Posted:
It is very tricky to be friends with your ex
By Ankur Pathak, Mumbai Mirror | Jul 27, 2013, 12.00 AM IST
Shahid Kapoor shoots an energetic number with Ileana D'Cruz for Phata Poster Nikla Hero at Bandra's Mehboob Studios
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An overcast morning, and Shahid Kapoor sports a bright orange vest and military-style trousers at Mehboob studios. He's shooting a song with Ileana D'Cruz for Phata Poster Nikla Hero. The set is a riot of colours - purple and pink. Over 100 extras rehearse their moves to match steps with Shahid even as choreographers Bosco-Caesar ensure the dancers remain in sync. In between chaotic shots and sugar-free coffee, Shahid settles for a Q and A. Excerpts:
Your last commercial success was Badmaash Company. How crucial is the success of Phata Poster Nikla Hero for an actor of your repute?
The success of both Phata Poster and Rambo Rajkumar is vital to my career. I need to be out there, and I need the audience to watch my films and appreciate them. I've enjoyed doing both these films and I hope that people will respond positively.
You invested a lot in Mausam and Teri Meri Kahaani which bombed. Is it a conscious decision to do a quintessential entertainer to reclaim your box-office standing?
I invested a lot in Mausam which took a tremendous amount of time to get made. It didn't work. On the other hand, a film like Jab We Met - which was shot in six months almost single-handedly, changed the course of my career. In this business, who can ever predict what's going to work? The amount of time you invest in a film is not directly proportional to its success. Mr Santoshi offered me Phata Poster... and it looked like a fun role to do. I went ahead with it without thinking strategically like you are implying.
When you go through a lowphase in your career, how do you respond to it?
It's a part of the profession and a hard reality of many actors. Everybody goes through it, and you cannot really compare the graphs of any two actors. There was a low phase of about six months in my life when I was not shooting a single film. There were projects coming by my side, but they weren't working out for various reasons. I really wanted to do the Maneesh Sharma film, but it kept getting delayed and then came a point, when the schedule would interfere with other films. It was excruciating to deal with the mess. It's a scary profession because it is tough and unpredictable. I would never suggest a member of my family to join the industry. Acceptance and rejection are both in the hands of the public and usually they have extreme reactions, which are both hard to handle.
Over the past few years a lot of newcomers have arrived in the industry. Do you feel insecure?
I feel extremely jealous and excited at the same time when I see their performance. Jealous because if it is a great film, I obviously feel I should have been a part of it! I go home thinking I need to get my act together and beat that performance. It motivates me to work better. I remember Ishq Vishq came in 2003. Hrithik Roshan was already a heartthrob. The perception was that Hrithik's dominance will continue and people will not accept a newcomer. It took time, but they did. But today it happens much faster. I feel these guys are very lucky. I've been around for ten years. I'm not two films old. I don't have insecurity issues.
Is there a recent film you wished you had bagged?
I wish I could have done Barfi! It was a phenomenal film and a phenomenal part. I also wish I could do a role which Irrfan did in Paan Singh Tomar.
You seem to have reconciled with Priyanka Chopra. You recently threw a party for her.
It is something that you guys have decided. I only threw a party. Priyanka's birthday happened to be two days later. It was not a party for her. There were many people who attended it and she was merely one of the guests at my party.
Is it easy to be friends with your ex-girlfriend?
I won't say it's difficult. It is surely tricky, but not impossible. A lot also depends on the kind of break-up you've had.
You get linked with all the women that you work with. Who are you dating?
I'm happily single. People link me to every girl they spot me with. Don't you go out for coffees or movies with girls?
An overcast morning, and Shahid Kapoor sports a bright orange vest and military-style trousers at Mehboob studios. He's shooting a song with Ileana D'Cruz for Phata Poster Nikla Hero. The set is a riot of colours - purple and pink. Over 100 extras rehearse their moves to match steps with Shahid even as choreographers Bosco-Caesar ensure the dancers remain in sync. In between chaotic shots and sugar-free coffee, Shahid settles for a Q and A. Excerpts:
Your last commercial success was Badmaash Company. How crucial is the success of Phata Poster Nikla Hero for an actor of your repute?
The success of both Phata Poster and Rambo Rajkumar is vital to my career. I need to be out there, and I need the audience to watch my films and appreciate them. I've enjoyed doing both these films and I hope that people will respond positively.
You invested a lot in Mausam and Teri Meri Kahaani which bombed. Is it a conscious decision to do a quintessential entertainer to reclaim your box-office standing?
I invested a lot in Mausam which took a tremendous amount of time to get made. It didn't work. On the other hand, a film like Jab We Met - which was shot in six months almost single-handedly, changed the course of my career. In this business, who can ever predict what's going to work? The amount of time you invest in a film is not directly proportional to its success. Mr Santoshi offered me Phata Poster... and it looked like a fun role to do. I went ahead with it without thinking strategically like you are implying.
When you go through a lowphase in your career, how do you respond to it?
It's a part of the profession and a hard reality of many actors. Everybody goes through it, and you cannot really compare the graphs of any two actors. There was a low phase of about six months in my life when I was not shooting a single film. There were projects coming by my side, but they weren't working out for various reasons. I really wanted to do the Maneesh Sharma film, but it kept getting delayed and then came a point, when the schedule would interfere with other films. It was excruciating to deal with the mess. It's a scary profession because it is tough and unpredictable. I would never suggest a member of my family to join the industry. Acceptance and rejection are both in the hands of the public and usually they have extreme reactions, which are both hard to handle.
Over the past few years a lot of newcomers have arrived in the industry. Do you feel insecure?
I feel extremely jealous and excited at the same time when I see their performance. Jealous because if it is a great film, I obviously feel I should have been a part of it! I go home thinking I need to get my act together and beat that performance. It motivates me to work better. I remember Ishq Vishq came in 2003. Hrithik Roshan was already a heartthrob. The perception was that Hrithik's dominance will continue and people will not accept a newcomer. It took time, but they did. But today it happens much faster. I feel these guys are very lucky. I've been around for ten years. I'm not two films old. I don't have insecurity issues.
Is there a recent film you wished you had bagged?
I wish I could have done Barfi! It was a phenomenal film and a phenomenal part. I also wish I could do a role which Irrfan did in Paan Singh Tomar.
You seem to have reconciled with Priyanka Chopra. You recently threw a party for her.
It is something that you guys have decided. I only threw a party. Priyanka's birthday happened to be two days later. It was not a party for her. There were many people who attended it and she was merely one of the guests at my party.
Is it easy to be friends with your ex-girlfriend?
I won't say it's difficult. It is surely tricky, but not impossible. A lot also depends on the kind of break-up you've had.
You get linked with all the women that you work with. Who are you dating?
I'm happily single. People link me to every girl they spot me with. Don't you go out for coffees or movies with girls?
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