Gulzar-Sanjeev Kumar pairing was like Martin Scorsese-Robert De Niro, says Anil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor on Saturday stated celebrated actor Sanjeev Kumar’s artistic partnership with veteran filmmaker-lyricist Gulzar was equal to Hollywood legends Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro’s iconic pairing.

Kumar, whose actual title was Haribhai Jariwala, is thought to be one of many best performers of Indian cinema. He collaborated with Gulzar on a number of the filmmaker’s most revered characteristic initiatives resembling Mausam, Aandhi, Angoor, Koshish and Parichay.

During the identical period, Scorsese and De Niro delivered Hollywood classics Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York, New York and Raging Bull.

Anil Kapoor stated the primary movie he noticed as baby was Sanjeev Kumar’s 1968 title Raja Aur Runk and since then, he has been an enormous admirer of his work.

“Every performance from Dastak to Koshish, Sholay, Anamika to Manchali, I have seen all his films and especially all the films he did with Jaya Bachchan ji. So many films were directed by Gulzar sahab with Haribhai. It was like Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro,” Kapoor stated on the launch of the guide, Sanjeev Kumar- The Actor We All Loved.

The biography, launched on the late actor’s 84th delivery anniversary on Saturday, is co-authored by biographer Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta and Kumar’s nephew Uday Jariwala.

Another connection between Martin Scoresese and Sanjeev Kumar is the truth that Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khilari, which featured the actor in a pivotal function, was included by the Hollywood filmmaker in his listing of ’40 movies that one should watch earlier than they die’, stated Gupta.

Kapoor stated the 1977 film, based mostly on Munshi Premchand’s quick story of the identical title, was his introduction to town of Lucknow.

It’s an honour and a privilege for me to be part of the guide launch celebrating the life and work of the actor all of us love, Sanjeev Kumar whose delivery anniversary can be in the present day…the proper approach to mark this big day… written by @OfficialReetaRG & #UdayJariwala pic.twitter.com/OlqIYTjUDS

— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) July 9, 2022

“I was in Lucknow two-three days ago and I have never shot (for a film) here but I remember Lucknow because of Shatanj Ke Khilari. Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest filmmakers made his first Hindi film and he cast Sanjeev Kumar,” he added.

The actor stated he feels lucky to have made his debut with a cameo look in Kumar’s 1979 film Hamare Tumhare.

One of the important thing classes he learnt from Kumar was “there are no small or big roles”.

“That was the beginning of my career. I learnt from him that there are no small or big roles. And if you have talent, you will surely be noticed even in a small role. Just like this I started my career with small roles,” Kapoor added.

The Jugjugg Jeeyo star additionally reminisced the friendship Sanjeev Kumar shared along with his father, filmmaker Surinder Kapoor, and cinema icon Shammi Kapoor.

“All three were drinking friends. My dad was fond of drinking and so was Haribhai. Shammi uncle used to have a lot of parties at his house in Malabar Hill and Haribhai would come there.”