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Remember Haider's Mad Bald Scene? That is where Tommy Singh Starts - Shahid Kapoor
Shahid Kapoor knows how to take his audience by surprise. For all those who thought, that the Kapoor munda couldn't get madder than what he has done in Haider, he surprises you with a Tommy Singh in Udta Punjab. His drool-worthy looks, the sexy swag and ready-to-kill-it attitude will make you fall in love with him instantly. But it wasn't a cake walk getting those nuances of a drug addict right. In a candid conversation with Pinkvilla, Shahid Kapoor shares his journey of shooting for Udta Punjab - his toughest film till date, working with Alia again after Shaandaar, fatherhood and wife Mira's reaction to the movie. Read on...
You had once said in your interview that you are now choosing films fearlessly. Is that the reason why you agreed to do Udta Punjab?
I was very afraid to play this role, to be very honest, because playing the character of someone who is into substance abuse is difficult. Some of the finest performances have been in films like Dallas Buyers Club, Basketball Diaries etc and have been given by people who have been addicts. I have never had alcohol, not even tried half a glass of beer or tried substance abuse. I basically don't know how it feels to be high. But this role is all about that (laughs). So I was very scared because it was a challenge that you don't know. You have no knowledge of it, no experience, no exposure and there is nothing that you can draw parallel from. As an actor, it was a challenge of a different category.
We have seen your dark and mad side in Haider. That was your most difficult role, you had said. Was Tommy Singh a notch above it?
Haider was very normal as compared to Tommy (laughs). I can say that. I remember when me and Abhishek were talking, he said 'You remember that mad scene in Haider, where you are bald and you go berserk and are talking to yourself', I said 'Yeah!'. He told, 'That is where Tommy Singh has to start' (laughs). I don't think there is anybody madder than Tommy Singh that I have played and I don't think, for a while I will get any other character like that.
Has your father watched Udta Punjab? If yes, what discussions have you guys had after the movie?
No, he hasn't seen the movie. He will watch it once it is ready.
What is the response that you are getting since the promos of Udta Punjab have released?
(Asks me of what I think of it. I say Fabulous) Same!
Alia's character too has stood out in the trailer. What made you think she would be able to do this role? How did you convince her?
It wasn't like I convinced her. You can't convince an actor. I will tell you what happened. Abhishek came to me with the script and I immediately said a yes. We kept having these creative meetings and used to discuss lot of things. After 4 months, we thought yaar yeh picture hum banayenge ki nahi banayenge. There was nobody else cast. He had taken the movie to lot of people and nobody said yes for various reasons. It takes a lot courage do these movies. There were many who said 'Mujhe western kapde pehenne hai','Mujhe gareeb nahi play karna' etc. So even I started thinking we can rope in new comers. But I thought, this film is such that every role is important and every character has its own journey. If there is one star and three newcomers, you will end up focussing on that one star, and that is not the movie. That was the time when Shaandaar, I felt there is something in Alia, which tells that she has a desire to be an actor. I shared the script with her as a friend and I didn't tell her my intention. Before that I called up Abhishek, and asked if I can talk to Alia. It was already 9 months and nobody was cast. Abhishek initially reacted saying 'You are corrupting my film, how will Alia play.. Yaar tu Shahid kya bol raha hai?' I convinced him saying she is a good actor and also when I did Kaminey, no one thought I could do it. He agreed and said you can give her the script. I gave her the script saying 'Alia I have got this script and I am curious to know what you think of it. Also there is this role. Tell me how do you find it?' That is how I gave her the script.
Please continue...
After 2-3 days, she didn't call up. I assumed, she is busy. Apni script nahi padti hai toh meri kahan se padhegi. After few days, I got a call from Alia at night say around 10.30ish. She says 'Hello (as if in tears)'. I asked her if everything was ok. She replied saying 'I just finished reading this script'. So I was like 'Did you like it or no'. She started crying and said 'I am really affected by this script yeah. I am moved by the film'. So I understood that she really liked the script. Then I asked her, 'What do you think of that role?' She replied saying 'Great'. I asked her if she wants to do it and then there was 2 minutes of silence. The she says 'Will they want me to do it because it is so different from my personality'. I was like 'If they approach you, then will you do it?' To this Alia replied with a yes. I hung up on her and then told Abhishek. They decided to meet the next day. Then Abhishek called me and said that he had a great meeting with her and she was on board.
Were you guys anticipating Censor trouble?
This film has strong content so there was a certain concern. I also had a film like Haider, which was made a year and half back. I felt very proud that a film like Haider released and it was loved by the audience. It is probably the most credible film of my career. I think the audience is very mature and CBFC passing Haider was an extremely evolved step. I think we should treat audience as adults who have a mind of their own. We should allow them to decide on what they feel is acceptable or no. The movie is very relatable with the generation and it is a human issue. The awareness of substance and the availability of it is 10 times more. You cannot give them a lecture on it because they will switch off in 10 seconds and will think of their next instagram post. But if you explain them through entertainment then they will enjoy and understand. Having said that, I am optimistic. If Haider could release, then so will Udta Punjab.
Rangoon now releases on your birthday weekend in 2017. Can it get a better release?
I was only thinking about the fact that people will make me work on my birthday. There are times when you get to chill. But whenever the movie comes, I will be very proud of it because it is my 3rd film with Vishal Bharadwaj, my Martin Scorsese.
Are you happy now that you will get to spend more time with your wife and baby?
I am sure something will come up. It's not like Rangoon gets postponed I will be sitting at home. But I have defined the fact that I will be taking a certain amount of days off for my baby. I will not be working for a certain period of time when the baby is coming.
Has Mira seen Udta Punjab? What is her reaction?
She was sitting two inches away from me (during the film's screening) and when the interval happened she was sitting two feet away from me. (laughs) Then she said please tell me you are not Tommy Singh!
What's the status of AK vs SK for which you shot for 2 days?
That film is not happening.
And what about Magadheera Remake?
That one was never happening. I don't know how and why this rumour started. It was never on and was always speculative.
So what's next after Rangoon?
I am unemployed. I swear. Sometimes by announcing that you don't have anything, people come up with the script thinking dates easily mil jayegi. This is my attempt at getting something.
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