The new year marks the beginning of Arjun Kapoor’s second decade in the movie industry. If the past 10 years have taught him something, it is to retain the hunger and spontaneity that he possessed when facing the camera for the first time, for Ishaqzaade (2012). The actor reflects, “When you start out, you make choices impulsively. After a point, you’re told to be strategic. Then, life comes full circle, and you realise the child in you should always remain. Today, I hold on to the thought of what Arjun [of 2012] wanted to do — he wanted to do good work, and be emotional about his choices rather than calculative.”

His latest release, Kuttey, is a prime example of Kapoor following his heart. Debutant director Aasmaan Bhardwaj’s crime comedy may be viewed as a risky move by some. But Kapoor says one Zoom call is all it took for him to come on board. “The father [filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj] had made Kaminey [2009], and the son was making Kuttey. I knew I was in safe hands. Vishal Bhardwaj has a certain aura [that has been built through] his music and writing. Then Luv [Ranjan, producer] came on board. So, we had two producers who would back Aasmaan’s vision completely. We haven’t pitched Kuttey like a quintessential movie. It is new-age cinema, made with complete honesty, for the audience that is eager to see actors and filmmakers push the envelope.”

That the film brought together some of today’s finest actors — from Naseeruddin Shah to Tabu, and Konkona Sen Sharma — only reaffirmed Kapoor’s faith in it. The actor was particularly looking forward to sharing screen space with Tabu. “She made her debut in my father’s [producer Boney Kapoor] film, Prem. Even today, we share the same playful banter. I often say, ‘Kuttey toh bahana tha, mujhe toh Tabu ke saath kaam karna tha’.”

He counts himself lucky to have worked with Sen Sharma in the movie. “I just wanted to tell her how much I love her work as an actor and director.”