The jinx has finally worn off

The jinx has finally worn off

Shahid Kapoor tastes success at last, he talks about his uphill struggle on the way

Kunal M Shah

It took Shahid Kapoor three long years to get a taste, once again, of box-office success. After his debut, Ishq Vishq, 36, China Town has given the 25-year-old actor his second hit. "It is satisfying to know that my film has done well. This makes a difference to a lot of people around me, because in the past, even though my performance was appreciated my films were not hits," Shahid says, from the US, where he is part of the Rock Star concert contingent. "It seems like finally the jinx has worn off, and the audience has accepted Kareena and me as a couple on screen. I have learnt a lot from Kareena as she has spent many years in the industry."

While Kareena spent her early days rehearsing lines, Shahid spent his perfecting his dance routine with Shiamak Davar. "I remember my earlier days with Shiamak," the actor recalls. "I simply concentrated on having a good time, and had no concrete plans for a career in acting. When I did decide to pursue this line, I didn't tell my parents about it because I wanted to become an actor on my own steam. So I started assisting in direction, I started working out, attended a few acting classes, did speech training at home on my own. One day, I got a call for an audition for Ishq Vishq, but I was rejected. So I returned home, worked harder on myself, and went back for the audition almost a year later. This time I was selected."

The release was as stressful as the audition. "I remember one night, before the release, I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep," says Shahid. "So I went for a drive with a friend at 3 a.m. I saw people putting up posters of Ishq Vishq. I got off and started putting up posters with them… it's an experience I will never forget." While most actors have to work through several projects before they claim a box-office success, Shahid had luck on his side. "While many aspiring actors wait for years for a hit, I got lucky with my first film. Since then, the last two-and-a-half years have been a struggle," he says. "I have realised that for an actor, half the battle is won if he selects the right scripts. I did make mistakes but I feel that everyone should make their own choices and learn from their mistakes."

At 25, with a comfortable lifestyle, a devoted girlfriend, and a promising career, Shahid realises that he has yet a lot to prove if he is to make it to the top. "I do know that I have a long way to go," he admits. "I am working very hard, but I need to make the right choices, and I need to be a little more patient even though I am only 25… the rest only time and destiny will unfold."