Toolsidas Junior director recalls he wanted his dad and Rajiv Kapoor to watch film together: ‘But they left us’

Director of Toolsidas Junior, Mridul has said that he based the film on his own story, and had even planned a special screening of the film his father and actor Rajiv Kapoor. However, both died before the film could be screened. Rajiv died in February 2021, before the film could release. Toolsidas Junior also stars Sanjay Dutt and Varun Buddhadev in important roles. (Also read: Dalip Tahil on Rajiv Kapoor not facing camera for 30 years)

Toolsidas Junior follows young Mridul in his bid to reclaim his father’s lost glory and win an important snooker tournament on his behalf. While Varun played the titular character, Rajiv Kapoor played his father, a character based on the director’s father. It was Rajiv’s comeback to acting after over three decades.

Speaking about the topic of his film, Mridul said, “Snooker has been a very pivotal part of my life, especially because of the memories it beholds with my father. Toolsidas Junior depicts one of the most cherished parts of my life. I fought hard to bring my father glory back then and I wanted to do the same by making Toolsidas Junior.”

He added, “When the film was almost ready, I had decided to arrange a special preview of the film for my father with Rajiv Kapoor sir, as he plays my father’s character on screen. Unfortunately, Rajiv sir left us in February last year and soon after that, even my father passed away. However, they both did see the final cut individually before they left us. I’m glad both their memories would live forever in the form of Toolsidas Junior.”

Ashutosh Gowariker, who produced the film, also said, “When Mridul came to me with the script, I didn’t know it was his story, I only felt it was a film I wanted to make. The raw and relatable emotions of Midi’s story found a place in my heart and when I learnt it was Mridul’s own journey, I could realise why the honesty and heart in it felt so pure. We often say cinema is a reflection of society, Toolsidas Junior definitely mirrors the reality in the most appealing manner.”

Ashutosh produced Toolsidas Junior in collaboration with Bhushan Kumar’s T Series. Toolsidas Junior released on Netflix on May 23 and was the last film featuring Rajiv Kapoor that released months after his death.