Glam September 17, 2013 12:04:57 AM | By Lipika Varma
Shahid Kapoor’s make or break time
The actor is poised at another turning point in his career after the debacle of his last few films at the box-office
I
have learnt that it is more important to focus on people than scripts.
As finally, your equation with people is more important than scripts.
— Shahid kapoor
— Shahid kapoor
It’s
clearly, make it or break it time for Shahid Kapoor. After the debacle
of his last film, ‘Teri Meri Kahaani’ (2012), and a romance gone sour he
has a lot to look forward to with Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Phata Poster
Nikhla Hero’ (PPNH), followed by Prabhudheva’s ‘Rambo Rajkumar’. So, the
actor talks about this new avatar that he is embracing onscreen for the
first time.
How was the experience of playing the cop first time onscreen?
I was very excited about this film from the time director Rajkumar Santoshi narrated the script of ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero.’ He gave about two hour’s narration. I have never tried this kind of genre, also playing a cop for the first time, I was really keen to do this role. My uniform used to tear off at various places. My character in the movie has been written to entertain the audience. The world of Rajkumar Santoshi has quirky characters. The police officer will be seen doing a pole dance. There is action also but not the intense macho kind of action. This action is similar to what you see in Jackie Chan’s movies. Even the stunt scenes will make you laugh and you will be happy watching them. You will always be smiling after seeing my character of Vishwas Rao. He is a wanna be actor. He wants to avoid fights, as he is afraid that if his face gets injured, his career will be shattered. So, he is a reluctant action hero. That’s what I like about this character.
Share your experience of working with Rajkumar Santoshi?
Working with Rajkumar was fantastic. When I was on the sets of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ with Amitabh Bachchan, the first thing he said was that I am lucky to be working with Rajkumar Santoshi. So, Rajkumar is a director who is highly respected and regarded in the entire industry and every actor who has worked with Raj has always had very high regards about him. Everything that I have done in this film is exactly what Raj wanted me to do.
Why did you start delivering only one film a year?
My phase of doing one film a year is over. It so happened that ‘Mausam’ took almost 1.5 years. I was supposed to do ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ but that didn’t happen. I don’t regret it. I am happy that my next film is all set for release now. And I was not happy sitting at home when I don’t have any films in my kitty. While I was not working, I was thinking of how should I start my work again. I had a lot of meetings, read a lot of scripts. After ‘Mausam’, I was offered about 17-18 films. You know just like how in a horse race a horse gallops as soon as the gate opens, I was waiting for my gates to open as well.
How do you cope with Friday pressures?
There is always pressure before Friday. So, if someone says he is not under pressure, he is lying. About comeback, I have been here for 10 years. Many times people have asked if my next is a comeback vehicle. I don’t see it as comeback vehicle. I see it as a film, which I have never attempted before, a genre that I have never tried. It is essential to see for me how people respond to me in this film and so far I am happy. For example, when I did ‘Kaminey’, and I knew people will either accept me or reject me at the first
instance. So even now I am getting more positive reaction. Finally the film will speak for itself.
About your past mistakes…
Of course I have made mistakes. I have never had anybody to guide me. My father has done art-house kind of films and not much of commercial cinema. He is always told me take my decisions myself. I had to struggle for two and a half years before I got my first film. My film had no star cast. The biggest star was Anu Malik who was doing the music of my film. So, I have come right from the lower level. Obviously, on your way up you will make mistakes and I have learnt from my mistakes.
What have been your learning experiences?
I have learnt that it is more important to focus on people than scripts. As finally, your equation with people is more important than scripts. Also, I feel that I want to work to satisfy the people that I am working with rather than myself. I have learnt how to connect with people now. I was earlier quiet.
What about the people who have always stood by you?
I am happy that I have well wishers like Ramesh Taurani who is ready to always see my career shaping progressively. It is because he felt I would be the best suited for the character in ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero’ and so he offered the character to me. Rajkumar Santoshi was actually apprehensive, as people had told him that I am a tantrum thrower, this he told me a little later. Ramesh always tells me, I should be doing more films at 32 years than what I would be doing at 45. This is
the age that I need to make the best professionally.
Do you have any friends in the industry?
I have my parents staying right below my flat. Hence, if I need anything at even 4 am in the morning or I have any problems, they are there at my doorstep. Therefore I do not need to seek any help from my friends. Also, I am still friends with my school days pals. I do not have friends from within the Bollywood industry.
I was very excited about this film from the time director Rajkumar Santoshi narrated the script of ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero.’ He gave about two hour’s narration. I have never tried this kind of genre, also playing a cop for the first time, I was really keen to do this role. My uniform used to tear off at various places. My character in the movie has been written to entertain the audience. The world of Rajkumar Santoshi has quirky characters. The police officer will be seen doing a pole dance. There is action also but not the intense macho kind of action. This action is similar to what you see in Jackie Chan’s movies. Even the stunt scenes will make you laugh and you will be happy watching them. You will always be smiling after seeing my character of Vishwas Rao. He is a wanna be actor. He wants to avoid fights, as he is afraid that if his face gets injured, his career will be shattered. So, he is a reluctant action hero. That’s what I like about this character.
Share your experience of working with Rajkumar Santoshi?
Working with Rajkumar was fantastic. When I was on the sets of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ with Amitabh Bachchan, the first thing he said was that I am lucky to be working with Rajkumar Santoshi. So, Rajkumar is a director who is highly respected and regarded in the entire industry and every actor who has worked with Raj has always had very high regards about him. Everything that I have done in this film is exactly what Raj wanted me to do.
Why did you start delivering only one film a year?
My phase of doing one film a year is over. It so happened that ‘Mausam’ took almost 1.5 years. I was supposed to do ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ but that didn’t happen. I don’t regret it. I am happy that my next film is all set for release now. And I was not happy sitting at home when I don’t have any films in my kitty. While I was not working, I was thinking of how should I start my work again. I had a lot of meetings, read a lot of scripts. After ‘Mausam’, I was offered about 17-18 films. You know just like how in a horse race a horse gallops as soon as the gate opens, I was waiting for my gates to open as well.
How do you cope with Friday pressures?
There is always pressure before Friday. So, if someone says he is not under pressure, he is lying. About comeback, I have been here for 10 years. Many times people have asked if my next is a comeback vehicle. I don’t see it as comeback vehicle. I see it as a film, which I have never attempted before, a genre that I have never tried. It is essential to see for me how people respond to me in this film and so far I am happy. For example, when I did ‘Kaminey’, and I knew people will either accept me or reject me at the first
instance. So even now I am getting more positive reaction. Finally the film will speak for itself.
About your past mistakes…
Of course I have made mistakes. I have never had anybody to guide me. My father has done art-house kind of films and not much of commercial cinema. He is always told me take my decisions myself. I had to struggle for two and a half years before I got my first film. My film had no star cast. The biggest star was Anu Malik who was doing the music of my film. So, I have come right from the lower level. Obviously, on your way up you will make mistakes and I have learnt from my mistakes.
What have been your learning experiences?
I have learnt that it is more important to focus on people than scripts. As finally, your equation with people is more important than scripts. Also, I feel that I want to work to satisfy the people that I am working with rather than myself. I have learnt how to connect with people now. I was earlier quiet.
What about the people who have always stood by you?
I am happy that I have well wishers like Ramesh Taurani who is ready to always see my career shaping progressively. It is because he felt I would be the best suited for the character in ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero’ and so he offered the character to me. Rajkumar Santoshi was actually apprehensive, as people had told him that I am a tantrum thrower, this he told me a little later. Ramesh always tells me, I should be doing more films at 32 years than what I would be doing at 45. This is
the age that I need to make the best professionally.
Do you have any friends in the industry?
I have my parents staying right below my flat. Hence, if I need anything at even 4 am in the morning or I have any problems, they are there at my doorstep. Therefore I do not need to seek any help from my friends. Also, I am still friends with my school days pals. I do not have friends from within the Bollywood industry.
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