सुनील सिकन्दरलाल पूर
A trip down memory lane leads through the galis of Karol Bagh. The road
ahead paves the path for infinite possibilities. In between, life has
been a roller-coaster ride. As a child born into humble beginnings, he
was driven by lavish dreams to rebel against his father. As an actor,
his pride in his own performance has helped him overcome the prejudices
of the industry. As a lover, he has battled against an image to find his
soulmate.
Anubha Sawhney traces the story within a story hidden behind the scenes of Shakti Kapoor's life
I was born as Sunil Kapoor: My earliest memories are of a cramped house
in Karol Bagh, where I was born as Sunil Kapoor on September 3, 1952. I
was the second of four children born to Sikander Lal Kapoor, who had a
tailoring shop at CP, and Susheela, a housewife. Often, we fell short of
money, but I was happy with my siblings Renu, Parvin and Rummy.
- Kapoor with his daughter Shraddha Kapoor
I was thrown out of three schools: I was never interested in books and
got through exams in the third division. In fact, I was thrown out of
three schools — Holy Child, Frank Anthony Public School and Salwan
Public School —for bad behaviour. I got into fights because I wanted to
have my way at all costs.
I rebelled against my father: My
father was a miser who kept saving all his money. This attitude made me
rebel against him and I frequently went for long drives in his Fiat,
much against his wishes. Although my father wanted me to join the family
business, I was determined to run a travel agency. We fought because of
this.
I dated my cricket captain's girlfriend: I secured
admission to the BCom (pass) course at Kirori Mal College through the
sports quota. Cricket was a passion in college till I started dating the
college captain's girlfriend. When he found out, he made me run around
the field! Soon, I dumped both cricket and his girlfriend.
I
was a model before I passed college: Vishnu panwalla in Karol Bagh, from
whom I bought cigarettes, put up a poster of me in his kiosk and urged
me to become an actor. I realised I could earn money by modelling. My
first ad campaign was for Surya Bansi Suitings, with Jalal Agha's wife
Valerie. I made between Rs 150-350 per assignment and spent the money on
cigarettes and booze!
My father cheated me: When I passed out
of KMC with 43 per cent marks, my father agreed to let me join a travel
agency, and assured me that he would help me set up my own place. I
worked with Mercury Travels and Asian Travels. I made my contacts,
learnt about ticketing and visas and was all set to open my own agency
when my father backed out. I felt totally cheated.
I was
destined to be an actor: My friends had filled in the application form
for the Films and Television Institute of India, Pune, on my behalf.
When I cleared the interview, my friends coached me for the audition. I
was selected, but all my friends flunked the audition. They alleged that
my father had bribed the FTII board and still haven't forgiven me.
A chance friendship changed my life: I booked a ticket for Pune and
left with Rs 700. While on the train, I befriended Anil Verman, who was
also going to FTII. He suggested I accompany him to his sister's home in
Mumbai. Once there, I saw Vinod Khanna walk into the house. Anil's
sister was married to Vinod's brother Pramod! And with Vinod were Rakesh
and Rajesh Roshan! They came to drop us at FTII. We drove in a Ford,
beer bottles in hand. I felt like a star!
Mithun ragged me:
When we reached FTII, I walked up to this dark guy in a lungi and said,
'You wanna have some beer?' Mithun Chakrabarti declined. That night,
Mithun, Vijayendra Ghatge and another senior, took me into a room,
switched off the lights, splashed water on my face, chopped off my
newly-styled hair and threatened me with the worst if they caught me
drinking. Terrified, I didn't leave my room for the next four days.
I lived off Mithun: After the initial ragging, I was friends with
Mithun. Each night, as he sat down to eat, I would ask: 'Mithun, thoda
khana dega?' He never refused. Since Mithun had moved to Mumbai before
me, I shamelessly landed up at his rented place and forced him to pay
double the rent. There was a time when he told our common friends not to
disclose his whereabouts, lest I land up at his place!
Anil Verman eased my struggle: While at FTII, I did ad films. These credentials secured a role in Khel Khiladi Par
. The film didn't do well, but I was noticed. I stayed as a paying
guest for Rs 250 per month till Anil Verman gave me free accommodation
in an apartment, where I stayed for seven years.
I met Feroze
Khan because of a road accident: Ad campaigns gave me money to buy a
rickety Fiat. Once, while driving down Linking Road, a Mercedes crashed
into me. I rushed out to demand damages. But when Feroze Khan stepped
out of the Merc, I forgot everything and begged him for a role. There
were 500 people watching.
The tide turned in my favour: I featured in Darwaza and Ali Baba Marjina
, but that big break eluded me. Around then, scriptwriter K K Shukla,
who was Daisy Irani's husband, told me that Feroze Khan was looking for a
villain for Qurbani and
wanted a crazy guy who had banged into his car! Shukla called Feroze and
we rushed to his office. Later in the evening, he asked me to come
over. Feroze opened a bottle of champagne for me! I performed a mujra on
Aap Jaisa Koi for the high-fliers there. Qurbani made me a star.
Sunil Dutt gave me the name 'Shakti': Sunil and Nargis Dutt took a
liking for me. In fact, Sunil Dutt gave me the name 'Shakti'. I lived a
double life —one with the Dutts, wherein I accompanied them when they
went to pay Sanju's school fees, ate biryani and gosht — and the other
with Feroze, wherein I listened to international music, and socialised
with movers and shakers. I had two godfathers. When Rocky was released, my status as a good actor was confirmed. I worked with Manmohan Desai, Prakash Mehra, David Dhawan.
Parental opposition couldn't stop Shivangi and I from marrying: I first met Shivangi on the sets of Kismet
. She was 13 years younger to me, but we became friends. I had the
reputation of being a flirt. When Shivangi's parents found out, they
locked her up. She lied that she would have nothing to do with me, but
as soon as she got her freedom, Shivangi came to my house, and said she
wouldn't go back! We got married that very day —January 12, 1982. My
parents were shocked, but accepted Shivangi. But her parents refused to
have anything to do with us. It was only when Siddhanth was born that
the ice was broken. I also have a daughter, Shraddha.
I lost both my parents in one year: Fortunately, I made peace with my
father before he passed away a couple of years back. When he breathed
his last, he was proud of me. My mother also died in the same year — her
loss is irreparable. My temple at home has pictures of my parents and
God.
I am happiest when I make others laugh: Zakhmi Insaan
, the only movie in which I have played the hero, flopped within half
an hour of its release. Still, whether it is as a villain or comedian, I
love my roles. I have lived numerous lives, experienced various
emotions, but I have no regrets. That's the way I live life — with a
smile on my lips.
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