Shekhar Kapur Reflects on a Touching ‘Middle Class’ Conversation with His Father
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Synopsis
Shekhar Kapur shares a touching story about his father and their middle-class values in light of his film ‘Elizabeth’ receiving eight Oscar nominations, reflecting on the challenges of balancing success with his upbringing.
Key Takeaways
- Shekhar Kapur reflects on his middle-class upbringing.
- The impact of family values on personal success.
- His father's perspective on money and respect.
- The significance of rebellion in creativity.
- Recognition of the film ‘Elizabeth’ at the Oscars.
Mumbai, April 21 (NationPress) Renowned director Shekhar Kapur shared a poignant story about his father following the remarkable achievement of his film ‘Elizabeth’, which received eight Academy Award nominations.
In a revealing moment, Kapur described the heartfelt “middle class” dialogue that showcased his father’s humble viewpoint, even in the face of global acclaim. Posting a photo of the Oscar trophy on his Instagram, Shekhar expressed his ongoing internal conflict—balancing success while honoring his middle-class roots. He reflected on his life’s journey, stating, “I am deeply middle class. Carrying the weight of my middle-class background is a challenge I’ve consistently faced. The values associated with being middle class were once greatly respected, yet have transformed into a burden in today’s world.”
‘Never borrow money, never incur debts! Maintain a stable job. Focus on building your pension’ Oh well, that’s any startup opportunity out the window for me. However, my middle-class upbringing has been beneficial. I found a cause to passionately rebel against. After all, creativity stems from rebellion, and my life is filled with rebellions against my middle-class status. Yet, I will always remember my father’s words: ‘Son, earning money is easy, but gaining respect is a challenge.’ Some values I hold dear … a commitment to family. However, there’s one incident that stands out …” (sic) added Shekhar.
The director of ‘Mr. India’ continued, “When my film Elizabeth received eight Oscar nominations (keep in mind it was my first film in the Western cinema), I called my father to share the news, given his initial disapproval of my entry into the film industry. The conversation unfolded as follows: ‘Dad, my film has been nominated for 8 Oscars.’ ‘Hmm .. well done, Son.’ ‘It was also recognized as one of the 5 best films in the world (back then only 5 were nominated, not 10).’ ‘Proud of you, Son.’ A long pause followed … ‘Son?’ ‘Yes, Dad?’ ‘Does that mean you might secure another job?’ #middleclass #Oscars #father #family #fatherson.” (sic)
Shekhar Kapur was born on December 6, 1945, in Lahore, Punjab, during British India. He comes from a Punjabi Hindu family, with his father, Kulbhushan Kapoor, being a prominent doctor.
On the professional front, Shekhar has garnered significant acclaim and numerous prestigious awards, including a National Film Award. He is widely recognized for his lasting impact on cinema through iconic works such as ‘Masoom,’ ‘Mr. India,’ and ‘Bandit Queen’, among others.
