What was your first reaction when approached for Chintuji?
I was absolutely delighted that a film along these lines had been thought of.

The best part was that it was part-fact and part-fiction. I had to play myself, a fading actor belonging to a film family. His name is Rishi Kapoor and is also known as Chintuji.

So you identify with the role completely?
No, not completely. Only 50 per cent! The fact that he wants to become a politician, not for noble reasons, but to make money is not me.

How has director Ranjit Kapoor handled the spoof, considering it could ruffle many feathers?
Ranjit is an old hand and has handled the subject deftly. I don’t think it will rustle any feathers.

Did you ever think of becoming a politician?
Absolutely not! Politics is like Latin to me.

What’s the difference between an actor and a politician?
Actors have to have talent. Politicians need to be astute, clever and have a keen foresight to know the country’s problems and address them in the right way.

What’s your take on our country’s politicians?
They fool the people by acting and we actors fool the people by entertaining.

Do you think wearing a khadi kurta makes a politician appear more sincere?
External appearance has got nothing to do with intention. If I were a politician, I would wear the best Italian suits, bought with my own money and the best Italian shoes. But I would be very sincere about my work.

What is your take on actors getting into politics?
Actors should stick to acting and not get into a field about which they know nothing.

Any issue you think needs to be handled by our politicians?
From roads, to flyovers to everything, the whole country needs attention!