Charming: Shahid Kapoor. DH photo by SK Dinesh.
He is one of the most charming actors that Bollywood has seen in the recent decade. He is witty, smart and full of confidence. Over the years, actor Shahid Kapoor has not only churned out hits like ‘Jab we met’, ‘Kaminey’, ‘Vivah’, ‘Haider’ and ‘Udta Punjab’ but he has also become synonymous to a performer and an entertainer.
The actor who was in the city recently for a Reebok store launch spoke to Surupasree Sarmmah about the importance of fitness, life after being a father and more.
How important is being fit to you?
Oh, it’s very important. I have been somebody who has been into fitness since I was a teenager. I started as a dancer, so fitness was a huge part of that and after which I became actor and the only way you can rediscover your silhouette and a change in yourself if you have the ability to adapt and keep changing the way one looks. Apart from that, I love being fit as it makes me feel good about myself. It is very relevant, especially today, where we live lives where we are constantly sitting and don’t really get to move around so much.
On a scale of one to five, how much will you rate yourself on having a fit body?
Well, at times I am five-on-five and sometimes also two-and-a-half struggling to get to five. (Laughs)
You were a dancer and now an actor, was acting your choice over probably becoming a choreographer?
I actually always wanted to act in movies. Dancing is a huge passion and is my first love when it comes to the workspace, but I always wanted to get into movies and do something which will allow me to play different characters and express myself in different ways. I think dancing and acting are two beautiful art-forms. And I feel fortunate that I am being able to do both.
Dance or gym, what would be your pick?
I can’t choose, I love both.
From ‘Ishq Vishk’ to ‘Udta Punjab’, you have moved from being a chocolate boy to a chiseled actor. What brought about this change?
I think it’s a natural progression. I started acting when I was 21 and now I am 36. You tend to hit different phases of life and people have seen that transformation, it has come from experience, work and life. I started off as a kid and used to play roles of a college student and today I am a husband and a father and I will be playing a king in my next movie. There is so much that has happened over the years and it’s been such a beautiful journey.
How has your choice of movies changed over the years because you have been doing a few intense roles?
In the beginning, life is about showcasing yourself or proving a point or to be noticed. However, over the years, you understand who you are and what are the things that drive you. One tends to learn their strengths and weaknesses. Today I would say, I am at ease with myself and my self-image is pretty balanced. What’s important to me is I participate in something that inspires me and excites and scares me at the same time. You can’t be original unless you do something you haven’t done before.
How well do you manage work-life balance?
I try to I guess all of us struggle with this. Sometimes there is too much work and I feel there is no time to be with family, spend time with yourself or even take a holiday. And there are times when I have time between movies and I maximise that time and try and spend time with family.
How has life changed after ‘Misha’?
Oh, it is a huge change! I can’t even explain, it’s a complete transformation. I think having a child changes your understanding and your perspective about things around you, almost everything.