Advertisement
Just like his other films, Shahid Kapoor has flawlessly delivered a massive hit, Padmaavat recently. In just 4 days, the film has crossed the 100 crore mark at the box office. Padmaavat has become his highest grosser film of all time. In the film, we saw the Udta Punjab actor essaying the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh and he looks like a royal king in each and every scene. For the first time, we saw Shahid romancing Deepika Padukone in a film and their chemistry has been showcased so beautifully!
Recently, KoiMoi.com met the king himself for a successful interview for his much talked about film Padmaavat. Shahid shared his happiness about the film, how Padmaavat has raised his own bar, chemistry with Deepika, his next with Imtiaz Ali and much more!
Excerpt from the interview:
Advertisement
1. So Shahid, how does it feel? Padmaavat has become your top grosser! What do you have to say about this huge success?
You know everyone is talking about the top grosser only, but it is a great film. The first feeling that I have is that we have come a long way, it’s a year & a half of a journey and there was a time that we were wondering if the film will release or no. So, it’s been a very turbulent journey and emotionally very draining, tiring. We were just waiting to showcase a film and share it with everybody. The first thing that I feel is that validated with the fact that the film has come out and people have said so many beautiful things about the film. You feel good about the fact that the intent, with which the film was made, has been seen and people have loved it. The second thing that I feel is that it was one of the biggest risks of my career to take a role like this because for a long time nobody knew what it is! Many of them told me that why I am doing this film. So, when the film released, I waited for two days to actually see what people say. So, I feel very grateful and thankful because I knew that my character is an underdog in this film. I am so happy that the hero of the film was given that love! And yes, the numbers are also great (smiles)!
2. Do you think a bar has been raised for you to perform better in your upcoming films than what you did in Padmaavat?
It is not about better or worse, it is about different! I think that’s the operative word for me. I’d like to different things and every film & role offers you different opportunities. So you have to fall truthfully on that opportunity. You should never bring your personal aspiration into what is required in a film. It is very important to do something that will benefit the film, to do something what’s right for the film and to learn to be different in every film. So yes, for the next film I am playing a lawyer from a small town, so it will be different from playing what I did in Padmaavat and the attempt will be to do something different. I am very thankful that you think that a bar has been raised which means I did something right in the film (smiles). And of course, I have to raise a bar every time. But I am bound by choices that I get and I must give every film what it needs. At times, the drama is very exciting and sometimes playing loud nosy characters like Tommy Singh is exciting and sometimes playing quiet, subdued, powerful role is interesting and sometimes a very regular guy on the street is interesting! And the sum total of that is how the people should perceive me and not by any individual performance.
3. Your films and performances have always been praised. But if we keep that aside, Padmaavat has set a different benchmark with 100 crores in just 4 days. It has become your highest grosser and highest single day grosser in Bollywood history. So how does it feel coming back in a raging form from the box office point of view?
I don’t know how to answer this question because I don’t really think that the box office is up to any actor. Maybe I can at least speak for the current generation. You see the numbers of actors who work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, you can see the numbers of actors who work with him but he isn’t directing it. How can I take credit for the numbers? Nobody should take the credit for the numbers for Padmaavat. It should be Sanjay Leela Bhansali who should take all the credit. We all know that the actors who work with him, they all jump. I am thankful that he gave me this opportunity and he has also taken me to such wide audience. And I know that in the years to come, it will benefit me. Of course, it is not about Padmaavat, it is what we do after Padmaavat. The film is his credit, what we do after this, will define where we stand in terms of how people view us. I am happy to be the hero of his film because all the heroes of his film become the bigger stars (laughs)!
4. We saw your chemistry with Deepika Padukone in the film and your chemistry has come out really well on-screen. So how was it working with her?
I was doing from romance to drama between Ranveer and Deepika (laughs)! Well, for 10 years or so we have kind of had offers which have come and gone and somehow we have never ended up on saying yes to a film together. And when this film happened, and when sir told me that you both are doing it, so I was like about 10 years we are finally doing film. And this is a film worthy for those 10 years to have happened. So it is great that we have done this film together. In fact, I remember sir saw the film and the minute he got up, he looked back and said, ‘I want you and Deepika to another film together!’ In this film, there was not that much time for the romance, it was very quick. So I think we make a great pair and I am sure we will do something more together in the future. And yes, there is more that can be juiced than what Padmaavat had!
