She's the original czarina of television, whose serials redefined the way Indians watched TV. However, her foray into films was seen with cynicism - 'dekhte hain kya karti hai'. While her tryst with the box office has been interspersed with hits and misses, some of her big-screen ventures didn't exactly replicate the success of her small-screen outings. Half Girlfriend (HG), her first release this year, has given the much-needed boost to her company (Balaji Motion Pictures), but Ekta Kapoor asserts that she's not planning big ventures. In an exclusive chat with BT, she says that she will only make movies on strong subjects and focus more on producing digital content for her mobile app, which was launched last month. Excerpts...

You have begun the year on a successful note with Half Girlfriend...
Yes, it had a good beginning and maintained well on Monday and Tuesday as well. Anyone in my place would be ecstatic. I had earlier produced Ek Villain (2014), which was also directed by Mohit (Suri), so I knew that his films connect well with the masses. There is a section of audience that loves melodrama. Having said that, you can never tell how a film will open. It's the first time in the past year-and-a-half that distributors have called up saying that my film is running to packed houses.

However, critics haven't been too kind in their reviews. The audiences also seem to have mixed reactions...
(Laughs) I look at it this way; clearly, here, we have two nations in one - India and Bharat. Right in the beginning, my marketing head told me that there is a lot of prejudice against Chetan Bhagat (author of the book Half Girlfriend and also one of the film's producers). Most of the reviews were also more Chetan-bashing than film-bashing. In a way, I was expecting such a reaction, but check the numbers and you'll see that the film is tracking almost at the top. Across the world, there is a tendency among the high class to look down upon writers of popular fiction. Chetan's strong opinions irk some people. Moreover, Arjun (Kapoor) and Shraddha (Kapoor) also enjoy a huge mass connect, and our so-called intellectuals have a problem with that as well.

Any plans of another film with Mohit and Arjun?
I don't want to reveal any plans right now. But I must say, working with Arjun has been a revelation. I had preconceived notions about working with a producer's son, but he is very hard-working. He has been subjected to so much bodyshaming; ironically, by the same intellectuals who cry hoarse against it. Mohit made HG with all his heart. This is his best work so far.

You've backed films that few would bet their money on. Last year, it was Udta Punjab, which didn't have any takers before you got on board. Like you said, Chetan also attracts a lot of negative reactions...
I don't want to work with biases; that's a myopic way of looking at life. I knew HG would work with the masses. It is the Naagin (TV serial) of my films. I remember waking up to articles about how regressive it is. And, the same people watch Game Of Thrones and Harry Potter. Naagin is our folklore, it's rooted in India, but there was no respect for it. However, despite being panned by critics, that show got me ratings and this film got me box office numbers.

After some of your films flopped, reports said you were going slow on production. Has HG paved the way ahead for re-strategising?
I won't deny that we're going slow on production. Now, I want to be making, selling and promoting only the movies I believe in. I have Veere Di Wedding with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sonam Kapoor, Laila Majnu with Imtiaz Ali as its creative director, and a film with Gattu (cousin, director Abhishek Kapoor), which has an interesting subject. That's enough for now. Apart from these films, I'll take a call depending on the subject. Otherwise, I'm focusing on my app ALT Balaji and digital content. I don't want to say I have huge plans. What saddens me about the industry is that people refuse to accept each other's success. They feel happy about other's failures and your own peers pull you down. They don't realise that when a film flops, the industry also suffers.

Her idea of love is being inspired by fairy tales, but he prefers rational about romance. She is emotional, while he is practical to a fault. They may be poles apart, but together, Shraddha Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor exude an effortless chemistry and camaraderie. In a candid chat with BT, the actor and his 'Half Girlfriend' talk about their upcoming film, the beauty of incomplete love stories and the complexities of modern relationships. Excerpts...

The title of your film is rather unconventional. So, what does the term 'half girlfriend' mean?
Arjun: I think Chetan Bhagat (whose book Half Girlfriend the film is based on) has cracked it perfectly. It's a term for relationships that don't culminate in anything definite. Sometimes, we may feel an emotional connect with people who don't end up as our partners. Not always do we give relationships a tag. Half girlfriend is not a frivolous term, it's an emotional one.
Shraddha: Sometimes, adverse situations cut short relationships; hence, the word 'half'.
Arjun: Incomplete relationships are sometimes beautiful. Painful, but bittersweet.

Is it difficult being friends with the person you are madly in love with?
Arjun: It's not easy, but how you deal with it also depends on your age. As we grow older, we don't want to lose those few who we rely upon emotionally. And so, we make peace with the fact that the other person doesn't reciprocate our feelings. In our film, both Madhav and Riya (Arjun and Shraddha's characters) have feelings for each other, but circumstances don't allow them to be together.
Shraddha: Some people can be friends with the object of their affection. It depends on the ability to deal with one's feelings.

Have you ever had a half girlfriend or boyfriend?
Arjun: Yes. And the film will resonate with many because most of us have been in that situation.
Shraddha: The best way to recover from that phase is by crying your heart out, spending time with yourself and turning to people you trust and love. It's alright to brood. You should face the hurt instead of trying to escape it. The more you try to escape heartbreak, the more it will haunt you.
Arjun: Our generation is afraid of dealing with their emotions. It's best to face it and not brush it aside. Or else, it might manifest in other ways. Relationships are complex. Making peace is difficult, but you have to give it an honest try.

Are you very emotional? Do you break down easily?
Arjun: I would love to cry, but it's not easy for me. There have been times when I've cried inside, but had a smile on my face. My sister (Anshula) often tells me that I should just let it out. Maybe it doesn't come naturally to me because from an early age, I've kept my feelings bottled up. Also, I would rather rationalize a situation than get emotional about it.
Shraddha: There are times when I feel the need for a good cry, but I am not able to do so. Crying can be cathartic and refreshing at the same time. I recommend it to everyone.

Why do you think modern relationships are becoming so complex?
Arjun: Relationships have always been complex. It's just that the complexities are more visible today. Earlier, the problems were hidden behind closed doors, but now, they are out in the open. While we have acknowledged the problem, we don't have a solution. There is awareness, but no answer.
Shraddha: Yes, relationships have always been complicated, it's just that the reasons have changed over the years. For example, earlier, some parents would lock up the girl to stop her from meeting her lover. That may not be happening today.
Arjun: I am sure it still does, in some places at least.

Do you think that today, love has changed from being unconditional to convenient?
Arjun: We were talking about it recently, and Mohit (Suri, director) mused that true love does stay. He talked about how, after several upheavals, he had realised that Udita (Goswami, his wife) was the one for him. I don't have a PhD in love, but I agree that the younger generation is a tad impatient and inconsistent when it comes to relationships. Having said that, there are enough examples to prove that there is pure love as well, which helps you sail through trials and tribulations. There are people willing to work things out and not just walk away.
Shraddha: Nowadays, people think a lot about themselves and so, the threshold for tolerance has reduced. Walking away becomes an easier option.
Arjun: Sometimes, realisation that it wasn't love to begin with strikes and you fall out of it. It's human tendency.
Shraddha: The very thought of falling out of love with the person I want to spend my life with frightens me. I have a fairy tale idea of love.

The title of your film suggests, 'friend se zyada, girlfriend se kam...' Do you think women may object to it?
Arjun: No, I am sure that the film will not offend anyone. Even if someone raises an objection, we will respect their opinion.
Shraddha: Chetan wrote it from the girl's perspective. According to the story, Riya asks Madhav to accept her as his half girlfriend.

Talking about women's perspective, Arjun, you have been particularly close to the women in your family. What's your view on feminism?
The most beautiful aspect of our democracy is that everybody is entitled to their opinion, but nobody should enforce their views on others. We should agree to disagree. However, thanks to the social media culture, the paraphernalia surrounding an issue gets so much attention sometimes that the actual point is lost. While giving opinions, one forgets the topic. A point of view should be expressed for the benefit of the society, not to get noticed or be heard because that's how negativity breeds. I am all for equality and I also believe that women are more powerful than men in many ways. They are the nurturers, and they possess the beautiful ability to give while men, unfortunately, are takers by nature. I believe that women should be able to make choices freely and independently, just like men.

Is equality something that we only preach and not practise?
Arjun: It is used selectively. For me, equality is about respecting women, which doesn't happen too often in our country. We have to tackle that first. Can you believe that even today, there are many schools where girls don't have access to toilets? Shouldn't we have co-ed schools in villages too, where girls and boys can study together? We cannot scream about bringing a change without addressing inequality at the grass-roots level.
Shraddha: Disparity is at its worst in remote parts of the country. Forget equality, many a time, women are treated inhumanely. Something needs to be done about that. We need to respect each other irrespective of our gender.

In the film, Riya comes from a dysfunctional family. Arjun, your parents separated when you were really young. Having grown up in a broken family, could you connect with the character more?
Arjun: I have never used that term to describe my life. Yes, life is complicated and mine has been hard, but in a different way. So, I couldn't relate to Riya's dysfunctional family .
Shraddha: Dysfunctionality is not just about a failed marriage or parents getting divorced. It is more about a family that lives in toxicity and lacks communication.

On a lighter note, Arjun mimics a lot of actors. Shraddha, did he mimic your father (Shakti Kapoor) on the sets?
Shraddha: He did, but by accident. Instead of saying 'ouch', he once said 'aaoo' (a la Shakti Kapoor). Arjun, you didn't even realise you did it (laughs).
Arjun: Yes, I stamped on her foot and said, 'Aaoo' (imitates Shakti).

A lot of young actors are quite vocal on social media. Though you both are out there, we don't see you doling out advice/opinion...
Arjun: I don't always check my social media accounts, especially when I am shooting. I don't ponder over each and everything happening on social media. Also, I don't always feel the need to share my opinion with the world because it can be misinterpreted. Social media can destroy your thought process if you give it too much importance. You need to know when to walk away. If my opinion on social media could change the system, I would have put in way more effort, but it is bound to get lost amidst so many opinions.
Shraddha: I only use it when I feel like. I am not too attached to social media.

Filmmaker Mohit Suri may have the heart of a wanderer, but it doesn't overpower the quiet certainty of his mind. His confidence in desi stories and his craft doesn't necessarily roar, but he knows its worth. In many ways, he exudes the vulnerable and headstrong side of Madhav Jha, the lead character of his upcoming film Half Girlfriend (HG), which is based on Chetan Bhagat's bestseller. Mohit lets BT in on his innate vagabond sensibility that subconsciously inspires his intense emotional dramas...

It's common to bash Chetan Bhagat's books, but they continue to sell and inspire filmmakers...
There are not just literature students who write books, there are also storytellers who tell stories. For example, Buddha didn't speak in a divine language. He spoke Pali, which was the common man's tongue. It's not as if Chetan doesn't know what he is doing. I have read almost all his books and I could relate to them. Half our literary experts are inspired by foreign literature, so their stories are rarely about us. Even Indian filmmakers are inspired by Hollywood. We often aspire to be someone we are not, but Chetan has no such pretences. You can agree or disagree with his story, but you can't ignore it.

What made you adapt this book into a film?
I wanted to make a movie on Five Point Someone, but Chetan had already sold the rights to Rajkumar Hirani (3 Idiots, 2009). After Aashiqui 2 (2013), he suggested that we work together, and he felt that HG was the kind of story that I'll be able to do justice to.

HG is relevant to our times when English language has become a yardstick that defines class...
Even in Bollywood, actors who cannot speak Hindi are popular, but those who cannot speak English are considered low grade. You readily accept an NRI or a foreigner just because they are pretty, even if you need to dub their voice. If a French person speaks bad English with a French accent, you don't mind, but an Indian speaking English with a Hindi accent is unacceptable. We are still suffering from a colonial hangover. English is not just a language in India. It's amazing to see how people who have lived here all along flaunt American accent just because they've studied in the US for four years.

After 2 States, this is the second film based on Chetan Bhagat's book starring Arjun Kapoor. What made you choose him?
I have an emotional connect with Arjun. I don't look at him as the son of a popular Bollywood producer, but as someone who has been brought up by an independent single mother. I have seen his hardships - his battle to lose weight and doing things that people said he could never do. Madhav Jha, his character in the film, is a lot like that, too. Speak to Arjun about his past relationships and he'll say, 'Dude, do you see how I used to look? Do you think I got any girls, ever?' He doesn't say it with bitterness, but humour. All these things added up to who Madhav is. Also, I cast Shraddha in Aashiqui 2 because I remember seeing her with oil in her hair, talking to her bai in Marathi. I like people who are not Bollywoodised.

Your films are deeply emotional and often have an underlying tragedy...
I wonder how some people are always so happy. As much as happiness is a part of life, love is not just about being with someone at happy times. You love a person for his/her imperfections too and that's what Aashiqui 2 was for me. Awarapan (2007) was me questioning the existence of God. I let my thoughts reflect in my films.

So, you find them therapeutic?
Yes. However, in the case of Aashiqui 2, the film turned out to be a huge success, but I lost my father around that time. The one person I wanted to share my success with was not there, so it didn't matter to me anymore. I felt incomplete. So, even if I make a thriller now, it will be about a man in search of something.

Have Udita (wife) and your daughter changed your outlook towards life?
After having a daughter, I started respecting and valuing women more. Not that I didn't respect women before, but I couldn't express in words their contribution in my life. Madhav's character helped me change that. My real self bleeds into my films and I find closure after that. I lost my mother when I was really young. To see what Udita does for our child makes me fall in love with her all over again. It's heartwrenching to see what a mother does for her child and a daughter's love for her father.

Were you commitment phobic? Did you have any half girlfriends before marriage?
I was never commitment phobic, my problem was different. I was always in a relationship, I always had a woman in my life. Maybe it was my way of trying to compensate for not having a mother.

What do you like the most about Udita?
Udita lets me be. I am not an easy person to live with. I am obsessive about my work. The reason we have sustained this far is because of her. I have always felt that she is my soulmate despite the two of us having nothing in common. She is not passionate about films the way I am. While she is extremely family oriented, I am not since I didn't grow up with one. I didn't know what it's like to be surrounded by people with whom you are supposed to share a bond. My father was 35 and I was eight when my mother died; we were more like roommates. There were times when he had a girlfriend and I was also in love with someone and we'd share stories. There was a bond, but not the father-son kind. And, I used to work with my other family members (uncles Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt). So, that was also a professional relationship.

Did the failure of Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015) affect you a lot?
Failure affects me a lot, but I cannot be the person I am today without it. I don't mull over what went wrong. I blame myself as a director if a film doesn't do well. While I don't share my success with anyone, I don't share my failure either. Success doesn't feel really great, but lows feel really low. That's why I run away to the US for a month after my film's release. I live with my best friend in Chicago, as school friends don't let failure bog you down or success go to your head. Sometimes, if people love your film, they talk to you assuming that you are a good person (smiles). They judge you by your work, my friends don't.

With an estimated population of 8.55 million, New York is the most populous city in the US. Described as the world's cultural and financial capital, it houses the United Nations headquarters and makes up over 40 per cent of the population of New York State. Arjun Kapoor lists it as his most favourite city in the world. Why? Read on...

LONE BUT NOT ALONE
I visited New York City for the first time with my dad (producer Boney Kapoor) and Anil (Kapoor) chachu when I was around nine or 10 years old. We were on a whirlwind world tour and went to a lot of other cities whose names I've forgotten. But even as a child I fell in love with the Big Apple's magnetic energy and since then I'm always looking for an excuse to go back. You can walk there for hours, catch a movie or a play at Broadway and have a drink alone without feeling lonely because you are always surrounded by the warmth of strangers. It's a city that never sleeps... Growing up, I would fly there during summer holidays to hang out with my friends. Rohit Dhawan, Varun's brother, was studying filmmaking, I stayed with him for a couple of days. We got Hindi film DVDs home to watch. Another buddy, Ranbir Kapoor, was also in NYC studying filmmaking and method acting at the School of Visual Arts and later at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

My sister Anshula graduated from the Barnard College which was American President Barack Obama's alma mater too. I helped her get settled. A private liberal arts college, it's the world's oldest women's college and the only women's college in NYC today. It was founded in 1889 as a response to Columbia University's refusal to admit women into the institution. The four-acre campus stretches along Broadway and the college boasts of language clubs, a free-form radio station, WBAR, and night carnivals. My sister made amazing friends there.

I was in NYC recently with Mohit Suri, Shraddha Kapoor, Chetan Bhagat and the Half Girlfriend team for a shoot. We shot in Times Square which always leaves me awestruck. There are so many people coming and going, watching them makes me realise just how small a part of the universe I am!

FAR FROM THE CROWDS
We also filmed at Central Park, one of NYC's iconic places. We Mumbaikars constantly crib about how there's no place to stand and stare or sit and smile in our city while the New Yorkers have built this huge park right there in the middle of their city where you can jog, stroll, cycle, boat or just savour the peace you find not too far away from the maddening crowd.

Last September I was at the Central Park with Freida Pinto representing India at the Global Citizen's Award. Hosted by Stephen Colbert, Hugh Jackman, Selma Hayek Pinault, Kerry Washington and Olivia Wilde, this advocacy-driven music concert had live performances by Pearl Jam, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Sunidhi Chauhan for an audience of 60,000.

I was there as an ambassador of WWF India to deliver a two-minute speech showcasing India's progress and the challenges that remain, speaking before global heads like the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon, Bill and Melinda Gates, US Vice President Joe Biden and US First Lady, Michelle Obama. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the guests of honour in 2015. I felt like a proud Indian.

WHAT'S COOKING?
I was in the midst of a hectic shoot and didn't have time for anything other than work, but since I know the city well I took Shraddha and some of the others to one of my favourite restaurants, Balthazar. The French brasserie located between Broadway and Crosby Street in SoHo, Manhattan, in a building that used to house a tannery earlier, is the place for celebrity spotting. Tom Hanks was leaving as I entered. We made eye contact but no small talk. Balthazar is famous for its steak au pouvre, steak frites, duck confit, butternut squash and French onion soup.

New York is also the world's pizza capital and Brooklyn has some of the best pizza joints with Di Fara's leading the way. There's also Roberta's famous for its Speckenwolf and Duck Hunt, Best Pizza which lives up to its name and L& B Spumoni Gardens whose signature dish, Grandma's Slice, you can munch on while looking at the New York skyline.

Besides Brooklyn we also filmed at the Rockerfeller Centre between 48th and 51st Streets. It boasts of the biggest Christmas tree and the best Christmas decorations. We were there on Bakri Eid and got biryani from the world's most popular food cart. For years, people have been flocking to the corner of the 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue to the 'Platter' or the 'Chicken & Rice Guy' for rice and slices of lamb slathered in a delicious white sauce.

One evening before we started shooting, we also went to a rooftop bar in the Meatpacking District where you can sip a drink and have a bite with the city spread out before you. Awesome!

FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE POPE
From clothes to movies, from Bloomingdale's Department Store to the high-end shops on Fifth Avenue, New York promises value for money. I went shopping with Karan Johar to the Palmer's Department Store once.

Last year, I was shopping at Fifth Avenue and got locked in for almost an hour inside a departmental store. Pope John Francis was holding a mass at a church close by and security was tight. I was sitting there looking out when the Pope got off to switch cars right in front of the store. It was surreal; there were thousands waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of him and here I was seeing him almost face-to-face. I felt blessed!

A month ago, Kangana Ranaut received the manuscript of Chetan Bhagat's new novel, One Indian Girl. As she began to read, she liked the modern, urban character and how the book portrayed feminism. After she turned the last page, she called Bhagat up and exclaimed, “Did you really write this? It's a wonderful book, a must-read! I'm definitely playing the lead whenever you turn the book into a film.“

Speaking to Mirror from New York where he is filming Mohit Suri's Half Girlfriend, featuring Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, and based on his book by the same name, Bhagat recalls his conversation with the Queen star, saying, “Kangana is an icon, one of the finest actresses today. Stories and scripts mean a lot to her. She is known for her take on feminism and honest opinions, and for her to praise my book and want to do the film is a huge compliment. I am really thankful to her for joining me.“

Kangana was going to fly off to the US in the third week of September for Hansal Mehta's Simran in which she is playing a Gujarati housekeeper. She has been prepping for the character for the last two months but has now decided to postpone the Simran schedule so she can launch Bhagat's new book on October 1 before she flies off to the US. Bhagat describes his latest book, written from the female protagonist's point of view, as both powerful and controversial, much like himself.

“There were several issues that Kangana related to, including the struggles of a contemporary woman, who is forced to compromise for her career,“ Bhagat reveals. One Indian Girl is the story of an intelligent, successful girl who struggles to find love. It questions society which judges women achievers. It asks why when it comes to love; being intelligent and successful is often a drawback for women. Kangana who will be seen next in Vishal Bhardwaj's world-war romance, Rangoon, hopes to start filming Bhagat's next book adaptation towards the end of 2017.