It's every son's dream to make his father proud: Arjun Kapoor

After giving remarkable performances in all his earlier releases, Arjun Kapoor is all set to begin year 2015 with home-production, 'Tevar'. In a chat with India-forums.com Arjun speaks about his role in Tevar, why Sonakshi Sinha is a bigger name than him and his relation with 'Chachu' turned producer Sanjay Kapoor.

It looks like you are again playing 'angry-young man' in 'Tevar', too?

You will be able to tell the difference only when you watch the movie. It's absolutely different than what I did in Ishaqzzade, Gunday. Stories are different, characters are different and the journeys are different. People are assuming that I am playing a 'angry-young man' again, which is not true. Every man has anger in him. In romantic movies also at some time the characters show anger. In Ishaqzzade, the role had gray shades while in Gunday, Bala was short-tempered but in Tevar my role 'Pintu Shukla' is a normal guy who plays Kabaddi.

Tell us about Pintu Shukla

He is 21-22 year old guy who has yet to find his aim in life. You will find such guys in normal life too.  He loves to stay in his own sweet world and doesn't care what others are up to. He gets into this situation where he tries to save a girl good-naturedly and gets into a difficult situation. The movie is about an ordinary boy caught in an extra-ordinary situation. We stop making mention of this stereo-type roles, even the audience won't feel it!

How different is Tevar from its original south movie Okkudu?

Okkudu was a more like a heroic film. It was a hero-centric movie, where as we have tried to make it more believable and realistic. It's not a filmy film, though the genre of both the films is the same. Director Amit Sharma has given a completely different treatment to it. Also, the girl's role is much more vocal than the role Bhumika played in the original.

Since it is your home production, were you more actively involved in the making besides acting?

I will be lying if I say it was like working on any other film. It's every son's dream to make his father proud. It was a fulfilling experience that I was able to contribute in my dad's movie. I am happy that I got a chance to work in this film at the right time. I worked like every other film of mine just that the attachment was bit more for 'Tevar' obviously. Besides acting, I was part of the marketing meetings and also I loved cutting the trailers. I was involved in the making as much as they allowed me to. (Laughs)

Describe working with Sonakshi Sinha on-screen and off-screen.

I know Sonakshi since a long time. We were in the same school. She was Riya's batch mate. We met socially and during family functions etc., but we weren't friends as such. She is a big star ever since her first movie so I had some preconceived notions about her. When I saw her in 'Lootera', I realized there is more to her as an actor. During the casting of 'Tevar', I was very sure that she has that certain vulnerability in her eyes. She used to deliver in just one take! We shot on out-door locations under extreme weather but she never complained. She is naturally talented. 'Lootera' is just a tip of an iceberg of what this girl is actually capable of! In 'Tevar', we have tried to give her more than normal song and dance stuff. After doing 10-15 movies, it's difficult for an actor to still come across as fresh & vulnerable, but Sonakshi has managed to do it. She is always very calm and easy going on the sets. It was a pleasure to work with her.

Do you think Sonakshi has more star power than you?

Of course! She did Dabangg and Rowdy Rathore in the beginning of her career, and you look at the cumulative gross compare to me. It's no denying that Sonakshi is a bonafide star. What other actors wish for, Sonakshi has achieved that in the beginning itself.

How was the experience of working with your uncle Sanjay Kapoor's banner for the first time?

I have practically grown up with him. I have spent more time with him than my father. I had my first drink with him, we are that close!  He has been a father figure, friend and brother to me. Being a producer's son and actor, he understands both the aspects perfectly.  

Will you restrict yourself to only acting or will try to venture into some other aspect of filmmaking?

Direction is my first love. I will definitely direct one day! I got into the industry because of that but then life took a different turn and I found myself in front of the camera instead of behind it. I always watch a movie not from an actor's prospective but from a director's point of view.

We wish Tevar gives Arjun Kapoor a roaring start to his new year as well as his fans.

Gayatri Kolwankar