Arjun Kapoor, who has garnered critical acclaim for his roles in Ishaqzaade and Aurangzeb, has a packed shooting schedule. The young actor talks about accepting the failure of his films, having two big banners back him and surviving competition in Bollywood
Arjun Kapoor’s day starts at 7 in the morning, as he gets busyshooting for Two States. The actor’s day ends late in the night after wrapping up dubbing for his film, Gunday. He is finding it difficult to find some quality ‘me’ time before New Year’s, but the young actor isn’t complaining as he enjoys his work. Excerpts from the interview:
Arjun Kapoor, who has recently wrapped up Gunday, is busy shooting for Two States
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You seem to gel well with the Chopra-Johar brand. You have one film under the Yash Raj Films (Gunday) banner and another with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions (the Sajid Nadiadwalaco-production Two States).
It feels amazing to start my career with banners like YRF and Dharma Productions. While it makes me feel responsible about justifying their faith, it also makes me feel confident because though I am still discovering how good or bad I am, I have two big banners backing me.
Was it easy for you to accept Aurangzeb’s failure at the box office?
Failure doesn’t discourage me. As a journalist not all your interviews will be good. Similarly, not every film of mine will do well. In Aurangzeb I had to carry a songless drama that wasn’t a typical YRF film. But doing a double role was challenging and I don’t regret that for a day. Sometimes, the timing of a film’s release doesn’t work out or people are not interested in seeing a kind of movie. Maybe the film promotion gave a wrong idea about the film or maybe it was too early in my career to do a double role. People are not going to say, ‘It’s an Arjun Kapoor film so let’s go and watch it.’ I am at a position where my work will define me; I am not above my movie.
What do you think of the competition among young actors in Bollywood?
There are so many newcomers so there is this sudden race or competition. Ranbir Kapoor is the superstar of our generation. He has broken the mould of a typical Hindi film hero and has managed to get both box office and critical success. He does both Barfi and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and people love him for that. But he has already completed seven years in the industry while a lot of us have just started. If we all survive in this industry for 10 years then we will able to see who stands where. Everyone here gives his/her best. Ranveer Singh is doing amazing work. I would like to believe that Goliyon Ki Ras Leela — Ram Leela justifies him being touted as another superstar in the making.
Considering Ranveer’s recent surge in popularity, do you fear he may take away the limelight in Gunday?
I am not competing with him. Else, I wouldn’t have done the film. I want my films to be seen by maximum number of people. If it happens because of Ranveer, so be it.
You and Ranveer seem to share a ‘bromance’.
We knew each other before we became actors. We started our career with Yash Raj Films so we would meet each other at Yash Raj studios. After Gunday, our friendship is now at another level. We spent three months shooting together.
You have been linked to your Two States co-star Alia Bhatt.
There is loose talk and Chinese whispers because I hang out with my co-stars. There was a special screening for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and I reached a little early and saved a seat for her so she sat next to me. Despite all these rumours our equation hasn’t changed. I love working and hanging out with Alia.
You are also co-starring alongside Deepika Padukone in Finding Fanny Fernandes.
We finished the film in a month’s time. We shot in Goa so I really had a good time. It was a refreshing change. The film is in English so it was a challenge. It helped me switch off from Hindi film culture for a month.
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