Robert De Niro, 70, is an icon and a legend. He won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor playing Vito Corleone in ‘The Godfather Part II’. He won his sole Academy Award as Best Actor playing the boxer Jake LaMotta in ‘Raging Bull’. While he returns to playing a boxer again in his upcoming film ‘Grudge Match’ after 33 years, he returned to India after 35 years.
During his trip to India, he visited Delhi, Ranthambore and Goa, but what was most touching was his spontaneous visit to his co-star in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’, Anupam Kher, in Mumbai before flying out to the US. He spent three hours of quality time with him at his acting school.
While his oldest daughter Drena, who is 42, accompanied him to India, he was concerned about the health of his youngest daughter Helen, who is just two years old and was keeping a little unwell.
Excerpts from a conversation with the icon:
The memories of India that you are taking back with you?
I have been wanting to come earlier, but could come only after 35 years. The people here are very warm. We visited Ranthambore and were able to sight two tigers, hardly a few feet away from our jeep. I have captured them on my phone, so that I can show it back home. I did not want to go back from India and say, ‘I did not see a tiger.’
How can you remain so humble?
You have to be real with people. You have to be appreciative of everything you have done in your life. This is not real. The real world is not my world. I have lived many years in the real world before I became successful, but I always tell my kids that anything we do on the luxury side of fame is not typical, not normal.
Have you watched Bollywood films?
Unfortunately, I have not. I would like to, but I just don’t get enough time to watch all the films, even the English ones. I have met someone here who will be sending me eight best movies of the last 50 years that he felt I should look at and I am going to try and do that.
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