Veteran actress Anita Kanwal recently spoke about knowing Shah Rukh Khan from her days in Delhi theatre, helping casting people connect with him during his years of struggle and the harsh realities character actors face in the entertainment industry today.In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Anita also spoke about the changing culture of Bollywood and why it is no longer easy to reach big stars and filmmakers.
Anita Kanwal remembers working in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
Talking about Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Anita recalled playing Deepak Tijori’s mother in the film despite being only in her 30s at the time.“Haan, woh cult classic movie bani. Jab pehle din Deepak ne mujhe dekha toh ball, ‘Yeh kisko le aaye ho mother bana ke? She doesn’t look like a mother.” “He was between 35 and 36 years old,” he said.The actress further revealed that the film underwent changes after Deewana became a huge hit during the film’s shoot.“But woh cult movie bani aur bilkul pata nahi tha kyunki us waqt Shah Rukh ki koi bhi movie premiere nahi hui thi. Beech mein release Deewana hui thi jab humari shooting chal rahi thi aur woh bahut badi hit ho gayi thi.“Toh jitne bhi Shah Rukh ke motorcycle scenes the woh aur badha diye editing me. Humare cut scenes kar diye. Main dekh rahi hoon yaar mera scene tha Shah Rukh ke saath woh kahan gaya? Bole woh motorcycle wala. Maine kaha mujhe hi bitha dete motorcycle pe uske saath toh mere scene toh na katta,” Anita joked.
‘I told people that Shah Rukh Khan was very promising’
Anita shared that she knew Shah Rukh from his theater days in Delhi, long before he became a superstar.“Shah Rukh ko main Delhi se jaanti hoon theater days se. Jab woh Fauji aur yeh sab kar rahe the,” he recalled, referring to Fauji.He went on to tell an interesting incident involving his daughter and Shah Rukh’s phone number.“Meri beti Carmel Convent mein padhti thi aur bachche Shah Rukh Khan ke bahut loco el. Kisi ne blackboard pe Shah Rukh Khan ka number likh diya tha aur meri beti Shivana diary mein number as ke le aayi – ‘Mom, I have Shah Rukh Khan’s number’.”Anita added that during those days, several people from Mumbai who came to Delhi for casting often approached her.“We Bombay se jo log casting karne aate the, woh mere paas hi aate the. Maine unko Shah Rukh Khan ka number de diya. Maine kaha, ‘Is ladke mein bahut promise hai. Aap isko contact karo’.”She further revealed that Shah Rukh personally called her to thank her for recommending him.“Toh Shah Rukh ka mujhe phone aaya. He was very decent. He called me to thank me and then said, ‘How did you get my number?’ Maine kaha meri beti Carmel Convent mein padhti hai. Kehte hain, ‘Oh yes, mujhe pata hai kisi ne mere number blackboard pe likh diya tha’.”
Anita Kanwal never asked Shah Rukh Khan for a job
When asked why she never approached Shah Rukh Khan or big filmmakers for work, Anita admitted that the industry has become extremely inaccessible.“They have built forts around them. Aap kya samajhte ho? Aap Karan Johar ko mil sakte ho? Aditya Chopra ko mil sakte ho? Nahi.“A tak pahunchna possible hi nahi hai.”She added, “Kaise koshish karungi? Jaake Shah Rukh ke ghar ke bahar thodi khadi ho jaaungi.“Main kisi ko nahi jaanti jo uske yahaan kaam karta ho ya usko personally jaanta ho. Aur main aapko bataun – shayad unko yaad bhi nahi hoga yeh sab. Humein yaad hai kyunki woh Shah Rukh Khan hai.”