Thaindian News

By Radhika Bhirani
Udaipur, Jan 16 (IANS) Popular television actor Ram Kapoor, who is sporting a new fit look after losing 11 kg, says he plays a mean and hateful person in his first mainstream Bollywood film “Karthik Calling Karthik” which also stars Farhan Akhtar.

“In ‘Karthik Calling Karthik’, I play the biggest problem in Farhan’s life. I play a bastard in the film - a mean, obnoxious, hateful person…I can’t disclose anything beyond this,” Kapoor told IANS.

“Karthik Calling Karthik” also features Deepika Padukone and Shefali Shah. It has been produced by Farhan and Ritesh Sidhwani.

Kapoor, who was in this lake city for the launch of NDTV Imagine’s show “Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega” that he will be hosting, says both his films — “Karthik Calling Karthik” and Anurag Kashyap’s “Udaan” — are ready for release.

“These are two very interesting releases. Both the films are very good — just like I wanted to do — very metro films. It’s the kind of cinema that always interests me and the kind of cinema that I like to go and watch. I have given myself completely to these films and everybody is talking well about them so far,” Ram said.

The 36-year-old, who did a cameo in Mira Nair’s crossover film “Monsoon Wedding” in 2001, says he is not taking on any major TV projects at the moment as he wants to see the fate of his movies first.

“At this point, it’s wise for me to wait for the releases to happen and then see if I get more cinema work like that. Then I’ll take it on. But if I get the kind of cinema I have always happily refused, I will take on television again. I love doing TV and I am lucky that I have reached a level where I get the best of roles,” he said.

The actor, popular for shows like “Ghar Ek Mandir” and “Kasamh Se”, also says that TV means more business for him than being in cinema.

“At my level, the money is fantastic in TV. In cinema, I’m doing very good work with very good people, but the money that I make in cinema is not even one-tenth of what I make from TV.

“However, cinema is a choice I am gladly making because I consider it as a stepping stone. If I get the kind of work that I want, you will see me more in cinema; if not, then I’ll be back to television,” he added.

Asked about his noticeable weight loss, Kapoor flashed a big smile and said: “I have lost 11 kilos. I just became serious about it. For the last three months, my eating is controlled, my drinking is controlled — there’s no special formula or secret (to it). I do the treadmill at home sometimes.

“This is something that I wanted to do for myself, my children, because it’s good to be healthy and it’s good even for my career.”

Kapoor is currently gearing up for the second season of NDTV Imagine’s “Swayamvar”. This time, Rahul Mahajan, son of slain Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Mahajan, has set out to search for a suitable life partner amongst 15 shortlisted women. The show will begin Feb 1.