Curious Case of Anil Kapoor!!

In January this year, FB rolled out the 10-year challenge. Both celebrities and mango people, culled out their decade-old photos, to post alongside the latest ones. But our jhakas man inundated FB’s clever social media engagement ploy. He posted videos of his songs from the last four decades and announced the #AK Challenge.  That’s 120-films-old Anil Kapoor. Pure and unabridged.

The industry vouches that AK is self-obsessed. And he has reasons to be one.

Recently, AK posted a photograph on Twitter to announce his forthcoming film – Malang. In the photo, he can be seen with three other men – Aditya Roy Kapur, Kunal Khemu and filmmaker Mohit Suri.  Soon, the social media went in a tizzy. The oldest man in the picture, AK at 62, was looking youngest. Indeed, AK’s age and his diet were the top searched results on Google Trends that day.

I was enthralled to explore what can be termed as – Curious Case of Anil Kapoor!!

At the age of 62, his fitness levels are laudable.  When actors like Ranveer Singh & Priyanka Chopra, worked with him in Dil Dhadakne Do, they found it difficult to keep up with his energy levels. I asked AK, what’s secret and he said, “I am like that! I move on to the next thing very quickly. I like challenges. Be it my work out, my diet or my roles… I like exploring something new.” And it is true. Back in the 80s when a hero was considered bigger than the content, AK played the loud Lakhan and simpleton Eeshwar, back to back in the same year.

Film critic, and founder of Film Companion, Anupama Chopra believes that his passion to re-invent himself has kept him relevant across generations in the last four decades. “I fail to understand that how an actor can own the role of Papaji in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga with such conviction, and move onto something as diverse as Total Dhamaal, in just a span of three weeks.”  It is not that, his experiments have always paid him well. Anupama, recalls, “Anil Kapoor is master of mixing highs & lows. Back in 2007, he gave a flop like My Wife’s Murder and bounced with a super hit like No Entry in the same year.”

It is often said, success does not come easy. AK’s career is a testimony of it. After his debut in the year 1983 as a hero in Woh Saat Din, there was a lull in his career. On being asked about that era, AK said, “I did many films purely for the sake of my kitchen, family & kids.” But that did not deter him from challenging the artist in himself. After playing street-smartcharacters in films like Khel & Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raja, he swayed the audience as a suave romantic hero in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 1942 A Love Story. He even crossed shores and won accolades for his role in Slumdog Millionaire. And did the television series 24, when others were not even thinking of exploring the small screen.

The trick of the game is AK has never taken himself too seriously. Says filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who gave him one of the biggest hits of his career – Ram Lakhan. “Anil Kapoor is full of positivity. He has never been smothered by failures, nor soared high with a success. He has always conducted his career with amazing poise and passion.”

On the personal front, AK is an epitome of discipline. Be it diet or workout, he makes sure to abide by it.  So, when I asked, what is the secret behind his reverse ageing, at 10:30 pm via what’s app message, prompt came the reply, “I stay happy & positive.” A lifetime of learning expressed with such ease. That is AK for you!

 #akchallenge #anilkapoor