Offcamera: Why Rhea never wanted to become an actor!

Be it her father (Anil Kapoor), siblings (Sonam K Ahuja and Harshvardhan Kapoor) or cousins (Arjun Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor), Rhea Kapoor has always been surrounded by actors. But somehow, the young producer was never attracted to acting. “Honestly, when you grow up so close to it, it can become less appealing. Sonam always wanted to, but I never did. I knew I wanted to do something creative but I did not know what it would be,” she says.

The Veere Di Wedding producer feels she “fell in love with fashion as well as film and theatre” in college. “In fact, as soon as I came back to India (she did a four-year graduation programme in dramatic literature from New York University), I worked with Ayan Mukerji (as an assistant director on Wake Up Sid; 2009). I remember on the second day on the film’s set, I was like, ‘there is no chance I am coming in front of the camera,’” she says.

Interestingly, Rhea has her own “few reasons” that kept her away from acting. “Firstly, I am a control freak. So, from the beginning to end, I will take responsibility for a film. Also, I can’t be put into things randomly; I just can’t bear that. Secondly, when you are actor in Bollywood you are more like a brand. So, it’s equally about your image, perception and craft. It’s like a mix, especially if you come from a film family. But that is not my zone. And third point got to do with my personality. I don’t think I will make a good actor or because I love being alone,” she says.

Rhea readily admits that she doesn’t “like being around people much”. “Sonam and dad are surrounded by people all the time, and I understand that [as actors] you need to. Also, I don’t take well to being told what to do. I listen to a couple of people I really respect — such as my dad — when it comes to films. There are a lot of things that I want to express and get out there. So, I can’t listen to everyone as it could be a distraction,” she says.

PHOTO: APEKSHA & VAISHNAV Rhea Kapoor