Bollywood’s man with lightening in his feet, Shahid Kapoor seems pretty chilled out and unfazed by controversies in real life.In town to shoot for an untitled film opposite Anushka Sharma, Shahid seems very comfortable in his skin. While he’s reluctant to discuss about his private life or his rumoured amours with Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan and Sania Mirza, the teen heartthrob says he’s “learnt to take all the rumours with a pinch of salt” and claims he’s just a “regular” young guy after pack-up. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:
Kaminey and Dil Bole Hadippa... are set to hit the screens.
Yeah. Their release dates are pretty close to each other. Kaminey will hit the screens this month, while Dil Bole Hadippa is slated for a September release. Both are very different films and I’m excited as well as a little nervous. The levels of expectations increase after your previous films have done well at the BO. Jab We Met was a turning point in my career. After Vivaah, I sat home for six months because I didn’t like anything that came my way. Then Jab We Met happened. Things changed after that. Audiences expect a lot more with each release.
Kaminey is different from the films you have done so far...
That’s true. When Vishal approached me he said, ‘Shahid, ek commercial film banate hain yaar’. Vishal is a great director and I was excited to be part of his film. It’s also the first time I’m playing a double role and both characters are totally different from one another. While one speaks with a lisp, the other stammers. Yes, it is different from other films I’ve done, and that’s what makes Kaminey so special for me. But there’s so much to look forward to in that film. There’s Vishal Bharadwaj, there’s the romance angle with Priyanka and there’s the rocking number Dhan te naan.
And then there’s also the shirtless scene.
Oh yes (laughs). Vishal didn’t have to convince me a lot to do the scene. It’s important for the character of Charlie, who is into horse racing. I didn’t do it because going shirtless is the current fad in B-town. I trained really hard for a year to achieve the look I have for the scene. Plus I had six to seven white horses running behind me who were equally good-looking. I had no option but train hard. Moreover, I’m very diet conscious and I eat really boring food.
The kind of movies you do is very different from the brand of films your dad (Pankaj Kapur) is synonymous with. Ever fancy trying your hand at that?
There was a time when people did not accept ‘different’ cinema that came their way. But these days they are more acceptable and expect a lot more from an actor. I’ll be testing the waters with Kaminey. If it works, then I don’t mind doing something different. If it doesn’t, then it will give me some food for thought, as to what the audience like and expect.
Your pairing with Rani Mukerji in Dil Bole Hadippa is pretty unconventional too.
Yes. But I have no apprehensions about it. I’m sure the makers knew what they were doing when they decided to pair me opposite Rani. The film is an out-an-out masala entertainer. Working with Rani is such a pleasure because she takes a lot of the load off you. And if I had doubts about our pairing, I wouldn’t have signed the film at all.
Speaking of signing, rumours have it that you did not want to sign your mom’s film...
There has been a lot of stuff written about it. But honestly, I don’t see why I should come out and talk about it. It’s something very personal and I would like to keep it that way. These silly rumours have not created any friction between us, because my relationship with mom is not fragile.
You are one actor who is constantly being linked-up with every co-star.
Every morning when I wake up and open the newspaper, I find the media linking me with someone or the other. It’s really annoying. But then it’s all part of the deal. I don’t know if it’s because I’m single or because people would like to see me linked with someone. I know that someday, someone special will walk into my life and that day I’m going to be absolutely over the moon. Even if there’s no one, no harm — I’m happy being single right now.
