"I dont think in terms of wanting to be the biggest star in the country" Aditya Roy Kapur
A solo hit with AASHIQUI 2 followed by YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI... and Aditya Roy Kapur tells Shweta Kulkarni that he actually started out a lukkha!
He is not new to the world of movies, with films like LONDON DREAMS, ACTION REPLAYY and GUZAARISH neatly stacked on his career chart. However, its his recent releases, AASHIQUI 2 and YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI that have made Aditya Roy Kapur one of the hottest guys on the block. Critics have praised him, he has become immensely popular amongst the fairer sex, has bagged the lead role in a Yashraj project and is basically all set to claim his share of stardom. Reason enough to chase him down amidst his busy schedule for a chatathon!
He walks into the suburban caf, for our tete-a-tete, wearing khaki shorts and a simple pullover. I am not surprised to see all eyes wander towards him. As he settles down in his seat, a tiny tot shyly approaches him for an autograph and a picture. He obliges and the smile on the little girls face is delightful to watch.
This is the best part of this profession. You can actually make someone so happy, with the smallest things, he says warmly.
Obviously enjoying all the attention
Oh yes, its been a surreal experience in many ways. Both my films released in the same month and both are doing well. Though I had done films earlier, things are different now. I get noticed more on the road. If Im riding a bike, people notice me and want to stop me and chat with me. So things are a little different now and I am trying to get used to it, he grins.
While AASHIQUI 2 established him as an actor, who can successfully shoulder the responsibility of a film, in YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI, he managed to make his presence felt alongside Ranbir Kapoor. However, there doesnt seem to be a major distinction between his alcohol-dependent characters in both the films...
Oh yes, it was similar, he says, casually munching on his lamb burger. It was a coincidence though; I hadnt planned it. I was shooting YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI for a couple of months, when I got a call for AASHIQUI 2. I realised my character in AASHIQUI 2 was an epitome of alcoholism and in YJHD it was normal alcoholism, still sober. As for the audience, I can understand that it seemed like the same role but to me, as an actor, there were subtle differences in the character. In AASHIQUI 2 there was no redemption for him; in YJHD it is more about friendship the character didnt have suicidal tendencies in any sense. He didnt get what he wanted in the last six years, people have moved on and he is bitter about his life. So, for me, the two characters were different.
He adds, AASHIQUI 2 was a great opportunity. I got a film where I would be the hero. Of course it was daunting in many ways. Daunting in the senseit was a huge responsibility, which I had not felt earlier because I was always in the supporting cast in a big star cast film, so I had to do just my part and go. But on the first day of the AASHIQUI 2 shoot, I was like, Oh, everyone will be going to theatres for me and Shraddha It was a big thing to realise that. But I think I got on board fairly fast and took up the challenge. And Mohit (Suri) is a brilliant guy to work with and I think he got the best out of us. Going by the kind of response he received for AASHIQUI 2, accepting the offer was the wisest thing to do.
Yet, surprisingly, acting in films was never on the cards for him
I did not get into acting thinking of it as a career option. I never thought LONDON DREAMS was my launch or anything; I just did it for fun, he smiles. Never planned it, I didnt have aspirations, it was like, chalo yaar lets go to London and have some fun. I was very happy about the fact that I could go to London, play the guitar, have a blast and come back. The idea of being an actor was far detached. However, I was curious about it too it was something new and I wanted to explore it. I dont want to be 40-years-old and think Oh, I should have done that. Do it and then regret it; no point in regretting something without doing it! So acting just happened like that. In the process I really enjoyed it, and then Vipul Sir (Shah) had ACTION REPLAYY soon after, and the role he offered me was nice and I said yes to it again. Learning that I actually love acting happened on the job. It wasnt that before I did my first movie, Id said Mujhe actor banna hai; it was while I was acting that I was realising that its fun and that I wanted to do this. By the time GUZAARISH came about, I was sure about it. However, after GUZAARISH, I was not getting the kind of roles I wanted to do, so there was a period of waiting a long period. So I travelled, I did a lot of nothing as well, which I love and I am very talented at it, he laughs and adds, But also I knew that something would come up. And now that I am here, sitting and talking to you it has all turned out to be good.
Adityas elder brother is Siddharth Roy Kapur, the head honcho of UTV Motion Pictures. Didnt he help him with movie projects, once Aditya realised that acting was where his passion lies? Why did he continue taking up supporting roles, when his brother could easily have helped him bag meatier leading projects?
I am never going to ask my brother for favours, he says righteously. We have clearly decided to stay away from each others professional life, because all of us are managing it well on our own. Siddharth, of course, has been around longer and is in a very senior position right now, but Kunal (Roy Kapur) and I are making our way through the industry on our own merit. If Siddharths team comes to him saying they want Aditya, he definitely wont say no, but he is not going to be the one saying that he wants Aditya for a particular film. If a film that he is producing deserves me and if his team agrees to it, he will offer it to me.
Three brothers, all working in the same industry, it must be a houseful of movie prattle when they get together!
Yes, talks are only about movies. Our parents used to get so pakaoed (bored) earlier. But now they have also started reading up about films, and actively participate in the conversation. My mom will be like, Oh you know so-and-so has signed this movie and that one is doing that film. Its sweet. But yes, we talk a lot about movies now... not much earlier, but now conversations only revolve around films.
Before the acting bug bit, Aditya was happy enough veejaying for Channel [V]
Veejaying happened to me by chance too. I was a lukkha doing nothing, he reveals candidly. I used to meet my friends, go out, play football, go to the bar and do all the normal things that any 18-year-old does. I was in std. 12th and the college years were full of madness. I used to play the guitar so I wanted to be a musician then.
However, my earlier dream was to be a cricketer like 99 percent of the countrys youth, but that didnt materialise " like the 99 percent of them, he smiles impishly, digging into his grilled fish now. He continues, The music thing was something that I was keen on. But again, I had never planned anything. There was a time when I even thought I would go abroad and study Psychology
Basically all fleeting ideas, nothing concrete. When the veejaying thing happened, it was good. It gave me a sense of direction
He laughs and adds, A friend of Siddharths was working with Channel [V]. He had noticed that I didnt do anything, so he told Siddharth, Your brother is useless, send him for an audition. At that point of time they were looking for new veejays. But I was not keen. Channel [V] had a studio in Powai and I had to take a train in the rain and all so I didnt want to go. But I was forced to go so I went and gave the audition. I felt terribly awkward and all but then they thought I had a cool look with my mop of hair and all. They offered me the job of a trainee veejay. I did a few shows with Lola Kutty at that time, actually wearing a T-shirt that said Trainee Veejay. Slowly I learned on the job and started enjoying being a veejay, till LONDON DREAMS happened.
So whats his dream now?
My dream he pauses to ponder for a second and continues, I am not setting any big goals, like I dont think in terms of wanting to be the biggest star in the country or anything like that. Right now I am looking forward to doing some good work, and working with good directors and my dream is to be completely engrossed in films and do what I am passionate about.
http://cineblitz.liveinstyle.com/features/detail/i-dont-think-in-terms-of-wanting-to-be-the-biggest-star-in-the-country-adit
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