I have always found women superior: Anil Kapoor

Actor and filmmaker Anil Kapoor is happy to see that women are finally getting their due in male-dominated Bollywood. And one girl in particular is making him proud - his younger daughter Rhea who has just wrapped up her first production, Aisha.

“I have always believed that women and men have different qualities and I have found women to be superior to men. If you see, my children have grown up so well, that’s because of their mother and not because of me,” said Kapoor.

Kapoor tied the knot in 1984.  He has a son called Harsh and two daughters - Sonam and Rhea.  “The way girls are coming up; taking charge, holding situations, calling the shots ... at the age of 23, Rhea has made the whole film. I am very happy, not only for Sonam and Rhea, but for all girls,” he said.

Sonam Kapoor made her debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya in 2007 and also worked with the filmmaker on Black. She was next seen in Delhi-6 with Abhishek Bachchan and stars in the recently released I Hate Luv Storys.

Rhea, who worked as an assistant on the 2009 Ranbir Kapoor film Wake Up Sid, decided to remain behind the camera as a producer.

Her latest film Aisha is based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma and stars Sonam and Abhay Deol in the lead roles

Anil, who has been working in Bollywood for three decades, says: “What I like the most is to see how times have changed. Years ago, there used to be only men in the film industry and show business. I used to feel bad about girls not being treated equally, now things have changed all over the world, especially in India.”

Anil rarely ventures into production because he is more interested in acting. “I do produce if I like the script, like Gandhi My Father. But I am more passionate about acting. Rhea is more enthusiastic about producing. In the future Rhea will be producing films and I will be there to sign the cheques, nothing else.”

He is approaching 50, but the actor has managed to maintain his enthusiasm since his first hit, Woh Saat Din.

Kapoor has starred in a number of blockbusters including Tezaab (1988), 1942: A Love Story (1993), Nayak: The Real Hero (2001) and the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire in 2008.

When asked about the secret behind his success, he said, “There are a few things, firstly, you should be mentally happy. When you have a good family, you are happy with them and you don’t need to indulge in drinking and smoking. I do everything, but within limits. I also exercise five to six days a week and control my eating habits.”

The versatile actor has undertaken several roles and worked in almost every genre of film, “but there are still many more,” said Kapoor, who featured in the last season of the American television series “24”.

“I have just begun my career internationally. There are certain things I am looking at but have not yet pinpointed which one to pursue,” said Anil. IANS

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2010.