When Ranbir Kapoor was first launched in the forgettable Saawariya, a critic had said ‘today you need two things to be successful; first a good script and second, your surname must be Kapoor’. But according to this latest addition to the (already long list of) Kapoors in Bollywood, times have changed and one has to go through the tough process of learning the craft and proving the mettle irrespective of your surname. Over to Harshvardhan Kapoor, the new boy of Bollywood.
Can you name one film from your father’s filmography that you would want to reenact?
I would have played his role in Parinda differently. I think it is one the best films that he has worked in but performance wise I think I can give it a different spin.
What did you pick up in the two scripts (Slumdog Millionaire and Dil Dharakne Do) that your father didn’t? We know that you convinced your dad to do those films.
I think those were genuinely good films. I have seen Zoya’s (Akhtar) work before and I have tremendous respect for her craft. Similarly Slumdog Millionaire was a very powerful script too. It’s not that he didn’t like the script or something, it’s just that for Dil Dhadakne Do, he just wasn’t sure. If you notice, both these films may not have him as the main character but his character in both the films is extremely pivotal. Also, you have to see it from the other side of the screen too: what are you giving to the audience? I think both these films had something for everyone.
Do you think that the industry has a soft corner for star kids?
Not really. I think times have dramatically changed. Its not the 80s and 90s anymore. Now, there is so much content easily available to people digitally; youngsters from India are watching films and television shows from all over the world which show some of the best actors. So you can’t feed them anymore. They choose by themselves what they like and whom they reject. Commercially, nobody wants to lose money and you don’t get chances like that unless you have it in you.Basically, all of these things put together, it doesn’t really matter who you are anymore.
How do you plan to nurture yourself to stay competitive in this industry?
It depends on the roles that you get. I think for every role you have to prepare differently. Some need dedicated attention and others you can pull off parallel to your other assignments. So I will take it based on the roles that come my way. Plus there is so much treasure out there that with every film you watch or every film you do, you grow richer.
How did you prepare for the role of Mirzya and Aadil at the same time, because what we gather is that there is another plot running parallel in the film?
I’ll have to give credit to Mehra for the clarity of the two roles and the fact that we did not shoot simultaneously to avoid overlapping of the thought process. First we completed Mirzya’s plot in six months and then moved on to Aadil for which I shot for 15 days. He had not given us any briefings for the second part. I had to learn horse-riding and archery to look the part and in the second plot I had to look like a stable guy so I lived with the horses too.
Given the fact that the soundtrack for Mirzya has included songs from two Pakistani folk singers, what is your opinion on banning Pakistani artists?
I wouldn’t like to comment on that.
Your father did a Yash Chopra film called Lamhe in 1991 and it was told then that the film was way ahead of its time. If it was to be remade, would you buy the idea of falling in love with the daughter of the woman you once loved?
Yes. I enjoyed the film then too and I think its believable. Lamhe was definitely different than the typical 90s cinema but I think if you fall in love with a person, then the background and all those things don’t matter. Love matters.
So when was the last time you said I love you to anyone?
Well in the morning today. I had a screening for my close friends and family before I flew out and there is so much love and appreciation being showered on me; their feedback has been overwhelming. So I said it to a friend who called me to say how much he loved my work.
The tag line of your film Mirzya reads ‘Dare to Love’. What is the most daring thing you have done in love so far?
Well I wouldn’t call it daring but when you step out of your comfort zone to make someone happy or your priorities change and you do something out of character. Even if it’s something simple like taking a flight to travel to a place where you aren’t supposed to be, for instance. Not sure if it’s daring enough.
Which is your favourite scene from the film Neerja?
For me I think when Sonam reads the note which was given to her fiancée and she eats a chocolate and tears start flowing out of her eyes. I think it was one of the highlights for me.
What is one thing that each of you siblings want to change in one another?
I can be very emotionally disconnected sometimes and I think Sonam doesn’t like that side of me. And my advice to her would be to be a bit more patient.
Quick Call:
Your favourite actress from current times: Deepika Padukone
One actress from your Dad’s time that you admire: Sridevi
Anil Kapoor in Lamhe or Anil Kapoor in Pukar: Anil Kapoor in Pukar
Your favourite character from FRIENDS: Ross
What’s next? : A biopic!
Sadiq Saleem is a Dubai based entertainment journalist. He is also an SH correspondent and can be contacted on his page fb/sidsaidso
Â
