Veteran Bollywood actor Shakti Kapoor, celebrated for his memorable villainous characters, recently shared a surprising family anecdote. He disclosed that his own parents once walked out of a cinema hall in shock after watching him portray a negative role on the big screen.
A Scene That Shocked His Family
Recalling the incident in a conversation with AlphaNeon Studioz, Kapoor pinpointed the film Insaniyat Ke Dushman as the catalyst. After a few of his major films had released, he encouraged his parents to watch this particular movie. However, the experience took an unexpected turn right from his first scene.
The opening sequence featured Shakti Kapoor's character pulling a woman's dupatta, an act that immediately disturbed his parents. His father, appalled by what he saw, instructed Kapoor's mother to leave the theatre immediately. The actor recounted his father's reaction, stating he expressed disappointment that his son was now replicating such behaviour on screen after allegedly doing it in real life.
Parental Disapproval and Career Advice
Following the abrupt exit, Shakti Kapoor's parents did not hold back their criticism. They called and scolded him, questioning his choice of roles. "What type of roles are you doing? And see with whom you're doing such things?" they admonished him.
They had a clear vision for his career path, urging him to take on roles of a "good person" and share screen space with leading heroines of the era like Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman. They explicitly asked why he was choosing to play a "Gunda" (goon) instead.
Kapoor's Pragmatic Defense
Despite the familial pressure, Shakti Kapoor, who was finally seeing success after a long struggle in the film industry, stood his ground. He offered a blunt yet practical reason for embracing negative roles. He reminded his parents, "You have given birth to me, and you have only given me this face. After looking at this face no one is giving me role of a good person or a hero."
This candid admission highlighted the typecasting he faced early in his career, which he ultimately turned into his greatest strength. His iconic negative performances in the 1990s, including Crime Master Gogo in Andaz Apna Apna, Ranjeet in Qurbani, and Bulla in Gunda, went on to define his legacy as one of Bollywood's most unforgettable villains.
Family Sentiments Echoed by Daughter Shraddha
The discomfort with his on-screen persona was not limited to his parents. In a past interview with PTI, his daughter, actress Shraddha Kapoor, also admitted to being unhappy with her father's villainous roles during her childhood. "I used to shout at him for doing villain roles. I used to be sad about it," she revealed. It was her mother who explained that he was merely acting, helping her separate the artist from the character.
This revelation, shared by the veteran actor, offers a fascinating glimpse into the personal conflicts that can arise from an artist's professional choices, even when those choices lead to immense fame and a permanent place in cinematic history.
