Pankaj Kapoor started his journey with ‘Gandhi'. Well known for being very choosy about his characters, he is also popular for creating social awareness. He is back again on the silver screen in a new avataar in Rajkumar Santoshi's "Halla Bol' which too conveys a social message.

Q.: Please tell us about your character in the film "Halla Bol".
A.: The background of this movie is Punjab. In the beginning my character is a dacoit, but later transforms into a positive character and supports the truth.

He thinks that life is in living and there's nothing wrong in supporting the truth. One day, he watches a drama depicting the life of Harishchandra and in order to help children earn money, he joins them and stages the same drama at the marketplace.

In that way he not only helps them in getting employment, but also spreads a positive message for the young generation.

Q.: How did you prepare for the character?
A.: I didn't do any kind of homework for the character. Everything was well depicted in the script. It's my pleasure that I had the chance to work with Raj.

We have been friends since my theatre days. We supported each other in many ways. Actually, there has to be some understanding between actor and director.

A good film should only be made while both the actor and the director are intelligent and sensible and when they don't mix their respective egos with their job.

Q.: Is it true that "Halla Bol" is based on Safdar Azmi's drama "Allah Bol"?
A.: I don't know much about that drama. It could be true that some parts of the drama have been used in the movie. If you want to know more about that you can talk to Raj ji.

Q.: Have you ever met Safdar Azmi?
A.: Yeah. I worked in his drama "Bakri". I was just a novice then. It was a part of learning. I don't want to make profit by mentioning that now.

Q.: It's for the first time in Hindi film that a ‘Nukkad' drama is being shown. How do you feel as a theatre personality?
A.: Yeah, the rendezvous of film and drama on screen is a good sign for theatre. There was a time when we also did ‘Nukkad' drama. But that was a time of learning.

As far as this film is concerned, Om Katare took the help of a theatre group to shoot the scene because doing theatre needs lots of preparations. After acting in films one cannot think of taking out time for theatre.

Q.: Do you think that the age of ‘Nukkad' drama will again be back with this film?
A.: I don't know. It may happen some day. And if it happens, then as a theatre personality, I would be the happiest person.

Q.: You are a director also. Do you give your opinion regarding any scene to your directors?
A.: When I act, I work only as an actor. I am not habituated with interfering in my director's job. It's true that I give some ideas. But whether they accept it or not depends on my director's discretion. But if you see directors preparing their job much before the shooting, and, on the other hand, interfering at every place is detrimental for my job, too. Q.: As an actor you are very choosy. Who inspired you to accept this film?
A.: There were three inspiring factors that pulled me to this film. First it is the character, second the story and third is Raj ji. It's a different issue that all three things were in my favor.

I knew Rajji for a long time, but we didn't have a chance to work together. And I'm happy that after a long time I got a chance to work with him.

Q.: It's said that the film is against the system. How much is the film co-incidental with this time?
A.: See, the system has been bad throughout all times. It was bad even during the sixties and it is the same now. The difference is the depiction of that scenario was very clear during that time and it never got so clear after that period.

Those kinds of films were made even in the nineties. But those films had some commercial aspect and the scenario was not that clear.

It's true that with "Halla Bol" that old flavor is being revived again. These days the old style of clarity is really visible once again.

Q.: Do you think that films can make people aware of their social responsibilities?
A.: Absolutely. If the youth could be attracted towards terrorism through films, then social awareness would also work.

I'm from a small town of Ludhiana in Punjab. In my childhood, each and every movie left an impact on me. I think that's why I'm here today.

Q.: Pyramid Saimira Group will distribute the film. Do you think they will succeed?
A.: See, it's a new name in India, but it's a well-known name in the map of world cinema.

It's true that it's the first film distribution job for the company, but they are very well-connected. If they can handle that properly then there's nothing wrong in it.

Q.: How is the journey from "Gandhi" to "Halla Bol"?
A.: Very satisfying. It's my fate that despite coming from a small town I'm still a resident of the city.

For that long span of time I portrayed characters that I loved to do. I never had to compromise for my character. I did all the things that I wanted to do.

Q.: Besides this film, what else are you doing?
A.: I'm doing another film ‘Good Sharma'. It's an English movie directed by Sheetal Talwar. There I'm playing the character of a villager who fights for his village. Dalip Tahil is doing the character of Sharma in the movie. -Rajnee Gupta