Anil Kapoor is eagerly looking forward to the release of Fanney Khan, in which he plays an orchestra musician and singer. An adaptation of Belgian feature Everybody’s Famous, the film has been helmed by debutant director Atul Manjrekar. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rajkummar Rao will also be seen in lead roles.
Kapoor, who plays the title role of Fanney Khan, says, “Whenever I take up films, whether it’s Mr India, Woh Saat Din, Eeshwar or Parinda, I believe that it should be entertaining and should give a message to the audience.”
In Fanney Khan, 20-year-old Pihu Sand plays Kapoor’s daughter, who aspires to become a singer but is body-shamed for her weight.
“She is fat but her parents tell her she will achieve success some day. The movie tells us that beauty comes from within,” says the 61-year-old actor, who did a film, Badhai Ho Badhai, on a similar topic 16 years ago, adding that, “No one bothered about these issues then. But these days youngsters are vocal about it. My daughter Sonam has been through this herself and she speaks fearlessly about it on social media. Even men are changing now.”
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The debut actor, Pihu, who was shortlisted from among 500 girls after an audition, also grew up as a fat child. “Boys would make fun of me. I was popular in school, though I didn’t belong to any ‘cool’ group. I was a good singer and dancer; I was talented enough but was teased because of my weight. I used to often go home crying. But my parents were supportive and always told me to do what I loved to
do, and that gave me the confidence. It’s our responsibility to make people aware that it’s normal to be fat, and it’s not easy to be beautiful all the time,” she says.
Pihu reveals that she had to gain 20 kg for the role. “Gaining weight was never an issue. Who doesn’t love food? But I must say that my director and co-stars never made me feel uncomfortable.”
The film is all about dreams, aspirations and beauty. “Though beauty is what we are from inside, the present youth wants to look good and is worried about fair complexion and slim figure. They go through undue pressure to look good and fit into certain norms. I have always wanted to talk about this issue, hence I made this film,” says Manjrekar. About selecting Pihu for the role, he says, “We wanted someone who was fat and could easily fit in. Pihu looks real, she was the only girl who was not artificial.”
Though Kapoor has made a good name for himself in his career spanning 40 years, the script of the film reminded him of his struggles.
“There were a lot of scenes where I could relate to the tough time I had faced. My childhood in Chembur, and the period between 1978 and 1982 when I was trying hard to find work but was rejected. I went on to do bit roles in South films. I knocked on the doors of every producer right from Dev Anand to Sunil Dutt, Bhatt Saab to Sanjay Dutt and Tahir Hussain. Then I did Telugu and Kannada films. This connect was what made me accept this role.”
Meanwhile, Manjrekar says he had Anil and Aishwarya in mind for the roles, the moment he started scripting the film. “I am from Mumbai and I grew up watching orchestra. The performers used to copy Shammi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna. Nowadays, singers have several platforms to showcase their talent, but there weren’t many opportunities then. These people had to struggle a lot. And even after
the struggle, their passion used to get lost under the pressure of work. Anil is a common man’s actor and no one else could perform this role better than him.”
But the actor had his own inhibitions when he was offered the role as Manjrekar was a debutant director. “You are worried whether the director knows his job. I don’t like to take over. Pressure is always there. Sometimes it’s more as you have to shoulder the responsibility. But he’s made a great film,” says Kapoor.
The actor, who was last seen in Race 3, did his own research for the role. “I watched history of talented people who could not make it in life. I met a lot of singers who used to perform in orchestras and have become artists.”
Anil Kapoor will be seen opposite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after 18 years. Their last film together was Hamara Dil Aap Ke Paas Hai in 2000.
Pihu, on the other hand, reveals that she has no scenes with Aishwarya and Rajkummar in the film. “I would observe both of them at work. She is so professional and never gets tired. I have always been a fan and have danced to her songs: ‘Crazy Kiya Re’, ‘Kajara Re’, ‘Barso Re Megha’ and songs from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. She is so warm and on the last day she said to me, ‘many more films to you’. Her words gave me so much confidence. Anil Sir has been such a lovely co-star. I have always adored him. Welcome is one of my favourite films. I had never thought I would work with him,” says Pihu.