Erring, learning ... progressing
RANA SIDDIQUI
|
As Shahid Kapur's "36 China Town" releases this Friday, the actor says he is now more careful about his roles.
|
I still have to be some 15 films more experienced to understand my range Shahid Kapur
PHOTO: ANU PUSHKARNA
UPSWING OR DOWNSWING? Shahid Kapur says he no more believes in compliments blindly.
He might keep his interviewers waiting for excruciatingly long hours. He might even try to cut his interview short citing lack of time as the reason.
Yet when he speaks, he makes many forget the bruises he sometimes inflicts with his often irresponsible behaviour. The reason? He comes across as a `thinking actor'. He impresses with his fine vocabulary, supports his statements with apt examples.
More importantly, he doesn't mince words. He turns out to be a person who is not ashamed of his mistakes or ignorance. He keeps his cool when showered with compliments like `cute', `has hottest lips' (this is the latest fan award he received) `Shah Rukh Khan's successor' and so on. And to top it all, his wonderful voice proves magical for your ears.
Yes, you got it right. The guy is Shahid Kapur. The boy you first saw in a Pepsi advertisement, then a couple of videos and then in Ken Ghosh's hit film "Ishq Vishq" opposite Amrita Rao. The film shot him to fame. It had many declaring him as King Khan's successor in the film industry. But that was not to be.
His next few films like "Fida, "Wah! Life Ho To Aisi", "Milenge Milenge", "Deewane Huye Pagal", "Dil Maange More" and so on bombed at the box office and Shahid was left high and dry.
Though his flawless dancing skills, (he is trained by Shiamak Davar) sonorous voice, a good gym-honed physique blessed with innocent looks were noticed. But these didn't translate into successful films for him.
Careful and alert
A conversation with a new Shahid evokes more positive response. He is careful and alert. Not only with what he speaks but also what films he chooses for himself. Subhash Ghai's "36 China Town", Priyadarshan's "Chup Chup Ke", Sooraj Barjatya's "Vivah", Firoz Nadiadwala's "Fool and Final" are what he enumerates as "careful choices".
He pairs up with Kareena Kapoor, his ladylove in real life, in "36 China Town" releasing this Friday. This film, supposedly a thriller with a "edge-of-the-seat climax" as Shahid pits it, also stars Akshaye Khanna, Upen Patel, Payal Rohatagi and others. It is produced by Subhash Ghai and directed by Abbas-Mustan duo.
Next film "Chup Chup Ke" again has Kareena with him. Mention the film and see an excited Shahid, "When I read the script for this film, I felt immediately drawn because not only it has great elements of comedy but also some sensitive issues films should touch upon. I play a small town boy in it who, to make a big buck, takes loan from 40 to 50 people and starts several businesses with it left and right. He flops as a businessperson and turns bankrupt. So, to hide his identity before investors, he starts behaving like a deaf and dumb guy."
It is only during his acting as a deaf and dumb, he comes across a real deaf and dumb girl, a role that Kareena Kapoor is playing. "As he interacts with her, he realises how it means to be deaf and dumb, actually. How they fall in love and how the other side of my life moves, is what the film all about." Shahid says, "I have never attempted such a role, which has almost all shades that an actor can think of. I found the script original to work on."
Though he admits that doing comedy was very difficult for him.
"I was perspiring after the first shot," he quips.
The audience hardly saw a more sensitive portrayal of the needs of special people except in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Black", other films like "Pyare Mohan" made a mockery of the issue. Shahid quips, "My character doesn't mock at them. I am not actually deaf and dumb but start acting like one as and when the situation arises. It's comic and not insensitive. You will find Kareena's character more authentic because she plays a real deaf and dumb person. She also learnt some sign language for the role. But for the audience to understand what she wants to convey, the director has employed Neha Dhupia as her interpreter," says Shahid.
The right mix
Despite having the right mix of good looks, physique, acting and dancing skills, his films have not done well. And many guys have overtaken him. Admits Shahid, "When `Ishq Vishq' came, I was just 21. As the film hit the top list, I was also a priority of the directors of the best league. Yet I committed some major mistakes. I did some films I shouldn't have. Some of them also promised to be something different when I acted in them but they came out to be different. When I look back, I realise how much I have lost in those years. Nonetheless, everyone learns from his past mistakes and I have also learnt. I am extremely careful now. I choose lesser number of films with diverse roles."
Shahid reveals he does take advice from his parents - Neelima Azeem and Pankaj Kapur.
"But finally it is you who have to make your destiny in the film industry. Be it brickbat or accolade, you get them for what you do. I choose my own films now," he adds.
Talking of choosing films, now Shahid is aware of the "changing face of Indian cinema" and accordingly he wants to "modify" his range.
"Times have changed. Gone are the days when we used to be happy seeing a hero always as a hero. From a black and white TV, now people too are switching over to Plasma TV, they have become quality conscious. Same goes for films too. Today mainstream actors are doing what they call `niche' films. They are endorsing products too. It's a practical approach to survive in this industry."
His mistakes
As honestly, he admits he still has to understand his range as an actor with the kind of looks that he has.
"My mistakes also revealed one more thing to me and that is, you are actually not what people compliment you for. I believed those compliments and worked accordingly. Now I often ponder over what actually my assets are? What is my USP? I still have to be some 15 films more experienced to understand my range. Now I think if I blindly believe people's compliments, I would limit myself. Now I think a lot, sit down for hours, introspect, analyse and try to understand my merits and demerits."
With "three films this year" in his kitty Shahid is pretty satisfied.
"I want to create an individual niche now. But the fact goes that an actor is as good as his role. So it is for me to identify those roles that establish me as an actor rather than just a cute-pie," he concludes.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
