Tell me about something that you won’t believe it would happen in your life and it has been?
First of all I should tell that the thing which I have never imagined of that thing happened in my life. I have never imagined that I would ever come to Bombay; I would ever become an actor, never ever. I never wanted to become an actor, I always wanted to be a cricketer but the friends which I had in Delhi’s Kirori Mal college they filled my form in an institute of pune and even my name got selected in that and my friends they did not get selected. Later my friends blamed me that I have bribed the institution in my selection and out of 40000 applications only 10 boys got selected. I, Naseeruddin Shah and Anil Verman we got selected. I had Naseer in my batch, Mithoon as my senior, and senior to Mithoon I had Shabana Azmi and Shatrughan Sinha from the institute.So a lot of actors came out from the institute. Destination is destined; you think something else and reach somewhere else. So I gave my return test and I got pass in that then later i gave my audition and got pass and then screen test and again got pass I don’t know how this happened. I was never an actor, never worked in drama but you know there is a saying that if god is on your side then irrespective of your ability you will succeed.
So you directly got selected in the institution and then you started your career from their?
I did my 2 years course from there and when I was studying in second year I was signed for a film by Arjun Hingorani for khel khilari ka. But my real journey began when Sunil Dutt sir gave me a new name from Sunil to Shakti Kapoor and I did his movies like Yari Dushmani and rocky then I did Feroz khan sir’s film Qurbani. Then even I didn’t knew what next will happen in my life and slowly slowly I got interest in acting and then it was fun to do. I was not happy just after working in Qurbani .When he is jogging by the beach one day he met the veteran producer-director J. om prakash and told him that he was keen on acting under his direction in any film of his.J.om prakash asked him to wait for two years since he was busy with a film of his and there was no scope for any additional casting. “I did not even meet omji for the next two years but a day after two years I went to him to remind him that he had promised me in a film of his .Omji was kind enough to offer me not only the guest appearance in his film Asha but also a film called Apna bana lo with kalpana iyer who was a big name then.” My fate changed for the better when one day after he had bought a 1961 model Fiat and feroz khan’s car hit his car but instead of yelling at the suave actor-director, all that he did was to plead with him to sign him as an actor as he had passed out from the institute and looking out for a good banner to be launched as an actor. After a few days when Shakti Kapoor went to the writer K.K. Shukla’s house for his Quota of free booze
Who insisted the name shakti?
This filmy world name was given to me by Nargis ji and Sunil Dutt as a blessing. Sunil Kapoor was actually rechristened as Shakti Kapoor by Sunil Dutt and Nargis When he was singed by them for their film,since they felt that the name Sunil was too tame and they were keen on introducing him as a new villain. Shakti Kapoor lied to them that he was new comer through three film of his had been released.
Your education?
I have done Bcom graduation from Delhi university same college where Mr. Amitabh Bachann use to study and Satish Kaushik also. Then after doing my Bcom i worked in a travelling agency for one year. My father was having a business but I never wanted to join in that business. I always wanted to open a traveling agency or else to be a cricketer but my father told to join in business. Work in fathers business, who will work? So I got sad by this and my friends filled the form for me without informing me and then it was like by god’s grace I came to pune, by god’s grace I signed a film. I did not have any family contacts in film line but Sunil Dutt sir gave me his blessings. Vinod Khanna gave me a house to live, for 7 years I was with Vinod Khanna. It wasn’t like I was his family member but he liked me as a person. Feroz khan sir gave me Qurbani, dutt sir gave me rocky and Yari Dushmani and then the journey went on and on. Then madraas came, and then Baap Numbri, then Ankhen, then Pahlaj Nihalani came into my life. I did 20 films with David Dhawan, and then with K bapaya I had done many films, with Ramesh Sippy I did 18 films and then it was like everyone became friends. Then with this I did 700 films. I am the only actor who has worked in all the languages of India apart from me there is no actor who did all the language. Gujrati, Marathi, Hindi, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Telgu, Tamil, Bhojpuri, etc. So i had a journey where films use to come one after one and I kept on doing them.
There was a rumor that you want to become a hotelier?
It wasn’t a rumor, I have a hotel which is going to open in Dehradun name as Aaoo lalita and it’s a big restaurant not a hotel. I have a friend in Delhi and he is going to open this restaurant in his mall and I am the partner in this. The opening will be done in November or December. It took time for this because the journey was very big. Aaoo lalita is from the movie tohfa. And now I have a program running in radio named as Crime Master Gogo from morning 9-10 Monday to Friday and afternoon 2-3 radio nasha 109.9. We have toys for crime master gogo but I don’t earn a single rupee royalty from that anyways god bless the one who is earning from this. Towel, napkins, t-shirts etc. even Amir Khan wore my t-shirt of crime master gogo. There is one more program called Mahabharat on radio which I am working on. We have Shatrughan Sinha, Vivek Oberoi, Dalip Tahil, Shaan singer and maybe Sanjay dutt will be there in that and I am mama shakuni. It’s one of the biggest shows in radio called Mahabharat.
Your favorite food, favorite sports?
In sports Cricket and in food I love home’s food like my wife’s handmade Machhi Kadi, Rajma chawal. My mom taught her how to make Punjabi food and she is one the finest cook one can think about. She is fantastic.
Your lifestyle? Favorite brand?
My lifestyle is very simple. I love to roam in shorts and t-shirts. Even I was in Europe I was in shorts only. Shorts, t-shirts n all. I like to be casual in life. I don’t have any specific brand like Armani or boss. I rarely buy ready made suits. I always get it stitched in India. I must be having 200 suits from which 2-3 is Armani which I bought from London, but I still prefer my suits stitched by Indian tailors. The brands is just for name sake, waste of money. Even my daughter doesn’t use brands. I always wear ripped jeans, shorts, t-shirts.
Your favorite place in India?
In childhood I use to love mussoorie and I still have a house in mussoorie. It’s my holiday home and I love mussorie Dalhousie is very good and I like Bombay. i have eaten so much of food in 5 star hotels . I think my whole life got spent in hotels
Favorite shoes brand?
I prefer reebok, adidas, and then American boots. When I go to America I get them.
Any plans for future?
I don’t plan anything. I would love to see my future playing with my children’s kids. I would love to play the role of a grandfather in a film. I would like to play again some dynamite villain role as a don. I want to come back as a main villain like Ajit sir and praan sir use to do. Would love to play my daughters father or sons father in a film..it will be beautiful. If I get a chance I want to work with my children.
Are you crazy about antiques things to keep in your house ?
There was no place for these antiques in the house but yes I love antiques, good solid looking piece.
Is Siddhant looking to do films further?
Yes! his film is releasing name as paltan. It is coming next month.
Who is your favoutite actor with whom you would like to work?
I want to work with Akshay Kumar in future even though want to work with new actors. Eventually I m also doing an off beats role in web series with Rohan Sippy. Have done one more web series for zee, one more for Adhikary brothers so you have to be in modern way. Whatever is happening you have to be a part of it and Akshay is my old friend. I always give his example of my family. He use to get up early in the morning at 4 o’clock and sleep by 9:30 at night, pure vegetarian and such a family oriented man he looks after his children, looks after his health. He is superb example to my children to follow only one actor that is Akshay Kumar. Very proud of Akshay.
Have you ever tried judo or karate in your life?
I did, when I was young in so many films I have done. I have played son for all the villains. Son for Amjad, Ranjeet, Praan saab, Ajeet saab, Kader khan. and whatever action is to be done with the actors is done with me. My every fight was very hit Qurbani’s fight, Naseeb’s fight. Asia action is super. The course of his career changed overnight when Shakti Kapoor came across the veteran secretary joshiji who had a tiff with villain Ranjeet and offered to manage Shakti’s career “imagine Joshiji got me not one or two but 35 films in a row .After the success of Qurbani , I wanted to buy a house and car and so signed whichever film was offer to me. When Ramesh Sippy offered to sign me for his film Satte pe Satta , Joshiji told him that I would do his film only if he gave me a new car as a signing amount. Besides the balance of Rs 40,000,Ramesh Sippy also sent me a cheque for Rs 1 lakh when the film ran over 100 days. Today you cannot find a producer who is true to his word, like Ramesh Sippy.”
Upcoming movie in one and a half month with Govinda name Rangeela Raja done with dubbing and stuff. Raja babu pe I got film fare award and best actor.
Any kind of reality show you are proceeding to?
If I get reality show then I will definitely work. I want to be a judge of some very good show. I was very busy these days and they want at least 4 days in a week but ,I m very much busy and its difficult to remove time .
How will you describe Shraddha as an daughter?
She is excellent. She is simple and lovely as well as intelligent girl. A family oriented girl. So I’m very proud of her. She is very good in music . She plays piano well. She sings very well and she is outstanding proud to be her father.
