On ‘Mission: Impossible’, Anil Kapoor lives like ‘24′ at 51!

NEW DELHI - It doesn’t get bigger and better for Anil Kapoor. Blessed with age defying genes, his career has gone seriously global at a time when he is turning 51. The Bollywood actor plans to spend his birthday Friday with friends even as he lives life out of a suitcase.

“I am looking forward to my birthday Dec 24. I will celebrate it with my friends,” Anil told IANS in an interview.

Buddies might take over the big boy’s big day but when it comes to the New Year, the actor reveals he will “have a holiday with family in Goa”. He will cull out time from his jam-packed shooting schedule of the super-spy series “Mission: Impossible”’s fourth instalment in Vancouver.

He grew up in a tenement in Chembur, Mumbai where he shared a single room with seven others. He has starred in many hit movies like “Mr.India”, “Beta”, “Viraasat”, “Ram Lakhan”, “Tezaab”, “Parinda” and “No Entry”.

With over 100 films to his credit since 1979, the actor has defied twilight with ageless looks leaving most of his contemporaries green. “I’m just fortunate and lucky that I’ve got the genes that make me look younger than I am. I’m just happy. What can I say…I’m blessed,” he blushes.

Is that the reason why he really hasn’t gone for a major makeover in any film?

“It depends on the character. If it demands, then I’ll do it but I don’t want to change my look just for the sake of doing it,” said Anil, who’s pulled out his moustache only thrice in his three-decade career.

The actor-turned-producer took the West by storm with his role as a dubious quiz-show host in Danny Boyle’s multiple Oscar award-winning underdog drama “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2009.

While that paved the way for his stint opposite Kiefer Sutherland in US TV show “24″, the latter got him an opportunity to rub shoulders with superstar Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol”.

But the actor is not giving up on his roots for that. Despite the jet lag, he shoots for both Bollywood and Hollywood simultaneously.

“Sometimes it becomes tough because of travelling and switching languages…One month you are doing something in Hindi and then you fly down and start speaking English. Sometimes changing gears becomes difficult in terms of language, style, atmosphere, people, but it’s great fun,” he says.

He also can’t stop bringing his goofy side out.

“I love entertaining people. I love making them laugh. If sometimes it disappoints the intellectuals, then I’ll do something for them too,” said the actor, whose last outing was the laugh riot “No Problem”.

Been there, done that. Now how about trying his hand at direction? “No. I don’t think so,” he winks his trademark smile.

Asked the obvious question on how he perceives his career, the actor scratches his French beard, gives a thought and says: “I’m just moving with the flow and enjoying the whole process. I’m not thinking too much. I am just doing one thing at a time and giving my best.

“There is so much in myself as an actor and as a producer, and I want to give as much as I can. I enjoy this whole process of creativity…international-national, whenever, whatever exciting and interesting will draw my attention, I’ll do it.

“And everything that I’ve learnt there (in the West), whatever best I’ve come across, I’ll bring that back (to Bollywood),” he added.

Freezing his place in B-Town, the actor is riding high on sequels to “Race”, “No Entry” and “Mr. India”, and other ventures like “Tezz” and “Power”. Coming to international projects, he is in talks with Ben Stiller, Fox Television and Sophia Loren’s son.

As for his life, it’s going “Jhakas”.

(Robin Bansal can be contacted at robin.b@ians.in)