Three is not crowd for Anil Kapoor

Mumbai, Aug 29 (IANS) Anil Kapoor, who has a trio of releases lined up in a row, brushes aside charges of overexposure, saying he has portrayed very different characters in the three films as he likes to "break the rhythm".

While in two of the films - "Chocolate" and "My Wife's Murder" - Anil worked with newcomer directors Vivek Agnihotri and Jijy Philips, respectively, "No Entry" is a family-oriented flick produced by his brother Boney Kapoor.

Anil said though he was initially reluctant to work with new directors, he was tempted by the scripts. "I enjoyed working with Vivek and Jijy," Anil told IANS.

In "Chocolate" he plays a successful lawyer based in London, in "My Wife's Murder" he portrays a workaholic with a nagging wife while "No Entry" deals with the theme of extra-marital affairs.

Anil, who co-produced "My Wife's Murder" along with Ram Gopal Varma, said he was planning to collaborate with Varma for more films.

Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

Three releases in one month. Too much?

A: Nope, it's a load of fun! It's been a few months since my last release. I've averaged three-four releases per year. Now I've a tumble of releases because some of my assignments got delayed. Even "My Wife's murder", "No Entry" and "Chocolate" were delayed. So they're coming together. I don't mind since they're all different from one another.

You look different in them.

A: I've always tried to look different in films like "Viraasat" and "Eeshwar". In "Lamhe" I shaved off my moustache. In "My Wife's Murder" I've a common man-workaholic's look. I play a character completely into his work. I look scruffy, like a man who sleeps, eats and wakes up at odd hours.

Spousal violence was the theme of "My Wife's Murder".

A: Basically, it's an emotional thriller. Earlier we had two endings, and in one the husband killed the wife. But Ramu and I decided not to get gimmicky. When we saw the end product, we felt we were right. The film is fine. It needs no props. We decided not to do anything to take the audience for a ride.

What were your stakes as a co-producer in "My Wife's Murder"?

A: My creativity, time and suggestions. I'm also the leading man. I was there for the production making sure money wasn't wasted. Even when I wasn't shooting I was there on the sets to see what was happening. I think my presence made a difference. Ramu and I will collaborate for more films.

How adventurous has "My Wife's Murder" allowed you to be?

A: I think this is my most adventurous film as actor ever... even more than "Musafir" where we played safe by having songs. Contrary to expectations, "Musafir" did well. It did much better than I expected.

Unlike "Musafir", "My Wife's Murder" was your film?

A: Most of the films I've done have been my films. On the other hand, I've also done a "Biwi No.1" where I had my cameo. I like to break the rhythm.

In "Musafir" and "Bewafaa" I was one of the main protagonists. In "My Wife's Murder" I am the main character. Again in "No Entry" I share the screen with Salman (Khan), Fardeen (Khan), Bipasha (Basu) and Lara (Dutta). "Chocolate" too is a multi-starrer.

Multi-starrer? With Emran Hashmi and Tanushree Dutta? I'm sure they gave you a complex.

A: I'm confidently 'complexed' about everyone. I don't have many scenes with them. Most of my scenes are with Irrfan Khan. In case you're wondering, "Chocolate" is a codeword for illegal arms. I play a lawyer practising in London. It's a very slick film, again with a new director (Vivek Agnihotri).

I enjoyed working with Vivek and Jijy. I was reluctant to work with them. But their scripts were so different. And I was hungering for new challenges.

"No Entry" is your brother Boney Kapoor's film?

A: Yeah, it's a family film. It may look raunchy. But it's actually a very clean family film. No double meanings. I'm paired with Lara Dutta. It's a wacky comedy about male bonding. In "My Wife's Murder" and "No Entry", I've fulfilled two desires.

Those being?

A: To kill one's wife and to have an extra-marital affair. Both fulfilled within a month. Aren't I lucky?

Any forthcoming assignments?

A: Nothing. I'm keeping my slate clean.

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My Wife's Murder