As the much-anticipated release of Fighter approaches, Bollywood icons Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor are immersed in a whirlwind of promotions. Following the global buzz around the film’s trailer, drawing comparisons to Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick, Kapoor, during a recent press conference, Anil Kapoor opened up to Zoom about how he gets into the skin of his characters, decoding his recent characters from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal and Sandeep Modi’s The Night Manager.

Anil Kapoor on Immersive Role Preparation

Asked about his approach to preparing for challenging roles over the past two years, Kapoor shares, “Certain roles demand internalization before delving into the external aspects. For Animal, it was about playing my age, a more internal process. Fighter, on the other hand, involved considerations of appearance, gait, and speech. I delved into extensive research, consulting officers, studying videos, and gathering information globally to embody the character. My inspiration for such roles traces back 50 years to George C. Scott’s Patton; a film that remains my guiding force. Each film demands a unique journey – Night Manager explores the worst man in the world, requiring imaginative preparation through books, interviews, and personal reflections. Fighter is a distinct voyage, separate from the realms of Animal or Pukaar.”

Hrithik Roshan’s Impromptu Moment

Inspired by Kapoor’s insights into preparation and character improvisation, Hrithik Roshan shares his first-ever improv moment, showcasing the camaraderie between the actors.

“My initial character improvisation in acting class was – Iss shehar ke izzatdar log. Kaun kehta hai ki Thakraal saab ne sirf 75 logon ki hatya ki hai, arey inki ginti to pacchatar se bhot zyada hai.”

Fighter: A Desi Affair with Class

Reacting to Hrithik’s impromptu act in Hindi, Kapoor proudly declares Fighter as a quintessentially desi film. “Dekha, isse zyada desi film India me ho hi nahi sakti. Isme Hrithik Roshan hai aur Deepika Padukone bhi hai. Anil Kapoor hai. Yeh sab tumko Top Gun me milega kya? Isse desi film aap dekh hi nahi sakte. Desi but classy, that is our motto.”