HOW: HE STAYS SO FIT AT 75 
WHO: HIS BOLLY BUDDIES ARE
WHAT: POSTO MEANS TO HIM 
WHY: HE WORE WHITE SHOES AFTER 25 YEARS
T2 GOES TA THAIYYA WITH JEETENDRA

He wore white shoes after 25 years... just for Calcutta! Jeetendra — the Bolly veteran known for his all-white wardrobe and trademark dance moves that christened him Jumping Jack — was in town recently as a celebrity judge for the grand finale episode of STAR Jalsha’s Phire Ashar Gaan  (9pm on Sunday). The music reality show is produced under the banner of Chhayabani Balaji Entertainment Private Limited, that is co-owned by daughter Ekta Kapoor and Calcutta boy Saugata Nandi. t2 caught up with the 75-year-old star of films as diverse as Kinara and Himmatwala for a fun chat.

You are 75 and so, so fit. What’s the secret?

Yeh aapki nazron ki inaayat hai! (Smiles) Honestly, I am not doing anything great. God has been kind to me.  

There must be something that you do for basic fitness...

I used to smoke, drink and chew tobacco. I had all the bad habits in the world, which I gave up 15 years ago. I haven’t touched any of these things ever since. This is the raaz! I tell my friends that the human body is like a derby horse. It can run the way you want it to run provided you look after it. I want to convey this message to all. Everybody knows what is good and what is bad for their health. You don’t have to go to a dietician. Only thing is you have to understand and take care of yourself. 

You are known to be pretty involved with Balaji. Do you go to office every day?

No, I don’t. There are brilliant people in our company. They are doing a great job. I will only be meddling and spoiling things, so I better stay away! 

Who are your close friends in Bollywood today?

I have got a few friends. Rishi Kapoor and Rakesh Roshan are the two people I spend time with. There are a few others. We meet every day. We go to the gym. Earlier, we used to drink together. Now I don’t drink with them, but they still enjoy their evenings! (Laughs)

Then what are your evenings like?

I enjoy my evenings with Posto, my little pet dog. My daughter (Ekta) got him from Calcutta. Posto and Ekta are enemies... but he’s my buddy! He sleeps with me and is always around me. I miss him wherever I go. 

One doesn’t see you at many parties though...

I go and sit with my friends when they drink but when they start cruising above 20,000ft, I leave! (Laughs) 

Both your children are busy with their careers. What’s family time at the Kapoors like?

I crave for their time. In their (daughter Ekta and son Tusshar) childhood, I didn’t have time for them and now they don’t have time for me! At night, around 10.30pm, we sometimes catch up and chat. We try to avoid talking business at home. I always tell them, ‘Get married, get married’ and they reply, ‘Very soon, very soon’. They cheat the old man! (Smiles)

You’ve always had many female fans...

Where are they?! Show me! Give me their addresses. I am only 75. It’s not very late! (Laughs  out loud) Jokes aside, we should worship our fans. Woh hain toh hum hain.... unke bagair hum kya hain?
 
You have always set your own style trends. What is your own favourite look? 

Honestly, I liked my simple looks in Gulzar’s films such as Khushboo, Kinara and Parichay (inset). He presented me in a completely different look. When I see my films now, I feel I looked the same in almost all my other films.
 
 

And what’s this fascination you have always had for white shoes?

You won’t believe this but I am wearing white shoes today after 25 years! This is a new pair. Somebody had praised my white shoes while I was in Calcutta many years ago, so when my wife (Shobha) heard that I am travelling to Calcutta, she told me to wear them. I wore light colours all my life. Just imagine me doing Ta thaiyya (Himmatwala) in black pants! (Laughs) 

What are your favourite Calcutta memories?

So many! I remember there used to be a music band at Oberoi Grand. Calcutta was always full of life. I am talking about the 1960s. I love the trams. At night, we used to sneak into those trams and travel around the city.  I had come here during Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke (1969). This city has its own beauty. We don’t get so much love and appreciation from any corner of the world as we do from Calcutta. 

How regularly do you watch today’s films?

I watch almost every Friday release. Every Friday, my friends and I go to watch a film. I now do what I couldn’t do when I was busy with my career. 

What’s your take on today’s young actors? 

Today’s films and actors are very different compared to our times. Today, actors are brilliant and very professional. They look so good! Hamare zamane mein sab (gestures drinking) Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Rajesh Khanna… ek se ek guru thhe! Humare kamre mein jab make-up man subah uthaane aata tha, humare kamre se soda ke bottle milte thhe aur aajkal ke actors ke ghar mein jao toh dumb-bell milte hain! (Laughs) 

Who are the actors from your generation you still like watching? 

Rishi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan (inset). They still know how to present themselves well. 

What do you like watching on TV?

I like to watch the people I like... I like Divyanka (Tripathi) and Karan (Patel) a lot. So, I follow their show (Ye Hai Mohabbatein on STAR Plus). I don’t just watch it because it’s Ekta’s show! Then, there’s National Geographic Channel and I am also very fond of cooking shows. 

Are you clued into the latest technology?

I am totally tech-unfriendly! Except sending a message, I don’t know anything on my phone. There are so many things on the phone I am clueless about. 

You were known as Jumping Jack all through your career. Given a choice, what name would you have given yourself? 

Iss raah mein jo jo log mujhe diye hain woh main lete huye chala hoon… kisine yeh kahaa hai toh kisine woh kahaa hai. Main logon ka pyaar lete chala gaya! 

Jeetendra to me means.... Tell t2@abp.in