Loves labour gained-Aditya Roy Kapur Interview

A sea facing flat in Mumbai's posh suburb is where Aditya Roy Kapur resides. The flat has been the actor's abode for the last one year and he loves his cosy house and the view from his living room. The actor is basking in the success of Aashiqui 2. The film he says, not only gave him loads of fans but is also the reason of work pouring in. There's Yash Raj Film's Daawat-E-Ishq and then the recently announced Fitoor to be made by UTV Motion Pictures. Both solo roles in big banners. For one who started with small roles in London Dreams, Action Replayy andGuzarish, this is indeed a huge step forward and something the actor acknowledges. The shooting of Daawat-E-Ishq is over and he is all set to start work on Fitoor. In fact, he is waiting for his trainer to come in to prescribe a special diet that will help him lose weight for the film. "I am just one hour away from a tough routine. I thought of calling for my favourite meal from a restaurant for the last time, but couldn't get through.
I guess I will have to do without it," chuckles the lanky actor as he sits down for an
informal chat.

How has life changed after Aashiqui 2, and its extraordinary success at the box-office?

Life has changed in many ways. I don't know where to start. It's now that I am coming to terms with it. The greatest thing is that you get better and more work. I have been on television for about four years and have done films like London Dreams and Guzarish and am used to being recognised. But after Aashiqui 2, it has been a different ball game altogether. I was a person who would just go down my building for a run or sit on the bonnet of a car with friends, something that is tough to do now. Initially, I used to think I could continue to do that, but after a while 10 bikes would stop with people taking pictures and autographs.

There must be so many female fans as well!

No complains about that! Few letters have also been written in blood by women and men (laughs). And children too! I was walking with my friends the other day, and this kid just stopped me and said, Hey man I am a great admirer of your work. Keep it up' . These kind of things really hit you sometime. It makes you realise how you affect and impact people.

You are known to be diffident. How do you handle this intrusion into your privacy?

I am not shy as a person. I am fine with meeting people. But I am very bad with my phone and reverting to messages. Now, I am changing a little bit. I don't have any qualms with the media or talking or giving interviews. It's not something I am uncomfortable with, but maybe I should push myself a little more because that's what it is today. I don't know if I am very good at pushing myself. Having said that, not putting everything out there has more charm. I think when people don't know much about you, there's some kind of mystery, which is a good thing. Anyway, there's no getting away from those 20-25 days of promotions when you are promoting your film, so it's best to be away from too much of media glare at other times. Otherwise, where's your personal life?

Considering you never really dreamt of becoming an actor, did you expect to reach here?

I never grew up dreaming of becoming an actor. In school, I wanted to become a cricketer and then when I was in college it was a musician and other random things. Only when I became a VJ that I started thinking about it, and after London Dreams and Action Replayy I started thinking about it still more and thought of doing a film where the onus would be on me. I refused a lot of films till Aashiqui 2 came along. I won't claim that I expected it to become what it did, though.

What about Daawat-E-Ishq, your next film. After playing an intense lover in Aashiqui 2, how was it playing a chef?

Actually, Daawat-E-Ishq is also a love story, a light-hearted one though. But yes, it is different in many ways. My look for instance" I have very short hair, wear kajal, gold earrings and a moustache.

Did you learn to cook as prep for your character?

I can't lie and say I am a method actor and started learning how to cook and all that, but yes, I did pick up the nuances of the art from my dad who is a very good cook. You will see me chopping very briskly! In real life, I am only good at making an omelette! But I am eager to learn as both my parents cook really well. It will be a shame if I don't.

Your elder brother Siddharth heads a studio, while Kunal is an actor and director. Not to forget Vidya Balan is your sister-in-law. What kind of conversations do you'll have at home?

It's very funny because everything happened within a short span. All of us have gotten into this place on our own. People don't understand, they think it's all a plan, that we all plugged each other.
But, yes conversation at home centers around films more often than not, about new films coming up etc. At some point my mom would say bass' but now both my parents are equally involved, with mom telling me things like, you know this one is doing that movie.

You started off with very unconventional small roles, but did you start training as your roles got bigger?

I never felt I had done a normal role till Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. London Dreams was out-of-the blue, and I took it up because it meant going to London for a month. Then came Action Replayy which was a much bigger role and Vipul sir (film-maker Vipul Shah) asked me to attend some dance classes, but that was again for a month. Other than that I never did anything. And till date I haven't, but now I am planning to join dance classes, so that I am completely comfortable, and don't dread doing the song sequences. But no horse riding classes and all of that (laughs).

How did you prepare for Aashiqui 2, your first solo starrer?

I did have my fears when I started off, especially when it came to doing romantic scenes, as I had never done romantic scenes before that. Not having romanced anyone before, here I was doing this whole movie that revolved around it. But I just did it as there's no practising here! (laughs).
Otherwise, we did some workshops thathelp to bond and know your co-star even if you are not enacting any scenes. Other than that, I already knew how to play the guitar and didn't have to attend any classes. Mohit (director Mohit Suri) and I spent time together, something he likes to do, to know what things he can tweak. Spending time with Mohit was my preparation. Not things like drinking alcohol at seven in the morning!

Would you consider Aashiqui 2 a landmark film?

Yes, such a movie comes along once in a lifetime and I will be that age only once. You don't get recognition like that again.

What was it about the film that you think connected with the audience?

The kind of music that Mohit made hadn't come for a long time. It had a lot of feeling and didn't sound manufactured like the music is today. You can't put your finger to it but, I guess the love story was really pure and away from any sidetracks. That unflinching love, that meant more than everything else, including fame. After watching the film, guys wanted to have a girl like Aarohi, and women wanted someone like Rahul, who would kill himself for love. I had heard about couples who came out holding their hands and others reached out to their exes!

You are soon going to start work on Fitoor. Besides shedding weight what is the prep like?

I start in a few days. I am going to be doing some workshops and working on some other aspects as well. The look is different and Gattu (director Abhishek Kapoor) is trying something new. It's a very interesting script and I plan on doing a few things myself. During the workshops, I will know exactly what Gattu wants.

You were planning to release a music album at one time?

Yes, but since movies are happening, the album has been kept on the back-burner. I write songs and play the guitar and have musician friends, but I want to take my time and launch my album in the right way. I don't know if I have a style. I have yet to discover that.

Do you have any directors on your wish-list?

I would love to work with Dibakar Banerjee, and I love Sriram Raghavan and Vishal Bhardwaj's style. I grew up watching films like Star Wars andTerminator and have an affinity for films like Indiana Jones.

Any piece of advice given by your brothers which has influenced you?

I don't think it has been like you must do this' kind of thing. I do call Siddharth and Kunal for opinions. They never really make a decision for me saying I should do things in a certain way. Siddharth has a different way of looking at things, since he is a producer, and Kunal is a director and actor, so he has his own take on things. I listen to both their points of view.

What kind of films would you prefer to do?

I would love to do an out-and-out comedy. Slapstick is great, so much fun, something like Delhi Belly and The Pink Panther. It's very challenging to make people laugh. I would also like to do a thriller and horror. It's a genre we have not explored properly. If made in the right spirit, horror films can be most engaging and evoke so many feelings. I want to do an action film too. The good thing is that film-makers are backing different genres (of films) today.

Do you have an interest in writing?

I don't know about writing scripts, but I write songs. As for direction yes, but the more I work as an actor the more I feel that direction is a tough job and one has to learn a lot before one can attempt to direct a film. Actually, half of it is human resource management. Otherwise it is such an interesting and rewarding job.

Now that you are doing top line films, have you set any goals for yourself or hiked your price?

Hiking my price is one of the top priorities right now (laughs). It's a great phase, but I haven't set any goals. I have dreams to act in English. It's a language I have grown up speaking, and one I like to express myself in. My goals are to keep getting good work and put in hard work, to learn and get better at what I do. If things had not happened the right way, I don't think I would have stuck around for too long. Now that it has, I love it and completely respect it and want to hold on to it.

How do you deal with link ups?

Link ups happen to everyone don't they? But there is no PR machinery or manufactured gossip for a film's promotion.

So, are you single?

No comments on anything now!

You must be offered many endorsements now. Any do's and don'ts you have set for yourself?

Nothing as of now, but if something nice comes along I may do it. I have refused endorsing a fairness cream, but I may change my mind. As for endorsing alcohol, it's generally some juice or soda you have to hold. What's the fun yaar. I don't want to be this macho guy drinking soda!

What do you like to do when not shooting?

I like to play cricket, pool and snooker, watch movies and read a bit.

geety.sahgal@expressindia.co
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