Vaani Kapoor has been readying herself for her second Bollywood release, Befikre. Coming after a long gap from her debut movie, Shuddh Desi Romance, Vaani talks about working with Aditya Chopra, her expectations from the movie, and feeding off Ranveer Singh’s energy. Excerpts:
Where have you been post your debut Shuddh Desi Romance?
Nobody actually asks me how I have been doing, but I am doing well and I am just happy to be back with something like Befikre.
Do you agree that Befikre is a bigger film than your debut?
Yes, but I don’t think I would have gotten this if it wasn’t for my debut film and I have high regards for Maneesh Sharma who directed my debut. I think it was my performance that Adi (Aditya Chopra) saw and then, he even thought of considering me for an audition. It has been good and this time, it’s more special because of Adi.
How it has been with Ranveer, who’s known for his adrenaline rush?
He and his energy are insane. He’s crazy and I don’t know anybody who has such infectious energy. I just love seeing him bouncing off ideas with him. He’s a brilliant actor. I don’t know how he pulls it off, but he does it every time; in a different movie, a different character and a completely different zone. Getting into the skin of a character like Dharam in Befikre is so different from the other movies like Bajirao, Lootera, Band Baaja or Dil Dhadakne Do and he’s done it so well. He has made it look really effortless. When I’m acting and performing, I know it’s not easy to make it look so entertaining. You’re so hooked that it doesn’t look like he’s acting.
The film looks like a fresh, modern age love story…
The trailer didn’t reveal a lot, but when you watch the film, you will realise it’s a sweet, happy film. It’s funny, fresh, unique and it’s very un-bollywood. You actually feel connected, like you’re right there with them and you’re part of the conversation.
Your debut saw you play a girl next door, and now you play someone who’s bolder, quite like you.
Am I? Shyra is like that and the character I played in Shuddh Desi was not. I’m not like Tara at all. I followed the director’s brief and delivered what he expected. The same goes with Shyra. I’m not completely Shyra at home. I’m happy that people are relating me to her like this, which means I have done a good job and done it with honesty.
Was it unnerving working with Adi?
Before we went to Paris, Ranveer was busy promoting Bajirao and before our readings, I had workshops with Adi for Shyra. I was briefed and I had the advantage of time to understand my character and discuss her in detail. I had the time to experiment with the character and comprehend the director’s vision better.
By the time we went to Paris we were living the lives of as Dharam and Shyra. Adi just made us to do the rehearsals and readings together for six to seven days where we read all the scenes and after that, we didn’t touch the scripts. Adi has asked us not to touch the script and go with a fresh mind. We just absorbed every information there was, landed in Paris, and just did it.
