How was your Saturday afternoon? I spent mine interviewing Shahid Kapoor, which – let me tell you – is pretty sweet as far as Saturday afternoons go. We caught up with him to discuss all things Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, like what “chichinpak” means, what’s similar between him and his character, and what the reaction was on sets when he first did the pole dance. Plus, we even threw in a few of your Twitter questions as we always do, and passed along all the good wishes you sent via tweets. Check out our interview!
Team MissMalini (Team MM): What was your first thought when you got the script of this film, especially considering Rajkumar Santoshi is such a big name in comedy?
Shahid Kapoor (SK): I was very excited to hear the subject, and I’m a huge fan of Raj Santoshi as a director, especially when he makes his comic films. I think his sense of humour is fantastic. He never gave me the script; he gave me a narration. When he narrated the film, I was laughing throughout the narration. He’s a fantastic actor himself, so it was great fun being directed by someone who’s such a great actor himself.
Team MM: It’s a different look for you. Do you like it?
SK: I’m happy. I always feel like my look needs to be according to what the character and the film is. This is what they wanted, so this is what I gave them.
Team MM: What’s common between Shahid and Vishwas Rao?
SK: Mujhe bhi lagta ta ki mere bade bade posters lagenge. Aur ab mere bade bade posters lag gaye. (I also thought that big posters of mine would be put up. And now they have been.) That’s what Vishwas Rao also wants.
Team MM: This is your first time doing an out-and-out masala film. How do you feel?
SK: I didn’t know what to expect, but I’ve had a blast doing this film. In fact, both the films I’m doing – this and Rambo Rajkumar – are total masala films. I’m working with directors who are so established in that space, and they’re so good. I’ve just had a lot of fun. It’s very liberating, you know, as an actor, when you just go on sets and not worry about what you’re doing and just have fun… which is what I’ve done.
Team MM: And what was the reaction when you first did the pole dance?
SK: (laughs) It was actually an assistant’s idea to do the pole dance. Rajji was like, “Kya kar rahe ho, police uniform me aadmi ko pole dance karwa rahe ho.” (“What are you guys doing, you’re making him do the pole dance in a police uniform.”) But when he saw it happen, he thought it was very funny. We just had fun, man, the whole film is like that. And before the pole dance, there’s also a little cabaret that I do. So ya, it was interesting.
Team MM: What does chichinpak mean?!
SK: (laughs) You know, the person who can tell me what chichinpak means… (trails off) I have no idea what it means. I just like the way it sounds. Chichinpak. That word just got stuck in my head when I was hearing the song Dhating Naach, because I’ve just never heard a word like that before.
Twitter questions
Team MM: What was the most difficult scene to do, comparatively?
SK: A lot of the scenes, you know. The most difficult thing about this character is that in one scene he’s laughing, in the next he’s crying, in one scene he’s fighting baddies and in the next he’s apologising because he’s actually not a cop. So it’s actually the kind of character that he is, because he’s up to many, many things in this film. He’s doing action, he’s dancing, he’s romancing, he’s doing drama, he’s laughing, he’s crying, all in one film. So that, I think, in totality, was the most interesting thing about the character.
Team MM: You play an overenthusiastic fan in the film. How do you deal with your own overenthusiastic fans?
SK: I mean, it feels nice when you get so much love from people. And… ya I mean, there’s no way of explaining it. It just feels nice.
Team MM: What about those who get nervous or shy in front of you?
SK: I try to talk to people as much as I can, and sometimes there are people who don’t know what to say and stuff like that. But you have to learn to make them comfortable.
Team MM: Did you ever feel overenthusiastic for anybody?
SK: I did, I did. I was in a lift with Sachin Tendulkar and I got totally tongue-tied, I didn’t know what to say. So I finally realised what it’s like when you get tongue-tied in front of somebody you’re a fan of.
Team MM: Which of your father’s roles would you have liked to have done?
SK: None. None! Because I’d mess it up. He’s too great an actor.
Team MM: Did you crack up when getting into character, especially when saying those dialogues?
SK: Everyday, when we were doing scenes from the film, somebody or the other would crack up, including me. On many occasions. Especially when Rajji would perform it and show it to me – first I’d crack up, then I’d wonder how I’m going to do it, and then eventually we’d end up trying to shoot it.
More than questions, though, most of you told us to give him love and hugs, so of course I took on the very arduous task of passing on your hugs to Shahid Kapoor. I mean, the things I do for you guys, man. It’s a tough life.
Pix: Khyati Gandhi for MissMalini.