Hottie Shahid Kapoor talks rumours, challenges and co-stars

With his cartoon tee, open checked shirt, jeans and sneakers, Shahid Kapoor is very much the guy-next-door. The man you want your sister to marry. Then he smiles… and the glint reaches his eyes. Suddenly, he’s the man you want to take home to mum!

Masala! meets Shahid Kapoor at the InterContinental, Dubai Festival City, as he jets in for a whirlwind promo of Chance Pe Dance. It’s been a long day for him – but he’s as fresh as a Ken Ghosh film, laughing, chatting and flirting with ease. Here’s Shahid freewheeling through our interview, talking about everything from rumours and eight-packs to co-stars and fan moments.

Since his filmi debut in 2003, Shahid Kapur has “seen both good times and bad times” and says he’s now a changed man. He talks more, tweets more and undercuts your perfectly serious questions with unexpected and witty one-liners. We met him late one night and realised that there’s no winning a contest of words with the new Shahid.

‘I’ve become dangerously fun’
He’s received rave reviews for his performance and anchoring at a recent award show, even from Shah Rukh Khan. “Yes,” says Shahid, “I’ve received a few messages. I’m actually a very shy person. But of late, I’ve discovered a fun side to myself, which existed somewhere deep inside. Now it’s becoming dangerously fun. Ha ha.” Shahid also shares an equation with SRK, beyond the usual cinematic comparisons. He says, “Shah Rukh bhai – Shah Rukh Khan – dealt with me on the show like an elder brother. He’s amazingly witty on stage. I hosted four segments and performed to Dhan Te Nan, my favourite song of the year. This is the first show I hosted and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.”

By Kelly Crane

The first time I took a giant step outside my comfort zone and prepared for a Bollywood interview, I was left sorely disappointed.

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan hardly dazzled as they unenthusiastically answered the minimum from bubbly journalists who had patiently waited more than two hours for what can only be described as a couple who had themselves confused with royalty.

So you can imagine my utter disappointment when I was handed a brief for a one-on-one chat with Indian heartthrob (as I was reliably informed) Shahid Kapoor.

Deciding not to tar all Indian actors and actresses with the same brush was a good choice, since Kapoor redeemed the world of Indian film for this English journalist.

Okay, so I can tell you how many hanging lanterns there are in the lobby of the InterContinental Festival City, and exactly what time the lights dim for early evening — thanks to a two and a half hour delay in his schedule. But what Kapoor (or the team in charge) lacked in punctuality, he made up for in charm, maturity and a damn good natter.

No frills, no attitude, just plain-talking, well-spoken and honest would be the best way to describe the 28-year-old star of new dance-off flick Chance Pe Dance.

Shahid Kapoor traces his journey to stardom through his most memorable naach gana moments.

Prized memories of Shiamak Davar
My mother Neelima Azeem is a well-known Kathak dancer. I would sit in the wings or watch from the sidelines when she performed. Though I never thought of taking classical training myself, the exposure to dance and Bollywood movies sparked off an early interest. And at 15, as soon as I was out of school, I joined Shiamak Davar’s Dance Institute.

I was a really shy boy and always tried to blend with the group. Yet, I must have caught Shiamak’s eye when he was visiting because I was upgraded to an advanced batch. And for the end-of-the-term award ceremony made to dance to two songs, Madonna’s ‘Vogue…’ and a track from the just released James Bond film, Golden Eye.

Back-to-back, Shahid Kapoor has starred in two completely antithetic films: Vishal Bhardwaj’s stylized, dark and technique-heavy “Kaminey” and Aditya Chopra’s sugar-and-sarson saga whose every shot can be predicted, “Dil Bole Hadippa!.” What’s more, before the year is out, the actor will star in Ken Ghosh’s “Chance Pe Dance.”.

We catch up with the star, who is sporting short, spiked hair in sharp contrast to his long-haired looks in the released films. We compliment him on how well it suits him, he blushes and we get to business.

Excerpts from an interview with India-West:

Shahid Kapoor talks about Dil Bole Hadippa!, working with Rani Mukherji twice over, and why the audience should go and watch this movie

Shahid, do you feel tired promoting the film extensively almost everywhere?

Yes, I am feeling little bit tired but I am good.

In all your past films, your name was linked invariably with all the actresses of your film but this has not happened with Dil Bole Hadippa!. No one has linked your name with Rani Mukherji, you must be feeling happy?

I am really feeling very happy that my name has not been linked this time. I have no idea how it happened this time around but I am very happy about it. It is a very refreshing change and I think media got bored this time.

Well, it′s not essential ingredient of stardom. Any married star is not able to lead a happy life because of such things but these things do happen may be no one knows about my personal life for the past couple of years but I have got used to it. I will go mad if I were to try analyzing the reasons.

Kaminey is a good success, both critically as well as commercially, and now all of a sudden Shahid Kapoor finds himself in the super big league. While the Khans (Shah Rukh, Aamir, Salman) have been dominating from the top along with Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan, the success of Kaminey means that both Shahid Kapoor as well as Saif Ali Khan (who again delivered a huge money spinner in Love Aaj Kal) are already making actors in the Top-5 uncomfortable. As this Vishal Bhardwaj film continues to fetch audiences and reactions for itself in it's second week, Joginder Tuteja catches up with Shahid Kapoor who feels that the biggest success point for Kaminey is the fact that massy as well as niche audiences have given a Thumbs Up to a subject and a genre that has been hitherto unexplored.

He is one of the younger stars of Hindi cinema, but even at only 28, Shahid Kapoor has made his mark in the industry. In his career he has taken on a variety of roles and with each performance has proved that not only does he have that “it factor”, he is also a great actor. We first saw him in Ishq Vishk and from there he has grown into an actor who brings many layers to each of his characters. He can do funny, he can do mad, he can do serious, and of course he can do in love. His many fans love every aspect of his performances and eagerly await each new release to see what he will thrill them with next. Coming up this Friday audiences will see two new sides of Shahid as he takes on the roles of Guddu and Charlie in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey. Shahid Kapoor Online, in association with BollySpice, got the wonderful opportunity to interview the actor, and he talked with us about working on Kaminey, why his roles in Kaminey are his favorite to date, and a few other filmi things as well! Enjoy!

Credit DesiTVforum.net & Melanie @shahidonline.net

Breakups can be a virtual nightmare. But Shahid Kapur will tell you that it helps to smile, pull up your socks and move on. Look how far he’s gone post- Kareena Kapoor. The dimpled, 28-yearold actor has, among other projects, the ‘‘role of a lifetime’’ coming up, is in the news almost every other day, and is being linked with almost every actress he’s working with. Never mind that for someone who is labeled as ‘‘incongruously reserved’’ he is fielding far too many unsavoury rumours of being a control freak on the sets. ‘‘In the last two and a half years, I think I’ve become a man.

I’ve learnt how to be intelligently spontaneous,’’ is how Kapur puts it.

When we speak, Kapur is clearly anxious to steer the conversation towards his much-awaited Kaminey, where he plays a double role for the first time.

Shahid Kapur doesn’t talk, about his girlfriends, past and present and about his liaisons, discreet and not so. He is not exactly ‘proper’, but he is definitely conscious of the fact that once words have been spoken they are out there to be used or misused. And so, he is careful, hedging all his bets, and carefully avoiding saying anything controversial. But there’s plenty to read…between the lines and matching wits with him is exhilarating. Here’s Shahid, talking about Priyanka, Kareena and the girl who could get him if she had the right attributes. Read on to find out if you’re the one…

• Are you and Priyanka Chopra a couple?

I have not spoken about my private life for the last two years and will continue not to do so. All I am going to say is that I am not going to make an effort to hide a relationship. When there is something substantial, people will know about it. There's very little as an actor that you can keep to yourself, and this is an area which I would like to keep to myself. At the same time I would not like to be a hypocrite and hide it. But, when something substantial happens in my life, only then will I talk.

• Define substantial.

Difficult to define because we're talking about a relationship. But when I feel that there is something that I am sure of I will speak about it. It doesn't mean there's something between me and Priyanka that I am not sure of.

• So then, of course, there's no point in talking about the fact that you have been squabbling with Priyanka and that there are problems in your relationship…

(Laughs) I think people need to have these CCTV cameras in my house or in Priyanka's house to know and record the hypothetical fights that we've been having. Sometimes it's irritating, but yes, most of the times it's funny. As an actor you learn to have a sense of humour about these things.

Shahid Kapoor’s detractors (they know who they are) can surely eat their hearts out!

While they have to make public announcements saying that they have clearly moved on, the actor is silently but surely scaling new heights.

An internet search engine says he’s the “most searched guy’’ — even more than current hotties Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan; 68% of his fans are women; he has one of those designer-made, eight-pack physiques; he has four back-to-back releases —Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kaminey, Ken Ghosh’s Yahoo, his best buddy Ahmad Khan’s Paathshaala (it’s only a special appearance) and, Yash Chopra’s Hadippa with Rani Mukerji. “When I’m finished with these projects, I will start work on Parmeet Sethi’s next for Yash Chopra again with Anoushka Sharma (the Rab Ne girl),’’ says the reluctant talker who’s been completely off the media radar “simply because I feel work is all I should talk about’’.

Actor Shahid Kapoor tells PT that though he is still single, he would love to fall in love again.

The past two years have been one roller-coaster ride for Shahid Kapoor - on a professional high in one instant, on a personal low in the next. Even in 2009, it is promising to see Shahid on a high, both personally and professionally. “Yes, life’s good and I am really enjoying this phase of my life,” says the actor.
After all, it’s hard not to be happy when you’ve been voted the youth icon in an online poll, got six films in hand and a bagful of endorsements. All that in spite of missing from the scene for almost a year now. “I’m all set to make up for my long absence. Being voted as a youth icon is both an honour and very encouraging too. The year has begun on a good note and I don’t want to look back at all,” says Shahid flashing a smile that convinces you that Kareena Kapoor’s indeed a thing of the past. And, never mind that, the duo only recently completed the dubbing for Milenge Milenge, the film that the two had shot when still a couple, Shahid insists he’s moved on and is happy for Bebo too.