Jeetendra on Tusshar Kapoor as a Father: ‘I was not even 1% of what he is’

Veteran actor Jeetendra is spending quality time with his family and children: Ekta Kapoor and Tusshar Kapoor.

A few days ago, he celebrated his birthday with his family in quarantine. Speaking of the same, he told IANS:  “That is my world.”

“One thing I have learnt during lockdown is that when I was a busy actor, I could not give much time to my children. I missed that” Jeetendra said.

His son and actor Tusshar Kapoor became a single parent after his first child Lakkshay was born through IVF and surrogacy in June 2016. Reacting to the same, Jeetendra says:

“When I look at Tusshar, he makes me proud. What a wonderful father he is. I was not even one percent of what he is. This is all the realisation that has come with age and lockdown. After all, you learn till you go to your grave.”

Jeetendra had a phenomenal acting career from the 60’s to the 90’s and there was a time when he would have nine releases in a year. But he says that the times have changed now.

Looking back at those days, the actor said: “You know how we used to work? I come from a middle-class background. I was so insecure. We used to start working from 7am to 1pm at one place, then 1pm to 5pm at another place then 6pm to 10pm at another place. Whenever there used to be just two shootings, we used to feel jobless. Now look how things have changed! People do one movie in a year. And they are happy, comfortable and confident.”

However, he was quite on a sabbatical for the last few years but was regularly seen making appearances in reality shows on television. Jeetendra made his acting comeback and his digital debut with his daughter Ekta Kapoor’s production, Baarish 2, which recently released on ALTBalaji and ZEE5.

“An actor is an actor. You keep a camera in front of him and tell him to act, he will act. But making me act after such a long time was amazing. Being a part of Balaji, it was like homecoming. The cast and crew were very warm and friendly. I could see the amount of respect and love they had for me. I simply loved the vibe on the set, full of positive energy,” he said.

Speaking of the struggle he faced after the gap, he said: "My memory side has gone for a full toss. I could not remember the long lines properly. But the director was so wonderful. He made me feel comfortable.”

He added: “You should never say no. You never know. Whenever Ekta has asked me, I have never said no to her.” Jeetendra had also played a cameo in Ekta’s hit TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi years ago.

“When you are young, you are fond of watching films and then you want to act in films. I became an actor. My hobby became my profession. It is a very beautiful thing. But coming back at the age of 78... is not coming back,” he concluded.