Pankaj Kapur’s next film Binny And Family will release on September 20.
Pankaj Kapur reveals what his grandchildren Zain, who turns 6 today, and Misha call him. He emphasises on the importance of staying connected with the Gen Z.
After IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, Pankaj Kapur will next be seen in Binny And Family. The film traces the story of three generations of a family and how communication gaps become a barrier between them. It marks the debut of Varun Dhawan’s niece Anjini Dhawan and features Kapur as her grandfather. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, the veteran actor shares insights into his own relationship with his grandchildren – Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput Kapoor’s daughter Misha and son Zain.
Recalling an episode involving Zain, who turns six today, he tells us, “I think I spoil my grandchildren rotten. They call me baba. This one time, my grandson’s cousin was accompanying him to my house, and she asked him what she should call me. This little thing of mine, my grandson, told her to call me a ‘no-rule man’ (laughs).”
An affectionate grandparent, Kapur ensures that there are no restrictions for his grandchildren at his home. “The reason behind this is that I’ve always told my grandchildren that when they come to baba’s house, there are no rules for them, and they can do whatever they want. This is their thrill. Every time they’re in their baba’s house, they don’t need to ask me if they want to do something,” he says.
The Jersey and Shaandaar actor shares that a part of his ‘indulgent trait’ will also be reflected in the relationship he shares with his on-screen granddaughter in Binny And Family. “Having said that, I’m right there to see that they aren’t doing anything wrong. If they do, I’ll definitely stop them. It’s not that they’re controlled a lot by their parents, but I want them to have this liberty at my house, where nobody will stop them from doing anything. I think it’s natural for any grandfather to feel that way towards his grandchildren. You’ll see that in the film too,” he adds.
And speaking of the film, what was his impression of Anjini? “I felt she’s very confident and natural. She isn’t like any other newcomer, maybe because she comes from a film family. She’s exposed to cinema and knows how films are made. She’s a smart, young kid. She was extremely prepared and was comfortable on set. She didn’t have any air of nervousness around her, at least that’s what I felt,” he states.
For Kapur, staying connected with Gen Z is important, as interacting with them gives him the chance to ‘know a lot more about today.’ “My father was a professor, and he always used to say that he stayed young because he was always in the company of youngsters. He was teaching the youth and, at the same time, learning from them. You should have that kind of attitude. You should be observant and humble enough to acknowledge the good qualities of the young generation and learn from them, even at your age,” he remarks.
