"I've No Choice But To Let Stardom Change Me."
He's sexy and he doesn't know it. At least, not yet. Perhaps that's what makes him a tad more appealing than he already is. Whether it's his rugged charm or his trademark Kolhapuri chappals - everything about this 28-year old exudes a certain unconventionality. But there's also a conventional side to him that urges you to take him home to your mother. Oblivious to the effect that he has on the female species around him, a casually-dressed ADITYA ROY KAPUR steps out of his vanity van and walks into the terrace of Sonakshi Sinha's opulently designed penthouse in Juhu. Swagata Dam catches up with the chilled-out actor over scrambled eggs and multigrain sandwiches.
Having made it big on your own, do you feel a sense of accomplishment?
Yes, I guess I do. I think it's important to give yourself a pat on the back every now and then. You keep being hard on yourself all the time. I am quite self-critical. So sometimes it's good to talk to yourself and say, "Listen buddy, you're not so bad. You're doing pretty well". When I look back, I do feel proud of myself.
Has stardom changed you?
It has changed me in some ways and hasn't in others. I've no choice but to let stardom change me. Looking at it very practically, I can't possibly go on Carter Road in Bandra and jog there like I used to. If I do so, twenty people would come up to me to talk. I won't be able to be myself. By virtue of becoming who I've become in the last few years, I can't literally do the things that I used to do. However, I still try to keep it fairly simple and try to keep my old habits intact.
You faced the camera with actress Sonakshi Sinha for the first time during our photoshoot. How was the experience?
I haven't seen all her films but I had loved her in Lootera. She was fantastic in that movie. She's a girl who comes across as someone who really enjoys whatever she does. Whether it's a massy dance number or a serious role - she does all of it so effortlessly. But we haven't met like this before. So it's awkward to meet someone for the first time and do an intimate photoshoot like this. Surprisingly, it was quite easy because she's so easy-going and fuss-free. We both are friends with our photographer Rohan Shrestha so it had been a light and friendly day. We were rather happy with the shoot.
Considering you both made for an interesting pair and weaved magic together, can we hope to see you guys opposite each other on screen someday?
Why not? If something comes along which we both like, we'd absolutely go for it.
You're working with her contemporary Parineeti Chopra in Dawat-e-Ishq and a lot of rumours are floating around about your alleged relationship with her. Is something brewing there?
No, ya. It has actually been a trio on the sets of Dawat-e-Ishq. You'd always find Parineeti and me hanging out with Anupam Kher on the sets. We've been like the three musketeers. We spent every minute with each other during the filming. It has been wonderful knowing both of them. But yeah, talking about Parineeti, it was fun working with her. She has a great sense of humour and is really funny. She's also one of the best actresses we've in the industry today.
After spending over four years in this industry, you've earned the coveted title of a Yash Raj hero with Daawat-e-Ishq. How does it feel?
It feels amazing. My experience so far has been great. Working at Yash Raj gives you a different high because it's a self-sufficient studio. They have floors assigned for shooting, they have recording studios, make-up rooms and everything that's required while making a film. You'd always spot directors and actors walking around in there. And the creative atmosphere gives a magical vibe which tells you that you're at a place where everyone breathes cinema.
Share your most memorable moment from the sets of the movie.
All my memorable moments from the sets of Dawat-e-Ishq are related to food. The film has got a lot to do with food. And unfortunately' we all had put on a lot during its filming. We shot at Hyderabad and Lucknow and both the places are famous for their food. We used to call for tunday kabab and mutton curry very often. So the lunch and dinner breaks would definitely make for my most memorable moments.
You've also been roped in for Abhishek Kapoor's Fitoor opposite Katrina Kaif. Apparently, the shooting schedule has been postponed for now. But surely, that hasn't taken away from your excitement about this project...
I can't wait for that experience to commence. Yeah, the shoot is a little while away. So I haven't had the chance to meet Katrina for the film. But we'd soon start meeting as we've a few workshops lined up. I am really looking forward to working with Katrina and Gattu sir and hoping that it starts as soon as possible.
After your stint as a VJ, you started your career in Bollywood by playing miniscule roles as a supporting actor in various movies. But Aashiqui 2 marked your arrival in a big way. How has the journey been?
My journey in Bollywood has been weird. I had never planned on being a VJ. I was wasted. During my college days, I'd sit in my car, hang out with my friends, party and drink. A friend of my brother (Siddharth Roy Kapur) was working with Channel [V] and he told him, "Yaar, your brother is doing nothing in life. He is vella. Send him to our office for an audition. But I told my mom that I don't want to go all the way till Chandivali studios in Andheri. Somehow I ended up going there and they happened to take me. After that I spent four-and-a-half years working as a VJ. People used to come up to me and say, "Oh, you want to be an actor in Bollywood". I'd always tell them that they're mad and I can never do all that. Then I got called for an audition and London Dreams happened. I just saw it as a one-and-half years of staying in London and playing guitar.. I took up acting as a whim. Later things picked up pace and I starting enjoying it. It has been a journey where I didn't have a singular goal in my mind from the start. I never thought that I want to be the biggest hero.
While most of your contemporaries found overnight success right after their debut, your growth in Bollywood has been a gradual process. Do you see that as an advantage or a disadvantage?
It definitely gave me a different perspective. I know what it's like to be a supporting actor on a movie set. I've seen that side of the filmmaking process. But the good thing is that I've never looked at these things negatively. I've never hated doing that. I never thought, "Oh no, I am a supporting actor". For me, it was always like, "Yay. I am on a film set". I really enjoyed my first three flicks in Bollywood which I did as a supporting actor. I was learning various aspects of cinema and I was playing characters which were so not heroic. Before Aashiqui 2, I had never romanced a girl on screen. If you start your career as a lead actor and always play the hero, then you end up portraying yourself like that all the time. Whatever happens, happens for the good. I'd never trade the experiences which I had while working on London Dreams, Action Replayy and Guzaarish for the world. I'd always cherish the bonds that I made and the roles that I played.
Now that you've established yourself a solo hero, are you open to playing a supporting role in a film?
If it's something that's really interesting then I'd definitely not mind doing it. But right now, I think I like my current phase and solo hero flicks are coming to me. So there's no need to take up such roles unless there's something that I just can't say no to.
Currently, a crop of young actors including you are ruling overHindi cinema. So who do you see as your competition amongst your B-town peers?
Frankly, I see all of them as my competition. However, we all have met many times and it has always been quite warm and friendly. The sense of competition will still always be there as it's human nature. Also, this might seem like you've heard it many times but there is space for everyone and a lot of work is happening around here. And if you ask me who I admire the most amongst them, I'd say Ranbir Kapoor.
Realistic unconventional cinema or commercial masala potboiler - what's your pick as an actor?
I think the lines are blurring between the two. When I had started out na, I was more into that vibe of parallel and art-house cinema. But I did commercial and fun movies like London Dreams and Action Replayand had so much fun. Then I did a slow and serious film like Guzaarish and I loved that too.
You are a self-confessed South Mumbai brat who seldom watched Bollywood films. Since now you're a part of this industry,have things changed?
I think I still don't watch as many Hindi films as much as I should be watching. I definitely watch more Bollywood movies than I previously used to but I need to watch a lot more.
If not an actor, what else would you imagine yourself to be?
If not an actor, I'd have either been a musician or a cricketer.
Now, coming to your personal life, we've never seen the Roy Kapur brothers step out together in public. Why is that so?
It's not a conscious decision actually. We don't go out that much and when we do go, we don't go out together. We don't go to many events and we never party together. Maybe that's because we've a big age gap. I am never seen publicly with by brothers because our worlds are different. Siddharth and I are eleven years apart. Kunal and me are six years apart. Sid's friends have seen me as a baby. They go out with their wives and I go out with my friends.
You've a superstar named Vidya Balan in your family. Would we be seeing you both together on screen someday in a film which also stars Kunal Roy Kapur and is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur?
Kunal can probably direct it too as he's a director as well. That sounds like a great idea but that great a script should also come along na. If it happens, it would be the best thing ever.
Everyone's saying that Siddarth and Vidya are turning parents soon...
Not that I know of. Considering I am in the family, I guess I should know about such things.
Who's your 4 am friend in Bollywood?
Mohit Suri is my 4 am friend in Bollywood. I have literally called him up at 4 am in the morning so many times.
Define love in your words.
Love is unconditional. When it happens to you, you just know it. Umm... What else can I say? I am very bad with such answers ya.
Ever since you became an actor, you've always been linked up to someone or the...
(Cuts in) Always? What rubbish! When?
You were first linked to Rhea Chakraborty. Then we heard about your alleged romance with Shraddha Kapoor. Now, everyone's speculating that something's cooking between you and Parineeti Chopra.
When you put it like that, yeah. But what rubbish! Is it only me or what? Everyone's linked up like that. I guess I am used to my link-ups now. I don't even take note of it. It has been happening so often and most of the times it has been happening for no reason. Mohit, Shraddha and me - all of us are such great friends but all the attention has always been given to only Shraddha and my equation. Headlines about my rumoured affairs don't trouble me anymore. Let people keep writing. It's okay.
Would you ever be open about your love life in the future?
One should never say never. If it's something that I see myself in for the long run, then yes. It depends on how I'd be placed in life at that point in time. I don't know how I'm going to change with time.
Lastly, where do you see yourself five years down the line?
I hope I'll still be an actor as I love acting at the moment. I also hope that I'd be employed and successful five years down the line. Touch wood. Maybe I'd have learnt a thing or two about direction by then. Perhaps I'd have taken up things seriously on the music front. I want to stop procrastinating and get the ball rolling with my dreams of composing music. I really want
to give music a shot.
Kumkum Bhagya
2