What makes Dimple Kapadia a joy to work with? Pankaj Kapur explains

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Pankaj Kapur shared his thoughts on reuniting with Dimple Kapadia in Jab Khuli Kitaab. The actor also spoke about working with professional actors.

Veteran actors Pankaj Kapur and Dimple Kapadia are set to share screen space once again after their collaboration in Finding Fanny. This time, the duo will be seen together in the ZEE5 series Jab Khuli Kitaab. Their reunion has sparked excitement among audiences who fondly remember their earlier pairing, though Kapur views the collaboration from a different perspective. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, he spoke about working with Kapadia again and sharing the screen with a new generation of actors.

While sharing his thoughts on the same, Kapur said, “I had a wonderful time working with her in Finding Fanny. In that film, the director had decided that I would play my part and she would play hers. This time, it was Saurabh Shukla who chose to cast me in this role and her in that one. Ultimately, it’s the director who decides which actors he wants for the film he is making.”

For Kapur, what truly matters is the professional environment on set and the seriousness with which actors approach their work. “Having said that, yes, it's always nice to work with an actor who is professional, has a serious and honest approach towards their work. This way, there is professionalism on set and personally, I like that.”

While audiences often grow attached to on-screen pairings and hope to see them reunite repeatedly, much like the iconic appeal of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, Kapur said he does not perceive collaborations from that standpoint. “I don’t look at it that way. I approach it from the perspective of the character I’ve been given. My focus is on performing that role and fully living that character, while hoping that my co-actor is equally committed to the work we’re doing.”

The conversation also veered towards how performances are perceived today, especially when compared to what many describe as a different era of cinema. “I think they are wonderful actors, and they are doing some great work. Even youngsters, some of them are putting in their best and coming up with something spectacular. The question is the kind of films that are being made. Maybe there was a different kind of cinema, and the tonality was different. Today, the tonality of cinema has changed. Therefore, the position that an actor has in a given film is not just purely acting. There are two thousand other things involved with it,” he said.

Kapur was clear that he does not dismiss the younger generation of actors. “I do not undermine any of the actors. I think some of them are very fine actors. And in the years to come, or the subjects to come, if they get an opportunity to work, they would be able to show the audiences that they have genuine ability as actors to be able to give performances that can be remembered for years to come.”