Image Courtesy: Abhay Singh
What have you been up to lately?
It’s a time of firsts for me. I walked the ramp for the first time the other day. I did my first action sequence based solely on me for Aurangzeb. I’m having date problems for the first time. I got my first car recently. The success of Ishaqzaade is finally sinking in. I like being busy, something I couldn’t relate to earlier. People would say they get so tired they just want to hit the bed at night. I know what that means now. There are days you just want to sleep. I’m enjoying the feeling of wanting that one day off and enjoying a holiday.
How did the transition from fat to fit happen?
Salman Bhai is responsible for that. I was content being overweight because I wanted to be a director. So I went on the sets of Kal Ho Naa Ho, worked with dad (Boney Kapoor) a bit and joined Nikhil Advani as an assistant director during Salaam-e-Ishq. Then I met Salman Bhai. He took me aside one day and said, “I think you should become an actor. If you don’t, you’ll regret it all your life. Your father will support you no matter what choice you make. I will help you, come to the gym.” When Salman Khan says he will guide you, what else do you want? The weight loss was a three-year process. I’d show up at his house at seven in the morning and would be with him till midnight.
We heard Salman was upset with you…
He was one of the firsts to see Ishaqzaade. Salman Bhai and dad saw the film together. Why would a person who is upset with me watch my film? The last person my mother spoke to before she passed away was Salman Khan. When my mum passed away, they were shooting Dabangg2 and they stopped the shoot. They were there at my house.We’re both working for the same company and they said that Arjun Kapoor thinks he is equal to Salman Khan. When did I ever say that? Salman bhai watched my film and tweeted about it. But why will media mention this? Salman Bhai’s like a father figure and has inspired me beyond everything. Adi had kept a special screening for my father and Salman. I was surprised Bhai didn’t criticise me. I could sense that he was proud. This is his victory.
You lost your mom before the release of the film. How did you cope?
I’m trying to deal with it every day. I had a trying time even when I was shooting but my mom never made it difficult for me. She was alone here while I was shooting. She went through her chemotherapy, she recovered and she actually came to Lucknow to watch the shoot. Then on February 20, she fell ill again. The doctor told me she didn’t have much time. They’d managed to kill the cancer cells in the liver. But they showed up in the spinal cord and moved to the brain. And there’s no cure for brain cancer. She went away at 48. She didn’t get to see the best time of my life for which she sacrificed so much. I miss her but I know she’s in a better place. I hope no one has to ever witness a parent go away at such a young age. My room’s next to my mom’s, when I walk in and out, I see it empty. That’s life.
What’s your equation with your father’s second wife, Sridevi?
I’m not sure if I can say it’s developing because every day is a new experience. I’ve accepted the fact that she lives with my dad. My equation with Sridevi is cordial. I’ve been through a lot in life lately so it’s a little difficult for me but I try to give her the respect my father’s wife deserves. No family is picture perfect. Besides, my mother never poisened our minds. The very fact that we can be cordial is an achievement on her part.
Do you interact with their daughters Jhanvi and Khushi?
Once a month maybe. I go there to meet my father. If they are there I meet them too. After a point you can’t be fake. I wish them all the best and happiness. I tell my father don’t pressurise yourself to make it a happy family because we are all happy in our own space. I’ll always be nice to them. They are innocent kids. My family is happy with them, they are sweet. I don’t have a bond with them because I’m not of an age where I can bond.
Do you remember the time when your parents separated?
It was splashed all over the newspapers. The separation was difficult for us, we were just kids. I was 10. I didn’t take it badly because otherwise I would hate my father. There is no hate. There is only pure love. My sister Anshula suffered a bit more because she was younger. It’s a little too late in the day to question why. It’s best to let everyone be, give them space, behave in a civil manner. Even speaking about it is disrespectful because she’s senior in this industry. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. My father does not need it at this point in his life.
As a kid it must have been difficult…
My mom made it easy for us. She didn’t allow her problems come in our way. She stayed in the house with our grandparents in spite of my father not being there so that we could have an equation with the family. She shifted out after 10 years when it got difficult to live there.Obviously, the family had to be nice to her and my dad too. Things got awkward. In the end, my mother chose independence and a little bit of happiness by moving out. My equation with my family is strong. I don’t know how difficult or easy it was for her because she never let it show. Dad was working so he’d come home late and leave early in the morning. The only memory I have of my father is of him biting my cheeks. He’d be sleeping always. Very rarely did he drop us to school but he had to show up a lot in school because of my mischief. My dad would usually come late for birthday parties and later ate with us. I have memories of happier times when the entire family travelled to the Bahamas, Maldives and world tours. Anil chachu’s (Kapoor) career was doing well. It was a good time. But I have more memories of my dad not being around than being around. We had to deal with things in school.
What things?
The separation must have affected me because I started putting on weight. I’d lie that I’m not well and hide in the room. My mother tried to reason with me but she was dealing with her own shit. She let me bunk school. Kids would come and ask, how’s your new mom? I’d get violent. But mom would pacify me and tell me that nothing had changed. That dad may not be staying with us but he was always there for me. I could travel with him. I did travel with him after that. I’d go to the office, to film sets to meet him. I think that’s why I wanted to be part of the industry – to strengthen my ties with him.
What has been your dad’s reaction to your movie?
His batteries are recharged. It’s déjà vu for him. First it was Anil chachu and now me. They say a father must be known by his son’s name. If I can head in that direction I know he’ll be happier. He’s excited now. He wants to make more films. I’m glad I’ve put some positive energy in his life.n
Was it easier to become an actor than lose weight?
Losing weight made me confident. I enrolled in an acting class. After a three-month workshop, I joined Kishor Namitji’s classes. Both helped me realise I could face the camera. I met Shanoo, the casting director for Yash Raj Films, who told me my eyes are arrogant. I told her I wasn’t arrogant but shy. She said stay dedicated, lose some more weight and look sharp because the Chopras want to launch new boys. Ranveer’s Band Baaja Baaraat was being made. She asked me if I would audition. My audition was bang on. When Aditya Chopra called me, it sunk in that I’m going to become an actor. That was the first time I entered Yash Raj Studio from the corporate side. Adi said you’re not the best looking guy but that won’t matter. That was his way of saying stop bothering with your looks. It removed all notions from my head that I was suave and a stunner like Imran (Khan) and Hrithik (Roshan). He said there’s something in your eyes, the way you conduct yourself, you have potential.
You’ve signed Gunday with Ranveer Singh. So are you both the new Imran-Ranbir?
We are both products of Yash Raj Films. We’ve both done un-conventional roles. We are like chalk and cheese. I’m relaxed, he’s hyper. I’ve seen him dance and I’ve tried to match his energy but I just can’t keep up. Because we’re doing Gunday we spend time together.
There were reports that you didn’t get along…
After the film’s release, I threw a party and Anushka Sharma and Ranveer attended it. Why would they come for my party if we didn’t get along? We danced together and had a blast that night. The article was unfair, pure speculation without any quotes.
But you were lining up for Anushka after Ranveer and she broke up…
Lining up for Anushka? I am friends with her. I don’t know what happened when they were dating or not dating. The media wrote we were spotted together. We were with Habib sir and Namrata, the editor of Band Baaja Baaraat. Adi was meeting us. But everyone else got deleted and only we were noticed and written about.
But you were spotted together at other places too…
I went to PVR and she went with her friends. Again it got written that we were alone. I’m good friends with her and that is not going to change.
I get along with Ranveer too. I was never lining up for her. I genuinely got along with her and that is all it was. It’s easy to get along with her, she is as mad as Ranveer. For a person like me with a film background, she comes without any baggage. We’d speak about random stuff that comes with bonding. She’d pull my leg, I’d pull hers. She’s like one of the guys, you can trouble her, she is sporting.
