An Exclusive Chat With The Man Of The Moment Shahid Kapoor

His tryst with super stardom begins... Shahid Kapoor has been waiting for this day for the past 16 years, ever since he made his debut in Ishq Vishk in 2003, writes Anuradha Chaudhary

- Anuradha Chaudhary

The blockbuster sure took its time coming. But Kabir Singh has firmly entrenched Shahid Kapoor on Bollywood terra firma. The box-office success has given him a new lease of life at the movies. The actor, who majored in acting chops but minored in box-office, is finally sighing with relief. His credentials as an actor were never in doubt, remember Kaminey and Haider. Some would say he is an actor ahead of his times. But those elusive numbers eclipsed his talent. The 280-crore Kabir Singh has changed all that. No wonder there’s a huge huge grin on his face, a spring in his walk.

All those feelings that he didn’t get his due have vanished. He’s upbeat. Now he says he wants to do cinema that woos a larger section of the audience rather than a niche. He’s set his targets higher. The success bug has bit him for sure. On the personal front, things are doing swimmingly well too. Parenthood has taught him a lot. He’s in the process of shifting home.

We’re at Mehboob Studios shooting the cover. His make-up man is late. Since the shoot cannot start without him getting ready, there’s time galore on hand. We decide to use it productively. Cut then to his make-up van. He reclines comfortably in his chair. And I roll out my questions…

DID YOU EXPECT KABIR SINGH TO PAN OUT THE WAY IT DID?