Shanaya Kapoor, who turned 26 yesterday, felt overwhelmed marking her first one as an actor. “One of my school friends reminded me of an old promise I made them: when my film comes out, I’ll celebrate my birthday that year,” she tells us, adding she’s not one for lavish celebrations. “But I had a nice dinner with all my girls to celebrate this special year,” she smiles.

Speaking of her journey, Shanaya reflects on having learnt a lot about the industry even before her debut: “I started my journey as a 20-year-old, shot for a film and that got shelved... You can have a film today and tomorrow you can’t. ” She was supposed to debut in Karan Johar’s Bedhadak, announced in 2022, but was later shelved. Her film, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, was delayed before releasing this July.

“These experiences taught me the industry is unpredictable. I don’t take it for granted when I hold a script in my hand because I know how easily it can go. For me, it’s been my biggest heartbreak. No boys are ever going to break my heart the way the movies did,” she shares, adding, “These experiences have made me more grounded, more mature.”

After all this, she had to overcome the perceptions created about her: “People had these pre-conceived notions about me because they had seen me in fashion looks or going out to the gym... But they didn’t see the true Shanaya... So, this birthday, I just gave myself love and a hug, and celebrated with my parents because I feel like they’ve also finally exhaled, too.”

"Finally,” exclaims Shanaya Kapoor when we get on a call with her, weeks before her debut film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’s release. She has been waiting to foray into Bollywood for the past three years, but life had other plans. Today, as her maiden Hindi film is ready, the newbie — daughter of Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor — admits she can’t get enough of it.

“Every day I log on to YouTube and watch myself on screen. I’m not going to lie; my dad and I get teary-eyed,” she grins.

The happy tears are understandable considering it has been a long road to this point. In 2022, Shanaya was to be launched with Karan Johar’s production Bedhadak, but it got shelved. Heartbreaking as the episode was, strangely it led her to director Santosh Singh’s romantic drama opposite Vikrant Massey. 

She recalls, “It was a matter of five to six days where we had begun shooting. But due to COVID and various other reasons, that film didn’t come into fruition. Post that, I was giving auditions. I auditioned for another project, and the casting director sent the tape across to Santosh Singh. When I look back at it now, I realise why things didn’t happen then and why they are happening now. I feel much better prepared as an actor.”

She says that instead of dwelling on projects that didn’t work out, she used the years in between to work on her craft. “I worked to get better so that the day I get that opportunity, I’m ready for it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I never took it for granted.”

Many may argue that her debut, though delayed, was inevitable. After all, she comes from one of the most prominent film families. “I do come from a film family and understand what that means. I had access and opportunity. But that access doesn’t mean guaranteed acceptance. At the end of the day, the audience has to accept me. I have to earn my place through a lot of hard work,” she insists, adding, “I value this chance a lot more because I got it after delays. I’ve had my ups and downs before coming here today. Having said that, I’m aware that it’s much easier for me compared to others.”