Anil Kapoor says he felt ‘naked’ after shaving moustache for Lamhe, defends the Sridevi-starrer: ‘People were shocked’ | Bollywood News
Actor Anil Kapoor has never shied away from taking risks, on the big screen or small. One of his many cinematic adventures has been Yash Chopra’s 1991 romantic drama Lamhe, in which he starred alongside Sridevi. Given its rich packaging, Lamhe may not appear to be a risk at first — it was Yash Chopra’s reunion with Sridevi after the success of Chandni (1989) and with Anil after Mashaal (1984). It was also Anil and Sridevi reuniting after Shekhar Kapur’s 1987 blockbuster superhero film Mr. India.
However, the film flopped upon release with the audience rejecting the film’s theme — a man falling in love with both mother and daughter. However, the film found a dedicated following over the years and it is considered ahead of its time. Anil, however, believes that (the lack of) his moustache also played a role in the film not being received well. The actor had shaved off his moustache for a part of the film.
“I just felt naked when I did Lamhe, to be honest with you. People were shocked. It was not a very positive reaction. People who had loved the films like Ram Lakhan (1989), Tezaab (1988), and Mr. India, they felt, ‘No, we want him to look a particular way.’ Obviously, the content was slightly, they felt, was ahead of its time. I didn’t. I just liked it, loved it. That’s the reason the film didn’t do well that time,” said Anil.
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But Anil knew that over the years, as it happened, Lamhe would gain a cult audience. He added in the interview to Bombay Times, “I knew it’s going to stand the test of time. It has long legs. When you do a very mainstream, commercial film, and it’s not a good film, and if that film doesn’t do well, it harms you a lot. But if you do a good film with a good filmmaker and good co-stars, and you’ve done well, even if the film doesn’t work, it’s not going to harm you. It only helps you build your credibility as a professional actor or a star, whatever you may call it. I’ve tried my best to attach myself to these kind of filmmakers and actors.”
Anil said that every decade of his career, he’s tried to balance the mainstream films with “out-of-the-box” movies in order to support filmmakers with a new thought. Those choices helped educate and challenge him. He decided right at the start of his career that since there are already the more popular members of the illustrious Kapoor family — Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, and Randhir Kapoor, he’ll try to carve out his niche as a different kind of Kapoor. Which is why he sought filmmakers from parallel cinema, like Shyam Benegal and Mrinal Sen.
Also Read: Anil Kapoor’s son Harsh Varrdhan calls out star obsession in industry, criticises low quality of films: ‘They belong in the 1980s’
Anil was recently seen in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 2023 blockbuster family crime drama Animal and in Sandeep Modi’s Hotstar thriller show The Night Manager. He’ll be next seen in Suresh Triveni’s action drama Subedaar.
