Anil Kapoor has often spoken candidly about the profound influence his father, Surinder Kapoor, had on his life and career choices. While his father was a producer, Anil’s journey was not an easy one. He had to struggle to pave the way for himself, and he also witnessed his father’s struggles.
This played a major role in shaping his own ambition, to succeed with his competence and achieve what his father was unable to do.The ‘Mr India’ actor fondly remembers his father as a man defined more by his personality than his professional success. In a conversation with Lilly Singh, he said, “My father was a great man. He was very humble, very honest and had a lot of integrity. I think he came to Mumbai in the late 1950s or early 1960s, I’m not sure.”
He then became K. Asif’s assistant, and later became an actor’s manager. Everywhere I went in this brotherhood movie, people always told me what a good man he was, what a nice man he was, what an honest man he was.
Not how successful it is, you know. First and foremost, they always talked about him being an exceptional human being. So this was my father.He also paid a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Nirmal Kapoor, recalling her warmth and influence within the film community.
“My mother was known to be the best cook in this film. It’s like folklore, the food cooked by Mrs. Sunil Kapoor, or Anil’s mother, or Sonam’s grandmother. Her food was legendary. We were staying in Chembur, near RK Studios. No matter who was shooting, the food would come from my house. She was like an elder stateswoman.”
Everyone who was in this industry needed advice, whether it was about getting married or having kids or anything else, she was truly like a mother to everyone around us: family, friends, everyone.Despite being a producer with connections in the industry, Surinder Kapoor made it clear that he will not pave an easy path for his son. “So when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, ‘Okay, go ahead,’” Anil recalls. But I can’t make a movie for you. You’re going to have to find work for yourself.’ And that was great, because it allowed me to do what I wanted to do and pursue my dreams.Anil started pursuing his acting ambitions at an early age, especially during the difficult period his family went through.
“I started pursuing a career at a very young age, around 18 or 19, I think before I could complete my studies, my father was not well. He had a heart attack. He was a film producer, and it was difficult to get leading men and actors for his films at that time. So I said: ‘I have to become an actor.’ I’ve got to be a leading man.’ That’s when I really started pursuing my career seriously.
At the time, I couldn’t really give myself the space to process my emotions because I was constantly trying to build a career, become an actor, get a job, get a job.
“I was always trying to find work.”One painful memory that stayed with him was of a film produced by his father starring Rajesh Khanna. Despite high expectations, the film failed commercially, exposing the harsh realities of the industry. Anil shared, “I remember one of his films released, starring one of the biggest stars, Rajesh Khanna. Everyone expected it to be a huge hit, but it turned out to be a huge flop.”
I remember how everyone changed within hours.He went on to describe the emotional impact on his father: “He was traveling from Delhi because films were showing in different states on different days at that time, not all at once. So he went to Bangalore, and there was no one to meet him at the airport. Everyone had completely abandoned him, disowned him. It was shocking. That was the first time I had ever seen him like that. He came back, and while he wasn’t exactly crying, I could see he was very weak, almost crying.”
“That moment left a lasting impression. “That image has always stayed with me. That’s one of the reasons why, when I saw my father go through that, I always wanted to be a hero, a leading man, an actor.”
