145;I am a satisfied man146;

What role does religion play in your life?
It8217;s a very tedious question. What I understand of religion today, the world over, is that it has become institutionalised and trapped in rituals. The basic essence of all religions is connecting man to God. I believe in that kind of philosophy. As far as identifying with Pundit Chaturvedi8217;s beliefs goes, I look at my characters as individual human beings who have nothing to do with what I am in real life.

Benaras has always left an impact on visitors. What has been your take on shooting in the city?
I got little opportunity to explore the city outside my shoots this time. But I have been there before. The way it moves, its beliefs, the discussions at its education centres like Benaras Hindu University, its association with music 8212; here8217;s a city that8217;s a real reflection of what India is all about. The kind of beliefs the people have here is quite strong and yet there are people from different walks of life and religions living harmoniously in the city. Every time I step on its roads, I get the feeling that this is the real India.nbsp;

You had to lose and gain a lot of weight for the film, didn8217;t you?
Most pandits have a sedentary lifestyle and remain sitting for long hours. Moreover, north Indian food isn8217;t your ideal diet either. Hence, they tend to have a paunch. So I had to put on weight and lose it again within three-four weeks as the narrative demanded that. Since the shooting of the film extended slightly beyond its initial schedule, I had to put on weight and keep the bald look because of which I couldn8217;t do anything else.

Your recent pairing with wife Supriya Pathak in an episode of Naya Office Office drew a lot of laughs. What kind of chemistry do we see between the two of in Dharm?
Onscreen chemistry is a totally different thing. You will see our two characters look and behave exactly like those we are supposed to play8212; a pandit and his panditayin. How far we have been successful is for the audience to decide. As for working with your spouse, if both are competent actors, the comfort level is much more.

What are the other characters that you are playing in your forthcoming films?
I play a semi-progressive gentleman named Hanuman from a small town in Good Sharma. Then I have completed Vishal Bharadwaj8217;s Blue Umbrella, which I hope will release soon. It8217;s based on a short story by Ruskin Bond. And in Rajkumar Santoshi8217;s Hallabol, which is currently being made, I play a theatre activist, who8217;s also a mechanic by profession. nbsp;

Which reel performance is closest to the real Pankaj Kapur?
There are certain aspects of some of my characters that I might have experienced as an individual at some point of time. I think my character in Ek Doctor Ki Maut is closest to me in spirit.nbsp;

Unlike other star fathers, you seem to have little involvement in your son Shahid Kapur8217;s acting career. Are you satisfied with the way his career has been shaping up?
I do not interfere in his career at all. I believe that a young man or woman should seek the right path and come to its realisation themselves. However, I am always there for any creative guidance. I suppose as a young man, since his first film was so successful he did pick up some more out of sheer excitement than their content. And since all theses roles had the same image he couldn8217;t do much beyond a certain point. In some cases, it didn8217;t work but with a proper screenplay and a director with a clear vision like Sooraj Barjatya, he did a fantastic job in Vivah in spite of the story belonging to the girl. I also liked him in Fida, where he was excellent in parts, though the climax was a let down. I have always felt that he is a dramatic actor though his roles as of now mostly use him as a good dancer and good looker.nbsp;

How has been your experience in the recently concluded second season of Karamchand? Is it going to resume after the end of Indian Idol 3?
It8217;s a touchy matter, but I won8217;t say anything beyond the fact that it wasn8217;t good. I have no idea of another season; at least it hasn8217;t been brought to my knowledge yet.nbsp;

Your other acclaimed TV outing Office Office is looking repetitive and predictable in its 8216;Naya8217; avatar. Do you agree?
The serial has been on air for years now and all of us are running out of steam. I have realised that myself too and I have requested the producers to call it a day. This week I will be shooting my last episode for this season and I think we should give it a break.

Your career graph averages around a film a year. Is it a conscious decision?
I prefer doing one film at a time for then I make myself absolutely available to my producer and director. As regards doing very few roles, it8217;s because I am very choosy with what is offered to me. Moreover, I am a satisfied man and am happy doing the films I am seen in.

Unlike co-stars like Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, you don8217;t seem to have broken the vow to work only in good, art projects.
I think it8217;s a weird view. Luckily, I came in a little later; they had lot more struggle to face. It8217;s wrong to presume that no star should work in a sensible story and no sensible actor should work in a commercial film. On the one hand we go crazy over Johnny Depp in a film like Pirates of the Caribbean, and if one of our better actors does such a role we say he8217;s going commercial.