A special appearance in War (2019) might have put the spotlight on her momentarily, especially when she matched steps with Hrithik Roshan in Ghungroo, but there’s more to Vaani Kapoor than her dancing skills. This year, the actor is looking forward to three releases that have her working with the cream of the crop — Shamshera with Ranbir Kapoor, Bellbottom with Akshay Kumar and Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui with Ayushmann Khurrana. “This feels like a special year when I can show my diverse range as an artiste,” she says. 

In the seven years since her Bollywood debut with Shuddh Desi Romance (2013), Kapoor has fronted only three Hindi films. She admits she felt the pressure to be more visible in an industry where out of sight is often out of mind. “While many have consistently told me to be more visible through my films, I have believed in choosing quality over quantity. I was always prepared to wait rather than choose projects in a hurry. Fortunately, I’m dabbling in three different genres with my upcoming films. I have always wanted to be an actor who stretches herself creatively and isn’t afraid to take risks. These films have helped me do that,” says the actor, who has attempted a period drama in Shamshera and a love story in the Khurrana-starrer. With Ranjit M Tewari’s Bellbottom, she goes back to the ’80s and gets a taste of spy thrillers. 

Taking it one project at a time, Kapoor is happy to play by her own rules instead of getting caught up in the rat race. “I am in the driver’s seat, charting my own course. I want to be seen in credible films; it doesn’t matter if I am not the one driving the narrative. Being part of good films makes you get noticed as all directors notice promising work.”