Fawad Khan as Rahul Kapoor in Kapoor & Sons THE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL FANGIRL Okay, I've sat within, er, touching distance of him. I've stood shoulder to shoulder " okay, his elbow and my shoulder, well almost " and clicked a picture. I know exactly what he looks like in his pyjamas. And I have a count of how many grey hairs he has in that beard. How can any other Fawad Khan experience " even a damn good film " ever beat that? Well, Kapoor & Sons has. Rather Fawad Khan as Rahul Kapoor in Kapoor & Sons has. From the moment the camera pans on the back of his head as he talks business in a London cafe to the scene towards the end where he stands crying in the rain, his eyes consumed by loss and sadness, Fawad owns Kapoor & Sons. And this comes as much from a reviewer as a fangirl. The Fawad of Kapoor & Sons is the Fawad we loved first in Zindagi Gulzar Hai. Effortless screen presence, fine acting chops, the lopsided smile that crinkles his eyes, that sexy baritone, the trademark boyish charm, those sharp cheekbones, that perfect collarbone (yes, we dare say that he even has a purrfect male decolletage) ... and that stubble-free handsomeness. For all of us who wondered how he would look without that signature beard we loved so much in his Bolly debut Khoobsurat, let's just say that the man looks just as great without it... and sometimes " the scene in the hospital where he steals a glance over his Ray-Bans being a case in point " even better. And in Kapoor & Sons, Fawad gives us a lot, lot more. Those brooding silences... that familiar vulnerability... those eyes, expressive behind sharp, black-rimmed glasses but hiding so much... that brow creased with suppressed worry, but that winner of a smile taking over almost immediately... that burden of being the perfect bachcha', but making sure he never shirks his responsibilities. Fawad inhabits Rahul in a way that after a while, you feel the two have merged, showing us what a good actor he is. A talent wasted in Khoobsurat, but tapped to full potential in Kapoor & Sons. This is a pitch-perfect act, with the man not striking a single false note, even as he manages to look as yummy as he always does. And though Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt may be a real-life couple (they neither denied nor confirmed when we asked them this last week), Fawad's easy chemistry with Alia's Tia is way more watchable " you just have to watch that scene where they down a couple of beers and go from discussing nose poop to kissing... Joining us at the first day-first show at INOX (South City) were many Fawad fangirls, letting out whoops of delight when the man first appeared on screen and then a collective cry of disbelief (Wo-wo-wo-wo-wo', went one particular voice in the dark) when the film's big reveal was made. And as we walked out, the only audible sentence " among fangirl groans, grunts and giggles " was: We are coming back again... for Fawad.' Of course I am joining them! Priyanka Roy THE BREATHLESS 20-YEAR-OLD FANGIRL You know you are a fan when the mere mention of HIS name makes you go weak at your knees. But, every time you mention his name, your mom gives you a stern look (she likes him too, by the way!) and reminds you that you are just 20. So you go to the only one who understands your love for him... the grandmother. I still remember the day I told my grandmum that Fawad had diabetes. Her reply... Oh! Is he taking his insulin on time?' Well, I'm not surprised that she likes him too. So it was but natural that on Friday, the Kapur khandaan landed up to watch the first day first show of another Kapoor khandaan in Kapoor & Sons. And yes, Fawad didn't let me down. His voice, his tehzeeb, his clothes and those eyes... I fell in love with him all over again. Kuch kuch hota hai Rahul, please samjho na' is what I kept whispering to MY man. Kapoor & Sons just reinforces all that we have loved Fawad all these years for. His voice melts in your ears and all you ever want is for him to keep talking. His height makes for perfect headspace when you hug him (yes, I want to hug him!). His mastery over Urdu and English makes him the kind of guy you want your mother to meet (or, maybe not!). His eyes... you can look into his soul... and I would never blink, if he looked at me. And, of course, his acting " I cried when he cried, I shuddered when he did... I laughed when he did. Currently my bucket list, which at last count had about 486,338,723 wishes, has meeting him right at the top. What would I do when I meet him? Hug him silly and, of course, bake for him... after all, when will those cooking skills come in handy? Simran Kapur THE LATE BLOOMER BUT NOW IN LOVE FANGIRL I was a late bloomer when it came to Fawad Fever. I had seen Khoobsurat and I did sit up and take notice of the hukums and the aaps when he spoke, but Sonam Kapoor was a very annoyingly distracting presence. So, a disaster was avoided. Then my very good friend made me sit down and watch this Pakistani telefilm called Behadd. He was in love with an older woman. He didn't care about her age, or the fact that she had a daughter. He had a stubble. He wore a white shirt. And I was sunk. So much so that he is my go-to guy for chasing away blues (thank god for all those people who have made YouTube channels dedicated to the special scenes from each of his TV serials!). So, of course when Kapoor & Sons released, I was in the movie hall for the first day, first show. I was in love, so I knew that I would like whatever he did, but even I was bowled over by what I saw. From the minute he came on screen (let me tell you I wasn't the only one making Oooh' sounds in the hall) wearing those glasses in dapper clothes, I was a goner. But then he had to ramp up the whole appeal by turning out a performance that outshone everyone else, except perhaps Rishi Kapoor. Whether he was having frivolous fun in a shady pub with Alia Bhatt or trying to defuse a fight between his parents. Whether he was stealing a smoke with his brother or being choked senseless by him. Whether he was discussing "rangeen films" with his grandfather or falling out with his mother. Whether he was making silly faces for the camera or breaking down under the pressure of being the perfect son and the secrets he tries to keep. He dazzles. And his chemistry is off the charts, no not just with Alia but with Rishi Kapoor as a grandson, with Ratna Pathak Shah as the favourite son, with Rajat Kapoor as the more responsible son, with Sidharth Malhotra as a sometimes indulgent, sometimes exasperated and sometimes clueless elder brother. And he looked good enough to eat through it all, and effortlessly so. Can't count the number of times I drowned in those eyes and got lost in the smile. And I am ready for another round with Rahul Kapoor. Maybe even before you've read this. And this time I'm only watching him. |
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