Q&A WITH JANHVI KAPOOR

Her film choices might be unorthodox but Janhvi Kapoor isn’t scared of going against the grain. As her new film Roohi hits theatres, the actor shares her thoughts on success, failure and finding her own way

Q. Unlike your peers, you veer towards doing authorbacked roles. You are not just some pretty stand-in in a mainstream film…

After Dhadak, I knew the house was divided. People were asking questions. “Can she act? Does she deserve to be here?” I needed to prove myself, to people around me that I can act. I am more confident about my emotional intellect than I am about the way I look or my personality even. Many people came up to me and said, “What are you doing? You are supposed to look pretty and dance. This won’t work at the box office.” But I just wanted to do it. I saw an opportunity many didn’t.

Q. You play dual roles in Roohi—one that is scared, another that is scary…

The film is symbolic of the journey of a girl finding herself. It’s about learning to accept parts of yourself that aren’t always pretty and fun to look at. Roohi explores the duality in all of us. That’s what I loved about it.

Q. Stree had an underlying commentary on women’s empowerment. Does Roohi follow a similar trajectory?

It definitely does make statements about how women are seen and objectified, but it does so without being blatant about it. Each time you watch the film, you find another meaning. It is a comedy which simultaneously has a lot of scares.

Q. Do you feel the burden of your mother’s legacy?

I see it as a blessing. I know expectations are high but look at what I have to live up to. If I even aspire towards half of that, I can then get some place. I have no fear of ever being complacent because I am not allowed that. I feel it will benefit me as an artiste.