Several actors have been delivering solid performances in films and on the web for years, sometimes even decades. Yet, many of them rarely receive the celebration they truly deserve. In the age of social media, however, breakout performances often get amplified and embraced by audiences, and rightly so. A recent example is Rakesh Bedi, who has found renewed stardom after the blockbuster success of Dhurandhar. The way he is being lauded is heartening, especially since he has always been an actor par excellence. Several other actors from the film, too, have become a sensation. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama during the promotions of IIZ: Indian Institute Of Zombies, Mohan Kapur, who has made his mark across television, web, Hindi cinema and even Hollywood, spoke about this phenomenon.
Mohan Kapur said, “The names and instances you have taken are all justifiable. Inka toh haq se banta hai. But thanks to social media and their money power to buy that attention, undeserving people also get talked about. You sometimes wonder, ‘Tu kis liye itna fudak raha hai? Tune kiya kya hai?’ Just because you visited a temple or some fancy country, that doesn’t amount to a mountain of beans!
He continued, “Unfortunately, that social media traction has also translated into people saying ‘Let’s cast this person. He’s an influencer. He’ll bring in the audience’. That’s nonsense. Which influencer makes you spend Rs. 3000 on a movie ticket and popcorn? The sooner this fallacy goes, the better.”
Mohan Kapur thundered, “I have had instances where some producers have told me, ‘I can’t help it. I have to cast this person as he has X billion of followers’. I wonder, what’s wrong with them? People are following them for another reason – their personal life, which the followers are getting to peep into. If a girl bends a little lower than required and her blouse opens up, people will look inside. That’s the vicarious pleasure that people are getting – to peep into influencers’ lives. That does not translate into talent. If it does, then great if that helps. But the point is that if it’s becoming a trend to start casting people, that’s bullsh*t.”
Mohan Kapur’s Dhurandhar connection
Mohan Kapur then opened up on his connection with the actors of Dhurandhar, “Danish Pandor, who played Uzair, essayed the role of my son long back in the TV show, ‘Kitni Mohabbat Hai’. I have a photograph of us posing together. He was this sweet, quiet and almost sehma hua sa actor. And then I see him in Dhurandhar. I was like, ‘My God, asli Dhurandhar toh yeh hai’! What a growth. Toh inka haq sa banta hai!”
He continued, “Rakesh Bedi is a thespian. He’s been around since our memory serves us, from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Chashme Buddoor, etc. He was probably waiting for his time. Like I used to wonder, ‘There are billions of people on Earth, and yet Mohan Kapur, sitting in Andheri West, got Ms Marvel during Covid times?’. But as it happened with me, it applies to Rakesh ji as well – the time was right. You served your time and the universe believes that you are right for this. And what a job he has done.”
Mohan Kapur revealed, “Rakesh ji lives in my building and I keep bumping into him. One night, I needed some noise to go to sleep. Hence, I played a film on my laptop called Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video (2024). Then, I couldn’t sleep as I was laughing and enjoying that journey of the film so much. I was shocked that it didn’t do well at the box office. The next time I bumped into him, I told him how much I enjoyed Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video and his performance. That’s when he told me, ‘Meri ek film aa rahi hai, Dhurandhar. Woh bhi dekhna. Kaafi acchi hai’.”
The post EXCLUSIVE: Mohan Kapur BLASTS producers for casting influencers: “If a girl bends lower and her blouse opens up, people will look inside…that doesn’t mean they’ll buy movie tickets” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
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