‘I WILL ALWAYS BE A STUDENT OF LIFE’

Shraddha Kapoor says she trusts her father Shakti Kapoor’s judgement; adds that she turns to her parents in times of failure and success

She admits that her Bollywood career didn’t start off with a “bang” (with Teen Patti; 2010). However, since then, Shraddha Kapoor has been part of many big hits such as Aashiqui 2 (2013) and Ek Villain (2014). Nonetheless, the actor says she will “always be a student of life.” As Shraddha soaks in the success of her latest film, co-starring Arjun Kapoor, HT Café catches up with her about success, failures and her rumoured love life.

You have completed seven years in the industry…

Actually, no one knows that we shot for Teen Patti for twoand-a-half years. So I started shooting for the film in August 2007. By that logic, if you actually calculate, then I have completed almost 10 years.

Do you feel like you have completed close to a decade in the industry?

No, I don’t feel it (laughs). I feel shocked about it. It makes me think, ‘Really? What?’

But do you look back at the times gone by?

Yes, I do that every now and then. I do that just to relive those memories. Sometimes, it feels nice to look back and think, ‘Oh, during my first film, I didn’t even know that there’s a term called ‘mark’ on a film set’ or that ‘one shouldn’t block the lighting on the sets.’ But now, I feel like I know something (smiles).

But by now, you have had so many hits to your credit starting with Aashiqui 2...

I actually didn’t start off with a bang. I look at Teen Patti as my start. My start had a lot of struggles, but I think all those efforts paid off as I was fortunate enough to get all the films that I eventually got, and I continue to get. For instance, I am really fortunate to have signed Saina now. I think that’s going to be my hardest film till date, and it is going to entail months and months of preparation.

At this point, how much does success or failure affect you?

At that time [when a film flops], it affects me a lot. But at the end of the day, you can only tell yourself not to take success to your head, and failure to your heart. I felt bad with Rock On 2 (2016) and OK Jaanu not doing well, but I brushed it off. But like any other actor, I always hope that my films do well.

How do you handle your successes and failures?

I go to my parents in both the situations. Actually, in all situations, I go to them because I feel whenever you turn to your comfort zone, you feel better about everything. It doesn’t matter if you are feeling lost or experiencing ups-and-downs for whatever reason.

So, your family is your comfort zone…

Definitely, my family and my best friends.

I felt bad with Rock On 2 (2016) and OK Jaanu not doing well, but I brushed it off. SHRADDHA KAPOOR, ACTOR

Do you go to your family for feedback on your work?

I definitely keep going back to my dad and my family. My dad is my biggest and most honest critic. He tells me things straight up. He will either tell me that I was ‘good’ or ‘whatever’. But yes, he does tell me more good things than bad. If I take his word, then I feel really good because I trust his judgment a lot.

Would you like to work with your father?

Yes, I would love it if they make a movie that could feature the both of us. Someone should make a movie called ‘Gogo And Gogi’ (laughs; a spin off from his role of Crime Master Gogo from Andaz Apna Apna; 1994).

Does it hurt when your films don’t do well at the box office?

I have realised that ‘box office pressure’ is not real pressure for me. People also ask me how do I feel about the multiple ` 100-crore hits, or tell me that I must be feeling great. But I don’t equate my achievements to how much money my movies make.

What’s your idea of an achievement?

I feel proud of the fact that I have been part of a good film and have worked really hard on it. So it will be nice if people like it. But there are so many good films that unfortunately don’t do well, leaving me shocked. They may be called art or niche films. It angers me. And then, at times, films that are not so good do really well. I just hope that it balances things out.

Even Andaz Apna Apna (1994) didn’t do very well…

Yes. I can’t imagine that happened, and it’s a cult film today.

But, as an actor, do you feel bad?

Of course, it definitely hurts.

Especially, when consecutive releases underperform?

Yes, [it hurts] a little more, but I brush it off, because at the end of it, I have to get back to what I love doing the most [acting].

But you can’t control box-office results, right?

Yes, it’s true. But, of course, it’s always a nice feeling if people watch the film.

You have always spoken openly about the lean patch that you went through before Aashiqui 2 (2013). That must have been a big learning experience?

Yes, definitely. I think you learn more from failures than you do from your successes. When my two films (Rock On 2; 2016 and Ok Jaanu) didn’t do well at the box office, that further strengthened that belief. But that didn’t make me very upset, because I was so happy shooting for those films. I was a little upset, but I brushed it off. I thought, ‘God, I really love doing this [acting] so much that [films] not doing well at the box office didn’t affect me that much.

I feel proud of the fact that I have been part of a good film and have worked really hard on it. SHRADDHA KAPOOR, ACTOR