We’ve often seen him as the tormenting antagonist on screen, but having a conversation with the man who makes acting look like child’s play was a first. On hearing Ashutosh Rana’s passion for his craft and the work he puts in to portray a character, it made us wonder why we don’t see him more often on screen. For now though, the actor is only too happy to tell the story of Maharaja of Bundelkhand with MX Player’s Chhatrasal. Rana talks about his love for history, and portraying Aurangzeb despite being a “bhakt” of the King of Bundelkhand.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

Not in the least. I hail from Bundelkhand, and if a series is being made on the King of Bundelkhand, it was my desire to be part of that narrative. It was a moment of pride and joy for me. Some things that you love come to you much later in life. After this series, I am sure I will be offered more historical projects.

Of course. I am a bhakt of Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundela, so I asked the makers why they didn’t consider me for that part. In turn, they asked me, who would then play Aurangzeb? On hearing this, I fell silent. In his lifetime, [the King of Bundelkhand] ruled for 44 years and won 56 wars. He then challenged Aurangzeb, and freed Bundelkhand from [his grip]. A hero emerges when he wins against a villain who is bigger and more powerful than him. That’s what Maharaja Chhatrasal accomplished all his life. It would’ve been a delight to play such a phenomenal character, but it is equally amazing to play Aurangzeb.

There are few rulers with his combination of traits. While he was a powerful ruler, he had a Sufi style to him. Though he lived in a palace, he lived as a fakir in it. Despite it all, he has been the most powerful ruler of the Mughal empire. Without moving from the throne of Delhi, he controlled almost all of India. We didn’t explore the humane side of him in this series.

This was mainly due to the language barrier. Bundelkhandi is a language that is mainly spoken in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and is not a popular [dialect beyond that region]. That said, his name is not lost in history because several Hindi poets have written about his bravery. I had read the works of Kavi Bhushan. His feats are recorded in history, but since we didn’t learn about him in our history textbooks, we believe he didn’t exist. We may know the name of our father, grandfather and at times even our great-grandfather, but can we name the generation before that? That doesn’t mean they didn’t exist.

I cannot take my or someone else’s clothes off on screen. In Dushman [1998], I played a rapist. But my character Gokul Pandit did not touch Naina or Sonia [Kajol’s characters]. If I’m able to convey the fear of rape without touching, I have achieved the goal. Aesthetics is key even to showcase some of the most horrific acts. Instead of being wild on screen, I strive to create a wild imagination, which is more [impactful]. That is why people still remember me from Dushman and Sangharsh [1999]. I play negative characters, but with a positive attitude.

Arjun Kapoor’s nine-year stint in Bollywood has been a roller-coaster ride of sorts. The actor has seen box-office success followed by films that failed to click. Arjun admits that he fumbled when he based his career choices on what he thought an actor is supposed to do, rather than follow his instinct. However, the release of his recent film made him look at his career path in a new light. In a conversation with BT, the actor talks about different kinds of cinema, and also highlights what he terms the ‘new commercial narrative’ that’s growing in the industry. Read on:

The endeavour is to try and do stuff that excites me at a personal level and also as a member of the audience. Sometimes, you have to be intimate about your selection, because as an actor these are the things you have craved that you would get an opportunity to do. Yes, it has been a tough act to balance because over a span of two-three years, you get masked as a mainstream commercial hero, so you aren’t given enough offers of this kind. Therefore, you have to go and seek that unique and different film rather than it coming your way organically. However, that doesn’t stop me from seeking it.

Also, the lines have blurred from 2012 to 2021, where a film like Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (SAPF) is not looked at just as an interesting choice, or Aurangzeb and Ki & Ka aren’t looked at as offbeat films. They blend with the commercial, or rather, the new commercial narrative that’s growing, and that’s a heartening sign.

In my case, the release of SAPF was affected not once, but twice. First in March 2020, when we had the trailer out and had started the marketing, and then again in March 2021, when we were preparing once more and had to deal with the fact that there was a likelihood of another lockdown. At such a point, you just accept the fact that the film is not meant to connect with the audience in a broad spectrum and you feel it will be scattered — with the movie coming out mainly on satellite and digital. You accept that and detach yourself from the result but continue to believe that the process was worth it. You can’t get emotional about these things because they are beyond your control... it’s not like everyone else’s films were releasing.

We wanted to make sure that the film comes in theatres, and Dibakar sir (director Dibakar Banerjee) had made a film that I felt would get its due over the years to come. What I didn’t expect was this burst of love and genuine understanding of what the film speaks about, and people catching the nuances to such a level. The rekindling of the magic of Ishaqzaade that had Parineeti and me... This time around our chemistry was appreciated despite being devoid of romance. And this is where the audience wins at the end of the day. You can’t predict the audience or know them beyond a point, you can just keep your head down and work honestly and hope that the film connects with them.

People tell you that you should do films that are viable at the box office, and I have done that and enjoyed those. When I had said I fumbled, what I meant was that I got muddled in my thinking about what actors are supposed to do versus what I should do. When you look at it through the optics of what your stardom should have you doing versus what the audience or you as an actor or someone who watches films should do, sometimes you get confused. When I was offered my kind of cinema, I just grabbed it.

The material that I am doing right now is selected with an attempt to make sure that you are looking at the pan-India audience, who likes to be entertained. When I do a film with Mohit Suri, I am aware that he connects with our entire country when it comes to romance, music and action, and there’s a certain way he presents actors. At the same time, when I am doing a horror-comedy with Saif Ali Khan, I know it appeals to the audience with certain sensibilities, and mine as well. I have always wanted to be a part of a comedy with Saif, and things just fell into place and Bhoot Police took shape.

Now, I have validation that I should follow my instinct and impulse, and not worry about the box-office implications... well, right now all of that exists on paper, so you can’t tell where the situation will be one year down the line. You just have to go with your instinct and know that the audience is sensible. Right now, they are consuming material on OTT, so when they come into the theatres — and believe me, they will — they should feel respected and not taken for granted. So, the material that I am selecting now, whether it’s more mainstream or as they call it a little off-centre, there is a certain regard that I am keeping in my mind for the audience, where I myself don’t want to be taken for granted when I go to watch a film, be spoon-fed and be made to feel silly about things. I want to enjoy cinema that stimulates while entertaining me. You realise that the audience is ready to use all their might to get involved in the journey of the characters, catch on to the smaller details and make a film a bigger success. Before SAPF came on OTT, I was thinking about whether I should stick to a certain kind of cinema, but this experience has given me the confidence to dabble in both worlds and enjoy myself equally.

In a span of less than five years, Arjun Kapoor has managed to make a mark in the film industry with a variety of roles. Despite wanting to be a mainstream Hindi film hero, he has not shied away from experimenting with niche films. As he says, “When you have survived for four-five years and have a body of work, you should only look towards making more inroads. You cannot be stuck in personas of being massy, urban, classy, sophisticated or rustic. These are tags that you can break.“ In a candid chat with BT, ahead of the release of his upcoming film Mubarakan, the actor talks about breaking stereo types, associating with directors who come from various schools of thought, and how he'd never do a film that portrays women derogatorily. Excerpts...

When one looks at your repertoire of eight films in the past five years and the way you have gone about choosing them, there seems to be a method behind it. Would you say that this assumption is correct?
I auditioned for my first film and that's how I got it. After my first film, I was just happy that I had been accepted. I wanted to dabble in all genres, so I chose a Gunday, which was a larger-than-life film. I then chose to do 2 States because the conflict that the character went through appealed to me as it was quintessentially Indian in nature. I did a film like Aurangzeb as it was a non-song film, which at that time was attracting the audience to the multiplexes. I did a Finding Fanny because I love Homi Adajania's madness. Also, I wanted to share screen space with Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur and learn from them. I didn't say yes to everything that came my way, but I did give my nod to exciting projects. When Ki & Ka came my way, I realised no boy will say yes to this role. The film's director, R Balki, narrated one line and said that he had not even thought about it. I jumped at it because I felt it was tailor-made for somebody with my physicality. I took a chance with the film and consciously worked towards it as it went against the grain and it also paid off. Half Girlfriend was exciting because the texture of the storytelling was again Indian. There are certain things that pique an actor's interest, and that's why you veer towards certain subjects.

While you are a creative person, you also understand how it is to produce a film. Do these two viewpoints - one artistic and the other commercial - create a conflict in your mind?
Well, what I do take into account is that, I don't want anybody losing money on my film. Even if I am experimenting and pushing the envelope, the film should be safeguarded, so that the risk taken doesn't cost somebody their job. Besides, no human being can predict how a film will perform at the box office. The one responsibility that every actor should shoulder is to secure the producer to whatever degree they can. With every film performing well at the box office, your saleability as an actor improves. That doesn't mean you are becoming a better actor. When I signed Finding Fanny, I knew it was an experimental film. I did it intentionally. It was a film made in English for a certain audience, it still earned close to Rs 30 crore at the box office. But when you compare it with 2 States, which released earlier, it won't make sense. If you look at it in isolation, my responsibility was to attract the audience into theatres and ensure that my presence didn't lead to the budget going overboard, and I think I achieved that. Being part of a film like that gave me creative satisfaction and it's one of my best-reviewed films as well. Commercial success of a film is different from making a film commercially viable.

After Anees Bazmee's Mubarakan, you have been roped in by Dibakar Banerjee for Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. How does an actor straddle these two diametrically opposite worlds that these filmmakers represent?
The excitement lies in the fact that I will be going from one world to another. That's exactly how every actor wants to be challenged. As an actor, I should have the ability to navigate these different spaces and be well-rounded. In a calendar year, I have Mohit Suri, Anees Bazmee and Dibakar Banerjee as filmmakers to work with, this only helps me showcase my range as a performer. I will be dedicating a month to prep up for Dibakar's film. The reasons for doing Mubarakan and Sandeep And Pinky Faraar are for its makers and the material they have to offer. I get to live vicariously through directors, who create diametrically opposite worlds; how lucky am I!

Tiger Shroff recently said that he is happy that he has a fan following among the audience in the B and C centres. Since films like 2 States and Ki & Ka have worked more than say a Tevar, do you fear that you will be tagged as a hero appealing to the multiplexes and not the masses? Like we often say, a metrosexual hero...
I don't think I have been tagged as a metrosexual hero. Half Girlfriend did well in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and Indore. Gunday also did well in those regions. Ishaqzaade was a pan-India success at that point. It wasn't massy in its texture, but people from across the country saw it. I am not looking at whether the film will work in the A, B or C centres, and I think that reflects in my selection of films. I am always trying to meander my way into every household in India. I want to be a pan India hero. That's how you can survive. When you have survived for four or five years and have a body of work, you should only look towards making more inroads. You cannot be stuck in personas of being massy, urban, classy, sophisticated or rustic. These are tags that you can break.

While most actors are image conscious, you are conscious about not creating any image. So, in a way, you are not yet completely Bollywoodised...
I am very proud that I hail from the film fraternity. I am never apologetic about it. That doesn't mean that there aren't other facets to my personality. I am a well-rounded person, not just physically (laughs). I am a huge Bollywood fan, but that's not all that there is to me. There is enough time for various facets of my persona to come to the forefront.

From your interviews and your public persona, you come across as a feminist. If a film that you are offered portrays women derogatorily, would you voice your objection to it?
Films mirror society. When you read about a character, if it's not written with a particular agenda, say where they not purposely trying to malign the opposite sex and the journey brings about a catharsis, then it makes sense. Take for example my first film - if I was doing Zoya's role and reading about Parma, it's not my job to question the director about the boy's behaviour with the girl. He is doing that because that is what happens in society, sadly. The second half then goes on to say what the boy stands to lose for behaving the way he does with women. If a film is derogatory towards women, I won't affiliate myself with it. That is not the reality I would like to put out in the world.

But what's your response when people say that films and film stars influence the masses?
If we, as filmmakers and creative people, start becoming the do-gooders and the cleansers of society, it means that the infrastructure of our government has let us down drastically. Do you mean to say that we are the only cause for everything bad that happens in the country? If that is the case, then there is a fundamental flaw in the system.

He sings “Main hoon super man...“ with pure filmi flamboyance. Yet, he knows that even with ripped muscles and a body suit, he can't take you on a flight of fantasy . But he possesses other ammo, or let's just say superpowers of a different kind. More human, maybe. He is a realist, a man with a terrific sense of humour who can laugh at himself. That's what makes Arjun Kapoor immensely likeable. He's unconventionally good looking. Tucked behind his machismo and the shadow of his stubble is a cute boyishness that makes him truly attractive. There is never a blah moment while talking to him, and like a “thorough-bred filmi“ he can woo the media and tackle the trolls with equal candour and ease. Bravo. And oh, he's deceptive, too. His droopy eyes make you think that he's distracted, but no, he's all there. Relaxed, but smooth and spontaneous, his mind is racing as he talks about...

Four years of success, stardom and some heartbreak too...
It feels like 20 years, though it's only been four. My first film, Ishaqzaade, did well and I got four damn good films because of it. With Aurangzeb, I just knew that the film wasn't going to work; though I think it was one of my most underrated performances. I did the film too early in my career, but I stand by it. Back then, its failure didn't shake my confidence, as I was sure about Gunday, Finding Fanny and 2 States. In the last three years, there has been a sudden burst of accepting new concepts, so if the film was made today, its fate would have been different. I trusted my instinct about Ki & Ka, so I decided to turn co-producer for the first time. Without boasting I can say that I feel validated. I give my dad (Boney Kapoor) utmost credit for my business acumen. It is in my blood. I am a thoroughbred filmi ghoda. Today, actors have to be as much a producer's actor as a director's actor. Given the amount of money we charge, we dare not be unprofessional. It is our face and we stand to gain the most.

A film that shook his ground....
The flop that hit me was Tevar. It felt like someone knocked the wind out of me. When you do a home production, it always hurts more. I wasn't ready to accept that Tevar didn't do well. During Aurangzeb I was prepared for it. It took me three months after release to come to terms with it. Tevar was emotionally more overwhelming as I got written off after it. A lot of people very silently put their hands up and said... we can't back him anymore. Suddenly, I had no film and the last one was a flop. The perception is ...achcha yeh supporting ban sakta hai, it didn't happen but it could go to that extreme. Then I signed a film with R Balki who is known for his unique films and I told myself that I don't care what the world thinks but I will do this. When nobody backed me, then I backed myself and I don't blame them for it. That is how the industry works. After Tevar, I am better prepared to deal with failure.

Shifting gears and revving up his career to turn director...
I was always preparing to be a director; I am still doing that vehemently. This is all a means to an end. I didn't even know I would be an actor; I always wanted to be a cameraman. I was obsessed with Baba Azmi, and I would sit in the camera trolley all day while he shot for Prem and Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. I struggled to start writing a script, but I can't put a page down without hating it. Direction is my calling. At 21, I was thinking of directing my first film, though I think I would have made a rubbish film then. I think you need to experience life a little more to make a movie. At 30, I am sensitised to what is happening around me and I am a lot less gimmicky. I'm glad it didn't work out then, otherwise Hindustan ko bahut badi flop milti.

His more love, less hate relationship with the media...
The media has been very pro me, that's also the reason I feel the audience has been pro me. I meet the media mostly during movie promotions, and the problem is that we never have enough time. Like today, the way I am talking to you, it is more like a genuine conversation than an interview. I understand that the relationship between the media and an actor is give and take. I cannot pretend that mujhe inki zaroorat nahi hai and vice-versa. There will be ups and downs like in any relationship, but the fact remains that as long as we are going to be in this profession we have to work around it, so we might as well enjoy it.

Deceptive looks...
Well, I have a face that is very deceptive, and sometimes, I look disinterested, angry and arrogant. I don't know why. I am guessing because I have a deadpan look and droopy eyes. Also because my face is like that, I've played intense characters, but it doesn't mean I am really the person that you see in my movies. If you hang around with me you will realise that I am closer to my character in Ki & Ka and 2 States. I am genuinely not the angry young man that people think I am. I am actually damn funny but nobody gets to see that.

Man enough to mangle the mean tweets...
How can these faceless people typing nonsense on social media anger me? What have they done in their life? I laugh at it. They are probably frustrated and it gives them a kick. I have dealt with so much worse in my life, nobody can fathom that. I know we all have a story and I'm not the only one, but I have seen enough in life to ignore some childish tweets. I have been called fat and ugly for so long, even when I was not on social media. You need to have a sense of humour to be in this industry, as everybody will have an opinion about you and we can't react to everything.

Social media is addictive, but it makes stars non-exclusive...
I agree that we have sold our soul to social media. I resisted it for long as I knew I have an addictive personality. Now, I am really active. Yes, I wouldn't want to put my life on a platter and serve it to the audience, but I also don't have these notions about being an elusive star. Anyway, we will never have that exclusivity that the previous generation of actors had. Earlier, to catch a glimpse of a star was such a big deal. That is why actors are called stars, as they don't come down to the earth. Now, we actors are coming to you (the media). We are on reality shows, and every party we go to gets covered. That sheen of stardom is gone now. It would be foolish to blame the media. It is a result of progression. Whether it is for better or worse is a different debate, so we rather accept it than fight it.

Never taking stardom for granted and resting on the armchair of a filmi legacy...
I have never taken my stardom for granted. Or the fact that my father is a producer. He has provided me with what a father is supposed to and has given me his name. I am proud of that name. I have got a lot of love and respect from the industry because of him, and it has opened doors for me. But now, I have to follow my own path, create my own life and make him proud. My father says that he loves being told that he's my father. If he feels that way, I am happy. I think people will not judge me for whose son I am, but for the person I am.

A long line of link-ups. Being single ain't easy...
I think being single is a crime. I have committed a sin by being single (laughs). I can't be written about for saying hello to people and having casual conversations with them. How much will I justify? I am going to go out as a young guy and live my life; people should be allowed to do that. The conclusion of every conversation with the opposite sex can't always lead to a relationship. At times, there is a lot implied by the media in jest, and you think it is harmless. You can discuss someone's work, but it is not harmless to discuss someone's personal life as frivolously as it has happened in my case in the last six-eight months. Also, because I have not reacted to it and laughed it off, it doesn't mean that I'm not irritated about it. I didn't think the repercussions of being silent would be so much. Also, I think I am the only single one left, so I am linked with anyone (grins). The insinuations are upsetting, the generic conversations are not. As long as you don't hit below the belt, it is okay, but the insinuations are bulls**t.

Bonhomie with the boys...
Whether it is Ranveer (Singh), Varun (Dhawan) or Ranbir (Kapoor), I really get along with these boys. Our bonhomie is rare. I look out for Varun like he is my younger brother, and I am close to his elder brother Rohit, too. And we all know that Ranbir is the torchbearer of change when it comes to young actors. I also have amazing friends around me like Kunal Rawal, Aarti Shetty and Abhishek Varman who are honest and realistic. In fact, I have chosen friends who only put me down. They make me believe that my career is going to get over tomorrow (laughs). But really, I'm glad to have honest people around me as it's easy to get carried away with success. I would love to do an Ocean's Eleven kind of film with all of us - Ranbir, Ranveer, Varun and me. It might not get made but just one day of shooting will be a blast.