“If they think I’m wacko, then they may be right’’

The film industry finds you very difficult to deal with.
(Laughs) Yes, that’s what I hear. Maybe they have reason to feel that way. I am demanding about quality. For some strange reason directors and producers in Mumbai are offended when you ask them for a script. Tell me, isn’t it our right as actors to ask for a script? I have never understood why filmmakers feel this way about a script.

Maybe because they don’t have one?
Exactly. A lot of directors work without scripts and urge the actors to trust them since the script is in their heads. This attitude makes me feel insecure. It’s like asking a voyager to set off on a journey without a compass. The script is my guide line. A director has the prerogative to change the story if he wants. But he has to have the story written down. Maybe because I’am from the stage I really value the script. I have to make my notes and markings in the margin of my script. People here love to take to direction without realizing it’s a hell of a job. As the captain of the ship one has to be responsible for every department.

He rose to renown as Inspector Bhyomkesh in the detective serial on Doordarshan. Since then Rajit Kapoor has done quite a number of plays, serials and films. Unfortunately or fortunately most of his work falls under the orbit of refined sensibilities. Not that Rajit can’t play a tapori convincingly. But Hindi cinema would rather cast him as the tapori Aamir Khan’s brother in Ghulam.

Directors like Shyam Benegal swear by your name. You are almost like a lucky mascot in his films.
(Laughs) I don’t know about that. I think he always makes me feel comfortable. Whenever I ask a question or make a suggestion he doesn’t feel outraged. He’s ready to listen to a suggestion from anyone. And if he disagrees he rejects the suggestion. That’s a fair attitude. Even the first person I worked with, Govind Nihalani, is very clear about what he wants. I did a film called Jazeere with him. Directors like Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani instil confidence in their actors.

Now that you’ve directed several telefilms yourself, you are in a better position to understand how the cinematic medium works.
Sure. When you’re on the floor you don’t see your own mistakes objectively. I’m not being offered too many roles in films. After Shyam Benegal’s Zubeida I have done Ek Alag Mausam. In fact we’ve just wrapped up the film with Nandita Das. I wish someone would give her a role with her hair cropped. She looks stunning in her new look. I wish I had a script ready for Nandita’s new Water look.

Zubeida is the third of Shyam Benegal’s trilogy and you play a role in each.
I got stuck in the role for reasons of continuity. Otherwise I’d have done another role in Zubeida. My role is important insofar as the story is told from my point of view. This time Shyam Benegal had more money to make his film.

So did he give you more money than he usually does?
Yes, definitely. I have no complaints on that score. This time he has gone against his habitual style. He had more actors in Zubeida from mainstream cinema than from his regular troupe. Let’s see how my role turns out.

Tell me about your film on AIDS, Ek Alag Mausam.
I hope it is an AIDS film. That’s what it was meant to be. How it eventually turns out is another matter. Perhaps the love story is going to take precedence over the issue. I play a volunteer in an AIDS institute who falls in love with another volunteer played by Nandita Das. I hope a positive message on HIV positive comes across through my performance.

How enthused are you by the idea of direction?
Well, I liked directing the films for Star Plus. My company Prayas’ latest production was a film called Abhay. Shernaaz Patel did a great job of directing it. The story touched you somewhere.
What happened to your plans of directing a feature film?
I would like to. Benegal thinks I’m ready to direct a film. I felt that was high praise and encouragement coming from him. He saw my work in Star Bestseller and on Zee’s Rishtey and he liked them. I’m still trying to figure out the logistics of a film. I don’t know whether I can make a mainstream film. I love film music and dances. But I can’t thrust them down my subject if they don’t jell. I feel the treatment must be dictated by the subject. One thing I’m sure of is, a good well mounted film needn’t cost crores. One crore can take care of a well made film. I’d like to produce my own feature film. Only then can I have complete creative control over the subject. I have been unhappy with the production side of most of the films I’ve worked with. There’s this chalta-hai attitude that seems to work for others. Not me. I feel your whole production can go for a toss if you don’t plan properly. Making films for television has opened up doors for me. Our company has also produced two short films, one for the inauguration of the film festival in Delhi this January.

But on television you won’t see me in serials. Maybe the occasional telefilms. They require just one week of my time. On soaps, I don’t mind doing small roles which require less time. But no leading roles in soaps for me

Since you are so methodical how do you bear with the sab chalta-hai attitude on television?
At the end of the day I was dissatisfied with television. Not the telefilms because they were self-contained short feature films. Those one-off films were okay. But other serials in which I acted now, that’s another story.

Your main claim to fame is still the role of Aamir Khan’s brother in Ghulam
Yes, maybe among avid moviegoers and the street smart crowds. But for television viewers I still remain identified with Bhyomkesh Bakshi, even after so many years. I find that surprising. People start jabbering in Bengali as soon as they see me, thanks to my role as BhyomkeshAre you satisfied with what you’ve done so far?
Not really, I know there will always be a sense of dissatisfaction within me. I’m always on the look-out for the next challenge. I’m getting lots of offers in soap operas. The temptation is there. What the hell, they’re offering me good money. But then I think, if I’ve held out for so long why should I give in now? My priorities haven’t changed.

Theatre still remains your first love?
Yes, it doesn’t matter how I’m involved with a play. I could be lifting tables and chairs for the production. We performed Love Letters recently after a year at Pune just for two hundred students. I loved the experience. It was a different high. Currently, we are producing Jesus Christ Superstar on stage in English. But I want to do a Hindi play as well. I want to sing on stage. I’m not a trained singer. But I can swing it.

Maybe you can cut a pop album.
These days every Tom, Dick and Harry is doing that.I need training to sing professionally. I did learn the harmonium in school for a year and a half. I have always been fond of singing. Once I set my mind to do it I can do it. But first you’ll see me on stage. But on television you won’t see me in serials. Maybe the occasional telefilms. They require just one week of my time. On soaps, I don’t mind doing small roles which require less time. But no leading roles in soaps for me. If they think I’m wacko, then they may be right.
Who knows where the line between sanity and insanity is to be drawn?

Subhash K Jha