Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 16, 2019)
Vaani Kapoor made her debut with Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) headlined by Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra, but the newbie made her presence felt. She next did the Tamil remake of Band Bajaa Baaraat, Aaha Kalyanam (2014). Two years later, she co-starred with Ranveer Singh in Befikre. The film, however, did not fare well at the box office, and post that, the actress, too, kept a low profile. Now, almost after three years, the leggy lass will be back on screen opposite Hrithik Roshan in the upcoming action-entertainer, War. Not only that, she has another biggie, Shamshera, with Ranbir Kapoor also lined up. “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,” she gushes. Here the actress talks about her upcoming film, the kind of movies she wants to do and why she was missing in action.
There has been a long gap between Befikire and your upcoming film, War. What is the reason?
It so happened that whatever (scripts) came my way, 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 don’t want to take the pressure and have that urgency or need to sign on something as soon as possible just to ride the wave. It’s okay, I can wait for something better to come along. I believe in quality over quantity.
Befikre didn’t do well at the box office. How did you deal with it?
One thing you learn from this — and every actor knows it — 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.
War is an action film and is touted to be a face-off between Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. What prompted you to take it up?
It was an amazing opportunity and I am grateful to director Siddharth Anand for considering me to be a part of this movie. It’s a huge project — an all-boys action film — but I am happy that I have an important part to play, which is critical to the storyline. It was fun to be on the sets and do something I haven’t done before. In the song Ghungroo, for the first time I danced on a Cyr wheel, which was challenging because I am not a dancer, I haven’t taken any formal course. Also, the character I play — it has substance and is impactful — and that excited me. Besides, I was getting to work with extremely talented co-actors.
Will we see you doing any action in the film?
I can’t talk about it now, but at least I got to groove with Hrithik Roshan! I had seen him on screen, but didn’t know how he would be as a person. He is so kind and warm. He makes the other person so comfortable, and this made it easier for me to do my part and focus on my character. He was always encouraging and helping me out. When a co-actor, and so brilliant at that, is supportive, you don’t feel inhibited or apprehensive. When you approach the role in a certain way, and he is supportive, you are able to enact it in whichever you want, and have fun playing the character.
Which films of Hrithik had you seen?
I had seen a lot of his films, the whole nation had a crush on him. 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, though hopefully, now, he will do a lot of movies.
In the period that you have been away from the silver screen, the competition has increased with Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan entering the industry. What do you have to say about that?
There will always be new entrants in the industry. They are so good and everybody is putting in a lot of effort. I don’t think about who is doing what, but give 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.
What kind of films do you want to be a part of?
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 movies.
There will be hits and misses, you can’t take it to heart-Vaani Kapoor
