Anil Kapoor is one of the most recognisable Indian actors both in India and abroad, best known here for his excellent performances as the gameshow host on Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and in the final season of 24.
Deadline are now reporting that Kapoor has closed a deal with 20th Century Fox that has secured him the rights to produce an Indian version of the now-iconic American TV series, in which he will be taking on the leading role of a new Indian rendering of Jack Bauer, who was of course played on the US series by none other than the awesome Kiefer Sutherland.
Kapoor has naturally got a big pair of shoes to fill, because I don’t think anyone else could have played Jack Bauer anywhere near as well as Sutherland did (and I’m hoping he’ll return to the role if the 24 movie finally materialises). But though I’ve only seen him in Slumdog Millionaire and 24, I think Kapoor is a fantastic actor, and certainly has the potential to do a great job with this. He’s had a season’s worth of practice starring alongside Sutherland in the role, so he won’t be coming to it entirely fresh, and will no doubt have a clear vision of what he wants to do with this new reimagining.
“It will be a great honor for me to play Jack Bauer,” Kapoor said. “Kiefer has created an iconic character which has inspired me to bring the franchise to India. This will be my first foray to Indian television and I look forward to duplicating the standard of excellence Fox has so successfully created.”
Pre-production is scheduled to get underway half-way through next year, and before then, we can look forward to seeing Kapoor in the upcoming Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. He is also set to star in Cities alongside Clive Owen, with Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom recently commencing talks to join too, and that is a film that sounds immense.
