Larger than life roles tougher than real-life portrayals: Anil

New Delhi, Jun 18: He is among the few actors in the industry who have essayed roles in 'larger-than-life' films of the 70s and 80s as well as 'real-life' cinema of the new millennium with equal ease.

Whether playing larger-than-life roles in 'Mr India', 'Tezaab', 'Joshilay', 'Beta', 'Meri Jung' and 'Rajkumar or 'realistic roles' in 'Pukar', 'Nayak', 'Mashaal', 'Eeshwar', 'Viraasat', 'Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain' and 'Calcutta Mail', Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has excelled in both.

However, contrary to the general view in film circles that essaying real-life roles is more difficult compared to doing the 'larger-than-life' portrayals in films of the 70s, Anil believes that 'unrealistic' roles of the films in the 70s were far more tougher to enact compared to the real-life roles of today.

''I feel that doing larger-than-life roles, as characterised by the films of the 70s was far more difficult compared to essaying the real-life roles of today. Making something 'unreal' look credible on screen is, in my opinion, far more difficult than portraying characters drawn from real life,''Anil Kapoor told UNI in an interview here.

At the same time, Anil Kapoor said doing roles in the 'new age' films in the New millennium like 'Calcutta Mail', Chocolate', 'Darna Zaroori Hai', his first film with Ram Gopal Verma, as well as the forthcoming 'Salaam-e-Ishq' also gave him a high by challenging the actor in him.

Today, as Anil Kapoor looks back on his more than three decade-long film career, he seems more than satisfied with what he has done.

''Looking back at my career, I can say that the journey from 'Woh Saat Din' in the 70s to 'Darna Zaroori Hai' this year has been fantastic. I have done a wide variety of roles during the more than three decades since 'Woh Saat Din',''he said.

''Today I can truly say that I put my heart and soul in all the roles I was offered whether it was a small budget or a big budget film, a solo-hero film or a multi-starrer,''said Anil, who last month embarked on a new role, as an ambassador for Plan India for its campaign to promote Universal Birth Registration.

Infact, Anil felt that at this juncture, there was no role that had been left undone. ''I can say with satisfaction that I have done all the roles that an actor would ever want to do during his career,'' he said. If at all there was a wish that remains unfulfilled, it was to work with a filmmaker like Govind Nihalani who has made thought-provoking films like 'Tamas'.

''Working with Govindji, who initiated me into the campaign to promote UBR, the first social campaign I have publicly endorsed, is a dream that still remains unfulfilled. God (and Govindji) willing, that desire will hopefully come true in the near future,''Anil said.

Asked about daughter Sonam's foray in Bollywood with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Saanwariya', which also stars Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir Kapoor, Anil said,''Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a brilliant filmmaker who has the ability to extract the best out of his actors. I am sure 'Saanwariya will be a learning experience for Sonam.'' ''She still has a long way to go. I have cautioned her that the road to stardom is tough and the going will not be easy,'' he added at the same time.

UNI