‘I FEEL VERY LIBERATED, RELAXED'
High on the big success of Kabir Singh, Shahid Kapoor says the film has ‘changed his relationship’ with audiences
It’s not every day that your film makes over ₹275 crore, that too, only in India. Especially, for Shahid Kapoor, the experience is absolutely new, or as he says, “it’s a virgin territory” for him. But along with bouquets came brickbats for Kabir Singh, due to what’s called a “faulty” character. “I feel only a certain section of people, who had a propaganda of sorts, saw Kabir that way,” he says. We catch up with the actor for a chat about the criticism, success and more. Excerpts:
Kabir Singh is the biggest hit yet of 2019. Has the feeling sunk in?
Yes! Weirdly, at first, I felt relaxed. And then, I felt very emotional and undeserving of such numbers because it’s not as if I worked five times harder on this film than other films. God has been very kind, and I’m very thankful to people. I feel it has changed something inside me as far as my relationship with audiences is concerned. Now, more than anyone else, I want to work for them — be it my own reasons, family or my belief in cinema. I feel like keep giving them films which they’ll really enjoy. I don’t want to let them down.
At the same time, the film and your ‘flawed’ character has been criticised by a section of people. Does that bother you?
You know, it’s strange that no one questioned Shah Rukh Khan’s character from Baazigar (1993) when he loved both the sisters at the same time. I feel we’re coming of age with the kind of films we’re making, and our cinema is coming closer to reality, but with Kabir Singh, I saw an opposite reaction. It’s a little hypocritical and surprising too since the character that Leonardo DiCaprio played in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) — who I feel had a lot more issues than Kabir — is celebrated and praised. And the same people are dissing Kabir. But people, at mass level, loved both the films.
Now, as the award season kickstarts, do you expect to win, in the wake of such talks?
Time will tell. We have seen that the audience has matured and has come of age. Now, we will see if other people have also grown up or they are still prejudiced. The kind of love Kabir Singh has got can’t be disputed, and the film is driven by the character. So, the writing is on the wall. Beyond that, nothing is in my control.
By now, there’s a lot of mystery around your next film...
My life is maintaining a mystery with me (laughs). I am dying to announce what I’ll do next as it’s the best time. I wanted sign a film even before Kabir Singh released as I don’t like to sit at home. But I didn’t like anything. Now, a lot of things are coming so, I’ve to go through them. Also, it took me a month or so to absorb everything, and understand what it means. After all, pehli
baar hua hai. But there are things that I’ve liked. We will soon make an announcement.
It has been four years since you got married. And you said in an interview that ‘even though it’s just been four years, a large part of who I am has been formed since the day we got married…’
The feeling is like a wild horse that used to be free in the wild. But for four years, he has been domesticated (laughs). So, my self-image has completely changed. On a serious note, your sense of identity becomes different before marriage as compared to when you have children and a wife to come back home to. It’s not just ‘you’ anymore, but more about ‘us’, in terms of how you even think about life. Your thoughts and decision make a transition from ‘I, me and myself’ to ‘us’. And that’s a big change.
You have tasted a blockbuster hit, with Kabir Singh, after being in the industry for 15 years. Do you think it will change the course of your career?
Just the fact that it happened, has already changed the course. The platform has been provided to me. Now, if I take this great opportunity and sc**w it up, then that’s my fault. But I will try not to (laughs). The opportunity has been given. Also, I strongly feel there’s never a wrong time for the right thing. Whenever it comes, it’s the right time.
Coming to all the criticism that Kabir Singh has received, would such talks make you think twice about taking up a similar character in the future?
Not really! I feel liberated now. I know my relationship is with the audience. What matters the most is that they got it. Everything else is just noise. It gives you clarity ke main films kiske liye bana raha hoon. To me, the most exciting part about cinema is to play all kinds of characters. I was never obsessed with being this perfect man whom every woman wants. I’m here to play characters, good and bad, to be loved or hated for the traits of the characters. You know how difficult it is to make people hate you. So, I take it as a big compliment that Kabir was hated in some parts (smiles).
Why do you think all the criticism has been unfounded?
For me, it’s a fundamental thing. You can’t impose your personal morality on a character, as it has its own morality. If I say that only a certain kind of film should and shouldn’t be made or watched, then I am saying that the entire country knows less than me. Then, you’re putting yourself on a pedestal. And it’s like living in a bubble of being intellectually superior. But that bubble burst with Kabir Singh as people were like, ‘I’ll decide what I like/watch.’ Just because people love a film, doesn’t mean they like the bad side of a character. In the ’70s, when Mr [Amitabh] Bachchan played the angry young man, did people start shooting the cops? No, it doesn’t happen.
What’s your personal take on your character?
Did I like the way Kabir behaved in certain parts? Not at all! But an actor’s job is to play a character without being afraid. It’s a coming of age of cinema wherein you have to show things the way they are. If there’s a problem in the society, you’ve to acknowledge it and then address it. The job of films is to mirror life. If today, people are saying that this kind of behaviour against women is unacceptable, it’s great that Kabir Singh has fuelled such a conversation.
There has also been chatter about your part being a misogynist…
Yes, some people said that,
‘Kabir is a misogynist.’ But for me, he was badly behaved across the board, starting with his grandmother. If he was nice to men and badly behaved with women, then I’d have agreed that he is misogynistic. But his prejudice is not on the basis of gender since he has an anger management problem. So, I found that term to be very propaganda-ish.
Recently, I came across a scene of Raj Kapoor and Nargis where his hands are on her neck, and they are having an intense fight. Also, I was very surprised that in today’s times, when people are watching Sanju, in which he puts a commode cover around wife’s neck as mangalsutra, why is everyone attacking only this film. It all felt a bit strange. Still, I am absolutely fine to hear from people that they didn’t like the film. But it’s unacceptable that you tell other people also not to like it, or to say that this film or such a film can’t be made.