Anil Kapoor also discussed becoming a grandfather in HTLS 2022. He also stated that he is still processing the changes in his life. about his gradual and consistent connection with his grandson, Vayu Sonam Kapoor, his daughter, is the father of the two-month-old.
The meeting of actors George Clooney and Anil Kapoor for a fun session at the 20th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2022 turned out to be a reflection of what happens when Hollywood meets Bollywood, from bonding over their children to expressing their love for India to adding a peppy dance twist.
The session began with Clooney virtually joining in, calling Kapoor a true rockstar, setting the tone for the rest of the session, which was high on entertainment value. “You are a rockstar in my book.” When I interview you, I think about your films, from Mission Impossible to Slumdog Millionaire. “It’s an honour to speak with you,” Clooney said.
As the conversation progressed, the actors bonded over their children growing up in the shadow of their celebrity, with Clooney admitting that navigating the zone is difficult.
“Our children are born in opulence. They will be required to appear. They will have to choose between a number of fights. They will be forced to speak up. “We have to teach them empathy,” the 61-year-old said.
In this interview, Kapoor discussed becoming a grandfather, admitting that he is still processing the change in his life. “I was in Austria when he was born, and I’ve been gradually reconnecting with my grandson.” Vayu, which means “wind,” is his name. I began to connect with him there, and we went for a walk. He looks around and notices the lovely weather, admiring the sky, the sun, and the flowers. “I’m slowly and steadily connecting with my grandchild, much faster than I connected with my own children,” he said, admitting that his children are still comparing him and his journey to him.
However, Clooney believes he will avoid that area as his twins grow older.
“It’s difficult to raise children… I have an advantage over you in that I had children when you were younger. Your son will be 20 when you are 40, possibly. They’re moving faster than you. That will not happen with me because I will be 90 when the kids go to school or come out,” he says, adding, “It changes things.”
“The mirror will not be held up in the same way to my child.” That should be an advantage. We’re going to try to raise them in a normal environment. “However, I’m not particularly good at juggling work and family life,” he admits.
The actor revealed that he and his wife make an effort to spend more time at home. “But we haven’t been very good at it.” I grew up poor and was always afraid of not working, so I keep working, and my wife is trying to bring war criminals to justice, which takes up a lot of time… We are attempting to improve the quality of our lives. I am currently 61 years old and will be 85 in a few years.
We have to make sure that when we are in good shape and healthy, we spend a balanced amount of time with our families,” admits the actor, who also demonstrated some desi dance moves while Kapoor taught him the moves to the tunes of Nach Punjaban.
His fitness relies on moderation.
During the conversation, Kapoor mentioned that he had never seen the Hollywood actor exercise or work out and inquired as to how he stays fit. Clooney responded, “Well, for the most part, I eat a Mediterranean diet and try to do everything in moderation…including moderation.” In addition, I participated in a variety of sports in high school, including baseball, basketball, and tennis, and I continue to do so until my knees give out. That, I believe, is what keeps me going.”
‘Seeing India’s beautiful culture is fascinating.’
The Hollywood actor also went down memory lane, rummaging through all of his experiences from his numerous trips to India. “I’ve been to India several times. And I must say, it is a stunningly beautiful country. People say it’s the world’s largest democracy, and it’s fascinating to see such beautiful culture,” said Clooney, who revealed that he came to the country for work. He came to India to promote his film on occasion, and once as part of his new role as a UN messenger of peace. “I came once with the UN because India and the UN were both very active in assisting the people of South Sudan,” he says.
‘I don’t require access to social media.’
During his conversation with Kapoor, Clooney was also candid about his absence from the virtual world, saying that his decision to avoid social media allows him to sleep peacefully at night.
“I don’t use any social media platforms, which has allowed me to sleep well at night.” I’ll let you in on a little secret… Every now and then. “I enjoy a glass or two of wine, and I don’t need to pull out my phone after a few glasses of wine and text me a funny Mother Teresa joke and wake up and have my career be over,” he says, adding, “I don’t need that kind of access, and I don’t think people need to hear my every thought.” i dont think its helpfull
There are no plans to enter politics.
Clooney has used his voice for numerous just causes and has been active in voicing his opinions around the political world throughout his career. However, he has no desire to pursue a political career. For him, it is preferable to play such a role on screen rather than in real life. When asked about his future plans, he joked, “It’s a lot more fun to play them in film.”
“I don’t want to be making decisions on people’s lives and deaths,” the father of two continued. “Those are very important decisions to make along the way, and they should be made by people with a wide range of experience,” Clooney said, adding that he isn’t accountable to anyone right now.
“In order to run for office, you must compromise your own beliefs.” That is not something I want to do. I am capable of standing up for what I believe in. “The only thing that will happen is that if people are unhappy, they will not come to see my projects, and I can live with that,” says the actor, whose father was in politics.
Politics and romance on film
The discussion then turned to Clooney’s versatility as an actor and how he has worked in a variety of genres, including rom-coms, sci-fi, drama, action, and more, but is there a genre that he is particularly fond of? “I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, which was a really exciting time for American cinema,” Clooney says. We had the Vietnam War movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s rights movement, and the anti-drug movement. So movies were really interesting between 1964 and 1976. There were films like ‘All the President’s Men,’ ‘Network,’ and some really good paranoid political thrillers at the time. I’ve always been drawn to those because they fascinate me.
They’re enjoyable and exciting to me. You must exercise caution because you do not want to sound preachy; rather, you want it to be genuine. It’s a delicate balance.”
This was followed by Kapoor discussing his preferences and which genres he enjoys the most. “I’ve done a variety of films in my career, including drama, action, and comedy, but no science fiction.” That is something I would like to do someday. I produced a show, but it was not approved. Of course, Nayak, I’ve done political thrillers. It has been nearly two decades since its release, but it is still discussed whenever an election is held in any part of the country or state. So I’d love to do another political film that reflects what’s going on in our country,” Kapoor said.
While political thrillers may be his preferred genre, Clooney’s most recent hit, “Ticket to Paradise,” was a romantic comedy. The film, which also starred Julia Roberts, did well at the box office, and Clooney seemed pleased. “It’s fun to do a normal adult, grown up comedy,” he said of the movie. Clooney also mentioned how the pandemic had a negative impact on theatres and business, but that things are now much better. “It’s been an interesting time for us because the state of the art here is good.”
From selling shoes to becoming an actor,
Clooney had no ambitions to work in show business as a child and considers it to be a natural progression for him. He revealed that before his path led him to the glamour world, he had a slew of “terrible” jobs ranging from selling ladies shoes to selling insurance. “I never thought about acting as a career because I didn’t know anyone who was an actor…. It’s been a long road, with many auditions, failures, and no’s, and you develop a thicker skin as a result. When you are successful, you may receive too much credit. “It takes a lot of luck to be in the right place at the right time,” he admitted.
The session also served as a masterclass for aspiring actors, with Clooney imparting some of his career wisdom. “When people go to auditions, their first thought is usually, ‘I hope they like me, and I hope I don’t screw up.’ However, the producer/director who is sitting on the couch is simply hoping that you are the right one. “Changing your attitude before you walk in the door changes everything,” he says. Clooney says, “You can’t lose what you don’t have,” and adds, “You have a much better chance of getting work like that.”