Showing posts with label Anshula Kapoor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anshula Kapoor. Show all posts
Been missing mum more since Rohan Thakkar proposed-Anshula Kapoor
9:50 AM
Anshula Kapoor and her fiancé Rohan Thakkar (middle) pose with Janhvi, Boney, Khushi and Arjun Kapoor
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 6, 2025)
Just days after we broke the news of social media personality and producer Boney Kapoor’s daughter Anshula getting engaged to beau, screenwriter, Rohan Thakkar, the couple dropped heartwarming photos from the event. They were surrounded by close friends and family for their gor dhana ceremony, a Gujarati version of an engagement ceremony.
The 34-year-old tells us why they chose to have their gor dhana, at home in Mumbai, and that it was her father’s wish too. She says, “Rohan and I always imagined our gor dhana to be a close-knit celebration with family. We wanted it to be cosy, warm, and intimate, and we are glad that’s exactly how it turned out to be.”
Anshula adds that the decor and vibe of the celebration took inspiration from a mix of their ‘favourite things, people and memories’, with nostalgic touches from their relationship and childhood.
As she steps into a new phase, Anshula opens up about feeling the absence of her mother (the late Mona Shourie Kapoor) more deeply than ever. “Since the day Rohan proposed, I’ve been missing mum even more. The grief has resurfaced so strongly, and I knew I needed her close to me. That’s why I had her words, ‘Rab Raakha’, embroidered on the back of my outfit. She was always my wings, my biggest support system, and I knew I needed to feel her with me while I’m at the cusp of starting a new chapter in my life,” she tells us.
We are waiting for Anshula, Rohan Thakkar to come back so we can decide the wedding date-Boney Kapoor
8:41 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; July 8, 2025)
A few days ago, Anshula got engaged to screenwriter Rohan Thakkar in New York. She shared the news on her Instagram with dreamy photos of the proposal that happened at NYC's Central Park, in front of the famous Belvedere Castle. In her post, Anshula, who met Rohan on a dating app in 2022, wrote, “’I’ve never been the girl who believed in fairytales, but what @rohanthakkar1511 gave me that day was better. Because it was intentional. Thoughtful. Real. Us. I said yes (sic).”
Anshula's father, producer Boney Kapoor is over the moon about the daughter's engagement. Reacting to the happy news, he told us, “I am really happy and elated. This was the best day. I wish this had happened when my mother was alive. When I heard it, I was absolutely delighted. It’s the best news I've heard in some time.”
Boney shared that the family is now looking forward to discussing the wedding. “Everybody is excited. We are waiting for them to come back so we can decide the wedding date. We need to talk to them”.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he added, “I am grateful to my mother (Nirmal Kapoor, who passed away in May), she couldn’t manage it when she was alive, but as soon as she went up, she managed it.”
By day six of The Traitors, I knew I needed therapy-Anshula Kapoor
10:47 AM
Anshula Kapoor on the psychological whiplash of doing the show, The Traitors
Komal RJ Panchal (MID-DAY; July 1, 2025)
Being in the limelight is not a new experience for Anshula Kapoor, having lived with celebrity siblings — Arjun, Janhvi, and Khushi, and father Boney — who’ve been under the camera gaze for long. However, Amazon Prime Video’s The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar, marked her first brush with the screen. While she had decided to enter showbiz, reality shows were not the aim.
“Last year, [I had decided to do] anything that scared me. I was saying yes to things just to not let fear win,” shares Anshula, who, while not having seen the international version of the show, was aware of the game Mafia, often played by children. “BBC explained the format to me. It felt like something strategic and out of my comfort zone.”
Having now experienced the psychological pressures of being on a reality show, she agrees that “knowing it and living it are two different things”.
“It felt like we were all inside a pressure cooker. You’re trying to spot flaws and cracks in people’s façades. It is intense and exhausting. And then, every couple of hours, someone comes to you saying, ‘Trust is rare, betrayal is everywhere.’ You really begin to question yourself and others,” she explains.
Shooting for almost 17 hours a day in an environment built on suspicion took a toll on her mental health. Without access to friends, family, or even just space to decompress, she says the environment became emotionally stifling.
“I had to go back into therapy very intensively after the show. My anxiety was peaking. I wasn’t able to normalize again on my own,” she says. “It stays with you. You begin to triple-guess your instincts, and that’s not easy to come back from. By day six, I already knew I needed therapy.”
While she doesn’t regret doing The Traitors, Anshula is now clear that reality TV is not her cup of tea. “I’m introverted, and my personality doesn’t cater to the kind of reality TV India does. It gave me a lot of insight into myself. It also showed me the importance of mental health. I’m not chasing visibility. I’m chasing peace,” she signs off.
Boney Kapoor on short screen time in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar: "Yeh aap director se poocho"
9:05 AM
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 8, 2023)
Even as all eyes are on his youngest daughter, actor Khushi Kapoor, stepping into the industry with the web film Archies, producer Boney Kapoor recently made his acting debut with Luv Ranjan’s Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar where he played the role of Ranbir Kapoor’s father.
The 67-year-old, who hasn’t watched the film out of “nervousness” yet, says, “Main ghabra raha hoon, samajh nahin aa raha ki maine kaam theek kiya ya nahin.” He adds that a lot of people calling him to congratulate him for his performance have also asked about his short screen time.
Reacting to that, Kapoor quips, “Dialogues ya scenes kum kyun thhe, yeh toh aap director ko poochiye. Write a letter to Luv Ranjan and ask, ‘Aapne itne achche artiste ko waste kaise kar diya?’ But mujhe toh mazaa aaya karke. It was a good and happy unit.”
Kapoor credits his children — Arjun, Anshula, Janhvi and Khushi — for encouraging him to take the plunge into acting. “They pushed me to try acting and said, ‘Papa yeh karna hi hoga’. Unn logon ki wajah se hi main ghus pada acting mein and kar liya,” says Kapoor.
To make people watch the film... that’s a very hard job-Manoj Bajpayee
8:23 AM
Manoj Bajpayee feels that his job is not just to act but to promote his films; who shows up in support is not in his hands
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 23, 2023)
Manoj Bajpayee has had two reasons to celebrate recently: his latest web film Gulmohar, in which he features alongside actor Sharmila Tagore, has been well received by audiences and critics, and he has been awarded an honorary doctorate by a university. However, he remains humble and doesn’t feel deserving of the title “doctor”. As he puts it, “I don’t have the courage to use the word doctor before my name; it is given to those who have devoted their lives to studying. But, I accept it with humility.”
As for Gulmohar, the actor is happy that appreciation has come from all quarters. For Bajpayee, a job well done is half the battle won, and then comes taking the film to the people. “I had called so many people [from the industry] to show Gulmohar, but several of them did not turn up. I didn’t feel bad. I just told myself that I have done my job; I am putting in my best efforts to promote it and create awareness about it. To make people watch the film... that’s a very hard job. [I feel that] one’s job is not [limited] to just giving interviews. It also about strategizing and being the frontrunner of the project [to create more buzz around it],” says the 53-year-old.
When prodded further about people not showing up for his film’s screening and asked him if it affected him at all, and Bajpayee replies, “In the industry, some people are busy; some don’t like watching films at a private screening; and some don’t think it’s significant to show up. People have their own reasons. I don’t mind it. At the end of the day, you can send out an invitation, and it can be met with different intentions. And it is not my job to understand it (the intentions).”
But he appreciates those who go out of their way to show support and solidarity, such as actor Arjun Kapoor, who sent his sister as a representative to watch the film when he couldn’t attend himself. “Arjun sent his sister Anshula (Kapoor, entrepreneur)... This is what it tells you about the character of that person. I will never forget this gesture. These things look small, but they tell so much about people. I want this industry to be that warm and of that nature. I thank everyone who showed up on my invitation; they promoted the film on their own,” ends the actor.
Is Anshula Kapoor in love with screenwriter Rohan Thakkar?
8:25 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 28, 2022)
Anshula Kapoor, tech entrepreneur and sister of actor Arjun Kapoor, seems to have found love. As per several reports and insider information, Anshula is dating screenwriter Rohan Thakkar, who has written for a few cross-language indie projects. The two often go on vacation together, and recently, they were holidaying in Goa; before that, they went on a trip to London.
Ask the 32-year-old about the relationship, and she neither denies nor confirms it: “I wish to politely decline to comment on it or talk about it with the media. Thank you for respecting my wish.”
Thakkar couldn’t be reached for a comment. However, an insider confirms that the two are indeed seeing each other: “It was earlier this year that they started officially dating. Anshula’s family is well aware of Rohan and, in fact, quite fond of him. We won’t be surprised if they soon take the next step.”
Rumours of Anshula dating Thakkar first surfaced after she posted a loved-up boomerang with the lad on social media earlier this month.
I am very keen to play a conventional heroine as I have spent so much time looking for diverse roles-Janhvi Kapoor
7:36 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; November 4, 2022)
While she is beautifully romancing the camera, and in her own words sharing a certain ‘intimacy’ with it, with every film, Janhvi Kapoor is forming a connect, a relationship with the audience. When asked about it, she unflinchingly says, “It’s tough to have an objective view of how people look at you. It keeps changing.”
That’s Janhvi for you, whether it’s a conversation or a portrayal (on screen), her honesty and vulnerability add that special something to her persona. She leads the show in yet another performance-driven film, Mili, backed by her father Boney Kapoor, in collaboration with Zee Studios. The survival thriller, where she is trapped in a freezer, releases today. It’s probably the only time she froze in front of the camera, literally. In a chat with us, Janhvi talks about the film choices she has made, the direction she wants to head, and what moves her heart. Read on…
Your films, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Roohi, Good Luck Jerry, and now Mili, have you playing the titular role. It reflects on your choice of films — performance-driven, unpredictable and each starkly different from the other. Is it by design or coincidence?
I think it is a coincidence. It never occurred to me until it was pointed out. It was never my approach or plan, as I look at every film as an opportunity to grow as an actor. It so happened that these films offered me the most scope from what I was getting.
For an actor of your age and the stage you are at, you have chosen fairly unique and offbeat subjects, and by that, I don’t mean that they aren’t commercially viable. The subjects stand tall, the story drives the show and you pack in all that you got. It must be exciting, but needs guts, right?
I think that’s the thrill of it. I like taking on characters and worlds that are as different from mine and as different from each other as possible. Firstly, it makes my job as an actor easy, as I don’t have to look at a script and say, ‘Oh, how do I play this girl-next-door differently from the previous one?’ The character is already so diverse on paper. Also, I know my life, so if I get a chance to play a glam, urban girl, it will come easier to me, but I don’t know how much that would help me grow as a person. All these characters that I have played so far have added so much to me as a human being. I like the feeling that I am becoming a wholesome person through my art. Having said that, I am very excited and keen to play a conventional heroine now, because I think that I have spent so much time looking for diverse roles that the things that come naturally to me, I haven’t done that. I really want to do that. I want to do the song and dance routine; I enjoy that, and I have grown up watching those movies. I love seeing heroines presented beautifully in these larger-than-life films. I want people to look at me like that and I want the chance to be that way. I haven’t given myself that chance as I have been so caught up in honing my skills as an actor. I didn’t realise it and I think it was arrogant of me to ignore that there is a special skill set required for that kind of performance as well, where you create an impact and make the audience fall in love with you through your nakhras and adaas. I want to do that, and it will be my next challenge.
Mili also marks your first collaboration with your father, Boney Kapoor. Was he deeply involved at every stage of filming?
He is a really creative producer. I have done several films, and I have seen how most production houses have a machinery under the producer to take care of technicalities. In my father’s case, even at this age, I see him flying off to cities to put marketing plans in place, trying to see the cuts of the trailer and songs and ensuring that they are out on time. He is so invested in every detail. Other producers have a team who the actors communicate with, but here I am communicating with him and it is not because he is my father. Just the other day, I was upset with him about this and I told him that you are not 20 something anymore and you have the luxury of deputing work to people, so you don’t need to take flights for one meeting. He says, ‘This is my life, I need to be hands-on and that’s the joy of it’. I have always seen him this way, but I had never understood his level of investment until now.
So, your previous film Good Luck Jerry was a remake of a Tamil film, and Mili is a remake of the Malayalam film, Helen. While working on remakes, do you watch the original material and eventually, put in a lot of thought into how you would give the character your own spin?
In the case of Mili, I have seen bits and pieces of the original. If you start out with that approach, then you are not being true to the material that you have. Your agenda should be, mujhe achha kuch karna hai over mujhe alag kuch karna hai. Same ho, alag ho, usse farak nahin padta. Thankfully, Good Luck Jerry was a completely different world, and there was no way that the performance could have been similar. With Mili, the director, (Mathukutty Xavier) who also directed the original, told me that he didn’t want me to see the original film or even read the script. He told me not to learn my lines. He said, ‘You have played characters so much that I don’t know if any film has captured your energy as a daughter, and that is an integral part of the film. So be the way you are with your dad at home.’
So, in that sense, you came on set with a certain unpreparedness and that’s what gave your character the edge it needed?
My director told me that my character isn’t prepared to go into the freezer, so there was no way I could prepare for that. He had built a -15 degrees cold storage that we shot in, where I actually felt cold, shivered and felt suffocated. We would do 15-minute long takes, where he would give me activities for survival, like lighting a fire with the objects I had at hand. It was exciting, and it gave me a lot of freedom. My relationship with the camera grew very intimate with this film. I felt more at home than ever, because I felt like I bared my soul, so now, I can’t ever be shy in front of the camera again.
So, you are saying that in the most contained environment that you shot in, you felt absolutely free as an actress. Interesting.
Yes, I felt so free, and all of those feelings were so visceral. There was no choice but to be open andbare my soul.
Good Luck Jerry released on OTT recently, and earlier, you were part of the web anthology Ghost Stories, which was made for consumption on a digital platform. As a mainstream movie actress, has the OTT wave somewhere changed or influenced your career choices, the way you view cinema, and the way you want to present yourself as an actress?
I would really like to think that it’s a producer’s job to think about how he wants to mount the film and release it — OTT or the big screen. My job as an actor is to pick scripts that resonate with me. I think it is silly to look at a film and say, ‘Yeh OTT hai toh iska performance aise hoga.’ Yes, when it comes to choices, there is an awareness that a certain kind of film might be more viable on OTT. However, I don’t like that to jade my approach towards my work too much.
Right. But OTT does give you more choices, more freedom and opportunities to present yourself in different ways…
Yes, there is a sense of liberation knowing how much reach the OTT platform has now. I think, at one point, there was a stigma attached to it… ki yeh toh digital pe jaayegi, and people would act like…yeh toh barbaad ho gaye! Now it’s something to be excited about, given the huge global reach that digital platforms have. I am glad that the evolution of the OTT platform has happened and has spoiled us for choices. Having said that, nothing can take away from the magic of cinema on the big screen and the community viewing experience.
From your first film Dhadak to now, do you believe that you have found more acceptance and more love from the audience? Did you ever fear that, given your privileged background (and there are often discussions around privileged actors in Bollywood), you would take a bit longer to get there?
When I am asked this question, on some days, I feel great and think that people are finally noticing my work, and then, on some days, I feel maybe they will never notice. So, I don’t know… it’s tough to have an objective view of how people look at you. It keeps changing. You do one right thing and you are everyone’s favourite for five minutes, and then, you do one wrong thing, and everyone hates you for the next ten minutes. It’s very transient. I have realised that I don’t want to get too attached to people’s opinions of me. I am confident in knowing that I have a lot to offer as an actor, and by that, I mean my hard work more than anything else. I know that I still have a long way to go. I am ready to keep my head down and keep working. As far as what people think of me, maybe you should ask me after Mili releases, I will have more clarity (laughs!).
In an interview with us, your dad said that we should wait and watch you in a full-on comedy role, as your comedy timing is great and that you get your sense of humour from your mother. What do you say?
At home, they all call me a joker, even my mom would call me a joker. I think my humour comes from my mom’s side of the family, because I spent a lot of time with them. Khushi’s humour is more like the Kapoors, and mine is more like the Ayappans.
Is there any other quality or trait of your mother that you see strongly in you?
I think it is my hyper nature, especially when it comes to Khushi and dad. I can deal with anything, but if I feel that dad is upset with me, or something is off with Khushi, or if Arjun bhaiyya and Anshula didi aren’t in a good frame of mind, it throws me off and I can’t sleep, I feel uneasy and become a wreck.
There is a lot of talk, debate, confusion and even chaos in our industry about what is working on the big screen and what is not. Some believe that larger-than-life films will bring in the audience, while some believe that we have to put out the best content, and that’s all that matters. With Mili hitting the theatres today, are you more anxious about it than you would be pre-COVID times, given the current scenario?
I am a firm believer that there is a realignment happening in the film industry, but that doesn’t mean that a good film won’t get its due. And does getting its due mean the same monetary value it got pre-pandemic? Maybe not. We will have to change our barometer to measure the kind of love a film gets. So, I am hopeful for the sake of my dad and also because I believe a lot in what we have made. I think it will get its due.
Anshula Kapoor is quite a taskmaster herself, and looks forward to her workouts-Priyanka Mehta
8:37 AM
Before and After: Anshula Kapoor
Trainer to Arjun Kapoor’s sister Anshula credits her for her consistency
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 5, 2022)
You may have read about the importance of encouraging girls to adopt the body-positivity movement, but if you’re looking for a real-life story of a woman actually doing so, Anshula Kapoor is the person you need to follow.
Actor Arjun Kapoor’s sister opens up about her commendable weight-loss journey on social media, discussing daily triumphs like becoming comfortable in sleeveless tops, and getting over the fear of donning a swimsuit.
It is under the guidance of trainer Priyanka Mehta that Kapoor has, till today, managed to shave 40 kilos. “We started working with her in February 2021, when she was 115 kilos. Back then, we couldn’t include exercises that required her to engage her core, or led to an elevated heart rate. We had to progress very slowly, and any and all achievement could be brought about by consistency alone,” says Mehta, adding that during the first six months of her journey, they only worked on strength training activities that targeted the full body.
“We still didn’t know how her body would [shape up], and had to hence target all the muscles at one go. She would train thrice a week. And while it usually takes eight weeks to see any tangible change, she began to respond within four. Then, we targeted individual body parts and toned her arms, back, and thighs. First, you began to notice that her face was becoming leaner, and eventually her waist [size] reduced. This was fat-loss in the truest sense. We subsequently began changing her regimen every eight weeks, adding functional movements, and then explosive exercises that elevated her heart-rate. What she has achieved is owing to a mix of everything.”
By designing “short and intense” routines that Kapoor executes five times a week, the trainer attempts to reduce her body fat percentage, and up her muscle mass. “Now that the inches have reduced, we are focusing on helping her acquire a toned look. Fortunately, she enjoys strength training, and we don’t need to compel her to do exercises that she dislikes, like cycling. She is quite a taskmaster herself, and looks forward to her workouts. On the days that she becomes lazy, she is inspired by how far she has come, and that brings her back to training.”
Being well-read, Kapoor, we’re told, is aware of the grains that suit her. She avoids gluten, and enjoys Gujarati meals. “She knows which grains work for her, and only consumes those.”
I look up to Arjun bhaiyya for the man he is. I am lucky to have him in my life-Janhvi Kapoor
8:10 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 10, 2022)
For the last two-three years, festivals had somewhat lost their charm — the warm, family gatherings, large meals, laughter and the feeling of joy that comes with having every loved one in the room. With lockdowns becoming a faint memory of the past, Raksha Bandhan this year is being celebrated in all its glory around the country. Celebrity homes and families are no exception to that. With Raksha Bandhan coming up tomorrow, Janhvi Kapoor is looking forward to spending some much-needed time with her siblings, Arjun, Anshula, Khushi, and her cousins.
Janhvi says, “Raksha Bandhan, for me, always symbolized a day when the whole family gets together, no matter how busy we are. We cousins get together and have a nice meal. There’s a warm, fuzzy feeling of seeing family around, feeling a renewed sense of security and catching up with each other, which we don’t have the luxury of always. We always have lunch at either Sanjay chachu (Sanjay Kapoor), Anil chachu (Anil Kapoor) or daadi’s house.”
Janhvi adds, “It will be the same this year, too. It will be a huge feast with the family. The celebration is quite simple and basic, but it’s just a lot of fun to get together. Hopefully, it will all be the same this year, too.”
Talking about her most memorable Raksha Bandhan celebration, she adds, “The first time when I tied Arjun bhaiyya a rakhi was definitely the most memorable Raksha Bandhan for me. It wasn’t too long ago, but it was special.”
Janhvi believes that the sense of security and warmth that she gets from her siblings has made her stronger as a person. “I think with every passing year, I’ve felt stronger and more secure because of the love and the strength of my siblings, and more so in the past couple of years. Khushi and I have always been extremely protective of each other, but now, there are two more siblings in the equation — Arjun bhaiyya and Anshula didi. Right off the bat, there was a sense of ‘we are there for each other’, ‘we have each other’s backs’, and that we want to be a family in whatever sense of the word we can make that happen. It means the most to us that we get to be there for each other. I sleep better knowing that I have two such solid people looking out for me. I hope they feel the same for me because I know that I’d do anything for them.”
As siblings, an important element of growing up also involves helping each find perspective and evolve emotionally as better versions of oneself. When asked how her siblings and she contribute to each other’s lives in this respect, Janhvi says, “As brothers and sisters, you grow through each other’s experiences and learn from one another. I feel fortunate to have two such wonderful elder siblings who have seen so much in life, have so much wisdom and feel a sense of responsibility to guide me. I don’t think I would trust anyone’s judgement over theirs. I feel the same way for Khushi, who is younger than me. I wish everything that I have learnt and gone through only influences her to make better decisions than I have in my life. The one prayer that I have for my brothers and sisters is that they should just keep growing and be exemplary people. I wish they continue learning, get all the experiences they desire from life and love what they are doing.”
The Kapoors are one tight unit, and while Janhvi’s siblings are her core support system, she explains that every brother-sister relationship is different. When asked to define an ideal brother-sister relationship, and how close to that she thinks her equation with Arjun is, an emotional Janhvi says, “There is no such thing as an ideal relationship. If there is a sense of trust, security, and understanding, these things can mean different things to different people, and that relationship is as close to being an ideal one. I have all of these in a modern, new and alternate capacity with Arjun bhaiyya. I look up to him for the man he is. What I share with him is a special relationship. I am just lucky to have him in my life.”
Images: Anil Kapoor’s daughter Rhea ties the knot with Karan Boolani
8:06 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (August 16, 2021)
Rhea Kapoor and her long-time boyfriend Karan Boolani tied the knot on August 14. Giving the grand band baja baraat a miss, the couple instead went in for a cozy family affair at Anil Kapoor’s home in Mumbai. Big sister, Sonam arrived in the city exactly a month ago from London. Guess she was here for the wedding prep. On Saturday evening, the Kapoor residence was abuzz with relatives and close friends who arrived to join in the intimate celebrations.
Guests included Boney Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Anshula Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor, Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor along with son Jahaan Kapoor, and Masaba Gupta.
As the couple sealed their relationship, Anil Kapoor stepped out of his house with boxes of sweets and personally distributed it to the paparazzi waiting outside. He was heard telling the photographers, “Dil se de rahe hai, aashirwaad do, aap logo ke good wishes do. Thank you so much. Jaise Sonam ko aapne wish kiya, aaj Rhea ko wish kijiye, please.”
Right after the celebrations, while guests posed for the shutterbugs, Rhea, dressed in a red bridal ensemble, zipped off in a car along with Karan. Rhea and Karan’s love story goes back a long way. Karan was the first AD on Sonam-starrer Aisha, produced by Rhea. The two reportedly started dating while working on this project. He has also directed a few episodes of Anil Kapoor-starrer 24.
The two have been attending each other’s family functions and social events, and have been a part of each other’s family portraits for a while now. The Kapoor family has also been quite open about Rhea and Karan’s relationship. At the time of Pagalpanti’s (2019) release, in an interview with BT, Anil said, “I am very friendly with Rhea’s boyfriend Karan.”
Here’s wishing the couple a happy married life.
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (August 16, 2021)
Actor Anil Kapoor’s daughter and producer Rhea Kapoor got married to her boyfriend, Karan Boolani, in a low-key ceremony on Saturday at her father’s bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai.
Ditching big fat wedding revelries, the couple opted for a private affair, celebrating the moment with just their family members, including sister Sonam K Ahuja and Anand Ahuja, and close friends.
After the ceremony, the father of the bride stepped out to distribute sweets to the paparazzi standing outside the house, urging them to bless the newly wed couple. In a video that has emerged online, he is seen saying, “Dil se de rahe hai, blessing do... Jaise Sonam ko aapne wish kiya, aaj Rhea ko wish kijiye, please.”
While the newly married couple didn’t pose for the media after the ceremony, they were clicked making an exit from the house. Rhea was seen in a red outfit with sindoor and a sparkling ring on her finger. Her husband Boolani looked stunning in a sherwani.
We have helped about 30,000 people across India and raised Rs 1 crore to aid them-Arjun Kapoor
7:59 AM
Arjun Kapoor on how celeb fundraising platform, founded by sister Anshula and him, has raised over Rs 1 crore to help 30,000 workers
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 29, 2021)
In the one-and-a-half years since Arjun and Anshula Kapoor launched Fankind, they have enabled several wide-eyed fans to meet their screen idols, giving them an experience of a lifetime, while raising funds for charity. As the country reels under the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, the online celebrity fundraising platform has ramped up its efforts to lend a helping hand. Arjun reveals that the programme, through patrons’ donations and virtual activities, has raised Rs. 1 crore over the past few months.
“The pandemic has made us stare at an abyss of suffering. It has made us all step forward and help as many people as possible. Anshula and I have tried to contribute through Fankind. We have helped about 30,000 people across India and raised Rs 1 crore to aid them,” says the actor.
The platform, in association with local not-for-profit organisations across states, utilised the funds to provide monthly food kits and hygiene kits that included masks, gloves and face shields, to the needy. It also offered financial assistance to migrant workers in Mumbai to reach their hometowns. “It makes me proud that the platform has supported those in serious need.”
I am an amateur, but I am excited to act with Ranbir-Boney Kapoor
8:20 AM
The filmmaker talks exclusively to Bombay Times about his full-fledged acting debut and tells us about the time he came close to making his Bollywood debut in the past
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; January 12, 2021)
While this will be his full-fledged acting debut, he recently did a cameo where he played himself for a film on a digital platform. In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, he says, “Acting never crossed my mind. My hands were full as a producer. I have been an AD (assistant director), assistant editor, production controller, producer, and now, I am an actor. Yes, I am playing Ranbir Kapoor’s father in the film. He is a terrific actor as we all know, and I am an amateur, but let’s see how it goes. I am excited to work with him. I was apprehensive about juggling between acting and production. I have five films lined up as a producer. Initially, Anil (brother Anil Kapoor) was also reluctant about this as he knows the kind of responsibilities one has as a producer, but later, he told me to go ahead.”
The filmmaker’s actor-son Arjun Kapoor played a pivotal part in pushing his father towards acting. Boney reveals, “I had said no to Luv Ranjan. He reached out to Arjun, and he, along with my three daughters (Anshula, Janhvi and Khushi), convinced me to do it. Arjun told me that Ranjan had me as a reference point — that of a ‘Punjabi father’ — when he wrote this part. So, he thought I was ideal for it. Acting requires you to do what the director asks you to, so I wasn’t sure, but Arjun said that I just need to be myself. He even told me that this would be a good change and also an opportunity to stay away from production stress for a bit.”
Not many are aware, but Boney was first offered a role by Yash Chopra in Lamhe (which starred Sridevi and Anil Kapoor). “I wasn’t sure if Yash ji was serious, but he had offered me the part in Lamhe, which was eventually played by Deepak Malhotra (Sridevi’s husband in the film). I never took it seriously. I guess he knew that I just wanted to be close to Sri (smiles),” he shares.
That’s not all. Boney was also supposed to play Anil’s father in a college play when the two were studying in St Xavier’s College. He says, “Amjad Khan had directed the play. Anil fell ill on the day of the play, and some other guy played his part, but I was supposed to play his father in it. I remember Satish Shah had a crucial role in it, too.” He concludes with a smile, “At least seven-eight members from our family are actors now! My children are excited for me, and that makes me happy. Isn’t that great?”
The idea should be to keep our spirits high-Arjun Kapoor
8:47 AM
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 17, 2020)
For Arjun Kapoor, the biggest side effect of not being able to work (due to Coronavirus lockdown) is having “no human interactions”. He says: “You can only work so much through video conferencing/technology. Also, when you go to the sets and have a call time etc., there is a certain discipline. Not just me, all the actors are like, ‘sets pe vaapas kab jaane ko milega?”
Nowadays, Arjun is “relaxing, watching films and working out”. He adds, “I don’t get to sleep enough as I don’t get tired enough. I even tried my hand at ‘quintessential baking’ but it didn’t work out well (laughs). On a serious note, I feel the idea should be to have discipline as well as patience; and keep our spirits high. I hope we all come out as better human beings.”
At the same time, Arjun is “extremely thankful” too. “It goes without saying that we’re the fortunate ones to have at least the financial stability when so many are struggling. We shouldn’t complain about anything. I feel, as human beings, we’ve realised how fickle life is, and that you must enjoy finer, simpler things. Otherwise, we just work at rocket speed,” he says.
The actor is also doing whatever he can to lend a helping hand as he did recently along with his sister, Anshula — he went on a virtual date with fans to raise funds for the families of 300 daily wage earners. “Apart from whatever else I’ve done, I wanted to help more people, and am thrilled with people’s response to it,” he says.
Lastly, what’s the first thing he’ll do when things get back to normal? “I’ll meet my friends and family. I’d like go back to the sets, and also experience a film in a theatre,” he says.
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Arjun’s watch-list!
“I’ve been watching a lot of old films/shows such as Argo, The Social Network and even the old Dostana. I’m also reading a lot about some great, master film-makers and writers etc. Plus, I’m catching up on many master-classes on an online app. I last enjoyed Aaron Sorkin’s (the writer of The Social Network, and the hit TV show, The Newsroom) master-class and loved it.”
People don’t spare even Virat Kohli and our honourable PM-Arjun Kapoor
7:39 AM
Hitting out at trolls, actor Arjun Kapoor says people nowadays ‘find happiness by putting others down’; adds social media chatter doesn’t affect films’ business
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 16, 2019)
Nowadays, actors and filmmakers are forced to contend with a new challenge of sorts — trolls. And Arjun Kapoor is no different. But the actor refuses to lose sleep over it, as he feels it has become the order of the day.
“People don’t spare even Virat Kohli [Indian cricket team captain], our honourable Prime Minister [Narendra Modi], or for that matter, anyone else. Everyone is now a source of humour for people. I guess that’s just the way the world has become. People, now, find happiness by putting others down,” says the actor.
Although, a section of people feel that trolls, in a way, impact a film’s commercial prospects, Arjun doesn’t believe so. “Social media is, anyway, not real. In the past one year itself, we have seen that even if a film got a large amount of [positive] chatter on social media, that didn’t contribute to its box office results. Likewise, the amount of negative chatter some films got also didn’t affect their prospects,” says the actor, who was trolled with memes etc., when his latest film, Panipat’s trailer came out.
The actor adds, “I believe that social media has a section of people who aren’t true cine-goers per se. I don’t think the film-going audience participates in a large number on social media. They are very different kind of people. By now, we are all part of social media. And we know that it can’t be taken so seriously that we lose sleep over it.”
A few days back, Arjun shared a hand-written poem — which he had written to his late mother, Mona Kapoor, as a kid — with fans on his social media accounts. “There are so many things that I would want to share with her but I just can’t. So, instead, I share it with the world thinking that maybe, wherever mum is, she will read it, see it or feel it,” he says.
Talking about his film, Arjun points out his personal connection with filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker and his 2001 hit, Lagaan. “As an actor, when you make a list of things you want to achieve, you are like, ‘period film karunga.’ Also, Ashu sir made Lagaan, and mum had loved it. So, she would have been happy to know that I worked with him. Or she would have loved to see that I am now teaming up with a female director [Kaashvie Nair on his next with Rakul Preet Singh]. The day I posted the letter, I was shooting for Panipat, and felt that mum would have loved the story [of the film]. So, I put up the poem that Anshula [Kapoor; sister] had shared with me that day itself,” concludes the actor.
The pursuit of happiness!
“Sometimes, when you showcase just happiness, people don’t connect that much with you. But I realised that day [when I posted the poem; inset image] that like me, there are many who have been through a similar experience. And they all connected with me. So, at times, grief can make people connect. Aur thoda halkapan feel hota hai that you are able to share your story, because usually, sadness sunne ka time toh kisi ke paas nahi hai. Sometimes, it feels good to share the sadness or grief with someone who can feel lighter with that story, as it is good to be connected with emotions rather than always behaving strong.”
Alia Bhatt to bake a cake soon, but not for beau Ranbir Kapoor
7:59 AM
DNA (August 20, 2019)
Last year, Alia Bhatt had baked a special cake for Ranbir Kapoor on his birthday, which falls on September 28. While his next birthday is still a month away, the Raazi actress is all set to make a pastry, this time to raise funds for a charity as part of Arjun Kapoor’s sister, Anshula Kapoor’s initiative, Fankind. The 26-year-old will invite her fans to ‘bake a cake’ with her. The fan has to transact for a minimum of Rs 300 or multiples thereof on the platform, and they will then stand a chance to have the experiential of making a cake with Alia. All proceeds will go to World For All that stands for the protection of stray animals.
When asked about interacting with her admirers, Alia says, “Fan love is so generous, they don’t even know us as individuals but yet there is so much fondness that inspires us to continue the good work. I still remember giving my first autograph to this little girl by the name of Sukham.”
A source informs that while shooting for the promo, the crew was seen arranging for two dozen cakes and cookies. After the shoot, the whole crew had a cake party. Anshula says, “Alia is extremely professional, arrives before time and whatever she does, it’s with all her heart. With this initiative, we want to bring smiles to the fans and give them the best experiences of their lives, while raising funds for multiple charities in India.”
Despite what I’ve seen I have faith that marriage is good-Arjun Kapoor
8:25 AM
Actor Arjun Kapoor on his difficult childhood and why he decided to begin again
Anuradha Choudhary (TIMES LIFE; August 18, 2019)
Professionally, do you believe you are on the right track now?
I will not lie. My last few Fridays have been a reality check. I take responsibility without saying, mujhse galti ho gayi. It’s an introspective responsibility. I’ve analysed it. I’d like to believe I’m at a good point considering the kind of work I’m chasing. But that does not mean I’m comfortable and relaxed. My aspiration is way higher. I want to be able to carry films on my shoulders with ease.
When you see your colleagues giving 100-crore hits, does it make you insecure?
I’m not an insecure person. I’m a collaborative person. Yes, you have moments of insecurity where you wish you were doing better. That’s natural. But by wishing others ill, you cannot do well. Insecurity should drive you to do better — improve the way you look, the way you think, your performance — rather than leave you bitter.
You’ve said in the past few years, you haven’t looked your best. Why?
I’m capable of looking better. I have to be honest with myself and with the audience. They are paying 500 rupees to watch me. They expect me to look the way I looked when I started out. But I’ve had health issues I don’t talk about. I had a slightly obese childhood (Smiles). Slight is an understatement. That comes with its own ailments. I battle with them constantly. Today, I’m back to feeling my best. I’ve lost all the excess weight. I’m shooting a film where I’m bald and my director is happy with the way I’m looking. I believe I look like a warrior. There’s a certain physicality that the role needed. I was able to achieve that.
Coming to your personal life, what made you come out in the open about your relationship with Malaika Arora?
We’ve come out because we feel the media has given us dignity. There’s a certain understanding that the media has displayed. They have been respectful, kind, honest and decent about it. That’s why I felt comfortable. You recoil when there’s a certain gandagi that comes with the territory. When people purposely irk you by saying, writing or asking things. There hasn’t been any of that. As far as the paps are concerned, we give them photos when walking in and out of a place. We talk to them. There’s a certain ease. I told them: ‘Please don’t sit under the house and make it seem like we’re hiding when we’re not’. I don’t want my neighbours to be disturbed. I don’t want her neighbours to be disturbed. We’re not doing anything wrong. I don’t want the story being conveyed that we’re hiding, when we’re not. They understood that.
Are you getting married?
I’m not getting married. I understand why there are speculations. In my own house people ask, tu shaadi kab kar raha hai? It’s an organic Indian question. If you are with someone for even three days, the marriage question pops up. Shaadi karlo, tumhari umar ho gayi hai, abhi kitna sochoge? For most, in India, 33 is a great age to get married. But not for me. I still have time. If I’ve not hidden my relationship. Why will I hide my marriage yaar? Today, I have some stability in my life and if someone gives me happiness, my family won’t be against it
Are you waiting to get your sister Anshula married first?
That would be a nice organic thing to do. But it’s not so easy to pinpoint that. If she wants to, I’d be happy. If she says, ‘No, I want to wait for a bit’, I’d be okay with that too. She believes in the institution of marriage just as I do. Despite what we’ve seen in our lives, we both have faith that marriage is good. Let her make something out of herself. She’s focusing on her work right now. Hence, I’ve not had the marriage conversation with her (Smiles). Thanks for reminding me, I'll speak to her today.
Is Malaika okay with waiting?
If I could answer on her behalf… the thing is, we both have to still discover each other in a public space and enjoy the comfort of being a couple. We need that ease. We need to take our mind off this pressure of getting married. Sometimes, you just need to be in a relationship. You need to live it; you need to enjoy it for what it is, rather than what it should be according to people. We are at ease with each other. I guess it should be left at that without going into details.
How happy is your family with your relationship?
They are happy. That’s the reason I’ve been able to come out. There’s genuine happiness for me. I’ve been through hell. I’ve been through a roller-coaster... from the age of 10-11 till 33 today. My parents separated when I was around 11 years old. Today, I have some stability in my life and if someone gives me happiness, my family won’t be against it. I’m genuinely happy. That’s why a Friday at the box-office doesn’t decide my life.
How has your relationship with your dad, Boney Kapoor, evolved after Sridevi’s death?
It’s always been good. We haven’t had the need to pick up the pieces of our relationship. If it wasn’t that good, I wouldn’t have been able to take such a big leap of faith. But I guess, he’s emotionally closer to me today. He’s also trying to be a hands-on father. Not with me alone but with all the kids. He’s learnt to prioritise us along with work, which is nice. At 65-plus, being a friend to your child is not easy. But the fact that he wakes up and tries every day... I give him full marks for that. It’s going well so far. We have our moments. We have our difference of opinion in certain things. But that’s normal.
The way you stood by him when Sridevi passed away was truly commendable.
I just remembered my mother (the late Mona Kapoor) at that time. She loved my father and would have wanted me to be there with him. The byproduct of that is that I got to meet two girls (Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor), who are actually not so different from me. In life, you hold on to a lot of questions, there’s a lot of confusion, dilemma... you have so many things that are not answered. Then comes a moment where you just learn how to let go and begin anew. You think why carry the baggage? You are like, chodo yaar, let’s move ahead. Let’s start again. It wasn’t easy but it was the right thing to do.
The idea of 'giving' was something that my mother inculcated in us from when we were children-Anshula Kapoor
8:56 AM
Boney Kapoor's daughter, Anshula Kapoor, on merging charity and fandom with her startup, and why she's better off leading a quasi-celeb life
Anju Maskeri (MID-DAY; August 4, 2019)
She hails from a family that has rarely shied away from the camera, but Anshula Kapoor, daughter of Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor, is the black sheep in the clan. Her only request when we meet on a damp evening in Andheri is that we drop the photo shoot. The statement is more beseeching than arrogant. "I'm usually the one hiding my face and ducking the paps when out with my family," she says. The moment the camera is shuttered, the defenses drop.
The 28-year-old has found a way to work around this quasi-celebrity life. Her new venture, Fankind that launched last week, has her operating behind the scenes, playing facilitator between fans and actors. The online fundraising platform allows the aam admi a chance to experience fun activities like playing paintball, baking and playing cricket with their favourite celebrity. Seventy per cent of the amount is funnelled into a charitable cause that the celebrity supports. Presently, actors Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt are on board. While Dhawan's campaign is in collaboration with Manavlok, a non-profit that supports Maharashtra's farmers, the moolah raised through Bhatt will be used for the cause of animals through Mumbai-based NGO, World For All. "First, you're supposed to pick an experience with a celebrity. Then, donate for a chance to win the experience. For every Rs 300 that the user transacts, the fan has a chance of meeting the celebrity. The selection is done purely through a third party randomiser. Even I'm not involved in that," she says. This is followed up with a screening process and background checks to preempt stalkers from coming on board.
In the last one year, Kapoor has lived the struggler's life; relentlessly chasing celebrities for appointments, waiting in hotel lobbies, making presentations, facing rejection even. It was all part of the challenge that comes with the launch a startup on a shoestring budget.
Before setting out on her own, Kapoor ensured she had an impressive resume to back up her venture. In 2012, the Barnad College graduate worked for Habitat for Humanity International for a project in Cluj, Romania, where she rehabilitated a local family by helping build their first home. On her return, she bagged a job with Google as a representative for AdWords. "I truly lucked out with that," she laughs. "It was an important role because I was working with their advertising arm which helps a brand make money. I had to be on the ball." Later, she joined Hrithik Roshan's sports brand, HRX, as an Operations Manager overseeing the organisational process. Like most entrepreneurs, it was the need to be your own boss that propelled her to float her own venture. "Last year, I took some time out, began networking and sought opinions, because I wasn't confident about the concept back then."
The startup is a product of the adulation that her family—including her—has received over the years. It's not uncommon for her to get cakes, poems and cards on her birthday from fan clubs dedicated to brother Arjun. "I just felt they needed to get something in return for all that love. The idea of 'giving' was something that my mother inculcated in us from when we were children."
Mona Shourie Kapoor, Boney Kapoor's first wife, succumbed to cancer in 2012, days before the release of Arjun's debut Ishaqzaade. The vacuum has been filled by Arjun, says Kapoor. "He is more of a paternal figure than a bro. Sometimes I'm mothering him, sometimes he is." At their home, their rooms are adjacent to each other, which means they can barge in whenever they feel like. While they discuss everything under the sun, each other's dating life is not one of them. But there has been no escaping the newsprint dedicated to Arjun and Malaika Arora's rumoured relationship. "He's six years older to me. We don't really discuss these things. It's awkward," she shrugs. With her step sisters, Janhvi and Khushi, she insists, 'they're in each other's life constantly'. "If you ask me, it's like any other sibling relationship. We go for movies, dinners and hang at each other's houses. And if we're busy, then we just text." What binds the family together is their collective love for sweets. "The rest of them hide it, I don't."
Curiously enough, Arjun is not part of the venture yet. Before pitching the idea to anybody else, she had bounced it off him but it was mutually decided that he stay out of it for now. "Before I approached my father, I wanted to have a solid plan in place because I didn't want him to think it's something frivolous."
He, after all, can be brutally honest with his opinion. "He can be a**l about something as small as a picture that we upload on Instagram. When we share it on our family WhatsApp group, he will comment on why the curtain in the background is not in place. He wants it to be perfect. He is more straightforward than Arjun bhaiyya. We, as a family, have no filter," she laughs.
For now, Arjun has been backing her up with all the support she needs. In fact, our interview is peppered with missed calls from him. "It's about a technical detail that needs to be fixed," she says, rushing out to take charge.
Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Prajakta Koli join Arjun Kapoor's sister Anshula’s charity venture
8:11 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 1, 2019)
Almost all the B-Town stars are active on social media and keep their fans updated about the goings-on in their lives and movie sets. Taking this star-fan connect to another level, Arjun Kapoor’s sister Anshula Kapoor has launched a unique online fundraising platform called Fankind, which, we hear, will give fans a chance to experience a fun activity with their favourite celebrity while supporting and raising funds for a charity. The capers could include anything from playing paintball to baking to playing cricket.
Gen Next stars like Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and digital sensation Prajakta Koli aka MostlySane have already become a part of Fankind. Online donation platform GiveIndia has been roped in as the philanthropy partner to help ensure that the donations raised for each charity are put to the best use.
Says Anshula, “The vision of Fankind is simple; to make fans smile by giving them one of the best experiences of their lives while raising money for multiple charities across the country. With each experience, our aim is to be able to raise the goal amount of funding required by the NGO, to ensure that the defined micro-campaign can be implemented comprehensively and successfully. At the same time, we want to be able to deliver magical memories to the fan and make their entire journey with the celebrity as special as possible.”
She adds that they look forward to working with more than 30 charities in the first year. “It would be a big win if we can take even a little bit of the pressure of fundraising away from the NGOs and help them better channelise their energy into doing good work and creating a positive change. The ultimate goal is to make people more open to the idea of philanthropy. In the colloquial sense, we make philanthropy cool.”
Incidentally, Anshula has done her BA in Urban Studies from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York and her first job out after graduating from college was with Google.
Even though I come from a broken home, I believe in marriage-Arjun Kapoor
8:06 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; June 7, 2019)
Arjun Kapoor has not been very vocal about his personal life, but in a recent chat with BT, the actor spoke about family, marriage plans and his relationship with Malaika Arora. Excerpts...
The fact that Malaika is older than you has been the talking point for trolls...I wouldn’t even want to speak about this and give it importance. It doesn’t matter to me, so I don’t want to justify anything.
While you haven’t spoken about your relationship, you didn’t try to hide it either…
I respect the fact that the media has been so respectful about our relationship. We are not hiding anything either. I am in a good personal and professional space. I hope it continues this way. I don’t want to go into the details right now. There has to be dignity in the way you conduct yourself in a relationship, and I want to maintain that. I would like to talk about it as time unfolds rather than jumping the gun. We have opened the doors to the world to know that we are together. When the time is right, I will go into details and speak about it.
Speculations about your marriage continue...
It’s people’s job to speculate and mine to clarify. Log shaadi ke baad takle hotey hain. Main shaadi ke dauran takla nahi hona chahta. (He’s shooting for a film, for which, he has shaved his head). I am not interested in getting married right now. I am 33 and marriage is not the be all and end all of a relationship. There’s more to discover and explore about each other.
Do you believe in marriage?
Even though I come from a broken home, I believe in marriage. I see a lot of happily married couples around. I believe it is a good option to have. But that doesn’t mean you can jump the gun and go straight to it. Life has to lead you to it. You have to discover things, enjoy the relationship’s ups and downs, and then see where it takes you.
Sonam (Kapoor) is married and so is Ranveer (Singh). So many celeb marriages happened in the past two years. Is there any peer pressure to tie the knot?
Peer pressure hota hai pehli drink peeney ke liye. Shaadi ke liye peer pressure nahi hota. That’s a teenage thing. When you are mature enough to take decisions on your own, peer pressure doesn’t matter. Nobody can ever tell me what to do. You need to feel these things from within. That’s the way it should be. Well-wishers can always tell you what they think. They are there to help you out, but at the end of the day, I know my family and friends have always been respectful of who I am as a person. They will always be supportive, but nobody ever tells me that you must do something because everybody else is doing it.
You spoke about coming from a broken home. The aftermath of a tragedy (Sridevi’s death) got your sister Anshula and you closer to Janhvi and Khushi. How would you describe the bond that you all share today?
We are still discovering each other. It’s not easy. It’s still work in progress. By the grace of God, people have been kind enough to have allowed us that space to grieve and come together, learn about each other. They are very good kids. I ideally wouldn’t have wished to meet them in these circumstances, but maybe we have to make the best out of the worst situation. The other day, Janhvi had come over for dinner. She felt bad that she wasn’t around for the release of my recent film. A year ago this relationship didn’t exist. It’s nice to have more people around you who support and encourage you and who you can share the smallest things of your life with. My dad feels happy that the four of us get along so well. It makes his life slightly simpler, even though he has to deal with most of it alone. At the end of the day, he has lost a partner.
We, as kids, can only support him. This has brought our entire family together, not just the four of us. Anil chachu, Sunita chachi, Sanjay, Maheep, Sonam, Rhea... it’s like we all have become extra protective of each other. A loss makes you realise how delicate and unpredictable life is, which is a reality.
You lost your mother (Mona Kapoor) early on. Who became your support system after that?
It has always been my sister Anshula. The silent support is sometimes more important than the vocal one. We didn’t have any support system except for each other at that point in time. I diverted my mind and attention to work, while Anshula took care of the house. I didn’t want Janhvi and Khushi to suffer the same way. I had my friends and family, but I didn’t engage with them enough. I signed five films and jumped into it. My friends, family, staff and father (though we didn’t live in the same home) did whatever they could for me at that point. I have relied on everyone in small ways. Knowing that they were around gave me courage.
As an actor, why would I want to get married when I am sporting a bald look?-Arjun Kapoor
8:11 AM
Arjun Kapoor on shedding baggage of being from a film family, why his Dibakar Banerjee film is delayed and reuniting with father Boney Kapoor
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 8, 2019)
Arjun Kapoor insists that we sit on chairs instead of the sofa so that he doesn’t slouch during the interview. And even though he is juggling the shoot of Ashutosh Gowariker’s Panipat with promotions for Raj Kumar Gupta’s India’s Most Wanted, he is visibly relaxed and ready to tackle questions. Excerpts:
From being a commercial film actor to playing an Intelligence Bureau officer in a Raj Kumar Gupta film… It has been quite an arc for you.I believe I have always had the knack of juggling all kinds of films. Maybe I am known as a commercial entertainer partly because I am from a film family that has made big films for years. It’s a pre-conceived notion that is difficult to shake off, so I embrace it. That said, I think India’s Most Wanted is today’s commercial film.
Some of your films haven’t fared well…
You live and learn. You see potential in something and go for it. Sometimes it goes beyond expectations and sometimes it falls short. But you can’t throw up your hands and refuse to fulfil a commitment. You ride on your instinct, give it your all and leave it to the audience. No actor is above a Friday. Everyone must auto-correct and analyse because the audience evolves faster than you.
The cinema one grows up watching might restrict their thought process and stepping out of it to understand the new kind of cinema may take time.
Did you also go through this transition?
I signed Mubarakan and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar around the same time. I wanted to go from Anees Bazmee to a Dibakar Banerjee. But today, when I am offered a film, I know that I don’t have to fret over whether the audience will get it. They are more cinema-educated. When they are watching a Badla or a Uri, it’s not for naach-gaana or the cast. It’s because they are genuinely interested in the story.
Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar has been stuck for a long time. Producer Aditya Chopra is reportedly not too happy with the final edit.
You’ll have to ask Adi (about it), but he is impossible to reach (laughs). It is a unique multiplex film and we need a window of opportunity to release it. Namaste England was ready in the time Dibakar sir was cutting the film. So, we pushed it for later as we needed a gap between the two films. Then, Luka Chuppi and Sonchiriya happened to be opening on the same date that we had decided for Sandeep Aur Pinky... Why would you want to get into a three-way tussle? The film is ready and it’s just a matter of releasing it at the right time.
But too many delays also run the risk of losing the buzz among movie-goers…
Dibakar sir is a master craftsman. And if a director like him has taken time to edit a film, there must be a reason behind it.
What was it like prepping for India’s Most Wanted?
I am playing an Intelligence Bureau officer in the film and because of Raj sir, I got the opportunity to meet certain people who work within the community and listen to their stories. During the readings and research, I realised that in their head, these people are just doing their job. You have to be the most selfless person in the world to be in that head-space.
You and your sister Anshula are the most prolific sharers of childhood pictures on the social media. Just how big is your family album?
(Smiles) That’s the way we relive memories of our mother (Mona Kapoor). She used to save pictures from all our birthday parties and other important moments. By the time she passed away, she had a drawer full of albums dating back to the 1970s. Anshula is a replica of her and takes care of these things now. We live in the same house and take each other for granted, not saying in person how much we love each other, but we use the social media for it.
How has your equation with Janhvi and Khushi evolved?
I am still discovering them, and I don’t like to speak too much about it as mujhe lagta hai ke nazar na lage. We were brought together by the worst of circumstances but we’re trying to make the best of it. There is a long way to go before I can truly say that I know them inside out. We have a WhatsApp group that keeps us connected all the time.
Buzz is, you are doing a film with your father, Boney Kapoor. Is it No Entry Mein Entry?
Dad is about to start Ajay (Devgn) sir’s film and has just completed another one with Ajith sir down South. He is focused on that for now. I am hoping we will have something by the year-end to start in 2020.
It must have been difficult as a leading man to shave your head for Panipat.
Ashutosh (Gowariker, director) sir gave me enough time to think about it. And I felt excited about the look. Sometimes, you need to come out of your comfort zone to discover new things that work.
You’ve recently rallied behind leading ladies getting equal footing in film credits alongside male colleagues.
Women have always been hardworking, important and relevant to our films, so why not give them the respect they deserve? It only adds value to my name if Panipat is known as Kriti’s (Sanon, co-star) film.
And it’s about time that leading men spoke up for pay parity.
Pay parity should be all about proving yourself at the box-office and not about gender. If you are bringing footfalls to the theatre, you should be paid a certain amount of money.
While you and Malaika Arora are yet to comment on your relationship status, reports of a wedding have only intensified this year.
Usually men lose hair after getting married and not before (laughs). To put things in perspective, as an actor, why would I want to get married when I am sporting a bald look? There would be pictures of it everywhere! On a serious note, I am not getting married. I have not hidden anything from anyone and I think my personal life deserves respect and dignity for that.
But you are happy to be in love?
I am happy and that is all that matters. I don’t want to add more adjectives to it. My personal and professional lives help me sleep well at night and I would like it to remain like that.
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