📌 Key Points
- Pankaj Kapur addresses his reputation as a ‘difficult actor’ in Bollywood.
- He attributes the label to his insistence on reading scripts before accepting roles.
- Kapur highlights the industry’s earlier practices where scripts weren’t always provided.
- He emphasizes the importance of understanding his character and the script’s structure.
Veteran actor Pankaj Kapur addresses his reputation for being ‘difficult,’ explaining it stems from his demand for a complete script before committing to any role. He contrasts this with past industry norms where scripts were often an afterthought.
The ‘Difficult Actor’ Label Explained
Pankaj Kapur has long carried the reputation of being a “difficult actor” in the film industry, but the veteran performer says the label largely stems from his insistence on reading a proper script before agreeing to a role. Known for his meticulous approach to acting and attention to detail, Pankaj says the perception dates back to the early years of his career when such demands were uncommon in the industry.
Clarifying the situation, Pankaj said, “When I came from the National School of Drama to Mumbai, and I started to find work, I was asked to play a certain part. I asked for a script, and they said I’m a difficult actor for asking for one. For years, it stuck on because I would say I would not work without a script and without knowing what I am doing in this given structure of things. A whole lot of people got put off by that, and they branded me as a difficult actor.”
Script Demands: A Rare Practice?
He added that during the earlier decades of the industry, it was common for actors to arrive on set without having read a full script beforehand. Scenes were often shared shortly before filming, leaving performers to prepare at the last minute.
“In those days, nobody would ask for a script. Even the hero wouldn’t ask for a script. The director would say, ‘Come’, and he would go there, and the scenes were given at the last minute. They would just prepare the scenes and perform them. Hats off to those actors who did that. My training said that without a script, without me knowing what I’m doing and without working on the character that I’m supposed to portray,” Pankaj said.
Pankaj Kapur’s Method Acting Approach
Jab Khuli Kitaab, starring Pankaj Kapur and Dimple Kapadia, premiered on March 6 and is streaming on ZEE5.
Pankaj Kapur’s dedication to his craft and insistence on a script, while unconventional in the past, reflect his commitment to delivering well-prepared performances. His film with Dimple Kapadia is now streaming on ZEE5.
