No one in the industry is in a secure  zone- Shahid Kapoor

By Jyothi Venkatesh

What is Batti Gul Meter Chalu all about?

The film is a social drama that talks about the issue of electricity overbilling and corrupt power corporations. The milieu was fresh and every one will be able to relate to the subject. I am glad the offer came to me from Shree Narayan Singh who had directed Toilet Ek Prem Katha. His one line idea excited me. With the film being inspired by real events, Shree Narayan Singh and writers Garima and Siddharth did extensive research to do justice to the story. I have given flesh to his vision as an actor. Since it is set in Uttarakhand, the dialogues are laced with Garhwali, one of the dialects of the state. In a bid to retain authenticity, not only was the film shot in Tehri, but every actor, whether it was me, Shraddha, Yami Gautam or Divyendu Sharma was made to take lessons in the language.

How is Shree Narayan Singh as a director?

The approach worked for him in Toilet Ek Prem Katha. Being an editor, it is a huge benefit because he knows how the story has to shape at the editing table. I had a great time working with him and my performance also has turned out to be good because of him. Shree Sir shot with four cameras with large chunks to maintain the organic flow of the film and made us recite dialogues running to even 7 to 8 pages.

What is your role in Batti Gul Meter Chalu?

In the beginning, I’m an unscrupulous not-so-subtle and loud lawyer who is only interested in making moolah. Most often, I am only interested in doing out-of-court settlements and earning a quick buck. Then something happens to my best friend and I realize that I should do some soul searching about the problem that is being faced by many. Then I become a conscientious guy who decides to fight for people. You may not like him in the film because he is very full of himself, not at all a classy cool guy and is rough around the edges. I have been as honest as possible to my character.

In what way is the film relevant to people who live in urban centers like say Mumbai?

The film is a social drama that talks about electricity issues like high electricity bills in small towns. BGMC is the kind of movie that is significant to people who live even beyond Mumbai. The reason we made this film is because there is a certain section of the junta beyond your regular metropolis, who face a shortage of electricity. Around 32 million people don’t have a single light bulb in their homes. When I learnt about this, it came as a huge shock to me.

What was the biggest challenge for you as an actor?

Maintaining the commercial aspect without compromising on authenticity was one of our biggest challenges, be it the actors, producers, writers and luckily everyone had the right mindset.  Shree Sir did not want me to prepare for my character, because he said he wanted me to look like a sore thumb unlike Yami Gautam who was a qualified lawyer. He wanted me to look out of place in the court-room. It is actually two films in one. One part is about friendship, the songs, love, milieu family and emotions. The other part takes you to the social issue. He needs the audience to know what to expect in the film because he knows it always works like it worked in Toilet

What lured you to say yes to the offer when it came to you?

As people who are in the business of telling stories, it is important for filmmakers to be true to the world in which they place their characters. What I liked about the film is the fact that though essentially it is in Hindi, key colloquial phrases and words have been used to give it an authentic touch, which I am 100 % sure it will be appreciated.

How do you approach your job as an actor?

There are certain jobs which are public in nature. Like Cinema and Cricket. You need to understand the job you are in and also understand the scenario. If there are 100 different opinions, you will lose your sense of identity, because there is only one you. You may go right or wrong but it is very important to have a voice of your own. Risk is there in every sphere, if you set out to do the same things again and again and the audience will get bored of you. I feel that being a student is more important than being a teacher. If you do not experiment and do different characters, you will not be able to learn, especially because no one in the industry is in a secure zone. I try to do instinctively what I feel I should do.

How important is it to market your film properly?

Making your film accessible to people is very essential. Though sometimes curiosity helps a film, sometimes it also can backfire. Today people do not want to be fooled too

Strangely enough you have yet to get a film which will enable you to show off your skills as a dancer?

Dancing is something I’d love to do. If I get a film which requires me to show off my dancing skills, I’d readily grab it with both my hands.

How much of your characters do you take some after a day’s shoot?

One week into the shoot of Udta Punjab in Amritsar, I used to sweat for 12 nights and took every possible blood test but the docs said that I was normal. May be it was because I was so much zoned into my character. Now I do not take myself seriously at the end of the day and always make it a point to conserve my energy after pack up each day.

Though you are a staunch vegetarian, you managed to hook a fish in Tehri!

Actors usually explore the places they are shooting their movies in and look for interesting things to do. However, the options are few when they are shooting in distant small towns, but Tehri was different.  I decided to go out and look around the city with Shraddha. We went fishing at the Tehri lake too where I managed to hook a big fish. However, since I am a strict vegetarian, I felt bad about having got it out of its natural habitat and hence quickly released it back into the water.

You are a fitness freak. How did you squeeze in time for your fitness exercises while in Tehri?

The producers knew that I am a fitness freak, and since the small hotel had no fitness facilities, the producers had sweetly set up my own gym at the hotel where we stayed. My instructor had also carted a lot of expensive equipment from Mumbai and set them up in a room.

Is it true that you decided to leave the gym behind in the hotel for other guests?

A day before they packed up, the hotel guys requested me to leave my gym equipment behind for them and other guests and I agreed instantly knowing my gift would help the establishment.

Your wife recently delivered a bonny boy. You already have a baby girl. How did you strike the right balance between films and family during your paternity leave?

Life is all about finding the right balance. I juggled time for the promotions of Batti Gul Meter Chalu and the prep of the Arjun Reddy remake, since I am all set to kick-start shooting for the Hindi remake of the Telugu hit Arjun Reddy next month. I wrapped up my professional commitments before I took paternity leave for a week to welcome my second baby with my wife Mira in tow. I am self-employed, so I think I have more freedom to take leaves as per my convenience. If I don't want to work for a certain period, I can do that.

For your first daughter’s delivery, you had taken two months off?

Yes. During Misha's birth , I took a couple of months off. This time too, I was negotiating to take a month-long break, but things didn't work out. I managed to get only a week off from work for a very short duration, but such were the circumstances. 

Your last release was Padmavat. After Batti Gul Meter Chalu, the Hindi remake of the Telugu hit Arjun Reddy seems to be the only film that you have on hand. Why are you very choosy as an actor?

I like to do just one film at a time. You have to give all your attention to a film becase expectations as well as criticism is at an all time high level. I have been working since I was 15. My mother Neelima Azim was a single parent and I was the eldest kid. So, my thought process was that I had to earn money. But over time, I have also realized that it's important to enjoy life. You have to be honest to your work, and at the same time, meet the needs of your family. That's why, now, I do only one film at a time.

Weren’t you skeptical when Padmavat was offered to you since it was predominantly female oriented?

I did Jab We Met, Udta Punjab etc too. In the beginning in Batti Gul Meter Chalu, the character of Devendu is likeable not me. My reasons for taking up a film are creative. I like to challenge myself. I want to be part of films made my good filmmakers. You make your identity with your performance and that alone connects you. If every actor had thought that Padmavat was female oriented, would a film like that have been made at all?

 Is it a conscious decision on your part to do films which are based on social issues?

Batti Gul Meter Chalu talks about real issues. It is a very relevant film and I think in that sense, I have been very lucky. I have been part of two such films in the past. Haider was about the human rights issue in areas which are under distress, while Udta Punjab dealt with the drug problem. Since those issues were slightly dark, the two films had a slightly limited range in terms of the number of audiences wanting to go and watch it. But I feel that Batti Gul Meter Chalu is a lot more accessible and hence relatable to the aam aadmi. It’s funny and there is entertainment, love, friends, drama, strong dialect and an issue that is genuine.

 You have completed 15 years in the industry ever since you made your debut with Ishq Vishq. What has been your growth as an actor?

Yes. I have completed 15 years in the industry and am now comfortable with the craft. I am more than happy with the way things are going as an actor. Today I am not afraid to try something different but, there is a lot of anxiety and nervousness in attempting a new role. The more you attempt different things, the more you feel like you can back yourself. I just focus on the process and, more importantly, if I get excited by something, then I just go out there and do it. Believe it or not I went through a major psychological upheaval since I thought I was not being taken seriously as an actor. I should confess I have had a very fluctuating on and off career like the title of my film.

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