Shahid Kapoor reveals how he picks films

In about a year, he will complete two decades in the Hindi film industry. The actor has enjoyed pushing his boundaries with roles that have brought to fore his versatility every time. Shortly after Kabir Singh, he jumped on to the OTT bandwagon, investing a lot of time in his first show, while being deeply involved in the Hindi adaptation of Nani’s Telugu hit, Jersey, which releases this week. In an interview with Bombay Times, Shahid Kapoor talked about being a part of two remakes in his 20-year-long career, and more. Excerpts…
Close on the heels of a hit like Kabir Singh, you chose to swing towards a web series. Of course, Jersey was in the works, too. And now, you have a line-up of some really challenging roles for 2022. What’s been driving your choices lately?
The film choices I make today are based largely on instinct. The first thing you feel from deep down inside is an amalgamation of all that you have experienced in life. And the first voice you hear is the purest; I am trying to listen to that. Of course, there are other factors that you have to account for.

It’s been two years since Kabir Singh released. I feel like kiske pair chooke thank you bolu that I again have a film releasing in theatres. It’s a blessing that we had taken for granted. At a young age, you take many things for granted, and with time, and ups and downs, you learn to respect everything in front of you. I am going through that time in life. I felt at ease after doing Kabir Singh. That was not the feeling I thought I would have after the film. Everyone wants a film with big numbers, right? If I have that big-number film, I thought, I probably will become more self-assured, but it turned into a more humbling experience. I have been just as hardworking. When something has to happen, it will happen at the right time. You learn to appreciate the energies of the universe and stop having ownership over it. I think that is a big realisation everyone must hopefully have in their life. After Kabir Singh, it was only a matter of months before we went into a lockdown which was an uncertain period.

Jersey was only halfway done with its shoot at that time, right?
We had half of Jersey to shoot. Shooting movies, which we took for granted, suddenly felt like a privilege. The circumstances were insecure, tentative and we were unsure as as to how we would make movies or and how would we find that atmosphere to make a movie like Jersey, which is personal, emotional, and not some sort of an itemised story. It needed to feel palpable and believable. After that phase, one has learned to appreciate everything that one took for granted. I always worked hard, but at times, I did things that I didn’t understand although everyone felt that was just the thing to do, so I went along. I came into the industry at a time when films were in a certain space which I didn’t connect with. They were not story or character-driven. I wanted to do films of the kind that I had grown up watching. I was doing things that were not me, but today, I am working on things that are closer to my sensibilities.

After spending about 15 years in the business, Arjun Reddy and Jersey remakes became two exceptions that you made in quick succession. What is drawing you to remakes?
Why not do a remake? Art is very fluid. People who critique art create certain boundaries for themselves. We all do, actually. We create boundaries which are limiting. I think the most interesting thing about art is that it’s limitless. As far as you are able to make it your own, and be honest, you can try anything. Shakespeare had said that there is no story that has not been told before. It’s not like I am looking out for remakes. It was an opportunity that came my way. Arjun Reddy was the first remake I did. Mira (Rajput, his wife) had seen it and said that I’d be a fool to let it go. I was tempted and yet, unsure. But I did it. And I enjoyed myself. I have a lot of respect for the fact that it is not that easy to do remakes or adaptations.

While shooting for Jersey, you were also working on your first web show with Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (Raj and DK). In their recent chat with us, they had mentioned how you took it on as a challenge and the pressure is more on you than them…
And if Jersey works, the pressure is probably back on them (laughs!) No, on a serious note, they had called me for a film, but I asked if they had something in the digital domain. I have loved their work and they have an understanding of narrating a story in an episodic manner in the long form. They were surprised that I was interested, and this was soon after Kabir Singh. They wondered why. My question is: why would Matthew McConaughey go from Dallas Buyers Club to True Detective? He has the maturity to understand that it’s the quality of content that travels. There is an audience waiting to consume good stories and characters. This is the time to go back to the basics. Why did I come here to be an actor in the first place? It’s to be able to tell good stories and play some characters that will help me evolve, challenge my abilities and push me as an actor. I don’t think digital is any smaller than theatrical. It might get bigger. I think we’re also being hypocritical here — we love content, but we want to discriminate between the content we’d like to work on as actors. Do it, enjoy it. Over-calculation is not so much fun.

In the last eight years, while your volume of work has gone up, do you try to strike a balance between work hours and family time? Do you consciously choose roles that will also make your kids proud of you when they grow up?
Yes, I do. Once you are married and have kids, you realise that, that is where life begins. Everything just converges. There is a thrust, focus and clarity in every sphere of life. I have felt that shift and I am grateful for it. As for Mira, when we fight, I use it all for my intense scenes, and when we have happier moments, I use that energy to spread positivity. It works for me in every way.

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