I was born lucky.

That’s how Rishi Kapoor kicks off his autobiography Khullam Khulla, which in a week’s time has sold 35,000 copies and gone into second print. The 64-year-old Kapoor — son of Raj and father of Ranbir — was at the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet on Saturday, in conversation with Shantanu Roy Choudhury.

SPEAR RATHER THAN SALIM

Being among actors was a habit for me and my siblings…. For Mughal-e-Azam, my grandfather (Prithviraj Kapoor, who played Akbar) took us to the set for the famous scene where Akbar tells his son Salim (Dilip Kumar) to think things over before they get to the battlefield. Any person would have given a hand and leg to be there, but as a kid, I just wasn’t impressed. What impressed me more were the daggers and spears on set, made out of plaster of Paris! Cinema, for us, was taken for granted. Indian cinema is about 100 years old… the Kapoors have spent about 89 to 90 years in films. We started in 1927... we are in the fourth generation of the Kapoors who have made films their life and passion.  

THE FIRST... BRIBE!

I was two when I did a cameo of sorts. My father (Raj Kapoor) wanted me, my elder brother (Randhir) and my elder sister (Ritu) to walk on the footpath when he and Nargisji were filming the song Pyaar hua ikraar hua from Shree 420. It was a rain song and though we were wearing raincoats, the rain would get into my eyes and I would start crying — I just couldn’t get the shot right! It was Nargisji who lured me with a Cadbury chocolate and said I could have it if I gave the shot properly. So I was just two when I took my first bribe! 

THE FIRST AUTOGRAPH

My father was casting Mera Naam Joker. We were having dinner at the dining table one day and suddenly my dad asked my mom (Krishna) if he could cast me as the young joker. I was very excited, but I kept a straight face. My mother agreed provided it didn’t disturb my studies. I ate my food quickly, excused myself, went to my room… and the first thing I did was take out a foolscap sheet and start practising my autograph! 
There were many other early signs that showed I was destined to be an actor. I was a very naughty kid aur jab meri Ma mujhe thappad maarti thi, I would purposely start crying loudly and go in front of the mirror to see how I looked! 
I won a National Award for Mera Naam Joker and I remember when I went and gave my trophy to my grandfather, he started crying and said: ‘Aaj Raj ne mera karz utaar diya’. 

FAMILY BUSINESS IS HARD WORK

One of the primary reasons why I wrote this book was to try and override the myth that prevails that star sons and daughters have it easy. It’s a wrong perception.... For many years, I struggled to keep my head above the water… I was alone, despite being a star son. Raj Kapoor was not because of Prithviraj Kapoor; I am not because of Raj Kapoor; my son Ranbir is not because of me! We have fallen, risen and gained by experience and we have worked bloody hard…. Humara family business yeh hi hai… aur yeh hi rahega. Hum kapde-wapde toh bech nahin paayenge! 

BOBBY TO KABHI KABHIE

Bobby was a do-or-die film for my father after the debacle of Mera Naam Joker. He borrowed comics like Archie from me and he was inspired to make a film about teenage love. And contrary to what people think, Bobby wasn’t my film — the subject was female-oriented and it was named after the heroine (Dimple Kapadia). Bobby wasn’t designed for me at all, but it so happened that Dimple got married after Bobby and left films and the whole credit for Bobby’s success came to me! 
Bobby made me an overnight sensation and at 21, I was flying. I turned into an absolute brat… badtameez jisko bolte hain. So much so that once my secretary told me to buy an award — and I did for Rs 30,000!... I remember I kept refusing Yash Chopra when he chased me for Kabhi Kabhie (1976). Finally, to throw him off, I said I wanted to do Neetu’s (Singh) role because it was a better role! He kept chasing me and finally I relented when Shashi Kapoor, my uncle (who played Rishi’s dad in the film), persuaded me to. So I said ‘yes’ thinking I am doing these guys a huge favour, but now I realise what a fool I would have been to not have Kabhi Kabhie on my resume. 

AKBAR TO AKBAR

Manmohan Desai was a law unto himself — he would make his own laws of science, he was his own Einstein and Newton! His plots were crazy, but he always pulled them off. One couldn’t challenge any of his ideas. He even made Dharmendra wear a skirt in Dharamveer. In 1975, I was shooting Laila Majnu in Bikaner, when I got a lightning call from Manmohan Desai. The line was very bad and I could just pick up the fact that he wanted me to play Akbar in Amar Akbar Anthony. Since I knew what crazy ideas he had, I immediately thought he had cooked up one with Amar, a hero who plays a flute, Akbar from Mughal-e-Azam, and maybe Anthony from Antony and Cleopatra! 

ISS UMAR MEIN... CAREER

Even when I stopped being a hero, the actor in me was always there. When I wasn’t acting much, I got a call from my friend Rakesh Roshan who wanted me to do a role that required just two days of acting in Krrish. When I said it wasn’t a good career decision, he laughed and said ‘Iss umar mein koi career banta hai kya?’ I took that as a challenge and crafted my second innings. And I think I have been able to make a mark… roles are still written for me today. 

AGNEEPATH TO KAPOOR & SONS

Agneepath was special because I couldn’t think of myself in that role of.. such a ruthless guy! I rejected it because I was sure that if the film flopped, I would be blamed! But Karan Johar and Karan Malhotra convinced me to give it a try. I gave the look test, I just put on kajal and when I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt I could do it. 
Even for Kapoor & Sons, I said I would play a 90-year-old only if the make-up was perfect. And that became my biggest stress — every day I had to put on make-up sitting on a chair in one position for five-and-a-half hours! But it was worth it. 

BETA AS BAAP

I may not always have been in agreement with the kind of films Ranbir has done, but he’s consistently proved me wrong with his choices. Does he consult me before he accepts a film? Never. Aajkal toh bachche baap bann gaye hain!