“I’m feeling more nervous about Ek Villain than Aashiqui 2” – Shraddha Kapoor

By Subhash K. Jha -

June 26, 2014 - 10:51 AM IST

Shraddha Kapoor is very excited about the response her film Ek Villain has received before release. She speaks to Subhash K Jha on why the success of this film is important to her.

Ek Villain is getting huge attention from the public and the press?

I feel more excited and nervous about Ek Villain than Aashiqui 2. The buzz after the promos is very strong. The director Mohit Suri and I both have to prove ourselves after Aashiqui 2. I am exhausted with all the promotion. I am so spaced out right now with various promotional activities, I don't know whether I am coming or going. It's been an amazingly hectic month.

“I’m feeling more nervous about Ek Villain than Aashiqui 2” – Shraddha Kapoor

So isn't that good?

It's wonderful! My only regret is, I've found myself cut off from my family. I am in and out of my house with barely time for a hug for my parents. I communicate with them more on the phone than in person. Every time I am out of the house I get a hug from my parents saying they are proud of me. That keeps me going through the whole day. Just to see them glowing with pride when they look at me is my biggest reward. Every child wants to make her parents proud. If I have succeeded I am blessed. To see them smile makes my day.

Aashiqui 2 was almost like a debut film for you. So Ek Villain is crucial?

Yes, if you look at it that way then yes, Ek Villain is like the post-debut film. But I did three films before Aashiqui 2. And I am proud of all of them. If I hadn't made my debut in Leena Yadav's Teen Patti, I wouldn't have done Aashiqui 2. Teen Patti gave me a taste of failure. Then followed all the rejections. I was replaced in some films. Of course a lot more people saw me in Aashiqui 2 than Teen Patti. I had a fab role in it. My character in Aashiqui 2 got me so much attention.

You seem different in Ek Villain?

It's a completely different person, though again I play a middleclass girl. This time I am Goan. She's bohemian yet rooted. She is the sunshine girl. People want her in their lives because she brightens up people's lives. She loves to crack jokes which only she may laugh at. But she's too carefree to bother about who's laughing with her. She suffers from verbal diarrhea.

'Yun kee', a modern day Basanti, so to speak?

(Laughs) You can say that again. But no one can touch Hemaji's Basanti. I play a very happy person, while Sidharth Malhotra plays a very sad person. I try to sort him out. Quite the busybody (laughs). We are too completely different people who fall in love.

A big hue and cry is being made about your kiss with Sid Malhotra?

I wonder why the kiss is such a big deal in today's day and age! Audiences don't make a fuss about a kiss. By now our audience is used to it. If it's used to market a film I wouldn't know why. I am no marketing expert. As for doing kissing scenes I am quite conservative at heart. Performing intimate moments doesn't come easily to me. I will do them only when necessary. I won't do a kiss to titillate the audience. I am a sucker for an authentic narrative. I must have faith in my director's vision before doing such a shot. But it has to make sense to me. Otherwise I won't do it.

In both your films Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain your screen partners are anguished souls?

Yes, come to think of it they are both really messed up guys (laughs). People have commented on the chemistry between me and Sidharth Malhotra. I give the entire credit for it to my director. He made us fully understand our emotional journey. If people find Sid and me interesting together it's all because of Mohit Suri.

How different was it working in Ek Villain as compared with Aashiqui 2?

In Aashiqui 2 we were one small family working hard to make a name. That film changed our lives on one Friday.

It made you affluent?

If you mean money-wise, then I am just getting there. Though I've to admit in Aashiqui I wasn't paid anything close to what I got for Ek Villain (laughs). Emotionally, Aashiqui 2 made me very rich. And that's the best wealth money can't buy.

Suddenly you've come into your own?

I am grateful. For what I've received after Aashiqui 2. After the first three flops I could've disappeared. Nowadays I love the way my name comes up in projects. But I don't get flattered when my name is announced without me confirming the projects. Premature announcements tend to confuse the trade. It also creates ill-will and bad blood. I am not one for false news reports at all. Good or bad, untrue reports embarrass me, no matter how flattering. And gossip about my personal life just makes me so sad. They are so unfounded.

You are very particular about your image?

And why not? I would like to be known for being someone who says and does things that she means. So before you ask, the only forthcoming projects that are certain are Vishal Bhardwaj's Haider and Remo D'Souza's ABCD 2. I'll be shooting ABCD 2 in Las Vegas. You won't find me at the big gambling tables of Vegas. I had learnt teen patti for Teen Patti. Now I've completely forgotten the game.