Two films, and one confident hero

Shahid Kapur has two upcoming releases lined up: Mahesh Manjrekar's Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi -- which hits theatres on December 23 -- and John Mathew Matthan's Shikhar, which is slotted for a December 29 release.

Having two back-to-back releases is tricky for any Bollywood hero. But Shahid is nonchalant. "I have no problems about that. These two films are of different genres and my role is completely different in both the films," he says. After a successful debut with Ishq Vishk (2003), Shahid's career has not yet taken off, as far as the box office is concerned. The last film he did was Deewane Huye Pagaal, a comedy, with Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. But it failed to drive the box office crazy. Ditto for Fida and Dil Maange More last year, which sunk without a trace at the box office. But, again, Shahid is nonchalant when you point it out to him.

"When I did Ishq Vishk, no one wrote about it; but that went on to become a hit. About Fida and other films, there was too much of buzz but that didn't click. So, you never know what will click in this industry," he says.

My job as an actor is to do good films and I am doing it. I have had only four releases so far. I am here to do good work; the rest is not in my hand."

Why didn't he ask his producers to postpone the release dates of at least one of his two new films? "As an actor my job is to act. The rest is in the hands of producer and distributors as to when they want to release their films. They are the best judges to decide on the release date because it is their money which is at stake," says Shahid.

"I am not the only hero whose films are releasing back-to-back; there have been earlier heroes who had the same fate and their films worked at the box office. So, I don't see why my films won't work. VLHTA and Shikhar are different genre films."

Shahid says he was delighted to be offered Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi. "This is one film I instantly said yes to, because the script was so good. I generally take time to decide on whether to say yes or no to a film but here I decided on the spot that I would be a part of the film."

The Mahesh Manjrekar film is about a young man who has to shoulder the responsibility of eight kid relatives, a sister, a drunkard brother and a grandmother. But the young man dies in an accident, and meets Sanjay Dutt, the Yamraaj, or god of death. "Sanjay a modern Yamraaj who wears Armani suits, Gucci shoes and also carries a laptop all the time," says Shahid. "You see, this film was based on a Mr India kind of theme. I loved the subject and therefore there was no way I could say no to this film. Such films are made once in a decade. I am happy I got a chance to play a role in this film," he adds.

Shahid's kid brother Eshaan is also in the film. He plays one of the eight children.

"Eshaan had come to the sets and when he came to know that there were children in the film he said he too wanted to be a part of the film," Shahid informs us. "It was embarrassing for me to approach Mahesh Manjrekar and ask for a role for him [Ehsaan] but Mahesh started laughing when I told him. Mahesh said his son too is part of the film. He [Mahesh's son] too wouldn't let him [Mahesh] sleep peacefully if he did not take him in the film," Shahid adds. Talk turns to Shikhar, and Amrita Rao. "You will see the actress in Amrita Rao. She has done a beautiful role and the only reason I did this film was because it was a John Mathan Matthew film -- the man who made Sarfarosh, which is one of my favourite movies." But there is no buzz about Shikhar. The songs too are not storming the charts, as they did for Sarfarosh. "I don't think one should pass judgement about any film like this before it is released," replies Shahid. "You just wait and watch the audience reaction on December 29."