By: Jalapathy Gudelli

Anil Kapoor prefers to tread the different path always. While many stars choose to do roles that guarantee success, he doesn't hesitate to go an extra mile to be different. Right from the beginning of his career, from Bapu's Woh Saat Din to the latest Badhai Ho Badhai, he has chosen to traverse a course "different from the rest". With his new film, Armaan, scheduled for release next month, he spoke with Indiainfo correspondent. Excerpts from Interview...

How is it working with Amitabh Bachchan in Armaan?

It would be foolish if I say that Amitabh is so..so great. What I can simply say is that I've learnt why he has become so great. He's style of acting, modesty, personal character... everything is legendary.

What is the film all about?

I can't reveal the story. But I play a role of doctor who is caught between dharma and personal love. The film is completely set in the backdrop of medical profession. Amitabh, Gracy and I all play roles of doctors.

So, you seem to be choosing constantly roles that are different from your last film!

Not exactly but I get inspiration from stories which are unconventional. But it is not conscious strategy to go for unconventional roles.

But in your urge to play different roles, it seems you are not looking into commercial point of filmmaking?

I don't think so. Everyone starts a film thinking that it would be a big hit. But sometimes it goes haywire. For me the uppermost consideration has always been to ensure that every film that I do is a commercial success. I always try to incorporate 'masala' elements, which can be able to draw to the theatres as much of an audience as possible so that the filmmaker can recoup his investments in the film.

After two decades of acting, do you feel that you have achieved what you wanted?

Barring commercial success, I don't think I have achieved what legendary actors of the industry like Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Hassan, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor have achieved. As far as my performances go, I have miles to go to achieve the kind of greatness that many of these icons have done.

Why is it that you always eager to work with South Indian film stories or filmmakers?

I have lot of respect of filmmakers who work in Telugu and Tamil. Bapu, K. Vishwanath Manirathnam, Balachander - I like their work very much. They are simply great. And I have started my career as a hero with a Telugu film, Bapu's Vamsavriksham. Do you know who was Maniratham's first hero? I have played the lead role in his debut film, Pallavi Anupallavi.

Boney Kapoor's "Pukar" which won him the National Award for best actor. But the actor insists that there never been a conscious strategy to go for unconventional roles. ''Sometimes, it is the script that appeals to you while at other times the role is interesting.

What are your other projects!

I am doing Anurag Kashyap's Alwyn Kalicharan right now. And some projects are still in the discussion stage.

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