Real change yet to come in Indian cinema, says Rajat Kapoor

Mumbai March 11 (IANS) Acclaimed actor-filmmaker Rajat Kapoor who will soon be seen in a crowd-funded film titled Mantra says the changing trend of Indian cinema is more focussed on presentation and projection of realism which he finds quite cosmetic.

Rajat is known for his work in films like Bheja Fry Dil Chahta Hai Monsoon Wedding Midnight s Children Corporate and Ankhon Dekhi.

Asked about how he looks at the changing scenario of Indian cinema that is constantly trying to blur the line between commercial and arthouse cinema Rajat told IANS here: In my humble opinion it is a very cosmetic change in current mainstream cinema. Some consciousness has come in terms of production designing projecting realism and presentation. However the real change comes from a bigger belief.

Though we are making films which are better than those of 1980s 1990s but are we making films as good as of the 1950s era? Back then we could make films like Pyaasa Devdas Bandini and Ganga Jamuna at an absolute commercial space. Are we making films as good as that questioned Rajat.

In Mantra releasing on March 17 Rajat plays an industrialist. Kalki Koechlin Shiv Pandit Adil Hussain and Lushin Dubey too are part of the film.

Giving an insight into his character Rajat said: As the film is set in the 1990s during the time of liberalisation this man has a business which is in danger of going bankrupt. On the other hand he keeps everything inside him bottled up.

That creates a lot of emotional turmoil for him as well as people around him. So it is an emotional journey of how he keeps the family and his business together.

Born and brought up in Delhi Rajat started his career in theatre and slowly moved in to cinema. He begum his acting with the film Khayal Gatha in 1989 followed by his first 26-minute documentary Tarana which he directed.

In 2003 Rajat made a film named Raghu Romeo which bagged a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

He has achieved a lot via cinema but theatre remains his first love.

How has he managed to handle two different mediums with complete different discipline and temperament he said: I think that (theatre) keeps me going. I keep writing and travelling with my plays to various theatre festivals. In the last three years I wrote three scripts and produced plays.

This process keeps me sane I guess otherwise I would have shot myself long time back (laughs).

--IANS
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