On the personal front Shahid Kapur may have hit a low, but contrary to popular belief the actor is not sulking. Looking dapper in a printed shirt and cargo pants, he is all smiles as he greets you. If Shahid is in pain about his break-up, the actor is certainly not showing it. Instead he is all charged up about his latest film, Jab We Met, which is creating quite a buzz in Bollywood.
IBNLive.com: Don't you think Jab We Met is a very unique title for a Hindi film?
Shahid Kapur: Isn't it cute? Actually it was my dad's (actor Pankaj Kapoor) idea to have a Hindi-English title so that both, the multiplex audiences, and people in smaller towns could connect with the film. So, together we both did some intense brainstorming, and he hit upon Jab We Met. There were two other options but Jab We Met won hands down by a public vote.
IBNLive.com: Kareena Kapoor and you have worked in three other films together before this. This is your fourth one together. What expectations do you have from Jab We Met?
Shahid Kapur: Yes, we did Fida, 36 China Town and Chup Chup Ke, but all three were of a different genre with the focus being on aspects other than romance. I guess the audiences expected more of us together, which they will see for the first time in Jab We Met, which is an out and out romantic film. I am very excited about the film and confident that it will do wonders at the box-office. It's one of my best films till date and I'm immensely proud of it.
IBNLive.com: Is it not ironical that your most romantic film is releasing at a time when so much is being said about your split with Kareena?
Shahid Kapur: A lot has been written about Kareena and me on this issue which has caused distress to my family and me. Frankly, this is something I would not like to comment on.
IBNLive.com: There were reports that all this is being done for the film's publicity.
Shahid Kapur: Only the script and how the promos are presented affect a film's box-office. Nothing else matters.
IBNLive.com: Judging from the promos of the film, your character appears to be sober while Kareena seems loud and garrulous.
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Shahid Kapur: Yes, we are two very contrasting characters in the film. Kareena plays Geet, an amazing girl from Bhatinda, Punjab, who talks non-stop, the kind who can even make a conversation with a lamppost if given a chance. I play Aditya, an industrialist trying to cope with a broken affair. We are thrown into each other's company when both of us miss a train and are left stranded on a desolate railway platform. Our journey from there, as we try to make it to our destinations, results in a unique relationship which goes much beyond love. That is the crux of the story.
IBNLive.com: How adeptly according to you, has Imtiaz Ali presented this love story?
Shahid Kapur: When Imtiaz approached me for the film we struck a chord instantly. I found we both shared similar views on how films should be made, that is there should be a balance between commercial and good cinema with ingredients from both the genres in good proportions. Imtiaz is a new-age director. I loved his Socha Na Tha and his racy style of filmmaking which is seen in Jab We Met also. The other remarkable thing about Imtiaz is his ability to listen to people. He always lends a patient ear to every person's opinion calmly, and tries to inculcate the idea in his project.
IBNLive.com: What according to you is the unique selling point of the film?
Shahid Kapur: The fact that the love story which starts at a railway platform in Mumbai and meanders through various places to Bhatinda is actually shot in all these locations. No make-believe sets or locales, everything is authentic. I still remember the magnificent haveli we shot in Nabha (near Bhatinda) and how we used to travel five hours to and fro every day. It's a film that will appeal to every age group. That's the beauty of doing a romantic comedy.
IBNLive.com: The music of the film is already making waves on the charts around the world. Your take on it.
Shahid Kapur: Yes, Pritam has given an outstanding track with some catchy and foot-tapping remixes of songs like Mauja hi mauja and Tumse hi for different segments of the audience. Personally, these two are my favourites. One is so lively while the other is a slow romantic number. Both are picturised on Kareena and me.
IBNLive.com: Any scenes from the film which are memorable for you?
Shahid Kapur: There is this pre-climax scene in the film between Kareena and me, which dwells on some eye-opening facts about life. It is very poignant and touching.
IBNLive.com: What else are you looking forward to? What are the other films that you are working on?
Shahid Kapur: There is Aziz Mirza's Lucky Charms, a musical romantic with Vidya Balan and Nagesh Kukunoor's Tasveer, which is a thriller. Something interesting is also coming up with Raj Kumar Santoshi. But as of now it is only Jab We Met.
(Jab We Met releases in cinemas in the UK on October 25. For UK, US and UAE cinema listings visit www.studio18india.com)
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