It’s nothing but an irony that after Shahid Kapur declared himself single and called quits to his three year old relationship with Kareena Kapoor, the duo’s romantic film – Jab We Met is up for release this week on 26 October. And one must say, Shahid has taken the turn of events quite sportingly as he is merrily promoting his film across the country. He isn’t the one to wash dirty linen in public.
While Kareena’s current beau, Saif Ali Khan has confessed their love in public, Shahid took some time to discuss his status quo and now that he has agreed to do so, we are all ears.
Looking dapper togged in a printed shirt and cargo pants, he is all smiles as he greets you. And if he’s in pain post his break-up, the actor ain’t showing it. Instead, Shahid is all charged up about Jab We Met as is evident from his conversation here.
Excerpts:
Isn’t it strange that your most romantic film is releasing at a time when so much is being said about your split with Kareena Kapoor?
A lot has been written about Kareena and me on this issue, which has caused distress to my family and to me. Frankly this is something I would not like to comment on.
Buzz is that all this is a part of the film’s publicity….
Only the script and the presentation of the promos affect a film’s fate at the box-office. Nothing else matters!
Judging the promos of the film you character appears to be a sober while Kareena seems loud and garrulous.
Yup, we are both play very contrasting characters in the film. Kareena essays Geet, an amazing girl from Bhatinda, Punjab who jabbers non-stop, the kind who can even make a conversation with a lamp post if given a chance. I play Aditya, an industrialist trying to cope up with a broken affair. We are thrown into each other’s company when both of us miss a train and are left standing on a desolate railway platform. Our journey from there as we try to make it to our destinations results in a unique relationship that goes much beyond love and this is the crux of the story. < Page Break >
This is your fourth film with Kareena. What expectations do you have from Jab We Met?
Yes, we’ve done Fida, 36 China Town and Chup Chup Ke, but all three films belonged to a different genre other than romance. I guess the audiences expected more from us being together, which they will see for the first time in Jab We Met, which is an out and out romantic film. I am very excited about the film and confident it will do wonders at the box-office. It’s one of my best films till date and one I’m immensely proud of.
What is the USP of the film?
The fact that this love story, which germinates on a railway platform in Mumbai and meanders through various places to Bhatinda, is actually shot in various outdoor locations. No make-believe sets or locales, everything is authentic. I still remember the magnificent haveli we shot in at Nabha (near Bhatinda) and how we used to travel five hours to and fro every day. It’s a film that will appeal to every age group. That’s the beauty of doing a romantic comedy.
Don’t you think Jab We Met is a very unusual title for a Hindi film?
Isn’t it cute? Actually it was my dad’s (actor Pankaj Kapoor) idea to have a Hinglish title so that both the multiplex as well as the small town audiences could connect with the film. So we both did some intense brainstorming and he hit upon Jab We Met. There were two other options but Jab We Met won hands down by public voting too! < Page Break >
As per you, how adeptly has Imtiaz Ali presented this love story?
When Imtiaz approached me for the film we struck a chord instantly. We both shared similar views on how films should be made, that there should be a balance between commercial and good cinema with ingredients from both the genres in good proportions. Imtiaz is a new-age director. I loved his Socha Na Tha and his racy style of filmmaking which is visible in Jab We Met also. Another remarkable aspect about Imtiaz is his ability to listen. He always lends a patient ear to every person’s opinion calmly and then inculcates any idea he likes in his project.
The music of the film is already making waves on the charts across the globe.
Yes… Pritam has delivered outstanding tracks with some catchy and foot tapping remixes like Mauja Hi Mauja and Tum Se Hi for different segments of the audiences. Personally, these two are my favourites. One is so lively and the other one’s a slow romantic. Both are picturised on Kareena and me.
Any memorable scene in the film?
There is this pre-climax scene in the film between Kareena and me, which dwells on some eye-opening facts about life. It is very poignant and touching.
Which other projects are you looking forward to?
There is Aziz Mirza’s Lucky Charms – a musical romantic with Vidya Balan and Nagesh Kukunoor’s Tasveer – a thriller! Something interesting is also coming up with Raj Kumar Santoshi. But as of now it is only Jab We Met (laughs).
