Rishi Kapoor: Rahul Gandhi is in no position to lead Congress

With news doing the rounds that Rahul Gandhi is soon going to be the Congress president, Rishi Kapoor believes that the party is only validating what he had said through his tweets sometime ago - that it's a party with a dynastic identity.

Seated at his office in RK Studio in Chembur, with a wall full of posters of RK Films classics such as Awaara, Shree 420 and Sangam, the actor shared his thoughts on the backlash and the support he received for his views on Congress and its tendency to name the national assets only after the Nehru-Gandhi family.

On Rahul Gandhi's rumoured promotion as Congress president

Is this not dynastic? What are you doing, man? On what grounds are you making him the president? Just because he is the son of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi? He hasn't proved anything. I am surprised how senior Congress leaders have agreed to it.

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What I challenged was the Congress' dynastic identity and why are so many national assets - 64 alone in Delhi - named after the family? In 1991, Rajiv Gandhi died and in 2009 we announce that the Bandra-Worli sea link will be named after him?

What has Sanjay Gandhi done that you have named a national park after him in Borivali? I only know Sanjay for the Emergency and Maruti (controversy). With this decision (appointing Rahul Gandhi president), you are only proving me right.

They have got capable leaders people such as Kapil Sibal and Kamal Nath. Rahul isn't leader material. But I hope he can develop some leadership skills in the interests of the nation.

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We need a good Opposition who can debate and challenge. But here they are just trying to be difficult and holding economic reforms back. Who does it affect? Us.

The Congress should be rebuilt. They are all sycophants to make him one (the president). It is a shame for Congress.

On nepotism in Hindi cinema

But we all first work, then we get appreciated and then we get the name. But in this dynastic rule, you get elected first and then you are supposed to work?

How can you be a leader because of a dynasty? I am not in acting just because I am Raj Kapoor's son. Ranbir isn't there just because of me. You have to have something to prove yourself.

On being fearless on Twitter

Isn't it the way everybody should be? It's so sad that nobody from the entertainment industry even seconded me. But I don't care. My wife is not pleased and asks me to hold back. I don't say anything that is hurting anybody. I never expected it to be sensationalised.

When they were renaming a road in Delhi, I only said that we don't need so many places to be named after Nehru family. There are others as well who are equally important or even more to have the national assets named after them.

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I don't think anybody disagrees with me. I'm telling you deep down even the Congress party members know what I have said is the truth and one day (they) will realise that we have gone overboard, that we should have something named after other people also.

I have not said anything wrong that you can counter me. Let's debate. Do you think it is acceptable? It is a one-sided argument.

Gandhi is just the trick word. It's not Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi aka the Mahatma name that they are promoting.

On Congress

I have nothing against the Nehru family. Their contribution and sacrifice is great. I'm only talking about the sycophants who are trying to exploit the family and fool the common man for votes. But we aren't illiterate anymore. The youth is more aware.

My family is all Congress. We have always been secular. My film Henna addressed Pakistan in a positive manner. But now you have compelled me to come to this conclusion.

And, I am not even reflecting on the scams. They keep going on. It's just the ambience... I wish the Congress would have been able to hold itself. The Congress is getting exposed by not questioning.

On being labelled a BJP loyalist

I'm not pro BJP. I have opposed the beef ban and also the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India.

I also spoke up against prohibition in Bihar. I'm a taxpaying citizen and I have a right to say what I feel. I may be right or wrong, it may be debatable, but don't become violent and send people over to my house to hurl stones (at me).

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Is that what Congress believes? Don't make toilets named after me. And if you have, then I'm proud of it because that is also my prime minister's mission. By doing what you did to me, you have only made a fool of yourself. I have just called a spade a spade.

On the backlash

I have now started holding back. I didn't like the way people reacted. I said that I didn't do this for any personal reasons. I didn't do this to get a Rajya Sabha seat or a Padma award.

I have been working for 44 years non-stop in the film industry and haven't been recognised for my work, and you think I will do this to get a Padma award? I am still a student of cinema.

You have now made me so conscious that I won't even accept it even if I do get it, because it will feel that I have got it because of this (tweets).

You have screwed my happiness. I don't want it. I don't have any aspirations to be a politician. I'd rather be an actor. This wall has the history of my family.

Of the 100 years of cinema, the Kapoors have contributed for 88 years. We have been entertaining people.