ARJUN’S BIRTHDAY WISH: PEACE AND CALM FOR FAMILY
Turning 33 today, Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor says that this day is for ‘feeling grateful, happy and proud’
Iwant my family to have some peace and calm.” That’s Arjun Kapoor’s big birthday wish this year — he turns 33 today. The actor, who is going through possibly the most fruitful and busiest phase of his career, feels that this is “the time for me to underline a solid identity for myself”. We caught up with him to chat about life, career and more.
Are you a birthday person?
I consider it a milestone from where you look back at things, to reminisce about what you’ve done this year, and also look forward to the coming year.
You just hope that by your next birthday, you’ll be in a better position. It’s a nice reminder of feeling grateful, happy and proud that at 33, I’ve managed to achieve quite a bit. When I was 23, I didn’t dream that I’d be here 10 years down the line. I’ve surpassed my own expectations as well as others’ and especially [of] those who definitely didn’t expect me to survive in this industry.
Any special plans?
None as such! I know that dad (Boney Kapoor, producer), my grandmother, Janhvi, Khushi (half-sisters) and Anshula (sister) are in town, so I’ll meet the entire family during the day. I’m sure everyone will get to know my night’s plan through paparazzi (laughs). But I’m certain I’ll be with my friends, so dinner is on. I guess I’ll have people over as I have just redone the house — so I’ll call some of my friends, but this year, I don’t want to host a big bash or anything. It’s going to be an intimate affair.
Do you remember any special birthday?
I used to love birthday parties. As a kid, I always had a fascination with fancy dress parties, so I’d turn into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, a WWE wrestler, Superman and Spider-Man (laughs). Since my birthday falls in the monsoon, other parents would get paranoid about sending their children over. So, we’d have a film screening (of a movie that was going to release that weekend) at a trial theatre and then a cake would be cut, followed by lunch. I’d plan my birthdays with my mother way in advance. It used to be like an event, an award show. That has still not changed. Even now, that’s the only time you’ll see me having a party.
Big birthday wish for this year?
If I say it, it may not be fulfilled. Aaj kal dar lagta hai. If I have just one birthday wish this time, I’d genuinely want my family to have some peace and calm, which I’m sure people will respect and understand.
Workwise, is this the most exciting phase of your career?
I really hope so. I think somewhere I’ve found my groove. So, I’ve become the jack of all trades but now I have to decide what I’m the master of, and only the audience can help me decide my journey. I have experimented with all genres, and I’ve been lucky since the audiences have liked me doing everything. Now, I can afford to experiment, knowing that people will back me if I make a good film.
When I was 23, I didn’t dream that I’d be here 10 years down the line. I’ve surpassed my own expectations as well as others’ and especially [of] those who definitely didn’t expect me to survive in this industry. ARJUN KAPOOR ACTOR
You have completed five years in Bollywood (after debuting in Ishaqzaade; 2012). Do you feel it’s time you consolidated your position in the industry?
Absolutely! This is the most important phase of my career, not just in terms of the volume of work but also because of the way I want to plan my future. Now, I can consolidate [my position] and look ahead. In the first few years, you just take up whatever is coming your way. I am at that stage where I feel I have fooled around enough and learnt from my highs and lows, and also made mistakes – knowingly or unknowingly. It is God’s gift that I am getting such opportunities; I have got sustainability. Now, I want to do good films and push the envelope that makes audiences feel, ‘if Arjun is doing a film, it must be good.’ I want to work towards that quality. This year, that’s my main agenda.
The coming year is going to be a busy one for you…
Yes, I have three releases – Namaste England, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and India’s Most Wanted – before my next birthday. I hope all three have that stamp of quality. I feel in the next three-four years, there will be a burst of newcomers. So, if you aren’t on your toes and not thinking of the future, you might become outdated. As serious as it sounds, this is the year that I want to take myself to the next level. And, you have to work hard towards it. This year, that’s the focus. I am in that zone and groove to create a niche for myself. All our seniors (actors) have their own identities and that’s why they have survived for so long. This is the time for me to underline a pure identity for myself.
Any plans to work with your father, producer Boney Kapoor again (after Tevar; 2015)? A recent report suggested that a project has been finalised.
Yes, I have every intention of working with dad again. But, whatever happens will be after Panipat. We have been toying with the idea of doing something together, but there’s nothing concrete as of now. Since dad takes up remakes, people have put two and two together. That’s [reports] mere speculation. Yes, subjects are being looked at but we haven’t hit a jackpot yet in terms of cracking the material, director or the subject. The intent is to do work together soon, but there’s no time frame to it.