‘I’VE TRIED TO BUILD MY OWN IDENTITY’

Arjun Kapoor says if a person doesn’t back their own self or their talent, and doesn’t have a “longterm vision”, then insecurity can creep in

Last year, he completed five years in Bollywood. In fact, since his bigticket debut with Ishaqzaade (2012), Arjun Kapoor has gone on to create a solid niche for himself.

“I have tried to build my own identity. Also, I have done my best with what was given to me and with all the genuineness,” says the actor, who belongs to the muchrespected Kapoor family. “But I don’t take advantage of it [family background],” he says.

The Mubarakan (2017) actor feels that regardless of one’s background, there is space for insiders as well as outsiders in the film industry. “I can only speak from my point of view, but somewhere down the line, you can notice that there are various examples of people, who are from within the industry but they haven’t made it,” says Arjun, adding that there are also “more than enough examples of people, who have come from outside but they have been able to make it”.

Interestingly, Arjun entered Bollywood around a time when a number of other young actors also made their film debuts. Does heavy competition lead to any kind of insecurity? “If you don’t back yourself and your talent, or if you don’t have a long-term vision for yourself, then you can feel insecure,” he says.

At the same time, Arjun — producer Boney Kapoor’s son — admits that it is a “very big advantage that I have grown up in the industry”. “So I have seen the highs and lows from close quarters. It allows me to be way more secure because I

understand that at the end of the day, it’s a journey. The world [of films] can be very heavy on a lot of people and it tends to create difficult environments to operate in,” he says.

But the Half Girlfriend (2017) actor feels things are changing rapidly. “If you look closely, the younger generations’ insecurities are actually not as much as they used to be because there is more work happening now,” says the Ki & Ka (2016) actor, adding that “insecurity creeps in when you are fighting only for a limited space and positioning”.

“Today, there is scope for co-existence vis-à-vis a huge number of people. That’s why I think insecurities have reduced because everybody is doing their own thing. Till date, I have enjoyed playing all my characters. As an actor, I am just putting my best foot forward to fulfil my director’s expectations. I never look over my shoulder to check, ‘woh kya kar raha hai ya kya kar rahi hai’. My films have always been like that. Even if you see female stars’ parts in my films, they have been fantastic. And I feel very proud of being a part of such films,” he says.

I think insecurities have reduced because everybody is doing their own thing. Till date, I have enjoyed playing all my characters. As an actor, I am just putting my best foot forward to fulfil my director’s expectations. ARJUN KAPOOR,

ACTOR

PHOTO: ATUL KASBEKAR