Netflix recently started streaming Dining With The Kapoors, which gave a glimpse into the Kapoor Khandaan. Armaan Jain, the director of the film, got talking on how he brought the Kapoor clan together in an interview with us.
Armaan, you have pulled off the impossible feat of bringing together the entire Kapoor family in Dining With The Kapoors. How do you explain the family’s longevity, from Prithviraj Kapoor to Raj Kapoor to Rishi Kapoor to Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor?
Sir, I think the longevity of the Kapoor Khandaan at large and this is what I was trying to tell through my film, is having each other’s backs in good times and bad times because life will have its ups and downs, it will have its successes and failures but I think all families and, especially the Kapoor Khandaan, always have each other’s backs and keep meeting, keep eating, keep rejoicing and you know we can smile through all the good and bad times as a family.
Food is a huge binding factor for the Kapoors
I am not a trained chef but I cook out of passion. I learnt with both my grandmas actually, both my dad’s mother and mom’s mother, Krishna Aunty. Food has just been a passion for us Kapoors. In my own small way, I am trying to carry on that legacy forward. You know, I operate a food business as well. So yeah, carrying on those traditions and trying to feed the world as well. And to bring about that aspect behind closed doors is what I wanted to project on screen. Really the idea was not to plan anything, not over-plan anything. Bring people into a space where, you know, when family meets family, you completely forget that the cameras around.
And you have achieved that….
Yes sir, I think we achieved that. A lot of family members at multiple points did come to me and say, Armaan are the cameras rolling? Are they really rolling or not rolling? We’re not sure. I was like, that’s great. That’s exactly what we want to achieve by, you know, kind of you know bringing everyone together and really being candid and being true to themselves. The focus of this film is the emotions, the history, the legacy which is carrying on certain traditions and value systems, which I really want to focus on. One aspect is bringing about the legacy of the bungalow, the legacy of being together in good times and bad times. But the food was just a catalyst and I thought that would be a really fun and entertaining way to bring this family and I think they are the most authentic when it comes to being with each over food.
How tough was it bringing the entire Kapoor clan under one roof?
Bringing the Kapoors together, yes of course it was tough, what with their dates, shuffling routines and travel plans. It’s always hard at any get-together. You’d always see couple of Kapoors missing. Everyone was very collaborative and they obviously bought into this concept early on when I took it to them and I pitched it to them because they did believe the soul of this film was what we should really be together.
What triggered the urge to undertake this project?
I never got an opportunity to meet my grandfather Raj Kapoor. I was born two years after he passed away. You know, I’ve heard so many stories growing up. My mom told me whatever little I did know about him and watched Raj saab’s films growing up, gave me the opportunity to really learn about a man that I’d never met and when you have a grandparent you haven’t met, I think you kind of try to overcompensate and like hold on to certain physical archives and physical things even more. I do understand this emotion that we all have where you don’t meet that grandparent and you kind of want to keep researching someone more and more.
Hence the film?
I’ve always had this feeling of doing something to do around obviously Raj Kapoor, the entire family and towards his 100th birth year. My mom (Rima Kapoor, Raj Kapoor’s daughter) and I were actually discussing multiple things. We had so many things planned, I mean, at that point we had done even Raj Kapoor’s 100th year celebration where we restored ten of his films and we released it Pan-India. At that juncture when we were planning I think the idea was to celebrate Raj Kapoor in a different light, in a more personal light; kind of bring out family, nostalgia.
Why didn’t your career as an actor take off?
I’ll answer this very honestly from my heart. I gave myself enough time, I think. I gave myself close to 7-8 years, whether it was training to be an actor, doing a little bit of theatre, a lot of workshops. In fact, at times, the only thing I wish I was better trained
But I had to give myself a certain amount of time and it didn’t work out at that point. But I have no regret today when I look back. I think everything I’ve done over the last ten years, whether it’s the production and direction at Dharma (Productions), whether it’s the acting as well, everything comes in handy. And I think whatever experience I’ve got has obviously given me this opportunity to repurpose everything, Dining With The Kapoors. And yeah, I look forward to the journey from here and especially with production and direction. And I’ll never say never to acting. But I think I gave myself a fair shot, you know, those 8-9 years and I moved past it very graciously. And everything makes a lot more sense to me today actually with this film.
Further plans?
I hope these value systems and teachings from our grandparents and family will help us, you know, succeed in whatever we do. God willing many more films. I really look forward to directing a film very soon. Directing a feature film would be my dream; to direct and produce. So working towards it, you know baby steps towards it.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Why Alia Bhatt couldn’t join family for Dining With the Kapoors? Armaan Jain reveals reason!
The post Armaan Jain on bringing the Kapoor clan together in Dining With The Kapoors, “It was tough with their dates, shuffling routines and travel plans” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
