Anil Kapoor has turned down an offer to co-star with his daughter Sonam in her second film — the much talked-about Dilli 6, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Sonam made her B-Town debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya.

Says Anil, “It’s true Rakeysh offered me a role. But I regretfully declined.”

To each his own

The actor’s move is not surprising. B-Town’s star parents are always wary of being seen on screen with their offsprings especially at the beginning of the newcomer’s career.

For now, Anil has decided to stay away from offers to share screen space with his daughter, “There have been about eight to 10 offers, but nothing that would tempt me into making this move right away. Unless something really exceptional comes up I wouldn’t like to work with my daughter at the moment. In fact she is even more against the idea than I am. So I’d just like to wait."

He’s thrilled that his daughter’s second film is with Mehra, even though he turned it down, “Who wouldn’t want to work with Rakeysh after Rang De Basanti? Sonam is lucky to be working with him after Sanjay Leela Bhansali in her debut film.

I’d have been happier if Saawariya had done better in India, but Sonam has been appreciated unanimously. People like Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) and Dilipsaab (Dilip Kumar) have praised her. I’m proud of my daughter. Yes, she has a long way to go. I think her second film is as exciting, if not more.”

Worry time

Adds Sonam, “I’ve done two shoots with my father and one AIDS feature. All through he was more worried about me than himself. So I don’t think it’s fair to him to have me as a co-star. Also, I’m too raw to separate my father from the character he’d play with me.

Besides I wouldn’t want to do any and everything with him. It has to be something special for both of us. But if he produces a film that has a role for both of us I’d definitely want to do it.”

No to screen space

-Dimple Kapadia said no to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Khamoshi with daughter Twinkle.
-Jaya Bachchan has steadfastly stuck to her decision of not playing amma to her beta Abhishek.
-Dharmendra agreed to play Sunny and Bobby Deol’s father in Apne after many decades in the industry (Dharmendra did play Sunny’s dad in his second film Sunny but they didn’t have scenes together).

Mid-day.com