“I have patience and confidence to wait”
Vaani Kapoor is that illusive girl who surfaces once in a while but leaves everyone panting. She is stunning and she knows it, but she is in no particular hurry to make it to the top position! Does that make her above the competition or simply unambitious asks Shubarna Mukerji Shu.
With the two hunks Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff burning up the screen with their WAR, the delectable Vaani Kapoor is a welcome respite. After Sushant Singh Rajput, Ranveer Singh – Vaani is now set to romance Hrithik Roshan. Having seen her peach bikini pics plastered all over the city, it will be safe to say she is set to burn up the screen with her presence. Yet, the question remains whether it was a wise move to be a part of a two-bit role (no pun intended) after her long sabbatical post Befikre.
It is almost three years since Befikre…
Yes, it has been that long!!! It so happened that whatever (scripts) came my way, somehow it didn’t work for me. Some I felt deeply passionate about being a part of but they didn’t click because of something or the other, while there were some, I wasn’t too keen on doing. Also, I consciously don’t want to take the pressure and have that urgency or need to sign on some random film as soon as possible just to ride the wave. It’s okay, I have the patience and the confidence to wait for something better to come along. I believe in quality over quantity.
And you break that sabbatical with the Greek God himself – Hrithik Roshan!
I don’t think it is possible for any actress to not be enamoured by Hrithik! He is truly the Greek god of India. But what matters more is what’s inside. So, when you strip him off the great body and great looks you will know what is within and that is much more beautiful. I don’t think I have ever seen a nicer human being. He is such a wonderful person. It is a delight to watch him work. So much to learn.
So, you are a Hrithik fan post WAR?
I didn’t need WAR to figure that out. I had seen a lot of his films. The whole nation had a crush on him (including me). I loved his performance in Lakshya, Kaho Naa.. Pyaar Hai and in the musical Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. He was the first Indian star to pull off a superhero in Krrish with so much conviction. I told him that it’s sad that one can’t see you every year in a film. I am hoping I have managed to convince him and hopefully, now, he will do a lot of movies.
Do tell us a little about your role in the film…
Let me be frank, in this film I have a very small role, it is a film that primarily revolves around Hrithik and Tiger, but I am thoroughly satisfied with my lot. I am glad that I have been able to play this part because it is very well written. I feel blessed that I am getting an opportunity to work with these extremely talented people from whom you get to learn and observe many things.
The song ‘Ghunguroo…’ is wildly appreciated….
It better be, because I was injured during the making. Literally gave my khoon -pasina (blood & sweat) for it! (Laughs) jokes apart, it’s a beautiful song and I loved the picturization but yes, one never knows what will injure you. So, there I was hanging and looking pretty but ended up with an injury that had me off my foot for a while. But it is this sweat and blood that makes the rewards more fulfilling. Given I am not really a trained dancer, these are challenges that make the success sweeter.
You are always touted as the glamorous one by media. While it completely justifies your persona, it doesn’t do justice to your acting talent… it is like an unsaid norm, great looking star is an equivalent to a non-actor. Please share your comments on the same…
Well, I have heard a lot of actresses actually go by this notion. They believe people cannot see beyond their looks but quite frankly it is a bad excuse. Look at actresses like Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit – these are stunning ladies and yet, they have a body of work that is staggering. I am not even talking about their non-commercial work, I am speaking about their commercial work. See Khoobsurat, Chalbaaz, Beta… there are many more films and many more actresses that have proved this ideology wrong. Of course, their body of work is too vast, we cannot compare to their level as yet but they have made it possible so giving any excuses will be unfair. These actresses have brought cinema to a level, we cannot afford to regress. I would love to pull off the kind of cinema these ladies have, but till such time I will make the best of what I have.
The actresses you named are unfortunately not in the running currently, have there been any films you have seen off late and really appreciated the work your contemporaries have put in?
Some amazing films are being made these days and there is an emergence of women- driven characters. I loved NH 10, Piku and Raazi. In Andhadhun, Tabu was brilliant. I would like to be a part of such cinema…. so I am sending all the positive energy out for karma to send me this kind of cinema (laughs).
The long break, the unfavourable reports of Befikre… does this add to your stress?
I would like to think I am not someone who cannot differentiate between personal and professional life. I know this is my job and I treat it like that. Despite the fact that I am still relatively new in this industry, I have learnt one very important lesson. As important as it is to have the talent for acting, it is equally important to know how to handle this profession. I think it is important that every actor knows this one thing — you cannot take anything seriously. There will be hits and misses; you can’t take it to heart. Of course, you feel bad when something doesn’t do as well as you expected it to, but it’s a part of being in films. You cannot be loved always, you cannot expect every film of yours to do a certain way, but I feel proud of the work I have done and projects I have been part of.
Hits and misses are not the only things actors have to deal with, there is also competition. In the three years between Befikre and WAR, there have been many new faces that have come into the industry. Star kids like Jhanvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan have been touted for their acting prowess too, doesn’t that bother you?
There will always be new entrants in the industry. There has to be new blood to keep the show going. And truly the newcomers today are fabulous. They are so good and everybody is putting in a lot of effort to be pitch perfect. But I have never been the sort to wish someone ill so that my lot improves. I don’t think about who is doing what, instead I work towards giving my 100 per cent to whatever is coming to me. I do my best and nurture it instead of worrying about what project did and did not come to me. So far it has served me well.
You have a Zen-like quality in you, how did you work on achieving this equanimity?
I think it comes from faith. Not just in the higher power but in yourself. Give your best, leave no stone unturned and then be at peace
