“I am not getting any younger and I need to seize every opportunity that comes my way”

So who convinced you take it up then?

I spoke to a few of my close associates who I always take advice from. I spoke to Shekhar Kapur (director) since he has worked in Hollywood and he told me that just being a part of a franchise like MI was enough. My agent too was convinced that I should grab this opportunity if I had to build on my global career. My son Harshvardhan told me not to be foolish by giving it up. And at the end of the day,it was about building relationships with the likes of Tom Cruise,Brad Bird and the producer JJ Abrams. I looked at the bigger picture and eventually agreed.

What has been the reaction of your fans to your taking up the offer?

I feel happy when people meet me at events,on the road,at restaurants and congratulate me. I am thrilled about the fact that teenagers who enjoy Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan films are also looking forward to see what I am doing next internationally.

Do you believe MI:4 has helped you in any way?

It was the best decision I have ever taken. I credit MI:4 for bagging my next film Cities,where I have been pitched as a lead alongside Clive Owen. Now the producers have started believing that somewhere my presence adds value to the film. MI:4 also had a big hand in helping me quickly crack the deal to remake 24 in Hindi.

Will you be completely involved in 24?

Yes. Right now I am putting the creative team together along with my daughter Rhea. In the show,I play the lead Jack Bauer and I am looking at 2012 for the show to go on air.

Post Slumdog Millionaire’s huge success,it was said that you parked yourself in Los Angeles to network and get more work there. Is this true?

I did not network by going to parties and mingling with 1000 odd people. I am not trying to meet as many people as I can and be seen everywhere. I did travel a lot between LA and India to make sure people knew that I was available in both markets and I was ready to be approached for any international project. I focused on building relationships with people who I was working with. When I was doing Slumdog,I made sure I kept everyone associated with the film happy. I kept myself available for marketing,dubbing and for whatever they needed me. When I did 24 and MI:4,I did the same. That’s how I have deepened my ties with people and I am working with them again. For instance,24 in Hindi will be my third association with Fox,after Slumdog and 24 in English. And now after MI:4,I am strengthening my ties with Paramount.

Life must have been tough working in two different continents.

The only difference was that earlier I had one career and now I have two. But then it is a happy feeling to be a global star. I do sleep less because of the time differences. I was working on the production of Aisha and No Problem from LA,while I cracked the deal for 24 during my nights in Mumbai. I have worked hard in the last three years. There have been times when I have rehearsed scenes in my flight to save time.

Was this constant reinvention part of your plan when you started out three decades ago?

I always wanted to be a marathon runner in Bollywood. I constantly tried out various genres to help me maintain my longevity as an actor. Rajnikanth had once asked me why I do not repeat myself as the comic action hero when I am good at it. I told him that I never dreamt of being the biggest star in the world. My dream was to become a great actor and that can be achieved only by experimenting. You may fail,but at least you tried.

Is this attitude born from your initial days of struggle in the industry?

When I first came in,I was struggling to get people to accept me and give me a chance. I was told that I am not hero material — I have a moustache,too much hair,small eyes,too thin and lean. I found discouragement from most quarters. I had to fight all this and prove my talent. Films like Mashaal,Woh 7 Din,Saaheb helped me prove everyone wrong and establish myself.

But it took you a while before you made it to the top bracket.

I knew I had arrived but then I had to prove that I could give solo hits. It came when films like Mr India,Beta,Tezaab started doing well. But then the bigger challenge was to be a good actor and a big star. It is then that I signed films from various genres. I did a romantic film like Lamhe as well as a hard-hitting realistic film Parinda. I portrayed the role of the naive Eeshwar and at the same time the rebel Lakhan in Ram Lakhan. This move actually helped me firmly establish my credentials in Bollywood.

Have you ever felt threatened by any other actor’s rise?

I have felt that constantly,throughout my career but you have to fight it. You have to have that confidence that it doesn’t matter and you will be able to rise above them. You feel it most when people feel you have reached your peak and you have nothing more to offer and they label you,’Finished’. But then sustenance is the key.

What do you feel is your strongest trait as an actor?

I easily adapt to situations and places. I am as comfortable living in a remote village as I am living in a seven star luxury hotel. I don’t pretend to be what I am not. Even when I was shooting with Danny (Boyle) during Slumdog,I told him that my English is not as good as the British actors and to correct me whenever he thought I spoke incorrectly. I surrender myself completely to the director.

Do you consider yourself more successful now than most of your contemporaries?

I am not sure if I am more successful but I know for a fact that I am not getting any younger and I need to seize every opportunity that comes my way. I try to remain as healthy as I can,so that I can work for as long as I can.

With more focus on Hollywood,has Bollywood taken a backseat?

I am very much into Bollywood films. I have just wrapped Tezz and I start work on Race 2 and Shootout at Wadala. I am fine doing any film as long as I like my role and get my money (laughs).

Are you involved with the careers of your children?

I let them be independent. I am very proud of my kids. Sonam (Kapoor) is doing well as an actress and Rhea (Kapoor) has taken the mantle of producer very well. Harsh is a film student right now and it would be premature to talk about his career.