Arjun&Alia: Exclusive 2States Interview@Kolkata!! (WU)

2 STARS

They came, they chatted, they charmed. Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt dropped into the t2 office for a team chat on Tuesday afternoon about 2 States, relationship rumours and... kissing! Our takeaway? Alia is a sweetheart and Arjun is candid cool!

Priyanka Roy: Arjun, you've said that Krish of 2 States is the first character you've played so far that's a lot like you in real life. How much of Arjun is in Krish and vice versa?

Arjun Kapoor: In every character I have tried to find something... some kind of human aspect... that makes it easier for me to play the character. Clearly, I'm not at all like Parma (of Ishaqzaade) and Bala (of Gunday). When 2 States was offered to me, the first thing that appealed to me is that Krish is silent... he may not show his emotions... but his silences speak more than what he says. He's a family guy... he's ambitious. He understands why his mother is a certain way... his father is a certain way. He has tremendous love for this girl (Alia's Ananya), so much so that he goes out on a limb to win over her parents. If I was in Krish's place in real life, I would do exactly the same. If my family had put up obstacles in the way of my love... which I don't think they would have... I would have gone out of my way for the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I wouldn't like to go into the layers of the father... you guys have read the book?

Team t2: Yes!

Arjun: If you have, then you know that what Krish does and says is because of his (strained) relationship with his father. For whatever it is worth, I have also had certain circumstances and situations in life that have made me the person I am.

Priyanka: And Alia, how much of Ananya of 2 States is you?

Alia Bhatt: When I read the book, I remember I fell in love with the character. She's so strong as a character... she's fiery... feisty... funky... she's witty, pretty... she has everything that you would want in an ideal girl. She wants to do something with her life... make her own money and support herself... make her parents proud. I feel she's much more mature than me. She's not frivolous, not selfish at all. I do relate to her in some aspects, but I also feel that she inspires me in many ways.

Samhita Chakraborty: Alia, you play a Tamilian in 2 States, so you are basically following up on Deepika Padukone's Meenamma from Chennai Express. Do you feel any kind of pressure?

Alia: I'm not following up on Meenamma. That character came from a small village in south India... so she had to have that accent. Ananya is very different... she's a girl of today. She has Tamil roots, but she doesn't have that accent. If you've read the book you will know that she hasn't spent all her life in Chennai... she's been all over... in fact, she spent a few years of her life in Calcutta! Making Ananya a caricature or giving her a certain accent was never our goal.

Chandreyee Chatterjee: Did you guys read 2 States before or after you signed the film?

Alia: I read it much before I ever knew it would be made into a film. I read it because everyone told me it's a good book and was doing well.

Arjun: (Shakes his head to show he hasn't read the book) Chetan (Bhagat) told me yesterday Ab toh padh le!' (Laughs out loud) The film is a genuine adaptation of the book and so I don't feel like I haven't read the book. I have read as much as I needed to know my character.

Karo Christine Kumar: What was the toughest bit to film?

Arjun: For me, shooting in Ahmedabad in 50 degrees and pretending to have fun was tough. Krish is this gora-chitta good-looking boy and he had to look like a Dharma (productions) hero. I am used to characters who are grungy... bathed in sweat... so it was quite a dichotomy for me and quite unsettling for me to realise that my shirt colour was being changed according to the weather (laughs). Of course, you can't tell the audience in subtitles ki yahan pe paseena aa raha tha isliye humnein shot achha nahin kiya!

Karo: And the most fun bit? The kissing scenes?

Alia: (Laughs) I want to know... how many of you have never kissed a person? [Everyone laughs] Alia: No, please tell me! Arjun: How did all of us come into this world? [Winks] Alia: Exactly! Kissing is the most normal and generic thing to do.

Priyanka: He's been giving interviews saying he likes kissing you...

Alia: He's not going to say he hates kissing me! (Laughs) Arjun: It's really not shocking that I said I like kissing a beautiful girl!

Priyanka: Actually, talk of you guys seeing each other is what has fanned it even more...

Alia: Correct! That's what it is.

Arjun: The most amazing bit is that we showcased a two-and-a-half minute trailer before that and what everyone remembers is the two-and-a-half second kiss!

Alia: So now everyone wants to know about the controversial kiss.

Arjun: And if I use the word kiss' and Alia in the same sentence, I can give you a fantastic headline. So, I have been doing that. I know it is that convenient for us to create that buzz while talking about it. But it is a family film. And families are made by... kissing!

Priyanka: You guys actually make a great couple...

Arjun: Thank you very much.

Priyanka: So you should think about it...

Arjun: Kissing?

Alia: What?!

Karo: Not kissing! Dating!

Arjun: We will definitely keep your opinion at the back of our minds... And now moving on, to the next question...

Jyotica Ramchandani: Alia, you are playing all your style cards right and you are just 21. What is your style mantra? Alia: There was a time, initially, where I would try really hard to get noticed and make a statement. In my first film (Student of the Year) Shanaya, she was so like fashion-y stuff, so I felt like I had to live up to that image. And I would go wrong most of the time when I would try very hard. So, for me, what is important now is that I have fun when I am dressing up. So now, whenever I dress, if I am not comfortable, you'll know it's an off day. If I am looking happy, then the clothes work.

Jyotica: Arjun, you are not experimental as far as dressing is concerned...

Arjun: I am wearing Gucci (lifts his leg to show us his shoes!). For a guy like me, who is constantly in chappals or sneakers, this is a mind-blowing experiment... I am wearing chinos (stands up to demonstrate). I experiment as and how I feel like. What happens with us is we wear so many different kinds of clothes on celluloid that I like to keep it simple and neutral when I am not working. I am a subtle person by nature " don't go by this interview! " but I experiment.

Debdeep Banerjee (Alia's fan and a student of St. Xavier's College): I must tell you that I have a huge crush on you.

Alia: Thank you!

Arjun: Thanks, yaar! I didn't know that Gunday had that kind of fan following. I appreciate it. I likes you too bro! (Laughs)

Debdeep: As a fan, what I know about you is through interviews and Koffee with Karan. So if I had to know something more about you, how would I do that?

Alia: Through Instagram. I post all my personal pictures... with my cat... with my friends... with Arjun sometimes, when my cat is unavailable!

Arjun: I am a fairly reasonable second option.

Alia: So, that's how I am on a day-to-day basis. Otherwise, I think when I give interviews, that is how I would speak to anybody. Obviously keeping some information private, because I feel that I should have a little bit that should be my private life.

Priyanka: (To Arjun) You are not on Twitter or Instagram...

Arjun: Koffee with Karan is, I think, the closest to get any of us being ourselves, because honestly Karan has that ability to make people comfortable around him. It is good for someone as reserved and shy as me.

Alia: You are not reserved and shy!

Arjun: No, with the media I am not that forthcoming all the time. I take time to open up. Today, I am in this mood for some strange reason. I feel that we give so much of ourselves away all the time. You know enough about us and more about us than we do honestly. So what more do you want to know? You want to know what underwear I am wearing?

[Everyone laughs] For me, connect with fans is important and that would mean today sitting across you and I connect with you... I know you would respect me more.

Alia: Nooo, for example on Instagram, you are not necessarily posting pictures for people, you're just doing it for yourself.

Arjun: But I don't like taking pictures, so why would I post pictures?

Alia: But that's a lie, ya! Whenever I'm taking pictures, you pose... today you told me, gimme that picture of mine!

Arjun: But that I really like. You told me you're going to post that. So you guys have an exclusive. She's going to post the best picture of mine in the next few days...

Priyanka: But you posed for great pictures with Ranveer Singh... Alia, what do you think of the very open bromance between Ranveer and Arjun?

Arjun: He's very jealous of Alia these days. Alia: I think both of them are so retarded in the most adorable way. And when they're together, I mean I don't want to say too much about it, I'm obviously closer to Arjun but I'm very, very fond of both of them when they are together. They're like inseparable. And it's so cute... nazar naa lage.

Raya Ghosh (Arjun's fan and a student of Scottish Church College): In Koffee with Karan, you had said you've just started playing the field. So, how are you enjoying yourself?

Arjun: Are you asking which field I am playing? (Grins)

Alia: How are you enjoying the field?

Arjun: Can I just whisper some names into your ear? Alia: Don't be shy... Don't talk cheap things! Arjun: She's asked me a question about playing the field, what do you want me to say?! (Turns slightly red)

Alia: Keep quiet then.

Arjun: But am I not allowed to enjoy the field? I said it unabashedly then... I just think that it becomes a little bit strange discussing details, but I am still doing what I had said then, that has not changed. I am a late bloomer, as I had said then also. What most guys did when they were 16, I started feeling like that when I was 24-25, after losing weight. So you can put that in perspective. By 24-25, most guys are ready to be in a steady relationship, I think I will be now... soon. Very shortly.

Chandreyee: Everyone's crushing on you... who are you guys crushing on?

Arjun: My all-time crush is Kareena Kapoor. Nothing in this world can change that. It's been there since I was 14, when she made her debut in Refugee.

Karo: And Alia, yours everyone knows... Ranbir (Kapoor). Alia: (Giggles) Yaa, the whole world knows now (after Koffee with Karan).

Karo: What is it that you like about Ranbir?

Alia: I don't know, ya. I feel, honestly, it's just I just love looking at him on screen. He's such a fantastic actor and I have loved him since Saawariya. I remember one episode when he was promoting the film and he just ran into the audience and just gave his hand out to all the girls... I was melting watching that itself. So I mean, since Day I, I've been Ranbir's biggest fan... for all the right reasons.

Arjun: You can have wrong reasons also!

Alia: And I think every girl will agree with me when I say that he's adorable.

Samhita: Yes, he came to our office and charmed us all!

Priyanka: Just like you have today.

Arjun: I think my Gucci shoes did it for me.