Thanks to Hollywood, it's yesterday once more for Anil

Nov 11, 2011 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Bollywood veteran Anil Kapoor says he is tired of the "jhakaas" tag and feels like a newcomer in Hollywood, where he broke new ground with Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire".

"It feels great. (What's) Interesting to see that I have become a newcomer all over again. What I was in Bollywood 30 years back is what I am there right now," Anil told actress Preity Zinta during a tete-a-tete with her on her UTV Stars' chat show "Up, Close and Personal with PZ".

Danny Boyle's 2008 "Slumdog Millionaire", in which he played a quizmaster, brought him international recognition. The success of the film helped him bag a role in American TV series "24", as well as a cameo in the much-awaited "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol".

"It all began with Danny Boyle...even though I heard many actors turned down 'Slumdog...', so much so that some actors even refused to acknowledge Danny's repeated calls or messages. I took up the role, and from then there has been no looking back. First it was '24' and now its 'Mission Impossible'.

"Though I have a small cameo in the film I am sure that over a period of time I will make it to the bigger roles," he added.

The 51-year-old, synonymous with the word "jhakaas", says it's time to move away from that image.

"You know Preity, I am tired of this tag. 'Jhakaas' was years ago and now I don't want it anymore. I am international you see, and I want to get rid of this tag seriously. Though I am thankful (to it for) where I have reached today, having been in the industry for over three decades now," he said.

But even as he juggles between Bollywood and Hollywood now, Anil is loving every bit of it and said: "I think it's perfect. Being a part of Hollywood gives me a chance to romance younger women, take for example Paula Patton who is 23 and I am starred opposite her in 'Mission Impossible'."

The only regret perhaps that he has in life is to have refused "Baazigar".

"Years ago when I was shooting for a film; Abbas Mustan had approached me for a thriller called 'Baazigar'. I flatly refused the offer citing the reason that I was too big for such movies. The movie was finally done by Shah Rukh (Khan) and went on to become a monstrous hit. So in a way, had it not been for me, Shah Rukh wouldn't have been where he is today," he said.

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Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol