Today, he is known for comic capers such as ‘No Entry,’ ‘Welcome,’ ‘Bhool Bhulaiyya 2,’ ‘Singh is Kinng,’ etc. However, veteran director Anees Bazmee began his career as an assistant director to the legendary Raj Kapoor. In a chat with comedian-actor Kapil Sharma, Bazmee recalled his experiences of working with the late film icon.
Reminiscing about one blunder he and his fellow ADs made on the sets, he revealed, “Raj Saab was in a jovial mood and planned a lavish party for the crew. The arrangements were being made when suddenly I became aware that we had given the wrong dress/costume to Kulbhushan Kharbanda (actor).”
He then recalled how, despite the general mood of celebration, five of the assistant directors were in a more sombre mood as they feared how Kapoor, known for his explosive outbursts, would react to this gaffe. "He was a merry man, but once he was furious, his tempers were volcanic. We were all scared of his outbursts."
“When we finally told him, he just looked up and shouted, ‘Where is my assistant?’ ” and we all ran away. I went and hid in the bathroom,” he reminisced.
Kapoor summoned all of his ADs and berated them thoroughly. However, at the end of his furious tirade, he invited all of them to the bash.
“None of us wanted to go, but we did. Some of the biggest stars—from Shammi Kapoor to Padmini Kolhapure—were there, and all of them were staring at Mr. Kharbanda as if they couldn’t believe their eyes. Maybe they were wondering, “What dress was this?” he reminisced with a chuckle.
Kapoor’s filmmaking style was often marked by a streak of unpredictability that kept his team constantly on edge. According to director Anees Bazmee, who began his early career under the legendary filmmaker, one could never fully anticipate what Kapoor might decide at any given moment. This sense of uncertainty, when combined with his notoriously short temper, created a charged atmosphere on set. Kapoor was also known for indulging in alcohol and smoking, yet he displayed remarkable restraint when working on film edits. Bazmee explained that once Kapoor entered the editing phase, he would completely abandon these habits, regardless of whether the process lasted a month or stretched to nearly a year. This rigorous self-discipline, however, often made him irritable, further intensifying the work environment.
In a conversation with India Today Digital, Bazmee recounted how his professional association with Kapoor first began. Introduced by a senior writer, he was welcomed onto the sets of Prem Rog, marking the start of his learning journey. Reflecting on the experience, Bazmee emphasized Kapoor’s extraordinary passion for cinema, describing him as someone who practically lived and breathed the art. He credited Kapoor’s immense vision and deep love for filmmaking as the driving forces behind the masterpieces he created.
Reminiscing about one blunder he and his fellow ADs made on the sets, he revealed, “Raj Saab was in a jovial mood and planned a lavish party for the crew. The arrangements were being made when suddenly I became aware that we had given the wrong dress/costume to Kulbhushan Kharbanda (actor).”
He then recalled how, despite the general mood of celebration, five of the assistant directors were in a more sombre mood as they feared how Kapoor, known for his explosive outbursts, would react to this gaffe. "He was a merry man, but once he was furious, his tempers were volcanic. We were all scared of his outbursts."
“When we finally told him, he just looked up and shouted, ‘Where is my assistant?’ ” and we all ran away. I went and hid in the bathroom,” he reminisced.
Kapoor summoned all of his ADs and berated them thoroughly. However, at the end of his furious tirade, he invited all of them to the bash.
“None of us wanted to go, but we did. Some of the biggest stars—from Shammi Kapoor to Padmini Kolhapure—were there, and all of them were staring at Mr. Kharbanda as if they couldn’t believe their eyes. Maybe they were wondering, “What dress was this?” he reminisced with a chuckle.
Kapoor’s filmmaking style was often marked by a streak of unpredictability that kept his team constantly on edge. According to director Anees Bazmee, who began his early career under the legendary filmmaker, one could never fully anticipate what Kapoor might decide at any given moment. This sense of uncertainty, when combined with his notoriously short temper, created a charged atmosphere on set. Kapoor was also known for indulging in alcohol and smoking, yet he displayed remarkable restraint when working on film edits. Bazmee explained that once Kapoor entered the editing phase, he would completely abandon these habits, regardless of whether the process lasted a month or stretched to nearly a year. This rigorous self-discipline, however, often made him irritable, further intensifying the work environment.
In a conversation with India Today Digital, Bazmee recounted how his professional association with Kapoor first began. Introduced by a senior writer, he was welcomed onto the sets of Prem Rog, marking the start of his learning journey. Reflecting on the experience, Bazmee emphasized Kapoor’s extraordinary passion for cinema, describing him as someone who practically lived and breathed the art. He credited Kapoor’s immense vision and deep love for filmmaking as the driving forces behind the masterpieces he created.
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