While Shakti Kapoor, like most doting fathers, is keen to see daughter Shraddha Kapoor find her life partner, he says that the actress is not planning to get married this year. There have been rumours about Shraddha tying the knot with photographer Rohan Shrestha, but Kapoor denies it. He says, “Rohan is a family friend, I have known his father for many, many years. Rohan visits us often, but he has not asked for Shraddha’s hand in marriage. And besides, today, children decide these things on their own. If Shraddha or my son, Siddhanth, tell me that they have chosen their life partner, I will readily agree. But at this point, they are focused on their careers. Marriage is an important decision, and the way people are breaking up, it bothers me sometimes. One has to be sure before making a decision like that.”

Talking about his children’s careers, he says, “I have never stopped Shraddha or Siddhanth from following their dreams. Many people ask me if I had reservations about Shraddha becoming an actress, but that is not true. I want her to shine and do well. She is such a hardworking and talented girl. I call her my ‘golden girl’. She has made it on her own in Bollywood. Siddhanth has received appreciation for Chehre with Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi. So, I am happy for both my kids, who are doing well in their careers. I am proud of them.”

Reflecting on his children's career choices and the scripts that they are offered, he says, “When I started off in films, there were different roles etched out for a comedian, a vamp, a villain and the leads. Today, a hero could be the villain, the heroine can be doing a special dance number and the villain sometimes turns out to be the good guy in the end (smiles!). So, the lines are blurring. I am happy that both my kids are choosing different, content-oriented films.”

On Raksha Bandhan, Siddhanth talks about the bond he shares with sister Shraddha and how they plan to celebrate the festival with their cousins, who they are very close to
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 3, 2020)

Most festivals this year have been low-key celebrations, owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, and Raksha Bandhan won’t be any different. However, when a family is close-knit, people find ways to make the occasion special in their own way. Siddhanth and Shraddha Kapoor, who have been homebound for the last several months due to the pandemic, plan to celebrate Raksha Bandhan indoors with their cousins Priyaank Sharma (Padmini Kolhapure’s son) and Vedika (Tejaswini Kolhapure’s daughter).

“Raksha Bandhan continues to be special for us. We will all be home — Priyaank, Vedika, Shraddha and I. A lockdown is not a blessing at all, but at a personal level, this period has enabled so many families to spend time together. At an individual level, people have found the time to reflect on the bygones and think of what lies ahead,” says Siddhanth, adding, “As working professionals, we’ve had those times when one of us is away or when we have been able to move our schedules around to spend this day together. This year, we are simply happy to be together again.”

When asked about what he plans to gift his sisters, Siddhanth says, “I keep shopping for them throughout the year and gifting them things, with or without an occasion. So, that is never really a thing to think about; the idea is to have a great time together as a family.”

Although Siddhanth is the eldest, Priyaank, in a chat with BT, had spoken about how Shraddha acts like an aajibai (grandmother) in this quartet of cousins. Siddhanth says, “Oh! That’s right! She keeps a watch on her brothers like she is the eldest. At times, Shraddha talks and acts like a wise elder, who has the entire world’s wisdom. I have never had an elder sister, and she takes that place in my life on numerous occasions. She gives us gyaan, helps us make decisions and is always there for us. As for Vedika, she’s the youngest, and we all feel extremely protective towards her. As the eldest of the lot, I am the most protective towards all of them. Of course, at times, I behave like I am younger than all of them.”

In the course of the lockdown, Shraddha and Siddhanth were spotted grocery shopping together. They’ve also posted quite a few of their childhood pictures on social media. Siddhanth says, “We actually sift through so many albums, and relive so many memories even as we post one photo on our social media handles. I’ve just realised that as kids, hum log kitni nautanki karte the. And mom would always keep her camera ready to capture all of that. We can never thank her enough for that.”

Siddhanth Kapoor recounts his trip down grocery lane with actress-sister Shraddha
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 29, 2020)

On Thursday, Shraddha and Siddhanth Kapoor turned grocery-shopping in the midst of the Coronavirus lockdown into a fun adventure. Talking about it, the actor admitted that his sibling and he share many food stories because of their love for food, including shopping trips abroad with their parents. “It’s a personal thing for us to get to decide what the whole family eats,” he revealed.

The duo was careful to follow all the rules, including wearing gloves, masks and sanitising, because, as Siddhanth says, “your safety is everyone else’s safety and vice versa”. Consequently, they went unrecognised out in the open.

Do the two only shop for fruits, veggies and other food items or do they also try their hand at whipping up something delicious? “We don’t cook together, but separately, we try a lot of things,” admitted Siddhanth, quickly adding that he rarely gets the kitchen to himself. “It’s mostly Shraddha and mom in there. When I do manage to get in, I make sandwiches and French toast.”

The actor marvelled at how pollution levels have gone down since the lockdown and crime rate has also dropped. “People are there for each other with no agenda and without passing judgement,” he pointed out, insisting that getting to spend quality time with the family trumps everything in the end; as they are always on the move usually. “It’s a good time to take care of your elders and get fitter. Shraddha and I play games, go for walks, chat, sing and dance a lot to lighten up the mood. Even after becoming a star, she hasn’t changed one bit.”

Recently, on Brother’s Day, Shraddha had shared pictures of them as kids, with cousin Priyaank Sharma, who is the son of their aunt Padmini Kolhapure-Sharma. They reside in the opposite building from the Kapoors, so whenever they want to meet, Shraddha and Siddhanth step out and meet their cousin outside, keeping social distancing in mind.

Siddhanth wrapped up the Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi-starrer, Chehre, before the lockdown. “There is another big film I was shooting for, and only five days’ shoot was left when work came to a halt,” he informed, refusing to divulge details. “I haven’t accepted any new projects during the lockdown, as I am busy for almost a year, from whenever shooting resumes.”

Priyaank Sharma explains why he never really missed having a sibling and that his dream film would be with his producer dad, actress mother and the extended family
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 12, 2019)

Priyaank Sharma, who debuts with the romcom Sab Kushal Mangal, the first release of 2020, reveals that he was inclined towards dramatics since he was in school but decided on becoming an actor only after a detailed discussion with his parents, producer Tutu Sharma and actress Padmini Kolhapure. “I watched films and mimicked actors but conversations with mom and dad were about studies, food and what one was doing,” he informs, adding that despite formal training in acting and filmmaking from a New York-based institute, the real learning happened while assisting Rajkumar Santoshi on Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, in which Padmini played Shahid Kapoor’s mother. “I worked closely with Raj sir on the scripting too. He was juggling multiple scripts and I learnt about drama, comedy and other zones of commercial cinema.”

Once, while trying to grasp the different aspects of filmmaking, he gave his mother a different page for her scene and she rehearsed her lines. It was when the camera rolled that everyone realised the mix-up. But Padmini, being the talented actress she is, improvised on the set and got the scene done without delay.

His co-star in his debut film is Akshaye Khanna and Priyaank admits he’s a fan of his work. During the shoot, Akshaye was like an elder brother who guided him at every step. “We had multiple conversations and that gave me a lot of confidence. We have around 60-65 scenes together,” he says.

Cousins Shraddha and Siddhanth Kapoor have also been promoting the Prachi Nitin Manmohan-produced film on social media and Priyaank says they share a warm relationship. “I have never missed having a sibling of my own, because Shraddha and Siddhanth were always there for me. They are very protective of me and call up every other day to check on me,” he smiles, recalling how, when they were kids, the trio would always come up with some dance or drama performances during family get-togethers and parties. “It was more in the Michael Jackson and Sridevi zone, and even today, we perform when together.”

Scan through his Instagram account and you will find a picture of him and Siddhanth posing against a Salman Khan poster. Priyaank laughs, “This was in bhaiyya’s room; he has Bollywood posters up on his walls. Our childhood was all about MJ, Salman and Shah Rukh Khan. We kept getting clicked with their posters,” he confides.

High on his wish-list is a “family film” with his entire khandaan - mom Padmini, cousins Siddhanth and Shraddha, aunts Tejaswini and Shivangi, uncle Shakti Kapoor and his dad as a producer.

Apart from acting, the debutant is also passionate about mixing music and has performed as a DJ at private parties. “I wanted to play music as a kid, so the next step was to collect money, get a console and start mixing songs. I never accepted bookings from public spaces, but have played for family and friends,” he smiles.

Priyaank has been spotted with Karim Morani’s younger daughter, Shaza, many times and has even posted pictures with her on Instagram. Quiz him on this and he says shortly, “That’s my personal space, let’s not go there.”

Shraddha backs brother Siddhanth, aunt Tejaswini for organic flea market that sells retail products
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 22, 2019)

After being the front-runner from Bollywood to support protests that challenged the felling of trees at Aarey a few months ago, Shraddha Kapoor has now put her might behind another environmental cause. Lending her support to aunt Tejaswini Kolhapure and brother Siddhanth, Shraddha will back their endeavour at an organic pop-up of products that can be recycled.

Kick-starting today, A Flea By The tree will have support from the Kapoor clan, with Tejaswini’s initiative, the Green way, being represented in it. It has been backed by Siddhanth, Priyank Sharma, Azhar Morani and Kashish Malkani’s Rage entertainment. The three-day event will be hosted at the Vintage Garden and will have sustainable, green and holistic merchandise in store for customers.

Shraddha tells mid-day, “I am happy that they are doing something that furthers environmental causes. We need more people to do the same. I hope I can too.”

Brother Siddhanth points out that the family goes all out in their effort to support initiatives that keep environmental causes at the fore. “I am trying to turn vegetarian, while a lot of family members are turning vegan. We also support the no plastic campaign. We need to step up and protect our planet from global warming,” he says.

Tejaswani adds that with ecological issues on the rise, she finds it imperative that people keep the cause at the forefront. “Shopping and buying products is part of our daily lives. Why not do it responsibly? We have organic and holistic [products], including candles, cold-pressed juices, recycled furniture, skincare brands and apparels.”

Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 7, 2019)

While Hrithik Roshan is in talks to reprise Amitabh Bachchan’s character in Farah Khan and Rohit Shetty’s Satte Pe Satta remake, Shakti Kapoor, who played Mangal Anand in the 1982 Raj N Sippy directorial, feels his son Siddhanth Kapoor would be the apt choice to play his part.

“I would like to see Siddhanth essay the role I played in the cult film,” the actor says, adding, “No one can play that character better than him. But I don’t know. It’s up to Farah and Rohit.”

When asked if he has spoken to the filmmakers, Shakti said, “I’m in touch with Farah but I haven’t spoken to her about Satte Pe Satta remake. She is a good friend and she knows Siddhanth very well too. If she feels he fits the part, she will call him. It’s her call as a director. She is an amazing writer and has a great sense of comedy, emotions, entertainment. And she’s got a wonderful producer in Rohit. I’m sure they’ll make a fantastic film.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (July 12, 2019)

Kapil Sharma had some surprise guests on his talk show, The Kapil Sharma Show. Actress Padmini Kolkapure and her brother-in-law, actor Shakti Kapoor, along with Krushna Abhishek and the host, took everyone on a laugh-filled trip down memory lane. When quizzed by the host on rumours that Anil Kapoor had been given the responsibility of getting her dates for Woh Saat Din, his first Hindi film as leading man, she quipped, “Yes, that’s true. And Anil got them too, quite easily, because he wooed me with these huge lunch boxes filled with tasty food every day.” So, now we know, the way to Padmini’s heart is through her stomach.

Raving about the “fantastic” film, Shakti then went on to reveal that the tiffin boxes now come to his home from Anil’s as his daughter Sonam and his son Siddhanth are buddies. “So, whenever there is good food at their place, we get sent these tiffin boxes.”

The trio then played a game whereby they had to name an actor after a vegetable they most resembled. Govinda was likened to a tomato because “he wears the most fashionable clothes” while Shatrughan Sinha got adrak (ginger) because he’s “kadak”. Jeetendra was likened to a radish because of his white clothes while Johny Lever was dhaniya (coriander) because you got it for free when you go shopping for veggies. Now, that’s some food for thought.

Actress rehearsing for dance film while shooting for Prabhas-starrer
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 26, 2019)

After wrapping up the Dubai schedule of Remo D’souza’s Street Dancer 3D with costar Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor took off to Austria last week to resume shooting for the Sujeeth-directed Saaho, which also features Prabhas. The actress has been filming for a romantic number with the Baahubali actor along with a few action and conversational sequences. Given her tight schedule with back-to-back projects, the actress’s mother Shivangi Kapoor had joined her on the European schedule before heading to Amsterdam, where Shraddha’s brother Siddhanth is on a break after wrapping up his next, Chehre.

Mirror has now learnt that besides shooting for Saaho, the actress is also prepping for the climax shoot of Street Dancer 3D, which she resumes shooting on June 29, the day of her return to India. The makers of the film have flown choreographer Tania Torao to Austria so that Shraddha can rehearse her moves for the forthcoming schedule. “Shraddha wasn’t getting enough time to prep so Tania, who has been with her since the beginning of the film, is helping her rehearse her hip-hop steps in-between breaks,” informs a source close to the development. The film’s team has erected a huge set in suburban Mumbai where the cast will be shooting for the climax sequence. “During the Dubai schedule, Shraddha filmed the recreated version of 'Muqabala' with Prabhudheva and will even have a face-off sequence with Varun as they are initially shown as members of opposite teams. The last schedule will go on for 22 days. Several international dancers are flying down to Mumbai to shoot for the finale sequence,” adds the source. 

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 18, 2019)

Living in the shadow of a renowned father and an A-list sibling is not easy. Siddhanth Kapoor, however, is a different breed. He’s unaffected by the fact that often, people introduce him as Shakti Kapoor’s son or Shraddha Kapoor’s brother. In fact, he holds those descriptions in high regard and is waiting for the day when he’ll make them proud, too. His upcoming film Bombairiya was in the making for long and the actor talks about carving a niche in the film industry, on his own terms. Excerpts:

You’ve had to wait for two years for Bombairiya to release. That must be a huge relief for you?
Yeah. I am looking forward to the film’s release. Bombairiya has been edited a couple of times in these years and the current version looks good. It’s a comedy with a series of misadventures that give it the feel of a serious thriller. It’s like a Guy Ritchie film, which throws light on the problems in our country, but with a fresh spin. Actually, we had finished shooting for this film before we started work on Haseena Parkar (2017). I’m glad the makers took two years to edit the film and make it sensible and justify the characters. Also, it’s an indie film that needs screens for a decent run and finding that space is never easy. It’s a bit of a struggle, although things are changing now. It’s actually coming out at the right time.

You’ve been appreciated for your acting chops, but your choice of films hasn’t always worked in your favour. Do you agree?
I feel, my best is yet to come. Yes, some decisions have gone against me, about 30 per cent of the films that I have acted in have fielded negativity and controversies. In some cases, we started on the wrong foot and in some cases, the publicity went wrong. But the characters, irrespective of the screen time, have won me some good reviews. What can I say beyond that? I worked in a film called Fattak, which is one of my best works, but the film couldn’t release because the producers went bankrupt. Things like these happen in our industry and that makes life difficult for people like me. I am not a star and I wasn’t introduced as a star kid, nor am I the type of actor who is high on hero roles. I’ve had an affinity for dark and slightly, edgy characters. Not everyone likes playing ugly characters, but I love them. So, I’ve realised this will take a little time, but things will work out for me. Also, I’m not the type of a guy who just hangs around in Bollywood. I have my circle and I do my own things. I don’t hang out with industry people to get work.

Your father also started off playing some really insignificant roles, but he gradually rose to the stature of a supporting actor who was loved and adored by the masses. Earlier, actors got more opportunities and time to prove their worth, which is not the case today. Does that worry you?
It does, but when I look around, I have a lot of contemporary examples of actors who have made their way up, brick by brick. Look at Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Yes, my father is a brilliant actor and the way that the industry functioned in those days was different. It’s true that people today, run out of patience pretty easily, but I am a different guy. I perceive cinema differently. I want to be subtle with my choices and work at my own pace. I don’t really want to prove a point to anyone. If the content and character work for me, I take it up. I haven’t got the right opportunities to display my range as an actor yet, but that day will come. I am Shakti Kapoor ka beta and Shraddha Kapoor ka bhai and I am mighty proud of both of them. And there will be a day when they, too, will be proud of me. 

A film the actress shot for in 2015 with Akshay Oberoi, Ravi Kishan is hitting theatres in January
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 15, 2018)

In 2015, Radhika Apte had shot for debutante filmmaker Pia Sukanya’s film, Bombairiya, which also features Ravi Kishan, Siddhanth Kapoor and Shilpa Shukla, among others, and sees her in the role of a film publicist. Now, with a theatrical release scheduled for January 2019, the film is finally set to see the light of day.

Michael E Ward, who has produced the film, attributes the delay to the intricacies of shooting a film in Mumbai. “The idea was to tell a real story set in the city, which can be really difficult and expensive so most local producers avoid it. Since there was no way around it for us, we shot the film, a comedy set in Mumbai’s streets, at 40 real locations with sync sound and a crew that was not too large. Once, while we were shooting on a Mahim set, 53 policemen turned up to collect hafta. This happened even though we had all permissions to shoot.”

According to the filmmaker, other unforeseen crises added to the crew’s woes. During the shoot, Siddhanth suffered an injury and was unable to shoot for months after getting 47 stitches on his arm. Then, technology played spoil sport. “We were mid-shoot when we had to update all sequences involving VFX, which took a year of complete rework on visual effects when it usually takes eight weeks,” Michael informed, adding that it was worth the effort in the end.