Christopher Nolan agreed to meet Anil Kapoor to discuss the role of Yusuf in Inception. However, before the meeting, the GPS in Anil’s assistant’s car failed. As Anil Kapoor, the celebrated actor with a career spanning over four decades, turned 67 on Friday, it’s worth recalling his audition for Christopher Nolan’s Inception. Interestingly, Anil attempted to leverage his Bollywood fame to reach the audition venue.
Anil met Christopher but didn’t get the role
Christopher Nolan had agreed to meet Anil Kapoor in Los Angeles to discuss the role of Yusuf in the film Inception. However, there was an unexpected twist as, just before leaving, the GPS in Anil’s assistant’s car failed. Facing a time crunch, Anil found a creative solution. In 2012, he shared the incident, stating:
“I had only 10 minutes… Suddenly I saw an Indian taxi driver… I waved down the taxi driver and I said in Hindi, ‘I am Anil Kapoor, the actor from India. Please take me to this place’.”
Leaving his assistant, Brittany, behind, Anil made it to the meeting on time. Despite not landing the role, he reflected; “I did not get the role, but I was on time. And I got the autograph… I wanted him (Nolan) to sign my DVD of Batman.”
It’s interesting to note that Dileep Rao eventually played the role of Yusuf in the film. This incident not only showcases Anil Kapoor’s resourcefulness but also highlights the unpredictable and sometimes humorous aspects of the entertainment industry.
On the work front, Anil Kapoor’s film Animal released in 2023, is sharing the screen with other actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Triptii Dimri. Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Karan Singh Grover will share the screen in the movie, ‘Fighter’.
