Arjun spills the beans on Finding Fanny

Arjun Kapoor, the new 100 crore kid on the block, is surprisingly humble and normal about the numbers game. Instead, he is keen to focus on the acceptance that his acting has found so far, and is pleasantly surprised with the reactions to the quirky English film Finding Fanny'. Here's a candid chat with the rising star exclusive to Pinkvilla.

The response to Finding Fanny' has been very positive, and you have been appreciated too. What sort of reactions have you got?

That's true, it's been pretty positive so far surprisingly. When I signed the film, I didn't think about how people would react to it, because Homi (the film's director) came to me and said I saw Ishaqzaade' and I think you are the perfect person to play Savio D'Gama, and I was thrown by that. Seeing Parma if he wants me to play a mechanic from Goa, I decided to sign it on a whim. I thought when the film releases people would understand my choice, but in just 1 year, I think the audience has become very sorted. It's amazing, to a do a film in English. I think the film in general is getting a positive reaction. Abhi Hindi mein kaam kar hi raha tha ki English mein bhi logon ko kaam pasand aane laga. So it's nice.

The trailer is quirky. And the film features power house performers Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur and a veteran like Dimple Kapadia. Was it intimidating shooting with them?

Honestly, when Homi offered me the film and when he told me of the cast that he had in mind, I was very excited because where do you get the chance to work in an ensemble cast these days, its very rare! And I knew he had the ability to get that cast on place. When I got to shooting, eventually, I was obviously concerned about how do I get to act along with Naseer Saab. I have quite a few scenes in the film with him, our characters are friends and there is banter. But he was so warm and welcoming, he broke on the ice on the very first day at the hotel; so I wasn't intimidated by him. Where Pankaj Sir is concerned, he was mellow and so calm and so cultured as a person, you felt very comfortable with both of them that it never bogged me down.

I feel I became a better actor by just being in the frame with these actors, whether it was Dimple Maam who was so warm. I am supposed to hate her in the film and she is supposed to hate me! And trust me it was very difficult to do, because, she is such a nice person to hang out with. I keep telling Homi that you took me back to acting class and you paid for it, it was like that!(laughs)

And of course, Deepika, what do I say about her that hasn't already been said in the last year. I knew her from the time she entered the film industry, and she became this bonafide star from her very first film. Not being from the film industry, the way she conducted herself and her professionalism, she has come a long way. The poise and elegance she has, she has evolved into an actor star, which is a huge achievement. She is so meticulous with her performances now that she is sublime almost. I got to see it personally, I loved her in Cocktail' and Yeh Jawaani hain Deewani', but I got to witness it personally in this film. So I feel a sense of niceness that I knew this girl from the start. She is superb to work with.

Naseer Sir has his own style, he speaks normally and the moment the camera switches on he turns into the character. Pankaj sir is meticulous. Dimple Maam starts talking in the character's language just before the scene to get into the character. So they have their own style. But what they bring to the table is an understanding of the medium that is so tremendous that you become better by just being in the same frame as them. They just make you so much better without you realizing it almost!

How do you play a Goan mechanic who is obviously awkward around girls? The character is quite apart from who you are.

Not girls, he is just awkward around Angie, otherwise he is quite sorted in his head but around her he become this absolute douche bag who makes a fool of himself.

As for the role, the world is not my own. But that's where the faith and belief of a director comes into play. I was not convinced that I can do this. But I saw Homi placing his faith and trust to pull it off, so I went with his flow. I did readings with him off and on for a couple of days. We spent time figuring out the backstory of the character, why he is the way he is. He is basically a guy who is a loser but he is in denial. He thinks the world has given him a raw deal, but actually he is just a mentally screwed up guy. He has no peace with everything that has happened in his life, he hasn't moved ahead. He is a guy who has not been able to understand why life has dealt him this set of cards.

The backstory of the character might not play out in the film, but it made it easier for me to know why I am like that. And of course, Homi called me in early. I decided to go on set and stay five days before I started shooting, I got my haircut and goatee done there. I started wearing the clothes and driving the car in the film, started roaming around over there. It was nice to be oblivious to the world, I deliberately cut myself off for some time. We shot there for 45 days. About the English dialogues, Homi just told me to throw out the lines naturally and not be theatrical about it.

It just happened very organically, just by living there. Homi just guided me through, walked me through the entire film. We didn't shoot in the typical Goa locations, we shot in places where you felt away from the world. There were no fans coming to click photos and autographs. I didn't come back to Mumbai even once, to live the world, personally it's a very fulfilling experience. I don't know how it translates onscreen, that the audience decides. Personally it was gratifying to detach, for I had just finished Gunday' and 2 States' back to back. So I was nervous about switching on from playing these characters, but Homi was very patient. <

I want to know what happens when you become a 100 crore hero? How does it change life?

(Laughs) It changes questions from the media.

I would assume you get bigger offers and a bigger pay cheque now.

Ironically I haven't signed a film after 2 States' yet.

Why is that?

Its my own choice, I want to be patient, and I was concentrating on Tevar', because it was a more emotional film for me, so I wanted to focus on that. We shot most of it after 2 States' released so I've been really busy with that. Uhh...I don't care about pay cheques and bigger offers so far, I don't think that way. Fortunately, I have not had to work with a pay cheque in mind yet, that hasn't come into play so far. We are all well paid artistes yes, but for me, its more about the film.

See it's not my 100 crore hit, it's not some hero who has given a solo 100 crore blockbuster. It's OUR 100 crore film, it would be nave on my part to think Yeh to Meri picture hain', a film is always ours. The director's absolute simplistic handling of material that was not just frothy, the fact that Chetan's book was so popular, the mounting that Sajid Nadiadwala and Dharma gave a film with two newcomers at that point of time, the contribution of an ensemble cast, you cannot take away from Revathy, Shiv Subramanyam, Amrita Singh and Ronit Roy's work; all these were factors. The film did well because it connected with audiences across the country and worldwide, so I would be wrong to assume that I have single handedly delivered a hit. It is team work, I am as good as the film, we are not beyond the film.

We are actors till now. Somebody just asked me about stardom, there is no stardom. We can be gone within a year if we make bad movies and bad choices. There are examples in front of us to learn from. You can come and go. Stardom happens over consistent work for 10 to 15 years. Today Ranbir Kapoor has achieved stardom after consistent good work. 100 crore is a number that will change after 2 years, it will become generic. The business grows, today ticket prices change with every big film.

How this helps is that there is more awareness now. When people see the Finding Fanny' trailer, they say accha ye wo 2 states' wala hain, ya phir ye wo Gunday' wala hain. "I cant ask for high fees just like that, I have to be consistent.

But does delivering a big hit like 2 States' alter the quantum of female attention for you?

It does, and it has increased female likeability somewhat. So far, I was the bad boy that you don't want to take home, now I am suddenly the bad boy they don't mind taking home. Children have started liking me more, and I am not an angry actor any more. I am suddenly a normal guy they can talk to. Lot has changed in my acceptance levels, as I am not seen as the one dimensional guy that people saw in Aurangzeb' and Gunday'. If people accept me as Bala' and as Krish' in a span of 6 months, that gives me the confidence to take on any script knowing. It also gives directors confidence to cast me in different shades. Hopefully Finding Fanny' is a step in that direction, that I would never do an English niche film.

I as an actor, have not blocked myself off as only a commercial actor. I would like to try out films of all kinds.

Final question- last we met, you were single. Are you still single then?

( Smiles) Yes, that hasn't changed, whether you like it or not.

Boring!

No Single still. Good things come to people who wait, so I will be patient. And I will hopefully find myself in a steady relationship soon.