Kamal Haasan on missing an opportunity to Anil Kapoor: I think of myself as a big loser - throwback

Kamal Haasan is currently receiving rave reviews for his sharp performance in Nag Ashwin's 'Kalki AD 2898'. He, as always, has not left any stone unturned to stand out with his high-voltage performance, which he has been delivering for decades now. We stumbled upon his old interview, where he mentioned that his dream of collaborating with Raj Kapoor almost became a reality.However, Anil Kapoor later entered the scene, altering the course of events.
Kamal Haasan shared the full story with The Times of India, stating, “This was soon after the release of my film Swati Muthyam in 1985. Raj Kapoor Saab suddenly woke me up one night after the silver jubilee function in Chennai, where he had come to distribute the trophies. He liked my character very much and said it was something he would have liked to play at my age. He humbly offered to produce it in Hindi. If it worked out, it would have been the last film to be produced personally by Raj Kapoor Saab. And I’d have become a part of the RK family."
He further added, "Unfortunately, the director Saab (K Vishwanath) had already committed himself to another Kapoor (Anil) for the Hindi version. It became so embarrassing for me when Raj Saab said he would send a production manager to meet me to finalize the deal. Guess who that was? Rishi Kapoor. When I saw Rishi Kapoor at my door in Chennai, I was puzzled. But he chortled, “I’m the production guy." Having lost that opportunity, I think of myself as a big loser. I’m sure if I had done Swati Muthyam with Raj Saab, I’d have found a place in his heart.”
Kamal Haasan developed a close friendship with "production guy" Rishi Kapoor during their collaboration on the film Sagar, alongside Dimple Kapadia, directed by Ramesh Sippy.
Kamal Haasan recalled his time working on Sagar, mentioning that it took 120 days to finish filming. He described Ramesh Sippy as a pioneer in taking his time with filmmaking, a style adopted by many other Mumbai directors. Haasan pointed out that iconic filmmakers like Raj Kapoor could manage delays because they controlled the budget and adhered to their own guidelines.
However, he emphasized that such practices are not feasible in today's commercial cinema, which operates as a legitimate business and cannot afford delays like personal projects.
Kamal Haasan is a highly versatile figure in Indian cinema, renowned for his exceptional work, primarily in Tamil cinema. Beyond his acclaimed performances in Tamil films, he has also left a lasting impression with his notable roles in Hindi cinema. His diverse talents encompass acting, filmmaking, screenwriting, playback singing, television presenting, and active involvement in politics. Kamal Haasan is celebrated and beloved for his unparalleled contributions to the world of entertainment.