Anil Kapoor Exclusive: “Yes ,I Am Doing A Film With My Son”

Will he? Won’t he?  The suspense over Anil Kapoor sharing screen  space with  his son Harshvardhan Kapoor is finally over .

Anil Kapoor  confirms that  he is indeed playing Olympian gold medalist Abhinav  Bindra’s  father Apjit Bindra.

Anil’s son Harshvardhan  plays  Abhinav Bindra. And  there was some talk of Anil being in two minds, as he did not want audiences  to make unfair comparisons between  father and son  so soon in the latter’s career.

But Anil demurs, “There was  not a moment’s hesitation in  accepting this part. And my son is  confident enough to work with me even now when he’s just two  films old.In fact  both my  children Sonam and  Harsh have been  making brave choices from the beginning.  Sonam started with an unconventional  Saawariya directed  by Sanjay LeelaBhansali.  Harsh’s  launch  in the Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya was equally unorthodox. They are both very  confident  actors.And the  only reason  it took so long for me  to work with Sonam(in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh AisaLaga) is because we  didn’t get a suitable film to come together  before this.”

 Anil  says it’s a different situation  in his son’s  case.  “With the  Abhinav Bindra bio-pic I am proud to say I said yes immediately . My son  is playing a sportsperson who was the first individual  gold medalist at  the Olympics from India. I’d be happy to play  a walk-on part in such a film that does  the country  proud.”

 Anil says his son is not afraid to take on  unusual roles  so early in his career. “Harsh and Sonam are like me in  that sense. I  started my career  as  a  leading man in a Telugu film(Vamsa  Vruksham)  directed by Bapu. Then  Bapu, who was my mentor and guru, launched me  in Hindi in an equally  unconventional WohSaat Din. Look at Sonam and Harsh’s career. I think  choosing films like  Neerja and  Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga comes  naturally toSonam. Likewise  for Harsh  to do  Bhavesh Joshi  which is a big success  on  the internet although  it failed  in theatres,is  a very  brave thing to.”

Anil claims he’s happily allowing Harsh  take centrestage in the Abhinav Bindra  bio-pic. “For my children  I’d  happily play supporting or even negligible parts.”

However a source  close  to the  Bindra project says Anil’s role is as  important as his son’s. “Abhinav Bindra’s fatherApjit Bindra was instrumental in seeing Abhinav win gold at the Olympics. Director Kannan Iyer has spent close to five years researching the Bindra story. The bio-pic is being made in close association with the Bindras. After going through their entire story Kannan  decided to format the film as a father-son story.It’s the role of a very upright principled man who dreamt big dreams for his son.”

 Interestingly the two  roles  of  the  father and son Bindra were initially offered  to Rishi  Kapoor and his son Ranbir.Ranbir in fact  shares his  birthday with Abhinav Bindra.