Subhash K Jha

Mumbai:

Bollywood’s new leading man Shahid Kapoor says his boyish looks make it difficult to find actresses to pair him with, and that’s one reason why he’s doing two releases with Kareena Kapoor You starred in the first hit of 2003 I’m proud to say my Ishq Vishq broke the jinx at the box office. So many films succeeded after Ishq Vishq, which wasn’t a very good thing for our film! Audiences below the age of 25 responded very positively. Frankly, when we had shown Ishq Vishq to preview audiences I wasn’t very convinced.Exacting critics like Khalid Mohamed raved about your performance?

That was a pleasant surprise. People like Ram Gopal Varma, Karan Johar and Hrithik Roshan called me, when I was just five days old in the industry.How has Ishq Vishq changed your life?

I haven’t changed as a person. I get lots of attention. But my favourites are the kids. As for the female attention, I’m quite embarrassed by it. Honestly, I’ve waited for this. I always wanted to be part of the film industry. Even as a kid I’d create my own world and narrate strange stories.Do you suffer from symptoms of narcissism?

Not really. But I do take longer to shower than others. Because I pose and make faces before the mirror. I remember I used to attend Naseeruddin Shah’s workshop. He had a mirror hanging in the workshop. He told me as a kid he used to make faces into the same mirror. I guess I’m keeping the tradition alive! What does your success mean to your immensely talented but neglected parents Pankaj Kapoor and Neelima Azim?

My father got very emotional. For my mother, her children — my eight-year-old brother and I — come before everything. My brother is my most loyal fan. I’m sure even when I’m 70 and wrinkled he’ll continue to think I’m a rock star.Does your training in dancing help you?

Tremendously. I love the live stage and its accompanying paraphernalia. The time that I spent training under Shiamak Davar is now helping me master the filmy gyrations.

I’m now starting my ‘Ishq Vishq’ director Ken Ghosh’s next film, which has Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan with me. There’s a sci-fi film with Mahesh Manjrekar where I’m again paired with Amrita Rao. Then I’m doing Boney Kapoor’s love story directed by Satish Kaushik which also has Kareena.

At 23 you’re the youngest leading man. Are leading ladies a problem to find?That explains two films with Kareena. I don’t have much choice. I guess I’ll have to co-star with new leading ladies. I’m doing a film for producer Nitin Manmohan to be directed by Anant Mahadevan which requires three girls opposite me. Now obviously those three girls can’t be Rani, Preity and Kareena.How about Kareena in a triple role?

No! we need three new faces. We can’t have one established face and two newcomers. Then the audience would know who gets me at the end.Are you looking forward to winning all the debutant awards?I hope so. I’d love to get them. No better start to the coming year. The one thought that always crossed my mind was, I should never embarrass my parents.

I saw my father in Vishal Bhardawaj’s Miyan Maqbool. And I realised how far I’ve to go. He has never compromised. I’m following my instincts. I’m not experienced enough to know a winning project. I’m looking at scripts that thrill me.