Anil Kapoor's most iconic film to date is 'Mr. India'. But interestingly, he wasn't the first choice for the role.
Anil Kapoor is Mr. India, and vice versa. No matter how many successful films he stars in, or the diverse roles he portrays, the actor is and will always be best known for his performance in 'Mr. India'. The film, directed by Shekhar Kapur, came at a time (late 80s) when Hindi film heroes were all about machismo and beating villains single-handedly. But here, Kapoor broke the stereotypes by playing a 'hero' vulnerable enough. Just imagine, he had to become invisible in order to outsmart the villains. And more than his muscle power, he relied on his emotions and intelligence to achieve his goals.
Anil Kapoor with all the wonderful kids of ‘Mr. India’
The actor here had to literally redefine heroism with his performance. And that, without an iota of doubt, was a huge task. However, he not only did full justice to that but also stood out amidst a stellar ensemble cast. And hence, it's safe to say that no one could have done a better job than him.
#MrIndia was made iconic by its children friendly action scenes & Veeru’s Midas touch. I want to dedicate its 32nd anniversary to the man who made these unforgettable moments possible. #VeeruDevgan was an amazing man & I'm lucky to have worked with him. He is sorely missed... pic.twitter.com/jdw1w6ULtI
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) May 29, 2019
(Credit: Anil Kapoor)
Born on December 24, 1956, Anil Kapoor celebrates his 68th birthday today. On this occasion, we share an interesting fact about him that you didn't know.
Yes, you read it absolutely right! And what's more, Shekhar Kapur wasn't the first choice for the director as well.
The film was actually planned with Amitabh Bachchan (the biggest superstar of Hindi cinema at that time) as the lead, and 'Sholay' famed Ramesh Sippy as the director. As that didn't work out, producer Boney Kapoor decided to make it with his brother, Anil Kapoor.
Amitabh Bachchan – The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Anil Kapoor was just a few films old in the industry, and hence, wasn't seen as feasible for such an ambitious project. As Boney Kapoor later shared in an interview, "I had heard the story of 'Mr. India' after 'Woh Saat Din'. Javed Akhtar saab, Naresh Goyal, and I were supposed to make 'Mr India' with Ramesh Sippy as the director and Amitabh Bachchan as the hero. But it didn’t work out. So, once when Javed saab and I were sitting, I said, 'Let’s do this picture.' He said, 'It’s an expensive picture. GP Sippy was in two minds to make it with Amitabh Bachchan. How can you make it with Anil Kapoor?'"
Shekhar Kapur, Anil Kapoor, and Sridevi from ‘Mr. India’ sets
"I said that we will make it. In those times, when big films with top stars were mounted with 1 and 1.5 crores, I made a film for 3 crore and 20 lakh rupees. I was 80 lakhs deficit on release, but in the first year itself, I got the money and name, and the film is remembered even today, " he added.
Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Shekhar Kapur, and Boney Kapoor among others in an old picture
According to several reports, the lead role in 'Mr. India' was also offered to Rajesh Khanna. He turned it down because he couldn't relate to the concept of an invisible hero. And he reportedly said that a star of his stature wasn't needed for it and that a newcomer would be better suited here.
However, it's worth noting that director Shekhar Kapoor has dismissed this, saying Khanna was never offered the part as per his knowledge.
Mr India was not offered 2 Rajesh Khanna as far as I know. It may have been before I came aboard
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) July 19, 2012
(Credit: Shekhar Kapur)
'Mr. India' was the second biggest hit (behind 'Hukumat') of 1987, and went on to gain a 'cult' status.
The film has been remade in Tamil as 'En Rathathin Rathame' (1989) with K. Bhagyaraj and Meenakshi Seshadri, and in Kannada as 'Jai Karnataka' (1989) with Ambareesh and Rajani.
This was the last film where the screenwriting duo Salim–Javed worked together.
The first choice to play Mogambo was Anupam Kher. However, it was eventually played (and how!) by the late Amrish Puri.
Last year, Anil Kapoor returned as Mr. India in an ad film
Today, it is dubbed as the first mainstream Bollywood science fiction film.
Happy Birthday, Anil Kapoor. Thanks For 'Mr. India' And All The Other Amazing Films!
