A guiding force can be an invaluable support in the early years of one’s career. For Ishaan Khatter, half-brother Shahid Kapoor has been his unflinching support system. Their relationship, he says, has evolved in the past few years as Khatter followed in the actor’s footsteps and forayed into movies. So does he seek career advice from Kapoor? Yes and no. While their career paths form a major part of their conversation, Khatter says their common interests bind them together.

“I always seek his guidance. He is an essential figure in my life, and has been a [source] of love and learning. I’m always looking to give him back the joy and companionship in whatever way I can. We are evolving into an interesting phase; we are becoming each other’s confidant as we can talk about more things now. Plus, we have similar passions. So, we go riding, and watch films together.”

When it comes to his choice of projects though, Khatter always follows his instincts. After unconventional projects in Beyond The Clouds (2018) and A Suitable Boy (2020), his creative instincts have now led him to Phone Bhoot, a horror comedy with Katrina Kaif and Siddhant Chaturvedi. The idea is to experiment at this point.

“I am at [the early stages] of my career. I have been fortunate to get varied roles, and be accepted in most of them. There is a lot to explore [in terms of stories]. I feel enriched as an artiste when I [experiment]. I feel a sense of responsibility too. So, I am thoughtful about the choices I make.”

Phone Bhoot, directed by Gurmmeet Singh, teams him up with Kaif — someone he has admired for long. For Khatter, his rawness and her experience made for an interesting confluence. “She has so much experience as a star and actor, and has worked with interesting filmmakers. I was curious to see how it would be working with her. On set, she is hard-working and a thorough professional.”