‘Meri Jaan Haazir Hai…’: When Shakti Kapoor Praised Bollywood Stuntmen, Body Doubles
Shakti Kapoor is famous for his villain and comedy roles in Bollywood. On his birthday, we’re sharing a throwback interview where he talks about his dancing and praises stuntmen. Check it out.
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00:00A villain is not made from a mother's womb, he is made because of a situation.
00:05Wherever you go, children shout at you,
00:08don't shout, come tomorrow.
00:10Just like life itself is a time, fighting is also a time.
00:13Song is also a time, everything is timing.
00:16If your timing is bad in life, you are ruined.
00:18If your timing is good, you are prosperous.
00:20Shakti ji, despite being a villain, you dance a lot like a hero.
00:32And you don't let go of any chance to dance.
00:35And the interesting thing is that you dance well.
00:38Thank you very much.
00:40Actually, this opportunity was given to me by the director.
00:43For the first time, a director made a villain dance with a hero in a disco.
00:51And the film was Rocky.
00:53And after that, it became a fashion.
00:55Many villains sang.
00:58But I think I must have done at least 40-50 songs as a villain.
01:03And especially disco competitions, dancing with heroes.
01:08Sanjay Dutt was in Rocky.
01:10And in so many films, with Mithun Chakraborty ji, with Jeetu ji.
01:15In one or two films, with Mr. Bachchan ji.
01:17Satyabh Satya.
01:19Great.
01:21And the interesting thing is that when I got the opportunity to dance as a villain,
01:28the fan following was of a different kind.
01:31A villain dancing with a hero in a competition.
01:37So, the fan following of children increased.
01:40And I give all the marks to Mr. Sunil Dutt, who took this risk.
01:44Thanks to him.
01:46Shakti, tell us, as per your experience, you have done many dances.
01:51Do you think it is good to give the opportunity to a villain to dance in films?
01:56Why not?
01:58If it is in the story, it is not that if the villain is there, he has to sing.
02:03Today's world has changed completely.
02:05Even in Hollywood, a hero becomes a villain.
02:07Now a days, a villain acts as a hero.
02:09If there is a situation, and there is a love triangle,
02:13then the villain has to sing.
02:15It is not only that heroes have to sing songs in films.
02:18When villains, when they are portraying villains, they have a character.
02:23A villain does not become a villain because of a situation.
02:28It is possible that he is a good person first, and then he becomes a villain.
02:33It is not necessary that only heroes have to sing.
02:37It is equal for everyone.
02:39So, as you are saying, every villain should have a good dancer like you.
02:43But if we give an opportunity to all the villains,
02:45it is possible that their hidden talent will come out.
02:48It is possible that a lot of villains won't even know that they are very good dancers.
02:51And probably, they will not get an opportunity.
02:54If you give an opportunity,
02:56when everyone is giving an opportunity,
02:58many villains are singing and dancing in films,
03:00then I don't think there will be any problem.
03:02But only Shakti Tupu as a villain has got a dancer.
03:05There could be much more actors as dancers.
03:08Shakti ji, please tell us,
03:10in any film,
03:12what is the importance of a hero, a villain, and a dancer?
03:16Because all of us are dancers.
03:21I think, in today's date,
03:23every artist, especially newcomers,
03:27before they join films,
03:29they should specially be trained to be dancers.
03:32They should be trained from a dancing school.
03:37It is not necessary that he is a hero or a villain.
03:40Any character who is wanting to join the films,
03:43I think it is very important for him to go dance.
03:46Let him be a comedian, let him be a villain, or let him be a hero.
03:50There is a lot of importance of dance.
03:52And my advice to all the newcomers,
03:54before they join films,
03:56they should learn how to dance.
03:58And dancing is as important as giving a performance.
04:02You have done many good dances.
04:04For example, Tuna Tuna was very famous.
04:06And you also did the ballet of Rocky.
04:08So, what is the importance of a dance master to make a good dance?
04:12See, a dance master is very important.
04:15Especially in today's date,
04:17when there is so much competition,
04:19especially when people get songs in a different way,
04:24it makes a lot of difference.
04:26In the past, it was different.
04:28But now, a dance director is as important as a film director.
04:33There are so many songs,
04:35whose melody is not good.
04:37Because of the dance director,
04:39those songs look so beautiful.
04:41When you are watching the film,
04:43you forget whether the song is good or bad.
04:45Recently, we did a film with Mr. Mithun.
04:48Sajna Saath Nibhana.
04:51In Sajna Saath Nibhana,
04:53there are three songs.
04:55For example, in Positive Revolve,
04:57I am a friend of Mr. Mithun.
04:59Tara was the dance director of Madras.
05:01She worked so hard for me.
05:03You can see that on the screen.
05:05Especially when you have to match Mithun,
05:08who is one of the best dancers in our country,
05:11with Shakti Kapoor,
05:13I think a lot of marks go to the dance director.
05:16In Sanjay Dutt's film,
05:18Chunna Chunna,
05:20it was very popular.
05:22Karan was the dance director of Madras.
05:25He worked so hard.
05:27And because of him and the song,
05:29both the things combined,
05:31the song was a super hit.
05:33Wherever I go,
05:35I hear Chunna Chunna.
05:37Shakti Kapoor, I hear Chunna Chunna.
05:39Chunna Chunna.
05:41Shakti, tell us,
05:43you must have seen films since childhood.
05:45That's why you came to the industry.
05:47You must have been interested.
05:49We had many good dancers.
05:51Many such films were made.
05:53Do you have a favorite song or dance
05:55from old films?
05:57You will be surprised.
05:59I was a big fan of Mr. Dara Singh.
06:01When I was in school,
06:03his films were action films.
06:05Like Lotera.
06:07I liked his songs.
06:09Picturized songs.
06:11There was a film called Mumtaz.
06:13I can't forget his songs.
06:15After that,
06:17I can never forget Helen's song.
06:19I can never forget.
06:21Which film was it?
06:23In the cage,
06:25Azad Saab is an actor.
06:27He sings Helen's song.
06:29I can't forget Padma Khanna's song.
06:31I think it was a film called
06:33Jewel Thief.
06:35In which,
06:37Prema was being executed.
06:39It was a fabulous song.
06:41Johnny Mera Naam.
06:43I can't forget his song.
06:45Because of the picturization
06:47and because of the songs,
06:49I can never forget it.
06:51It was a song of revenge.
06:53Helen did it.
06:57According to me,
06:59Helen hasn't been replaced yet.
07:01She was one of the finest dancers
07:03the country had.
07:05We do need a dancer of her caliber.
07:07She was very good.
07:09I was a big fan of hers.
07:11Shakti, do you still prefer
07:13dancers in your future films?
07:15Yes, definitely.
07:17Why not?
07:19If there is a situation.
07:23There are so many upcoming films
07:25in which I will play the role of a villain.
07:2770-80% of the films
07:29are positive roles.
07:31For example, Zindagi Ek Jua by Prakash Mehra.
07:33I sang and danced with Anil Kapoor.
07:37There is a film called Hali Bhoomi.
07:39I sang and danced with Kader Bhai.
07:41I sang and danced with Kader Bhai.
07:43There are so many films.
07:45Mostly,
07:4760% of the films are positive roles.
07:49I am enjoying it.
07:51Shakti,
07:53let's talk about the stand.
07:55You look like a hero.
07:57You have played
07:5980% of the roles.
08:01Let's talk about the future.
08:03You have worked
08:05with a lot of stand masters.
08:07You must have done a lot of stunts.
08:09Yes.
08:11You have been slapped in many places.
08:13Yes.
08:15Tell us
08:17how important is action
08:19for a villain or a hero?
08:23As I was telling you earlier,
08:27I think
08:29whoever comes to Neelumar,
08:31he should go to the classes
08:33Similarly,
08:35as much as dance is important in the film,
08:37action is equally important
08:39in today's date.
08:41There is a film called Phool aur Kaante.
08:43There is a
08:45normal looking Ajay Devgn
08:47hero.
08:49His action is so good
08:51that
08:53when he is giving shots in the theatre,
08:55people stand up and give claps.
08:57That film is
08:59a very big success.
09:01Only because that boy
09:03did all the action himself.
09:05He was 12 years old
09:07before he became an actor.
09:09Though his father
09:11Mr. Veeru Devgn is a fight composer,
09:13but the way he has
09:15taken training,
09:17if our new actors
09:19from the film industry
09:21also take training,
09:23I think it's a very big success for them.
09:25Sure shot make it as a big star.
09:27Action is very important.
09:29Yes,
09:31sometimes we get hurt
09:33in action.
09:35In the beginning,
09:37I was doing a film called Kismat.
09:39There was a fight scene with Mr. Gautam Sareen.
09:41By mistake,
09:43I was wearing his glasses.
09:45There was a blow.
09:47I didn't want to hit him in that shot,
09:49but because of the scene,
09:51he ran away and hit me.
09:53I didn't know that
09:55that blow was coming.
09:57The glass broke and hit my eyes.
09:59I got 18 stitches
10:01on my eyes.
10:03After that,
10:05I had to jump from a height.
10:07I jumped from a very high height.
10:09The one who had jumped before
10:11was below me.
10:13I had to have 4 stitches here.
10:15Anyway,
10:17this doesn't happen often.
10:19It doesn't happen every time,
10:21but it's part of the game.
10:23If you want to work in this profession,
10:25you have to get hurt.
10:27Those who are not trained
10:29get hurt more.
10:31If they are trained,
10:33chances of getting hurt are less
10:35because they know the timing.
10:37Just like life is a time,
10:39fighting is also a time.
10:41Song is also a time.
10:43Everything is timing.
10:45If your timing is bad,
10:47you are ruined.
10:49When a hero or villain
10:51gets hurt,
10:53they duplicate it.
10:55What do you think about
10:57those who do such dangerous things?
10:59Yes, the duplicates.
11:01I see
11:03their condition.
11:05They give such high shots,
11:07such risky shots,
11:09shots of a horse falling,
11:11shots of a car on fire,
11:13shots of a car jumping,
11:15shots of a motorcycle jumping.
11:17When I see them,
11:19I go home at night and say,
11:21they are not duplicates.
11:23They are fighters.
11:25People are careful nowadays.
11:27They take less risks.
11:29Their training is complete.
11:31Still, there is a risk.
11:33I salute
11:35these fighters and duplicates
11:37who take such risks.
11:39Although, in Hollywood,
11:41these fighters are insured
11:43to a tune of lakhs of rupees.
11:45Even if they get a small injury,
11:47the insurance company takes care of them.
11:49I think this is going to happen
11:51in our industry too.
11:53It is very important for them
11:55that the fighters are 100% insured.
11:57If they get injured,
11:59they cannot work for months.
12:01They are injured in the hospital.
12:03They are at home without work.
12:05So, I request
12:07people in our industry
12:09to understand that
12:11duplicates are very risky.
12:13Their training is good.
12:15If there is a risk,
12:17they should work.
12:19Again, hats off to the duplicates
12:21and the fighters.
12:47You don't have to take such risky shots.
12:49After all, you are a very professional actor.
12:51If you get injured,
12:53it can cost you lakhs of rupees
12:55because you are not going for a shoot.
12:57You can stand in so many sets.
12:59It is very important to be basic.
13:01Basic means that
13:03he should understand
13:05how to do a punch.
13:07Should I hit a somersault or not?
13:09How should I fall or get up?
13:11Basically,
13:13every actor should know
13:15how to do a punch.
13:17It doesn't mean that
13:19I will hit a somersault from a 15-storey building.
13:21It's not like that.
13:23But still, you should know the basics of the fights.
13:25It's very important.
13:27As you said,
13:29you are taking precautions for the duplicates
13:31and the stunt masters.
13:33Some policies are being made.
13:35But what do you have to say
13:37to the people who died
13:39because of such risks?
13:41Look, such incidents have happened.
13:43There was a man,
13:45he was giving a shot
13:47to a jeep.
13:49The jeep had to go into the water.
13:51The jeep had to sink.
13:53He gave the shot,
13:55tied him up and went inside.
13:57He couldn't open the belt.
13:59The jeep sank into the water
14:01and he kept fighting with the belt.
14:03Finally, the jeep sank.
14:05Such incidents keep happening
14:07which is very sad.
14:09I think, for this,
14:11we should look after
14:13the entire family.
14:15It doesn't mean that
14:17we should forget the incident.
14:19Our film industry is doing it.
14:21We should look after the entire family.
14:23We have film associations.
14:27But I think we should do more
14:29so that the family,
14:31because this man gave his life
14:33for the film industry,
14:35we should look after the entire family.
14:37I request everyone
14:39if such incidents happen,
14:41we must come ahead and help everyone.
14:43Especially these people and their families.
14:45You are saying that
14:47stunt masters and duplicators
14:49should do something for them.
14:51You often do shows abroad.
14:53You are doing a charity show for them.
14:55I am ready to give my life for them.
14:57They came to me.
14:59I said,
15:01wherever you do a show,
15:03Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakranworthy,
15:05they will call us in the middle of the night
15:07and say, I am the first one
15:09to go and help these people.
15:11We will do as many shows as we can.
15:13But the money should go to them.
15:15It shouldn't go in the wrong hands.
15:17What we want to do is
15:19that the money should go to the
15:21Fighters Association
15:23so that their children,
15:25their families,
15:27they should be brought up in a very good manner
15:29after these people are not there.
15:31I am ready to give my life for them.
15:33I love them all.