Rajat Kapoor star of 2007’s Bheja Fry delves into the making of the hit comedy that is considered a cult classic, working with Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey, his coming next, and more.
Eighteen years of Bheja Fry, how do you look back on this cult success?
This is a film that gave a kickstart to many of our careers. This was also the kind of the beginning of what came to be known as multiplex films and was a new kind of audience.
What was the process of shooting like? What was your camaraderie like with your co-stars Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey?
The shoot was amazing. Being a very low-budget kind of film, we finished shooting the entire film in 20 days. It was twenty hectic days of great joy. The camaraderie on the set was incredible. Vinay , Ranvir, and I were already friends. We had done a play, ‘C For Clown’ together, so it was in effect hanging out with friends. Then there was Sarika, who immediately became a part of the group, plus Milind Soman. All these people still remain very dear friends. We still work together in films and in theatre. And meet otherwise very often.
Did you ever expect Bheja Fry to become the success that it was? Did it actually make money?
Nobody expected the film to become as popular as it eventually did. It was only at the premiere that we realised how the audience was reacting to the film, and to Vinay’s character Bharat Bhushan. And when it opened in the cinemas, the love it got was amazing. And yes, it did make a lot of money.
As the Indie film movement gasps for breath, how do you feel about its near-collapse, considering you are one of its harbingers in India?
This is one of the bleakest times for Indie Films. It has always been difficult to make such films and to take them to an audience. But at this moment, it seems harder than ever before. However, I am an eternal optimist, and I believe that things will change in a year or two, if not earlier. It has to change.
You are now venturing into the horror genre in Amazon’s series Khauf. How was that experience?
Making of Khauf was exhilarating. It is a wonderfully written and directed show, and I am very excited about its release.
