Veteran actor Anil Kapoor has taken a nostalgic trip back to his 1987 blockbuster Mr. India, revealing that the iconic jacket he wore in the film was purchased from Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar. The actor recently brought out the original outfit for an episode of India Ke Top 1%: The Anil Kapoor Show, recreating his memorable look nearly four decades later.
Kapoor appeared on the show wearing the same jacket, shirt and trousers he had preserved since the film’s release. He said he was surprised that the clothes continued to fit him after 39 years.
“I would say the shirt still fits me, the trousers still fit me, the jacket still fits me. After 39 years, everything still fits me! The team said, ‘Wish we could get the Mr. India costume,’ and I was like, ‘I’d preserved it,’” Kapoor said.
The episode also draws on the film’s broader message, focusing on people who serve the country without seeking recognition or rewards.
Explaining the theme, Kapoor said the idea was rooted in the film’s social relevance and recalled filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s response after watching it.
“It is a very socially relevant episode that we are doing. That was the basic theme, and that’s what Raj Kapoor sahab had said after seeing the film. What is the takeaway from the film? The takeaway is that everyone can become Mr. India,” he said.
Kapoor added that the episode celebrates those who work for the nation out of a sense of moral duty, often without expecting anything in return.
Revealing the story behind the jacket, the actor said he had bought it from Chor Bazaar. He also pointed out that his longer hair, similar to the hairstyle he sported in the film, helped complete the nostalgic look.
“Coincidentally, I have grown my hair just like I had in ‘Mr. India’. So, today hair is also suiting the look,” he said.
Directed by Shekhar Kapur, Mr. India starred Kapoor alongside Sridevi and Amrish Puri. The science-fiction superhero film follows Arun Verma, a humble violinist and philanthropist who acquires a device that makes him invisible.