The news du jour was his split from Kareena Kapoor but Shahid Kapoor didn’t want to talk about it. So our conversation over coffee turned out to be a yawnfest.
Suddenly reversing gears, he held forth on La Kareena anyway, dropping diplomatic lines like, “She’s a very nice human being” and “I’d act with Kareena if there’s a good script”. I nearly swallowed my cappuccino, porcelain mug and all, because of the sugar cubes of cliches. Eesh.
As for Imran Khan, who has this faint resemblance (facial) to Robert Pattinson, I met at Karan Johar's birthday do, shook hands, and mumbled that I’d just seen 'I Hate Luv Storys', whereupon he wisecracked, “I hope you didn’t hate the luv story, ha ha!” More eeesh.
Now both the cliché-friendly boys are being pilloried for belting out lousy flicks this year. In fact, trade hawks are tsk-tsking that their careers are in jeopardy. Ergo, some amount of damage control and self-reflection are absolutely essential. Like what? Like they could acknowledge their shortcomings (both have frailties galore as actors) and opt for suitable subjects (which will be a few, alas). Both have been terribly miscast, as over-the-top rough-tough-stereotypes, Shahid most lately in the y...yucky 'R...Rajkumar'.
And Imran as a deadly don in 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara', not to forget a tapori type in — difficult to recall its complicated title...aah,yes Bijlee ke 'Matru Ka Mandola'…or was it 'Matru ki Bijlee Ka Man Dola'? Whatever.
Incidentally, dons and taporis are tough acts for urbane, cocooned-from-reality actors. Indeed, it’s hardly likely that either of the two baby-faced actors attempted the rigours of the method school while portraying killer toughies. Moreoever, in 'Phata Poster Nikla Hero', Shahid’s wannabe movie star was the palest shade imaginabale of Shah Rukh Khan’s in 'Om Shanti Om'. Who needs a Phata hua SRK really?
Sure, Shahid wasn’t half-bad in Kaminey, in which he was the vicious as well as the virtuous guy — thanks to a double role — but I wasn’t convinced. Too put-on. Clearly, Shahid’s business tycoon in 'Jab We Met' has been his most accomplished performance yet. Lucklessly though, Kareena sashayed away with all the awards. And so the bypassed one said that well, no problem-o, Kareena deserved them, he didn’t. How I would have loved to hear the unexpected — that he was mad as hell.
Actors who interfere in scripts and casting are common, but a nightmare. The late Jiah Khan never forgave Shahid for being dropped from 'Chance pe Dance. It bombed. On another note altogether, to flare up on the disappointing trade collections of 'Mausam', was unwarranted. Granted, the film was a labour' of love helmed by dad Pankaj Kapur... but the fact is that it bombed. Boom! Now the 32-year-old Shahid has Vishal Bharadwaj’s Hamlet on his plate. So, let’s be positive. There’s hope yet.
By the way, why did Imran Khan look so mega-pained in 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein' lately? A lingering toothache, perhaps. Be that as it may, the 30-year-old Imraan Khan of 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na' and 'Delhi Belly', may have to start from scratch — with or without godpapa uncle Aamir Khan. The “without” option would be preferable.
Plus, Imran picked issues with Ekta Kapoor over the pre-release publicity of 'Once Upn a Time In Mumbai Dobaara', and was dropped from her next, Milan Talkies, instantly. Currently, he has projects titled Bhavesh Joshi and er...Biryaani on his saucer plate. Divine intervention would be in order.
