In just a four-year-long career in Bollywood, actor Janhvi Kapoor has played titular roles in three films already: Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020), Roohi (2021), and the recently released Good Luck Jerry. Her next film, Mili, is also headlined by her. Shouldering a film as the lead, that too this early in her career, isn’t an easy task, and the 25-year-old admits to feeling the pressure: “Because many people, like you, keep reminding me of it (laughs).”

She shares, “This (taking up titular roles) was not a conscious decision. I was very lucky to get a film like Gunjan… and have Karan (Johar; producer) sir, Gunjan (Saxena; Kargil veteran) ma’am, Sharan (Sharma; director) believe in me enough to give me that film. After Ghost Stories (2020), too, I began getting a lot of scripts that allowed me to be the titular character. I feel fortunate to have been able to play these roles in these films.”

Her life-long passion for films could also be the reason why she is up for such challenges. She says, “My education in life has been through films. While this isn’t something I advocate, I skipped my school to watch movies. I have studied for my history exam by watching every World War II film... Mumma (late actor Sridevi) always used to say that I am such a dramebaaz with nakhras. At the back of my mind, I always felt like it was my calling, and I can’t imagine doing anything other than this.”