Actor Tusshar Kapoor may be busy with films, but he does keep track of sis Ektaa Kapoor's serials. I don't watch them, but I follow the TRPs of channels, he tells us. Film production seems to have become a focus point for Ektaa too, these days.
She is slowly getting involved in producing more and more films. At the same time, she is exploring new markets in Dubai and is also looking at Indonesia for her serials. It won't be wrong to say then that this Kapoor family is going places. Literally and figuratively speaking, of course!
'Koi Aap Sa' bold, mature film: Ekta kapoor |
"We got past the censors without a single cut," chuckles the irrepressible Ekta Kapoor about
her latest film, "Koi Aap Sa". She calls it her most mature film to date.
She's also in the throes of four more serials including the much-missed "Hum Paanch".
"While 'Kya Kool Hain Hum' was targeted strictly at the youth market, 'Koi Aap Sa' aims at a more mellow market. It's the story of single parenthood, about two friends, played by Natassha and Dipannita Sharma, who bring up an illegitimate child born out of rape."
Ekta admits it's a bold subject.
"But not sensationalist. And you won't see the hero doing funny things to the cat this time," the TV tycoon laughs uproariously at the memory of her brother Tusshar's unmentionable antics in the inspiring company of Riteish Deshmukh in her previous film.
Why no Tusshar in "Koi Aap Sa"?
"Very frankly I'd love to have him in all my films. He's my brother and a good actor. But Tusshar could spare dates for only one film. And I preferred to have him do the naughty 'Kya Kool Hain Hum'. He hadn't done anything like it before. Aftab Shivdasani stepped into this one."
She is woman enough to admit big stars weren't willing to work with her after a series of feature film fiascos she fashioned.
"This was before 'Kya Kool.' became a surprise success. I may have been a name on TV. But I was a nobody in feature filmmaking. I guess it was my mom who got me out of my horror fixation. She gave me an ultimatum. If I insisted on making one more chiller I'd have to leave the house."
"Koi Aap Sa" is directed by Partho Mitra who directed many of Ekta's most important soaps.
"Like Santram and Anurag Basu, Partho is trained on television at Balajee Telefilms. He has an eye for detail and a very clear understanding of what he wants to do. He also understands the differences between the home medium and cinema."
Mom Shobha Kapoor is also openly opposed to Ekta's little fracas with her best-buddy Natassha who stars in "Koi Aap Sa".
"Yes, we fought like kids," Ekta grins sheepishly. "Natassha had been shooting 18 hours a day for our serials. After that when she was asked to do promotional interviews for 'Koi Aap Sa' she protested. I fired her, saying I worked round-the-clock. I sometimes forget my colleagues needn't and cannot match my unrealistic levels of workaholism."
To Ekta's surprise and, ahem, horror, her mom openly sided with Natassha.
"My mom fired me. She told me it was all my fault. Natassha and I have made up, though not entirely."
One difference of opinion Ekta isn't willing to iron out is regarding her film's second lead Himanshu Malik's grievance about his lack of publicity.
"What is he talking about? He was never promised anything. If you see the film Himanshu is just not one of the main characters. It's a three-character story and they are played by Aftab, Natassha and Dipannita."
More reconciliation . this time with Rakhi Tandon, the enfant terrible in the serial "Hum Paanch". Apparently Raakhi gave Ekta hell during "Hum Paanch".
Laughs Ekta: "All that's part of the past. We're returning with 'Hum Paanch' and we felt no one but Rakhi could play her original role. In fact the entire cast is the same except Chutki who has grown up since we last saw the serial."
With the return of "Hum Paanch", Ekta's professional life seems to have come a full circle. "Yes, my first successful serial was 'Hum Paanch'. Now I'm back doing it. I hope it doesn't mean anything ominous."
About her series of parties recently, Ekta laughs: "We just had a couple of parties. But that's it. I'm certainly not turning into a party animal. My only passion in life is my work.
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Ekta refutes claims of promoting Tusshar
Kapoor, who turned 27 in June, has turned to film production in a big way.
While one of her films Kya Pyar Karoge Mujhse featuring her actor brother Tusshar Kapoor and Esha Deol, is heading for a December release, Kapoor is ready to start another film called Kuch To Hai with Aftab Shivdasani, Isha Kopikker and television star Anita in August.
Two other projects featuring Tusshar to be directed by Vikram Bhatt and Abbas-Mustan will be launched early next year.
Kapoor hastens to refute the claim that she's making films to promote her brother. "Not at all, Tusshar is doing very well for himself without my help. If he's in three of my four films it's because I feel he suits the main roles.
"For one of the films that I plan to launch next year Tusshar will change his entire look, cut his hair to play a bouncer."
Speaking of films, she says: "I know I failed as a producer in my first film Kyunkii Main Jhooth Nahin Bolta . But that was because I didn't understand the nitty-gritty of filmmaking.
"You can't be an absentee producer and hope to succeed in cinema. You have to be all there. I intend to devote ample time to film production," promises Kapoor.
But with more than two-dozen serials on air, how would she make the time? "I don't look at television and cinema as two different vocations. Forget vocation. It's a paid vacation for me," she jokes.
"(Besides), there's a lot of spill over and give-and-take between the two mediums. For instance, Anurag Basu and Sant Ram who directed my serials Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahin Kissi Roz , respectively, are directing the two feature films for me."
One of Kapoor's main motives behind moviemaking is to break away from the image of a family soap-maker. "That's why in cinema you'll find me going into completely untried and untested genres, like the supernatural thriller and the teen campus flick, which hasn't been done as yet in Hindi.
"The days of the conventional love stories and family dramas are over. Audiences crave for a change. See how successful Vikram Bhatt's Awaara Paagal Deewana is. I'm glad I signed Vikram to direct a film with my brother much before the release of his new blockbuster. Only directors who can think beyond stars will survive," foretells the television tycoon.
"I can't work with big stars and incredible budgets. Mine is a small production house. The only way to grow is to make films within a reasonable budget and timeframe. I've to work with actors who give me their full concentration."
Kapoor's Kya Pyar Karoge Mujhse is almost ready. "It is a love triangle unlike any other. It features my dad's friend Rishi Kapoor in a very unusual role."
But she has no intentions of neglecting television. "Soaps are my first love. I can never dissociate myself from them. In fact I 'm very hurt at the insinuation made by some women's organisations that my serials denigrate women. How can they (serials) when all of them have strong assertive women at the centre?
"They're talking about a blind girl being raped in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki . Don't such things happen? And why notice the heinous act alone? What about the aftermath, the way all the women rally around the rape victim to help her?"
Kapoor's new soap Kamal , which went on air this week on Zee TV, is about three sex workers who raise an orphan girl. "It raises socially relevant issues like parentage, dignity of labour and a woman's right to self-dependence.
"I'm sure the social activists will find something politically incorrect with Kamal as well," chuckles Kapoor, who's laughing all the way to the bank.
Tusshar loves Ekta’s serials |
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Tusshar Kapoor is one dedicated brother for sure. Ekta Kapoor’s younger brother says that he watches her ‘K’ serials on and off. “Earlier I used to watch Kasautii Zindagi Kay regularly, as I found it quite romantic. Even now, I tune in to watch her serials between takes. There’s always some drama happening!” he smiles. Tusshar thinks it’s a backhanded compliment for Ekta when TV stars criticise her in interviews. “They envy her because she’s doing so well,” he adds. |
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