‘THE ATTEMPT IS TO GROW AS AN ACTOR’

Harshvardhan Kapoor talks about not being part of “generic films”, adds “being an actor is a risk”

With Mirzya, we attempted to do a musical, which went back and forth in time. For some people it worked, and for some it didn’t. But it was a radical narrative style, and I wanted to be part of it. I wish Mirzya would have reached more people. HARSHVARDHAN KAPOOR, ACTOR

Ijust go for films that really excite me on the paper and in terms of ideas,” says Harshvardhan Kapoor about his upcoming work. He is now gearing for the release of his second project, Bhavesh Joshi, and has also signed the Abhinav Bindra biopic. The young actor is happy to be making choices which are not run-of-the-mill. “With Bhavesh Joshi, we have attempted to do a graphic novelesque vigilante drama. I’ve done comedy, romance and action in the film. It’s our version of a commercial film, although you can’t classify it. The attempt, always, is to grow as an actor and keep learning. There is so much to learn. The point is to do films that no one has attempted before, otherwise what’s the point? Everybody says it’s a risk, but being an actor is a risk. So might as well go with your instinct,” he says.

Ask him if he also considers their box-office outcome, and the actor says, “Honestly, I am not even thinking about what is going to work. They will reach the audience wherever they are supposed to — whether it’s London Film Festival, a multiplex in Mumbai or a theatre in Jharkhand. I will only know that on a Friday. With Mirzya, we attempted to do a musical, which went back and forth in time. For some people, it worked, and for some it didn’t. But it was a radical narrative style, and I wanted to be part of it. I wish Mirzya would have reached more people,” says Harshvardhan.

The actor feels lucky to be offered interesting films in the beginning of his career. “I am trying my best. When you do the work you believe in, there will be a set of audience that will understand what you’re trying to do. And hopefully they will be loyal and will grow with your choices. They will understand that you’re trying to do films that they probably have not seen before. Sometimes you might fail, but at least you’re trying. You’re not doing films which are generic. I know the quality of work that I am attempting to do, I can sleep peacefully at night,” says Harshvardhan.

Is he open to commercial entertainers in the future? “I’d love to because I would reach out to a larger audience. But the story has to excite me.I am still trying to find myself. Because of the lineage, people are quick to make judgements but the truth is that I have just done one film, which also was a highly experimental one,” he says.