Don't have powerful families backing me: Shahid

Shahid Kapoor, who began as a background dancer in Taal, has had his share of both controversies and accolades. Good looking and talented, Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azim's son could have easily consolidated his position on the top of the pile after Vivaah, Jab We Met and Kaminey. But quite inexplicably, 31-year-old actor has been throwing it all away, as if willingly stepping aside for the younger actors to surge ahead.
Hailed by critics as an actor who leaves an 'indelible impression' on the audience, Shahid has earned the reputation of being 'arrogant' and 'difficult' with a string of career decisions that have baffled even his staunchest critics, and ticked off some of his closest allies. Not to mention the half-adozen flops since Kaminey.
There are whispers of Shahid's 'unprofessionalism'. Filmmakers who approach him with new projects, complain that he likes to keep them on tenterhooks.
Apparently, Shahid made Balaji Motion Pictures wait for two months before telling them that he was not interested in playing Chhota Rajan's character in the sequel to Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. Imran Khan moved in for the kill. Shahid also lost out to Hrithik Roshan for Siddharth Anand's remake of Tom Cruise-starrer Knight & Day.
A source close to Shahid's former best friend Ken Ghosh, who made Ishq Vishq Pyaar Vyaar, Fida and Chance Pe Dance with him, adds: "Shahid took very long to complete Chance Pe Dance. The budget shot up and Ken had to shell out a few crores to compensate the producers." It did not end there; Shahid reportedly did not get along with Jiah Khan, and wanted Genelia to be signed up instead. The film tanked, and so did Shahid and Ken's camaraderie.
Not just Ken, Shahid has reportedly managed to upset both Vishal Bhardwaj and old friend, Ahmed Khan. Says a source close to Khan: "Ahmed choreographed many of Shahid's dance numbers. But the two had too many creative differences during the making of Ahmed's Pathshala. When the film sank without a trace, their association took the blow."
Recently, Shahid reportedly opted out of Karan Johar's production directed by Punit Malhotra. Apparently he had demanded for changes in the script. Shahid was replaced by Imran, but interestingly, the script was tweaked in accordance to the younger actor's wishes.
The latest controversy dogging Shahid is that he opted out of the Yash Raj film directed by Maneesh Sharma. A section of the industry claims he was asked to leave because he turned up for one of their rituals in a pair of shorts and later refused to attend the reading and rehearsal sessions. Shahid has now been replaced by the up and coming Sushant Singh Rajput.
Till his current film Phata Poster Nikla Hero went on the floors, Shahid was seemingly happy twiddling his thumbs and making regrettably honest comments like: "I am jobless."
A leading producer (on request of anonymity) sums it up: "The boy is far more talented than his contemporaries. He can act, is a superb dancer and has an impressive fan following. But his erratic behaviour may be his undoing." It would be interesting to see if 'the boy' is man enough to tackle the demons of his mind.

Don't have powerful families backing me: Shahid

TOI caught up with Shahid Kapoor in Mysore, where he is shooting for Rajkumar Santoshi's Phata Poster Nikla Hero. Excerpts from the interview in which we grilled him on the controversies dogging him:

Did you lose out on the YRF film because you turned up for a puja in a pair of shorts? Do you really think YRF films get cancelled because of shorts? Have I not attended enough pujas in my life to know what not to wear? I waited eight months for Maneesh's film after committing to it. First it was inclement weather. Then, Maneesh had a slip disc. And finally, I was told he needed time to finalise the script. Imagine an actor wasting eight months of his life for a film. Post Mausam, I was offered 18 films. The fate of Mausam at the BO was a personal injury.
Did you also refuse to attend reading sessions and rehearsals? Ridiculous. Why will I wait for eight months and not follow my director's vision?

They say 'Shahid is fickle minded'. You refused Punit Malhotra's film because you wanted changes. You were also repalced in Milan Luthria's film.
I am not fickle minded. I had never committed to both the films. I would love to work with Milan, but the film never reached the narration stage. Karan and I have been in talks, but nothing has materialised.
Do you think you made some blunders? Some of my films didn't do well. Obviously those choices were not correct. But I don't fear failures anymore. I need to work harder and I am doing that. Many successful actors bounced back after a dozen flops in a row. I have to give the audience all that I fell short on in the last couple of years. I've also learnt something...
Which is? I need to utilise more opportunities to get it right. In retrospect I was also too hard on myself, my films.
How did you change? Natural progression. I also want to do more mainstream films. In the late 90s, there were no masala films. Now I whistle and clap in theatres. Why shouldn't I attempt what I enjoy so much?
Did you have a fallout with Vishal Bhardwaj and Ahmed Khan? I respect Vishal sir too much. Ahmed is like family.
And Ken Ghosh? We were never very close. His second film with me, Fida, was a very good attempt. The climax was a let down. During Chance Pe Dance, I realised we are no more on the same page. There is one more thing which is changing in me. I was a shy guy. Weirdly after two flops, I am more confident, more open. Nothing to lose I guess. (smiles)
So, a misunderstood guy? A misrepresented guy (laughs). Also, my dad had done only a few films and TV. My parents had separated. Till I was 21, I wasn't too close to my dad. My understanding of the industry came in late. I am surrounded by actors with big production houses and families backing them. I'm not one of them.

loser👎🏼