Ram Kapoor’s JioHotstar show Mistry recently started streaming on the platform. The show is the Hindi adaptation of the iconic American show Monk. It sees Ram as an investigator who is battling severe OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). It also stars Mona Singh, Shikha Talsania and Kshitish Date in prominent roles. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Ram got talking about the show, his career and why he hasn’t seen a single episode of his show Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.
EXCLUSIVE: Mistry actor Ram Kapoor confesses, “Haven’t seen a single episode of my own Bade Achhe Lagte Hain because….”
What was your reaction when you were offered the lead role in Mistry?
I have been a huge fan of Monk. When it first came, I had just finished acting school and I was struggling as an actor. I fell in love with that character at that time because like every actor would have these characters he would love to do. Like Godfather and those typical ones. Every actor says ki aisa koi role mil jaye. So, I also had a list and this character was in it. I fell in love with the character and the actor Tony Shalhoub, who played that character.
When this offer came to me, my management team knew, oh my God this is Monk! They knew the reaction I was going to have. Everyone, including my wife, knew that this is very special for me. When they came to me with the offer, I had a shoulder surgery and my hand was in a sling. For someone who is working for 25 years, to get this character at this stage of my career, I am so lucky.
I only had one question – who is playing the police chief? Because I knew how important that role is. When they said they are looking at Mona for this, I called Mona. They were in talks. They hadn’t locked (her). I called Mona and said, ‘Mona yeh kar’. Yes, I know it’s very unprofessional to do that. Mona is also in a position where she has a lot of things going on and this is a big commitment. It’s a huge role. If it does well, it will have more seasons. Still, I told her, ‘Kar kar kar’. I was talking like a child.
How did you prepare for the character? Did you meet patients who have OCD?
I knew the character and all the problems that he had very well as I had watched the original. When I started my research, I didn’t meet any patients of OCD. I met doctors who deal with such patients. I met an expert lady, who was very helpful. She got me tapes of various patients. Every case and patient is unique. I watched the videos again and again. That was very helpful. I did all that research to find out as much as I can before I started reading the character. So yes, there was a very detailed process.
Your character in the show is funny but he also has an emotional side related to his wife’s passing away in a car blast right in front of him. There is a scene where he visits the spot where the blast happened. That was an emotional scene but you didn’t overdo the emotional part. How did you maintain that balance?
First of all, very sweet of you to say such nice things. Every actor has a different approach. My approach in stuff life this is I try and feel what I have to feel. When I was standing on the spot where the bomb blast happened, at that moment I am not thinking about anything. I am trying to feel exactly what I need to feel – my wife had exploded in it. Once you connect to that and you are feeling the pain, then whatever is happening is happening without you thinking about it and you have to just let it happen. Whether it is happening more or less, I am not thinking about it. Agar aapka laga ki zyada nahin hua, thank you for that. I am not aware of that. I am only trying to connect to the emotion.
Shikha Talsania plays your assistant in the show. You have a lot of scenes with her. How was your experience with her, on and off camera?
Yes, Mona and me are bigger names. But the four key players are so perfectly cast, whether it’s Shikha or Kshitish (Date), who plays Mona’s assistant. Every single day either Mona and me or the director and me used to discuss how perfect those two are when we were watching them work. For example, if you ask me – I know I am going to say a very silly thing – those two are even better than us two because they are so amazing in their roles. I might have a bigger role, Mona might have a bigger role, but our assistants are brilliant in their roles. When you get everybody who is so good at their role, that is when a project works and magic happens. That is why we are working so well together and the show is being appreciated.
OTT has really boomed in India from 2020 onwards. At the same time, the theatrical business hasn’t been the best, especially in last year and this year. It is said that too much penetration of OTT is one of the reasons for this. What is your take on this since you have acted in both theatrical films and OTT?
See, I am no expert. Of course, I have thoughts but I don’t know if those thoughts are correct. I feel OTT is definitely the future and it is going to become bigger and bigger. But I also feel that all the other mediums are also going to be there and have their place. Nothing is going to end because of OTT is what I feel. For example, when TV started, everyone thought that radio is now going to die. But radio is still today as big as it was. So, whatever is happening or not happening, I don’t want to give any expert comment because I am not an expert. But I do feel that however big OTT becomes, theatre and TV will always have its place.
As an actor, it doesn’t matter to think about this because wherever you are getting to do good work, just do it. Luckily, I am doing OTT and also films. So, I don’t even want to think about it. From your point of you, it makes sense to think about this but from my point of view, I just want to do good work.
You have been working for 25 years now. How has your journey been so far?
I am very lucky. Career is different. It’s a marathon; it’s not a sprint. You are not looking at two years of stardom. You are looking at a career of 30-40 years. I have already been there for 25 years and I am still working. Anybody who can have a career in this is very lucky and we all know this. Talent will help you get started. If you have no talent, people will not take you seriously. If you have talent, you get noticed. But once you have established yourself, then talent takes a backseat. Then it’s about many other things – professionalism, relationships, how good are you to work with, how positive are you, etc.
I am very lucky that I have managed for so long and the audience likes my work and the industry likes working with me. There are many actors who are much more talented than me, who are struggling. I have worked with some of them. The reason why I am here is because I am very lucky and I am very aware of that.
One of the highlights of your career has been the show Bade Achhe Lagte Hain. Following your first season, the makers have come up with three more reasons. Have you seen any of those seasons? What is your take on them?
I haven’t even watched a single episode of my own Bade Achhe Lagte Hain because I don’t watch my own work. I never watch my own work ever. I haven’t watched a single film of mine. I have watched Udaan because we went to the Cannes Film Festival. I don’t like watching my own work. That’s just the way I am.
But why is that? Don’t you feel curious about how a film or a project has shaped up?
Not at all! Even when I am acting, I don’t go in front of the monitor. When I build a character, I live the character. I don’t like watching that character. Woh aap log ke liye kar raha hoon toh aap log dekhiye, main kyun dekhoon? (laughs) I then move on to my next because by the time it is time to watch, I am already living another character na? I maybe have watched 10% of my work my whole life. So, when I say I don’t watch other seasons (of Bade Achhe Lagte Hain), I am not being disrespectful to them. I don’t watch them because I have not even watched myself.
What else is in your pipeline after Mistry?
Three projects are complete. One of them is quite a big film with quite a big star, which I am very happy with. I believe it is coming in September end. I am not sure. They were doing some patchwork of that recently. I am very excited about that. Then there is another film I have finished, which will come early next year. Then there is an OTT show, which is a very intense show. It’s based on a true story. When it’s coming? Actually now I am going to call them and ask ki kab aa raha hai.
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