Veteran actress Anita Kanwal spoke about actors Akshaye Khanna and Arjun Rampal finally getting their due as actors, while candidly admitting that she too hopes to get her own ‘dhurandhar moment’ one day.Talking to Siddharth Kannan in a recent interview, Anita thought about working with Akshay in Laawaris and with Arjun in Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat.
When Siddharth pointed out that both actors are celebrated today as “underrated” and “powerful” artistes who did not get enough appreciation earlier in their careers, Anita responded with humor and honesty.“Mera’s point of view yeh hai ki mujhe kab ‘Dhurandhar’ milega?” I laughed.
Anita Kanwal says Dhurandhar gave her hope
The actress went on to praise the casting of Rakesh Bedi in the upcoming film Dhurandhar alongside Ranveer Singh.“Dhurandhar mein Rakesh Bedi… saare jitne bhi character actors hain… kitna achha kaam kiya unhone. One day, I googled the film and saw Ranveer Singh and Rakesh Bedi starring in it. I was so proud,” Anita shared.She added that actors never stop waiting for meaningful roles, regardless of their age.“Issi umeed pe main jee rahi hoon ki mera bhi ‘Dhurandhar’ milega,” she said, citing legendary actress Zahra Sehgal as an example of someone who continued to do memorable work into her old age.
“Older female characters are rarely written.”
Anita also spoke about the lack of great parts for older actresses in the industry.“Unfortunately, there is no age in our country, especially for women. Older characters love it,” she said, while noting the number of younger actresses who often play older roles.The actress also recalled her experience with both Akshay and Arjun on the sets and described their personalities as completely different.Describing Akshay as “very serious” and reserved while shooting for Laawaris, she said, “Hello ma’am… that’s all.”On the other hand, she described Arjun Rampal as a ‘mula of the mast’ and the person who was always joking on the sets of Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat.
Anita Kanwal talks about Rajiv Rai’s pressures during the underworld threat phase
The actress also remembered director Rajeev Rai, who directed Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, and admitted that he seemed visibly stressed during that period amid the alleged underworld threats.“He was very nervous. I don’t know if that was his nature because I didn’t know him personally, but he seemed very nervous,” she said.During the same conversation, Anita also reflected on her transformation over the years – from being a reluctant newcomer to being the outspoken and fearless person she is today.“Success gives you the confidence to speak up,” she said. “Earlier, I used to think four times before saying anything.”