In the internet age, of paparazzi, fan spotting and relentless promotions, what is going to make an artiste stand out? Actor Sanjay Kapoor, who has seen the industry change over his 30 years of career, says the answer is simple: Quality work, even if it comes at a slower pace. Sanjay Kapoor, who started his career on a high note in the mid 90s, saw a downfall, moved to production and eventually had a solid comeback with Lust Stories in 208, opened up about his career with indianexpres.com and shared how filmmakers today are looking at him a different light. The actor said the industry will always reward those who never give up, even when the times are rough and the going tough. "Sometimes it is just bad timing. When I did a film called Sirf Tum, it was super hit, but after that for one year I didn't sign anything. Then I did a 30-minute segment in Lust Stories, which changed my life." In an interview with indianexpress.com, Sanjay spoke about his 2.0 career, if there is anything he envies in the newer generation of actors and what are the wisdoms he has passed on to his daughter Shanaya, who is set to make her Bollywood debut soon. Edited excerpts: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay Kapoor (@sanjaykapoor2500) In the last five years, it is as if the filmmakers have started seeing and using you in a new light. How do you look at it? Yes absolutely. After Bloody Daddy, you will see me in Merry Christmas, in a very loveable role. It is a totally different genre of a film. All my future projects are different too. In one I am playing a politician in the other, something entirely new. A lot of hard work has gone into it, it doesn't come by chance. There is a lot of patience, focus gone into it. You can buy anything in the world but not experience. I have been in the line for 30 years, so there's that much experience behind me. Three decades of ups and downs, what have they taught you about the film industry? It is a wonderful industry, it teaches you to be more grounded. It also teaches you that if you have it in you, your time will come. You can't just give it away; you can't just get frustrated and let it go. Sometimes it is just bad timing, the moment is not right. When I did a film called Sirf Tum, it was super hit, but after that for one year I didn't sign anything. Then I did a 30-minute segment in Lust Stories, which changed my life. Sometimes when you think everything is going to change, it doesn't happen, but if you have the talent in you, it can get delayed, but it (success) will happen. There is a saying in the industry that if you are out of sight, you are out of mind, which can lead to insecurity.. I have definitely proven that wrong! If you are talented, if you have done good work. I meet so many directors today who talk about Luck By Chance, Lust Stories. Your projects are remembered. Sometimes things take a while, maybe you are not on their minds. I remember how I signed Lust Stories. I was going to the gym; the team was sitting at the club I go to. They saw me and went, 'F**k! This is who we are looking for!' It just happened so quickly. You have to be at the right place at the right time. When there is a waiting period, isn't that frustrating? It depends on what frustrates you. It is not that the work didn't come to me, but there was nothing worthwhile. I was happy what I had done, I didn't want to lose my self respect and dignity that I had earned. So I got into production, even I had to run my kitchen, feed my family. This is all I knew, I loved production, but in that time, I didn't sign something I would regret. I may have done films which didn't work, but never something I have regretted. When these hurdles come your way, you have to work harder. That's what I did. You once famously said even when the going was tough, you never sold yourself cheap. Yes, and by that I meant, not materialistically. It is about doing quality work. If the character you are playing-doesn't matter even if it has less screen time- makes no difference to the film, then why be a part of something like that? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay Kapoor (@sanjaykapoor2500) When you see younger actors today, is there anything you envy? Everything comes with time. When you see all the young people coming, they are constantly in your face, because they are bombarded from everywhere, the social media. Even before the film's release, you get to know of them. There is paparazzi, media, Instagram, elaborate promotions. By the time the film release, you feel like you know the person inside out. Now it is on the younger generation, on how are they going to survive 30-40 years. If they don't take care, there are chances of burnout also. Today if you take the example of Dilip Kumar, Aamir Khan, Anil, Shah Rukh. They have lasted for so long, it is not because they have done lots of films. As an actor, you have only so much to give. So the more you expose yourself-of course there are exceptional cases, these guys are God gifted- the more chances of burning yourself out. That is something the newer generation (has to look after). When I was a kid, I would see girls waiting near book stalls to grab the latest edition of magazine, as Rajesh Khanna would be on the cover. There was madness just looking at his picture, now that can't happen. People didn't know what actors were doing apart from films. You have to be careful of the burnout. Is that the same wisdom you have passed on to your daughter, who is also stepping into the film world? She has seen my journey, how I have conducted myself, she has been living with me since the day she was born. If she didn't understand this by being with me, then what use to spell it out. But, fortunately for me, she has taken the right things, understood what the industry is, what kind of hardships, focus and dedication it needs.
