
New Year has completely thrown me off track, today feels like a Monday. But it’s Friday, and luckily there’s lots of Shahid-related news around.
Firstly, Shahid and his Hindi lessons. I don’t know what it is about languages, but for some reason, when someone is learning a new language, they always want to know the swear words first. Marty Kudelka, Shahid’s new choreographer, has tried speaking Hindi to fit in around his new surroundings. Ken Ghosh and Shahid were more than willing to help Marty out and apparently, Marty now has a nice big vocabulary of Hindi swear words. Well, he could have just watched any old Indian gangster movie, but I guess learning from Shahid must be more fun.
Second story. Shahid is ready to work with his dad Pankaj Kapoor, as soon as he finishes all his current projects. We all know how many projects Shahid is doing, but hopefully they’ll all be wrapped up by the middle of the year and Pankaj hopes that they’ll begin filming by the end of May. The story, contrary to some rumours, is not based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but is a love story (how shocking to find that in Bollywood, hehe).
Lastly, Shahid gave an interview (you can read the entire thing here) but I’ll just pick up some of the interesting questions.
Did the irony of your breakup with Kareena and the film’s success strike you?
It’s too glaring for me to not notice it. But that’s life for you. You can’t fight it. I’ve always accepted what life gives you. I think what defines my life is not what happens to me but how I deal with it.
Do questions on Kareena make you uncomfortable?
No. It’s been a year now. The pain has receded. See, I know that as an actor I’m not allowed to have my complete privacy even if I wanted to. I try to keep my personal life to myself.
I want to stay connected with the person I am. I want to be in a real world. Sometimes in our world we’re pulled into an illusory state. I want to stay normal. I’ll do as much as possible to uphold my privacy.
Why is Kareena still part of the discussion? She’s ancient history as far as we’re concerned and seems like Shahid also thinks that.
You’ve become secluded?
Secluded is too strong a word. It isn’t as if I don’t have friends and a family. My father lives just a floor below. And I’ve a set of friends I’m very close to. I’ve people in my space. But not outside it. I’m not from a filmi background. So naturally my friends are from outside the industry.
A refreshing change.
New younger talent has come in after you. Do you still feel like a new kid on the block?
Not so new. In comparison to people who’ve started two Fridays back I am more experienced. But I hope to play ‘boy’ roles until I am 40. Others actors are doing it. So why not me?
I’m very happy being young. I started at 23. I couldn’t have asked for more. I’m quite happy playing the college student. As an actor I’m looking for good actors…boy or man is secondary. I don’t have any agendas.
So that means we’ll be seeing Shahid in fluffy roles for a while yet, yay! It’s hard to imagine him as a 40-year-old though. When asked about Rani and their apparent age difference, he said,
Wouldn’t you look mismatched with her ?
That’s what I was told when I did Kismat Connection with Vidya Balan. But if the film and characters work the doubts will disappear.
On the other hand, Rani is showing her age much more than Vidya is…but we’ll see how it turns out.
And that’s it, bring on the weekend!
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