After Two States, Arjun Kapoor will once again be seen in an adaption of Chetan Bhagat’s book, Half Girlfriend. The actor, in this chat, opens up about this film that is directed by Mohit Suri and stars Shraddha Kapoor: What was difficult about portraying the lead character? At the outset, it seems like a conventional story, but it is not. At least the character isn’t conventional. He is not a typical Bollywood hero; he is underconfident.
I wanted to play him as real as possible. I spent some time at Bihar, the place he hails from. I worked with a diction teacher, and tried to understand the body language of the people of that region. Any Bihari would feel proud once they watch my character on screen. There has been some criticism over your diction. It is completely fine. Opinions are always going to be there. A two-anda- half minute trailer does not show the whole picture. That said, I have got some positive feedback also. I welcome and respect all opinions. I request you to please go and watch the film before deciding. I have never been scared of criticism as long as it is justified.
How do you take criticism from your family? I think my sister Anshula is very honest. Her opinion always matters to me. She never critises with the intent to put me down. My father is also critical of my work, and he always tells me the negatives more than he does the positives. That is good too. In general, I think I respond well to criticism. I never let it bog me down. I try to learn from it. Your family must have been blown away by new of Sonam getting the National Award. We are all very proud. It is recognition for all the hardwork she has done.
It is well-deserved; she did an amazing job in an amazing film. That performance of hers will always be registered in people’s memory, thanks to the Government, which has appreciated her. You want to leave a legacy behind, no matter how big or small your career is. I think she has done a film which will stand the test of time. Back to Half-Girlfriend. What was it like to work with Mohit Suri? I’ve always been an admirer of him. This is his twelfth film, and he’s so young. His command over the craft is amazing. He is like a child--so spontaneous and emotional. He is the most collaborative director an artiste can hope to have. He doesn’t mind you trying different things.
Was it necessary that you have read Bhagat’s Half Girlfriend before doing this film? Call it superstition, but I did not read Two States. I just simply decided not to read it. If it was mandatory that I did, I’m sure Mohit would have told me. Some say that the film glorifies stalking. In the film, he doesn’t stalk her; they are in a relationship. Also, I think, culturally, you should not be influenced by movies. If films are meant to educate, why have an education system? It means that system is failing. Don’t just blame the Hindi film industry. All films do is depict reality in a cinematic way.
We are part of the society, just like everybody else. I want to assert again that the responsibility to teach lies with the education system. Have you ever found yourself in a helpless situation at any point of time in a romantic relationship? There was a girl in my life, and we had that connection. I wholeheartedly felt that the only thing for me left was to ask her out and make her my girlfriend. When I finally decided to tell her my feelings, she introduced me to her boyfriend who had asked her out only that morning. So she never found out what I felt. I still felt like a jilted lover. I was 18-yearsold then; I heard sad songs, stayed awake late nights, gave her some missed calls. I tried to get over it by deleting her number. I guess I did all the clichéd things any 18-year-old would do.