‘THE STAKES WERE MUCH HIGHER BACK THEN’
Says actor Shahid Kapoor about the early 2000s, when he made his Bollywood debut. Adds the opportunities 12-14 years ago were fewer for newcomers as everyone followed a set formula
He debuted on the big screen with the very successful Ishq Vishk in 2003. Shahid Kapoor followed it up with back-toback flops within a span of a month in 2005. Since then, though, in the last 12 years, he has come a long way to become one of the most successful and loved Bollywood stars. HT Café chats up with him about his journey through the years.
How was life 12 years back, when you were just two years old in the industry?
In general, life — as far as the film industry is concerned — was very different pre and post 2010. I think around 20092010; there was a big axis shift in the way the industry functions. I think 2005 was quite a conflicted time, especially for newcomers because there were limited film-makers, stories and content for newcomers at that time. The industry was a much smaller place, and although we talk about nepotism now, it was a lot more at that time in the sense that there was a lot more control. Everything was controlled by people who were in power. Outsiders and newcomers didn’t really have as many opportunities.
have things changed completely?
Even today, a lot of people say, ‘I never thought that I will enter films’ but at that time the same thing was at another level. Back then, making an impact, and being able to get a breakthrough used to happen once in five to six years. I remember when I had signed Ishq Vishk, Hrithik’s (Roshan) Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai had released in 2000, and Hrithik had become a big star. That was just two to three years before I debuted, and I was also trying to get a break at that time but everybody said, ‘now, no new face will be accepted by people for at least five years. Audiences accept a new face only once in five to six years’. It was totally different as opposed to now, when every five months, there is a newcomer. At that time, it really was a miracle to be in front of the camera.
Is it still a ‘miracle’ to be an actor, and be in front of the camera?
I am sure it’s still a miracle but the stakes were much higher at that time for newcomers. The opportunities were fewer, and the content was also not-soexciting. Everything was a formula. So if something worked, then the idea was to repeat it. Success was about repeating yourself in terms of the kind of films you do, and it was all about building on that persona but today, all of that has changed. Today, with so much exposure to what is happening worldwide, the world has become a much smaller, and everybody knows what’s happening everywhere. As a result of that, newer things are accepted easily. Also, there are many more mediums of communication. Today, you can make a movie and release it online. There are people, who are Instagram and Twitter stars too. So there are so many opportunities to be seen and heard. Today is a very good time for newcomers while that was a very good time for people, who were already established. In that sense, while that time was tough for newcomers, now, things are tougher for established stars.
Over the past 12-14 years, have you learnt and unlearnt a number of life’s lessons?
Yes, there are many things. I think every lesson makes you unlearn something that you previously thought was right. So that kind of thing goes hand in hand. I am a very different person today from what I was when I started. There are certain positives that come with being new and young as you have a belief in yourself and a fiery ambition too. Plus, you also lack experience. So, you don’t know all the things that can go wrong. You learn to take failures in your stride, keep moving on and don’t analyse things that much. But over a period of time, you learn to become more careful with your choices.
What has been the most important thing that you have learnt on the personal front?
I have been doing this (acting) for 14 years now. I guess 70-75% of my life has been spent on the sets. The biggest lesson [that I have learnt] in my life has been to be a good person, treat people well and be honest to your work because I don’t think any creative person can sustain unless they have some positivity or goodness in them. Creativity is also about what kind of a person you are. So, if there is something negative or bad about you, it will reflect on camera. If you maintain that goodness, you will be appreciated because success and failure is very unpredictable. You have to build relationships and a reputation, and learn to be good. So, ultimately, it goes back to what your parents taught you.
But is that enough to survive in the industry?
I feel there is nothing else that makes a bigger statement than your work. There is nothing more important than that. So, talking, socialising, meeting people, positioning yourself (in the industry) and strategising can be on one side and what you do between action and cut is on another side. I don’t think anybody can take that away from you as that’s your relationship with your audience. So, nothing should ever come between what you do between action and cut. If you can do that, you are here to stay.
How has the industry changed since you started off?
On one hand, creative opportunities are much better [now], but things have become very frivolous too. People write off others and change loyalties every Friday. So, there is a lot of pressure to perform. It has become very cut-throat and it also takes a toll on people’s personal relationships and equations. But, things have also become a lot more democratic. There are a lot of newcomers, new film-makers and new content, which is accepted. So, there are positives and negatives.
How has the industry changed you on a personal level?
The more time I spend here, the more I realise that the only reason I am here is because I love movies and acting. A lot of things that come with the job — inconsistencies, lack of discipline, different timings, extreme success and failure are not the things that I enjoy. What I truly enjoy is being a part of movies because there is a certain magic that they have –– the ability to make people happy, and doing something that I really love.
But, being a star and an actor comes with many trappings too?
I appreciate creativity. So, to be working with so many different people who are so brilliant at what they do is something that I thoroughly enjoy. But, I don’t necessarily like all the other things that come with being an actor. Ideally, if somebody gave me these options, I would have chosen a job which didn’t have these issues. But, I am here as I am totally in love with films. It’s my first love and I completely love movies.