‘Mr. India’ is one of those films that will never fade from the collective memory of Bollywood fans. Released in 1987, it’s a movie that has aged like fine wine, becoming an all-time classic for generations. For Arjun Kapoor, it’s more than just a film—it’s a piece of his childhood and a story that still evokes deep emotions.
In a recent chat with the Chalchitra Talks YouTube channel, the ‘Ishaqzaade’ actor revealed just how much ‘Mr. India’ means to him, recalling both the magic of the movie and the unforgettable bond it created with his family.
A film ahead of its time
One of the things that struck Arjun the most about ‘Mr. India’ was how ahead of its time it was, particularly with its special effects. At a time when visual effects (VFX) were not as common in Indian cinema, ‘Mr. India’ set the bar high. “I don’t know what they did and how they did it. Yet, it looks so clean. I guess there was patience then to make the best film. That allowed them to do some R&D and trial and error,” he shared. Arjun couldn’t help but admire how the filmmakers pushed boundaries, taking risks with technology to create something special.
Behind the scenes, the scale of the movie was massive. The ‘2 States’ actor revealed an interesting fact from his father, Boney Kapoor, about the production. “It was a very expensive film. My father told me that they had booked 3 floors of RK Studios for Mogambo’s den.”
A childhood favorite
For Arjun, ‘Mr. India’ wasn’t just a film he admired as a viewer—it was part of his daily life growing up. He revealed, “Maine Mr. India VHS pe dekh ke, dekh ke VHS player kharab kar diya! I would not eat food without watching that film. I used to feel Anil Chachu was Mr. India aur woh ghoom ho jaate hai!”
While Arjun has nothing but praise for ‘Mr. India,’ there’s one scene that still tugs at his heartstrings. The moment in the film where a child tragically dies is too much for him to handle, even now. “I can’t see that scene. I always fast-forward it. Main aaj bhi nahin dekh paata,” Arjun admitted, laughing at his emotional reaction. Despite knowing the film inside and out, he simply can’t bear to watch that heart-wrenching moment. “I remember that film by heart, but the moment the merry-go-round scene comes, main aage badh jaata hoon!” he added, further illustrating the deep emotional connection he has with the film.
The ‘Ki & Ka’ actor further said, “The film is about the politics of that era. It is one of the nuanced films that speaks about external powers influencing India,” he explained. “Mogambo represents a bigger cultural phenomenon that was growing as the world was taking interest in India and trying to create an influence in its politics,” Arjun observed.
