Holy Child, Frank Anthony Public School and Salw- Khiladi Par. The film didn’t do well, but I was noti- “ I was thrown out of “ an Public School —for bad behaviour.I got into fights ced. I stayed as a paying guest for Rs 250 per month I begged Feroze Khan because I wanted to have my way at all costs. till Anil Verman gave me free accommodation in an “three schools because I rebelled against my father: My father was a apartment, where I stayed for seven years. “for a role, in front of 500 of bad behaviour miser who kept saving all his money. This attitude I met Feroze Khan because of a road accident: Ad people on the road made me rebel against him and I frequently went campaigns gave me money to buy a ricke- for long drives in his Fiat, much against his wi- ty Fiat. Once, while driving down Lin- shes. Although my father wanted me to join the family business, I king Road, a Mercedes crashed into me. I rushed out to demand dama- was determined to run a travel agency.We fought because of this. ges. But when Feroze Khan stepped out of the Merc, I forgot everythi- I dated my cricket captain’s girlfriend: I secured admission to ng and begged him for a role. There were 500 people watching. the BCom (pass) course at Kirori Mal College through the sports The tide turned in my favour: I featured in Darwaza and Ali Baba quota. Cricket was a passion in college till I started dating the col- Marjina, but that big break eluded me. Around then, scriptwriter KK lege captain’s girlfriend. When he found out, he made me run ar- Shukla, who was Daisy Irani’s husband, told me that Feroze Khan ound the field! Soon, I dumped both cricket and his girlfriend. was looking for a villain for Qurbani and wanted a crazy guy who I was a model before I passed college: Vishnu panwalla in Ka- had banged into his car! Shukla called Feroze and we rushed to his off- rol Bagh, from whom I bought cigarettes, put up a poster of me in ice. Later in the evening, he asked me to come over. Feroze opened a bo- his kiosk and urged me to become an actor. I realised I could earn ttle of champagne for me! I performed a mujra on Aap Jaisa Koi for the money by modelling. My first ad campaign was for Surya Bansi Sui- high-fliers there. Qurbani made me a star. tings, with Jalal Agha’s wife Valerie. I made between Rs 150-350 per Sunil Dutt gave me the name ‘Shakti’: Sunil and Nargis Dutt took a assignment and spent the money on cigarettes and booze! liking for me. In fact, Sunil Dutt gave me the name ‘Shakti’. My father cheated me: When I passed out of KMC with 43 per I lived a double life —one with the Dutts, wherein I accom- cent marks, my father agreed to let me join a travel agency,and panied them when they went to pay Sanju’s school fees, ate assured me that he would help me set up my own place. I wor- biryani and gosht — and the other with Feroze, wherein I ked with Mercury Travels and Asian Travels. I made my conta- listened to international music, and socialised with movers cts, learnt about ticketing and visas and was all set to open my and shakers. I had two godfathers. When Rocky was released, own agency when my father backed out. I felt totally cheated. my status as a good actor was confirmed. I worked with Manm- I was destined to be an actor: My friends had filled in the app- ohan Desai, Prakash Mehra, David Dhawan. lication form for the Films and Television Institute of India, Pu- Parental opposition couldn’t stop Shivangi and I from ne, on my behalf. When I cleared the interview,my friends coa- marrying: I first met Shivangi on the sets of Kismet. She ched me for the audition. I was selected, but all my friends flu- was 13 years younger to me, but we became friends. I had the nked the audition. They alleged that my father had bribed the reputation of being a flirt. When Shivangi’s parents found FTII board and still haven’t forgiven me. out, they locked her up. She lied that she would have nothing A chance friendship changed my life: I booked a ticket to do with me, but as soon as she got her freedom, Shivangi came to my for Pune and left with Rs 700. While on the train, I befrien- house, and said she wouldn’t go back! We got married that very day — ded Anil Verman, who was also going to FTII. He suggest- January 12, 1982. My parents were shocked, but accepted Shivangi. But ed I accompany him to his sister’s home in Mumbai. Once her parents refused to have anything to do with us. It was only when Sidd- there, I saw Vinod Khanna walk into the house. Anil’s sis- hanth was born that the ice was broken. I also have a daughter,Shraddha. ter was married to Vinod’s brother Pramod! And with Vin- I lost both my parents in one year: Fortunately,I made peace with my od were Rakesh and Rajesh Roshan! They came to drop us at father before he passed away a couple of years back. When he breathed FTII. We drove in a Ford, beer bottles in hand. I felt like a star! his last, he was proud of me. My mother also died in the same year — Mithun ragged me: When we re- her loss is irreparable. My temple ached FTII, I walked up to this da- AJIT NINAN at home has pictures of my pare- TIED BY TRUST: With today being Friendship Day, Delhi Times rk guy in a lungi and said, nts and God. captures the camaraderie between Vidit Bahari and Aashali Shukla ‘You wanna have some be- SUNDAY SPECIAL I am happiest when I ma- as the youngsters symbolise the spirit of buddy-bonding (To send er?’ Mithun Chakrabarti A trip down memory lane leads through the galis ke others laugh: Zakhmi this photograph to a friend, log on to www.timescity.com/delhi/) declined. That night, Mit- of Karol Bagh. The road ahead paves the path for Insaan, the only movie in hun, Vijayendra Ghatge infinite possibilities. In between, life has been a which I have played the and another senior, took hero, flopped within half me into a room, switched roller-coaster ride. As a child born into humble an hour of its release. Still, off the lights, splashed beginnings, he was driven by lavish dreams to whether it is as a villain or FRIENDS FOREVER! water on my face, cho- rebel against his father. As an actor, his pride in his comedian, I love my roles. I “ Tucked away in a corner of lives lit up by the limelight is that friend who, in “ My father cheated me; pped off my newly-styled own performance has helped him overcome the have lived numerous lives, I had the image of a an inconspicuous way, is always there.