‘Meri Jaan Haazir Hai…’: When Shakti Kapoor Praised Bollywood Stuntmen, Body Doubles

Lehren Retro

Shakti Kapoor is famous for his villain and comedy roles in Bollywood. On his birthday, we’re sharing a throwback interview where he talks about his dancing and praises stuntmen. Check it out.

Transcript

00:00A villain is not made from a mother's womb, he is made because of a situation.

00:05Wherever you go, children shout at you,

00:08don't shout, come tomorrow.

00:10Just like life itself is a time, fighting is also a time.

00:13Song is also a time, everything is timing.

00:16If your timing is bad in life, you are ruined.

00:18If your timing is good, you are prosperous.

00:20Shakti ji, despite being a villain, you dance a lot like a hero.

00:32And you don't let go of any chance to dance.

00:35And the interesting thing is that you dance well.

00:38Thank you very much.

00:40Actually, this opportunity was given to me by the director.

00:43For the first time, a director made a villain dance with a hero in a disco.

00:51And the film was Rocky.

00:53And after that, it became a fashion.

00:55Many villains sang.

00:58But I think I must have done at least 40-50 songs as a villain.

01:03And especially disco competitions, dancing with heroes.

01:08Sanjay Dutt was in Rocky.

01:10And in so many films, with Mithun Chakraborty ji, with Jeetu ji.

01:15In one or two films, with Mr. Bachchan ji.

01:17Satyabh Satya.

01:19Great.

01:21And the interesting thing is that when I got the opportunity to dance as a villain,

01:28the fan following was of a different kind.

01:31A villain dancing with a hero in a competition.

01:37So, the fan following of children increased.

01:40And I give all the marks to Mr. Sunil Dutt, who took this risk.

01:44Thanks to him.

01:46Shakti, tell us, as per your experience, you have done many dances.

01:51Do you think it is good to give the opportunity to a villain to dance in films?

01:56Why not?

01:58If it is in the story, it is not that if the villain is there, he has to sing.

02:03Today's world has changed completely.

02:05Even in Hollywood, a hero becomes a villain.

02:07Now a days, a villain acts as a hero.

02:09If there is a situation, and there is a love triangle,

02:13then the villain has to sing.

02:15It is not only that heroes have to sing songs in films.

02:18When villains, when they are portraying villains, they have a character.

02:23A villain does not become a villain because of a situation.

02:28It is possible that he is a good person first, and then he becomes a villain.

02:33It is not necessary that only heroes have to sing.

02:37It is equal for everyone.

02:39So, as you are saying, every villain should have a good dancer like you.

02:43But if we give an opportunity to all the villains,

02:45it is possible that their hidden talent will come out.

02:48It is possible that a lot of villains won't even know that they are very good dancers.

02:51And probably, they will not get an opportunity.

02:54If you give an opportunity,

02:56when everyone is giving an opportunity,

02:58many villains are singing and dancing in films,

03:00then I don't think there will be any problem.

03:02But only Shakti Tupu as a villain has got a dancer.

03:05There could be much more actors as dancers.

03:08Shakti ji, please tell us,

03:10in any film,

03:12what is the importance of a hero, a villain, and a dancer?

03:16Because all of us are dancers.

03:21I think, in today's date,

03:23every artist, especially newcomers,

03:27before they join films,

03:29they should specially be trained to be dancers.

03:32They should be trained from a dancing school.

03:37It is not necessary that he is a hero or a villain.

03:40Any character who is wanting to join the films,

03:43I think it is very important for him to go dance.

03:46Let him be a comedian, let him be a villain, or let him be a hero.

03:50There is a lot of importance of dance.

03:52And my advice to all the newcomers,

03:54before they join films,

03:56they should learn how to dance.

03:58And dancing is as important as giving a performance.

04:02You have done many good dances.

04:04For example, Tuna Tuna was very famous.

04:06And you also did the ballet of Rocky.

04:08So, what is the importance of a dance master to make a good dance?

04:12See, a dance master is very important.

04:15Especially in today's date,

04:17when there is so much competition,

04:19especially when people get songs in a different way,

04:24it makes a lot of difference.

04:26In the past, it was different.

04:28But now, a dance director is as important as a film director.

04:33There are so many songs,

04:35whose melody is not good.

04:37Because of the dance director,

04:39those songs look so beautiful.

04:41When you are watching the film,

04:43you forget whether the song is good or bad.

04:45Recently, we did a film with Mr. Mithun.

04:48Sajna Saath Nibhana.

04:51In Sajna Saath Nibhana,

04:53there are three songs.

04:55For example, in Positive Revolve,

04:57I am a friend of Mr. Mithun.

04:59Tara was the dance director of Madras.

05:01She worked so hard for me.

05:03You can see that on the screen.

05:05Especially when you have to match Mithun,

05:08who is one of the best dancers in our country,

05:11with Shakti Kapoor,

05:13I think a lot of marks go to the dance director.

05:16In Sanjay Dutt's film,

05:18Chunna Chunna,

05:20it was very popular.

05:22Karan was the dance director of Madras.

05:25He worked so hard.

05:27And because of him and the song,

05:29both the things combined,

05:31the song was a super hit.

05:33Wherever I go,

05:35I hear Chunna Chunna.

05:37Shakti Kapoor, I hear Chunna Chunna.

05:39Chunna Chunna.

05:41Shakti, tell us,

05:43you must have seen films since childhood.

05:45That's why you came to the industry.

05:47You must have been interested.

05:49We had many good dancers.

05:51Many such films were made.

05:53Do you have a favorite song or dance

05:55from old films?

05:57You will be surprised.

05:59I was a big fan of Mr. Dara Singh.

06:01When I was in school,

06:03his films were action films.

06:05Like Lotera.

06:07I liked his songs.

06:09Picturized songs.

06:11There was a film called Mumtaz.

06:13I can't forget his songs.

06:15After that,

06:17I can never forget Helen's song.

06:19I can never forget.

06:21Which film was it?

06:23In the cage,

06:25Azad Saab is an actor.

06:27He sings Helen's song.

06:29I can't forget Padma Khanna's song.

06:31I think it was a film called

06:33Jewel Thief.

06:35In which,

06:37Prema was being executed.

06:39It was a fabulous song.

06:41Johnny Mera Naam.

06:43I can't forget his song.

06:45Because of the picturization

06:47and because of the songs,

06:49I can never forget it.

06:51It was a song of revenge.

06:53Helen did it.

06:57According to me,

06:59Helen hasn't been replaced yet.

07:01She was one of the finest dancers

07:03the country had.

07:05We do need a dancer of her caliber.

07:07She was very good.

07:09I was a big fan of hers.

07:11Shakti, do you still prefer

07:13dancers in your future films?

07:15Yes, definitely.

07:17Why not?

07:19If there is a situation.

07:23There are so many upcoming films

07:25in which I will play the role of a villain.

07:2770-80% of the films

07:29are positive roles.

07:31For example, Zindagi Ek Jua by Prakash Mehra.

07:33I sang and danced with Anil Kapoor.

07:37There is a film called Hali Bhoomi.

07:39I sang and danced with Kader Bhai.

07:41I sang and danced with Kader Bhai.

07:43There are so many films.

07:45Mostly,

07:4760% of the films are positive roles.

07:49I am enjoying it.

07:51Shakti,

07:53let's talk about the stand.

07:55You look like a hero.

07:57You have played

07:5980% of the roles.

08:01Let's talk about the future.

08:03You have worked

08:05with a lot of stand masters.

08:07You must have done a lot of stunts.

08:09Yes.

08:11You have been slapped in many places.

08:13Yes.

08:15Tell us

08:17how important is action

08:19for a villain or a hero?

08:23As I was telling you earlier,

08:27I think

08:29whoever comes to Neelumar,

08:31he should go to the classes

08:33Similarly,

08:35as much as dance is important in the film,

08:37action is equally important

08:39in today's date.

08:41There is a film called Phool aur Kaante.

08:43There is a

08:45normal looking Ajay Devgn

08:47hero.

08:49His action is so good

08:51that

08:53when he is giving shots in the theatre,

08:55people stand up and give claps.

08:57That film is

08:59a very big success.

09:01Only because that boy

09:03did all the action himself.

09:05He was 12 years old

09:07before he became an actor.

09:09Though his father

09:11Mr. Veeru Devgn is a fight composer,

09:13but the way he has

09:15taken training,

09:17if our new actors

09:19from the film industry

09:21also take training,

09:23I think it's a very big success for them.

09:25Sure shot make it as a big star.

09:27Action is very important.

09:29Yes,

09:31sometimes we get hurt

09:33in action.

09:35In the beginning,

09:37I was doing a film called Kismat.

09:39There was a fight scene with Mr. Gautam Sareen.

09:41By mistake,

09:43I was wearing his glasses.

09:45There was a blow.

09:47I didn't want to hit him in that shot,

09:49but because of the scene,

09:51he ran away and hit me.

09:53I didn't know that

09:55that blow was coming.

09:57The glass broke and hit my eyes.

09:59I got 18 stitches

10:01on my eyes.

10:03After that,

10:05I had to jump from a height.

10:07I jumped from a very high height.

10:09The one who had jumped before

10:11was below me.

10:13I had to have 4 stitches here.

10:15Anyway,

10:17this doesn't happen often.

10:19It doesn't happen every time,

10:21but it's part of the game.

10:23If you want to work in this profession,

10:25you have to get hurt.

10:27Those who are not trained

10:29get hurt more.

10:31If they are trained,

10:33chances of getting hurt are less

10:35because they know the timing.

10:37Just like life is a time,

10:39fighting is also a time.

10:41Song is also a time.

10:43Everything is timing.

10:45If your timing is bad,

10:47you are ruined.

10:49When a hero or villain

10:51gets hurt,

10:53they duplicate it.

10:55What do you think about

10:57those who do such dangerous things?

10:59Yes, the duplicates.

11:01I see

11:03their condition.

11:05They give such high shots,

11:07such risky shots,

11:09shots of a horse falling,

11:11shots of a car on fire,

11:13shots of a car jumping,

11:15shots of a motorcycle jumping.

11:17When I see them,

11:19I go home at night and say,

11:21they are not duplicates.

11:23They are fighters.

11:25People are careful nowadays.

11:27They take less risks.

11:29Their training is complete.

11:31Still, there is a risk.

11:33I salute

11:35these fighters and duplicates

11:37who take such risks.

11:39Although, in Hollywood,

11:41these fighters are insured

11:43to a tune of lakhs of rupees.

11:45Even if they get a small injury,

11:47the insurance company takes care of them.

11:49I think this is going to happen

11:51in our industry too.

11:53It is very important for them

11:55that the fighters are 100% insured.

11:57If they get injured,

11:59they cannot work for months.

12:01They are injured in the hospital.

12:03They are at home without work.

12:05So, I request

12:07people in our industry

12:09to understand that

12:11duplicates are very risky.

12:13Their training is good.

12:15If there is a risk,

12:17they should work.

12:19Again, hats off to the duplicates

12:21and the fighters.

12:47You don't have to take such risky shots.

12:49After all, you are a very professional actor.

12:51If you get injured,

12:53it can cost you lakhs of rupees

12:55because you are not going for a shoot.

12:57You can stand in so many sets.

12:59It is very important to be basic.

13:01Basic means that

13:03he should understand

13:05how to do a punch.

13:07Should I hit a somersault or not?

13:09How should I fall or get up?

13:11Basically,

13:13every actor should know

13:15how to do a punch.

13:17It doesn't mean that

13:19I will hit a somersault from a 15-storey building.

13:21It's not like that.

13:23But still, you should know the basics of the fights.

13:25It's very important.

13:27As you said,

13:29you are taking precautions for the duplicates

13:31and the stunt masters.

13:33Some policies are being made.

13:35But what do you have to say

13:37to the people who died

13:39because of such risks?

13:41Look, such incidents have happened.

13:43There was a man,

13:45he was giving a shot

13:47to a jeep.

13:49The jeep had to go into the water.

13:51The jeep had to sink.

13:53He gave the shot,

13:55tied him up and went inside.

13:57He couldn't open the belt.

13:59The jeep sank into the water

14:01and he kept fighting with the belt.

14:03Finally, the jeep sank.

14:05Such incidents keep happening

14:07which is very sad.

14:09I think, for this,

14:11we should look after

14:13the entire family.

14:15It doesn't mean that

14:17we should forget the incident.

14:19Our film industry is doing it.

14:21We should look after the entire family.

14:23We have film associations.

14:27But I think we should do more

14:29so that the family,

14:31because this man gave his life

14:33for the film industry,

14:35we should look after the entire family.

14:37I request everyone

14:39if such incidents happen,

14:41we must come ahead and help everyone.

14:43Especially these people and their families.

14:45You are saying that

14:47stunt masters and duplicators

14:49should do something for them.

14:51You often do shows abroad.

14:53You are doing a charity show for them.

14:55I am ready to give my life for them.

14:57They came to me.

14:59I said,

15:01wherever you do a show,

15:03Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakranworthy,

15:05they will call us in the middle of the night

15:07and say, I am the first one

15:09to go and help these people.

15:11We will do as many shows as we can.

15:13But the money should go to them.

15:15It shouldn't go in the wrong hands.

15:17What we want to do is

15:19that the money should go to the

15:21Fighters Association

15:23so that their children,

15:25their families,

15:27they should be brought up in a very good manner

15:29after these people are not there.

15:31I am ready to give my life for them.

15:33I love them all.

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