MUMBAI: From modeling assignments, an ardent lover of Yash Raj films, to joining the likes of Parineeti Chopra and Anushka Sharma with a lucky break in ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’, Vaani Kapoor is the newest find of the Yash Raj camp. Ahead of the release of her first film, amidst nervousness and anxiety brimming with high levels of excitement, Vaani Kapoor in an exclusive conversation with Business Of Cinema.com, shares her route to stardom.
BOC: Yash Raj Films has always known to promote new talent, be it Anushka (Sharma) or Parineeti Chopra or likewise. And now it’s your turn. So how has the experience been and how ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ happened?
Vaani: I have loved watching films and have been a very loyal audience to Bollywood films especially Yash Raj films because there are the films I have always loved watching. I have somehow connected to the films they make, their genre of movies. So I was basically into modeling before coming here to Bombay. I wasn’t really keen intending to be in Bombay for movies.
There always was a little wish in me that I could also be in this industry. But I never really made those efforts, never really came here and struggled.
Firstly because of my parents. My father is a very protective person. So he also had some pre-conceived notions about the industry. And living in Delhi, it didn’t seem very easy option for me to just come to Bombay, where I don’t know anybody and I have no clue about the industry. I don’t know anyone who is well connected. So it did not seem like a very wise option.
I was modeling in Delhi and I came here and I got shortlisted by the casting director. She auditioned me and she liked my audition and showed it to Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Maneesh (Sharma) and that’s how I became a part of this.
BOC: What are the characters like in ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’?
Vaani: These characters are basically very regular, very today’s generation like. People have always been confused when it comes to matters like love and relationships, committing to someone or not wanting to commit to someone.
So these questions have always existed within us. I have never really heard anybody about love at first sight (might be an exception that you have a love at first sight and then you end up marrying that person) but nowadays it doesn’t really happen. So people keep skipping and seeing till they know whom they are most compatible with.
So ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ is a reflection of today’s generation, how people are, how realistic they are when it comes to the matters of heart.
BOC: So the characters you say that the characters are as confused as the youth of today. So does ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ gives us solutions to clear the confusions?
Vaani: If anyone happens to get a solution from the film, nothing like it. There is no preaching that we are doing in the movie. But it’s just all about entertainment. This movie has a lot to entertain you rather than giving moral lectures. At the end of the day it is not about giving advices and telling people this is what you should follow or this is what you should do, it is all about entertainment. So you should just enjoy the movie and if you happen to relate to a character and say “Oh My God! This character is so much like me.” You might agree or disagree with what the characters are doing.
BOC: How much do you as an actor preparing for the role of ‘Tara’ relate to your character?
Vaani: (smiles) I am not relating to the character at all. I can talk for myself and say ‘Tara’ and I are poles apart. (Laughs) It took me ages to understand what Tara really is. Honestly I haven’t even had a friend who is exactly like her. There are times when her mindset and my mindset is just bizarrely different. And I really struggled to understand Tara. Initial days were very hard for me because I just kept nodding along with Maneesh that I understand. But when I actually had to do it, it actually went my way, which cannot exist because the character is Maneesh’s vision. So I had difficulties understanding the character initially but yes now I get it.
BOC: Paineeti has said that her character is pretty much sorted in ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’. So is your character too?
Vaani: She is sorted but she is very different from ‘Gayatri’ (Parineeti’s character). Be it her maturity or when it comes to she being sorted in life. All three characters are different and we cannot compare them. ‘Tara’ is also very outspoken, very straightforward, very honest and very blunt. With the kind of background she is coming from people might expect her to be in a certain way and she is ‘NOT’ in that certain way, which makes her interesting.
BOC: So how was the experience working with Sushant, Parineeti? All three of you, wouldn’t say newcomers, but are new to the industry.
Vaani: (Jokingly) Those two have proved themselves yaar already. With ‘Kai Po Che!’ and ‘Ishaqzaade’.So I have had this ‘huge’ responsibility on my head to match up to them. I never wanted them to get disappointed because of me. I did not want to be the weaker link.
BOC: So do we expect that you will be the ‘Surprise Package’ of ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’?
Vaani: (excitedly) I hope, I hope I am the big surprise and audiences don’t throw rotten tomatoes on me (laughs).
BOC: As a newcomer, also with many newbies coming into the industry what competition do you see in terms of your peers, projects?
Vaani: (pauses for a second) Everybody is a competition. But everybody is a healthy competition. And it is good that there is competition otherwise I will be very laidback. Then if I know that it is only me running the race, why would I want to push myself harder and thrive in the race if its just me? It is nicer to have competition. It keeps me going. It will help me only grow in my job. I will try and take it in a very positive way.
BOC: So as a newbie how you will want to challenge yourself, your peers, with roles coming your way, with genres?
Vaani: I hope I get different genres of movies. Right now I am just starting off and still in that learning mode. Like I said it earlier, I am not from the acting background. I am very raw and very new. Even in ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’, I have been observing and learning. And still the learning process is on. So I hope I get better by the day and when that day will come, when I will say I have mastered the art, I don’t know (smiles).
BOC: If you would have got to choose between characters from recent films and got a chance to play that, which one it would be?
Vaani: There are so many roles that I would want to play. I haven’t really boiled down to one particular character. But when I watch movies, when I connect to the character I wish I could have done this – Deepika from ‘Cocktail’ or Ranbir from ‘Rockstar’. I know it sounds weird but I end up liking ladkon ke characters more. Be it like those classic films like ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ or a ‘Band Baaja Baraat’. Something that is substantial, I would want to do it.
BOC: Talking about ‘Band Baaja Baraat’, its been speculated that you are doing the Tamil re-make of the film? Are you going to be borrowing tips from Anushka’s performance or completely give a new leaf to your character?
Vaani: I will try my level best to be little different and new. I cannot talk about it, as the film is still in production.
BOC: So will we see Vaani speaking Tamil?
Vaani: Infact even that hasn’t been finalized yet.
BOC: Who is playing Ranveer’s role?
Vaani: It is the Telugu-Tamil actor Nani, from ‘Eega’ and ‘Makkhi’.
BOC: You have got a lucky break with Yash Raj Films. So in future you will also restrict to roles coming in from the YRF camp or venture out?
Vaani: There are no restrictions. They haven’t put any different rules for me. If there is any good script coming from outside YRF then Adi (Aditya Chopra) and everybody at YRF is free to let me do that.
BOC: So what new films have you signed? What next post ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ and the Tamil version of ‘Band Baaja Baraat’?
Vaani: Nothing. (Laughs) Nobody gave me any work! But I hope that I get good projects.
