She comes from a family that reads like the Who’s who of the film industry. From great grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor to grandfather Raj Kapoor and parents Babita and Randhir Kapoor, not to mention Shammi, Shashi, Rishi Kapoor and aunts Geeta Bali, Jennifer Kapoor and Neetu Singh, all of whom left quite an impact on the silver screen.
Quite an uphill task for a young girl of 15 going on sixteen which was when Karisma Kapoor decided to enter the film industry.
The first myth Karisma shatters is the fact that it was said the Kapoor women were not allowed to act, and adds that her grandfather Raj Kapoor always thought she was the one who would eventually enter films. She would often accompany him as a child to film shootings.
She was initially supposed to make her debut opposite Bobby Deol in a film called Barsaat which Twinkle Khanna did eventually but when it too long in the making had the guts to opt out to do Prem Qaidi with Rama Naidu. It was a long hard road ahead and not until Raja Babu and Khuddar where her claim to fame were two risque songs , “Sarkaiy le khatiya jaada lage” and “Sexy sexy sexy mujhe log bole” (the latter creating a furor in the Parliament before being banned on national radio and television, till “sexy” was replaced by “baby”) did Karisma Kapoor arrive. Then came a spate of hits and awards, with Raja Hindustani, Dil to Pagal Hai, which won her the national award as did Zubeida, and Karisma Kapoor finally did her lineage proud..
When you decided to enter the film industry what did mom say?
Whatever I am today is because of what my mother taught me. She told both Kareena and me that it is going to be very hard. There will be a lot of blood sweat and tears. It might be easy to get a break because you are from a known family, but the day your film releases you are nobody’s son, daughter or relative. You are what the box-office creates. And the expectation from the star sons and daughters are so high and in my case and Kareena’s we had such a huge family reputation to live up to; right from our grandfather down to our uncles and aunts, every one has had an outstanding career. So it was so much harder but honestly I believed so much in myself and in what I was doing that I said am prepared for all the hardship and struggle. Besides descending from that kind of lineage why should I not act? I wanted to do my best to carry on this legacy and make my ancestors proud of me.
Things were not easy and a lot of times I would get discouraged, cry myself to sleep, but at the same time I never gave up hope that some day my hard work will pay off. Even when I decided to do Prem Qaidi and not Barsaat with Bobby Deol, people thought I was mad, but I felt if I have some talent and am willing to work hard people would accept me. If I don’t have it in me no matter how big the banner is, I won’t be appreciated.
Even though you ended up with several commercial hits after Raja Hindustani, it’s films like Fiza and Zubeida that really made you come into your own as a very fine actress.
It’s an experience that changed my life. I never even thought I would ever be offered a movie like that. When Shyam Benegal called and asked for me I said rather disbelievingly are you sure its me he really wants to talk to? I went and met him and when I heard the subject I said my God what greater opportunity for an actress to show her acting ability? I had had 4 hits in a row in 2000 and people would ask me what are you going to do now? Are you going to stay stuck in this rut and I said no I want to grow. Films like Fiza and Zubeida just happened. In Zubeida the role was so tough, emotionally and physically exhausting, requiring such sensitivity. It wasn’t a regular run of the mill role; it was a true story. I related to it that way, that it was not fiction, a woman actually went through all this, and I have to feel all that and portray the complexities of her character.
What kind of homework did you have to do?
I watched a lot of Shyam ji’s movies and since I was also obviously this so called hard core commercial film actress working with him, I tried to get to know him better, and his working style, as well. We did a lot of research be it hair styles, make up; the acting style and body language that they had in those days were very different than what we have today. A lot went in to making it. The toughest scene in the film believe it or not was shot on the first day of the shooting. In that I am getting hysterical because I feel my husband doesn’t love me , the elections are happening and I am drinking my tea, and my hand was shaking and then there is a scene where I had to push Rekha auntie. I was pushing her so tentatively and saying sorry sorry, but eventually I had to push her hard, while the airplane had to take off, so many things were happening simultaneously. I feel so honored to have done that film, because a film like that doesn’t happen to an actress every day. Even Sridevi and Madhuri didn’t get films like Zubeida and Fiza if I may say so.
Fiza was another tough one, a very deglamorised role for you.
When I did Fiza and Fiza came before Zubeida, everybody said you have gone mad. How can you accept a movie like this. It’s really not a commercial movie. And I said if I don’t do it now when will I do it? Today being at the top, I can do it and people will actually take notice of it and watch it and I am so thankful to the audience both in India and overseas, who encouraged me and loved me in these movies. It was because of this kind of feedback that I feel encouraged to do similar , powerful but not necessarily commercialized films. I am however going a bit slow about sending feelers to directors because I want to get the best people to direct me and the same kind of a wonderful set up. I haven’t really planned anything in my career. Whatever has happened has been a gradual growth, and that is really the best way to grow. I want to balance out both sides-doing the regular commercial movies because I am getting a lot of those. Usually actresses switch to non-commercial movies after they have faded out or are not getting commercial ones. Luckily today I am in a position to have the best of both the worlds.
You have actually had the courage to accept films like Janwar, Ek hi Rishta and Dil to Pagal Hai where you did not have the lead role.
Basically a good actress will be good even in a small role or a bad movie and you can see that in people like Sridevi, Kajol, Madhuri Dixit and hopefully me.
It’s true I didn’t have much to do in the first two movies but I feel that one doesn’t have to be in the first frame to the last to leave an impact. Ek Rishta and Janwar did well and I did Ek Rishta for the director who is a friend of mine.
There were stories that your role kept on getting extended in Dil To Pagal Hai, as Yash Chopra kept getting more and more impressed by your histrionic and dancing abilities.
No there is no truth to that. I know there were some members of the press who said that after the success of Raja Hindustani the role was lengthened but in fact when I read the script and saw my role I thought this is such a great role , how are the other actors acting in this movie. The very first shot I did was the famous dance competition with Madhuri. I’m not a trained dancer and we never rehearsed. In truth I never competed with Madhuri Dixit. I looked up to her and there were never any bad vibes… that’s why that showed through. The whole trend of western exercise gear started from that movie. For me even to get two scenes, if they were well etched is enough to make an impact.It is a very Indian mentality to obsess oh how many songs do I have in the film? What are my scenes? My attitude is what is the essence of the role, what is the meaty part. Besides if you don’t take risks how will you know?
Your mom Babita ji was saying that the film industry has changed so much. Gone are the days when people worked like a family. Now it’s each for his own self.
Yes, the film industry is not the same way even from the time I joined. Things have changed so much. When we started out, we had to work very hard to be noticed by the media. Now anyone and everyone can get exposure on TV and instant recognition; some one acts in a pop video and starts thinking hey man I am a star. And I think today things move really fast. Unfortunately there are no times for lasting relationships.
If you had to act in a single film by your grandfather Raj Kapoor which one will it be?
My god they are all so good, but I’d love to act in Awaara, Barsaat and Sangam. He had such an amazing sense of presentation. Till today there is no film director who can compare with him.
Over the years however I have learnt so much from my directors and fellow actors I imbibe the essence of their best qualities. For example with Shyam ji even having a conversation is a learning experience. He is such an intellectual, and so knowledgeable. He speaks so well; from him I have learnt to just be. As commercial actors we tend to create this larger than life persona for ourselves. He said just be human. from Khalid Mohammed of Fiza I have learnt about writing, from David Dhawan I have learnt comic timing and he has excellent editing abilities.
I’m always excited by Shahrukh’s energy, Govinda’s sense of comedy and, Salman’s… spontaneity. He just will do anything and you have keep following him!