May 27, 2026 11:00am IST
Tusshar Kapoor on completing 25 years in films: ‘I wish I wasn’t so selective and had done more movies’ (EXCLUSIVE)
In the year of “Lagaan” and “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha”, Tusshar Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s “Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai” (2001) emerged as a surprise hit. The film, which marked Tusshar Kapoor’s debut, stood out for its portrayal of innocent romance. The film completed 25 years this May. Looking back at its release, Tusshar says, “The number of messages I got from people on the film completing 25 years has been amazing. Many of them told me how they watched it as teenagers or listened to the songs on their walkman. They had vivid memories of watching the movie three or four times at multiplexes. It was that changing era when multiplexes had just come in.”
Talking about the film’s release, he shares, “I remember going to watch it at Metro Cinema on the day it released, and it was a full house. I remember getting mobbed after the show, so I had to go to the manager’s office and wait for the crowd to disperse. We were not expecting that kind of reaction.”
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‘While shooting for Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, I would keep to myself’
Accompanying Tusshar to Metro Cinema that day was Ahmed Khan, who had choreographed the songs in “Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai.” The two are now working together again, with Khan directing. Kapoor recalls, “We feel nostalgic now because I just finished “Welcome to the Jungle” with Ahmed. We’ve been in touch lately — first during the shoot and now during promotions. While shooting for Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, I would keep to myself and work on my character. He was one of the few people who would talk to me.”
‘‘Gadar’ and ‘Lagaan’ released three weeks after our movie’
Three weeks after the release of “Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai,” “Lagaan” and “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha,” released on the same day in 2001, and took over the box office. “When the film was about to release, I just wanted people to watch it once, but it got this huge opening, and then it kept running. I think it ran for more than 25 weeks in many theatres. “Gadar” and “Lagaan,” which released three weeks after our movie, were massive hits too. Had they not released so close to it, “Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai” would have done even better. I think the wave of “Gadar,” especially, took over. But fortunately, the movie had already done great business by then.”
‘Kareena and I were acquaintances before the film ‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai”
“Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai” featured him opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was later his co-star in the “Golmaal” series. He flashbacks to their equation, “We were not really friends before the film. I would see her at parties sometimes because of mutual friends, and we had met once or twice as children. So, I knew her, but I wasn’t really close to her. We got to know each other only while making this film. I wasn’t very outgoing on the set, so I don’t blame Kareena or myself for not really getting to know each other. Even during the shoot, I kept to myself because I was really scared of Satishji (director Satish Kaushik). He was very strict and wanted me to immerse myself in the character. I wouldn’t socialize on set at all. I would either be in my make-up room or with Satishji. The time I started opening up was when we shot a song in New Zealand. But as long as the chemistry shows on screen, it doesn’t matter. People loved us in the film.”
‘I wish I wasn’t so selective and had done more films’
Looking back is never without regrets. Kapoor rightfully says the film industry is too unpredictable for anyone to have complete control over their journey. “I don’t think you can change much in this profession because, like most professions, things are not entirely at the mercy of your wishes or command,” he says.
The actor adds that if there’s one thing he wishes he had done differently, it would be doing more films earlier in his career. “I wish I knew I wanted to become an actor much before I did, then I could have planned it better because once you are in the industry, you are constantly on your toes and just doing your best, the rest is not in your control. I wouldn’t change anything, but I would probably do more films. I was very new, so I was very cautious. I didn’t want to have a line of flops, therefore I was selective. But now, when I look back, I feel like it would have been okay if I had made more mistakes. I was right in not doing certain movies, but if I had done them, I would have had more films to my credit; even if they hadn’t done well, they would have had their value. There is no harm in doing more work and then learning from your mistakes. I should have been a little less selective,” he concludes.
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