Damsel in demand

With three films releasing this year and another four signed on, the young and sassy Janhvi Kapoor's star is rising

- NAMRATA ZAKARIA

This has to be the year of Janhvi Kapoor. The actor, who made her debut with Dharma Productions' Dhadak in 2018, has three films releasing in 2024. This is unusual, especially for Kapoor, as all her films have seen her play the lead role or the protagonist, and not just a love interest.

And yet, when we meet at her Bandra home, the 26-year-old actor says she is not having the best day. "I just received the dialogues of Devara last night, and all I want to do is sit in my room and learn my lines," she scowls.

The Telugu film Devara is unarguably the biggest film she has been signed for. It is a major production-an action film directed by Koratala Siva and she stars opposite the celebrated N.T.

Rama Rao Jr. One would think it ironic that Telugu lines make her nervous, since she is the daughter of India's first female superstar Sridevi, who frontlined Hindi as well as every south language film. "I never learned Telugu and it is something I am ashamed of," she says. "I can understand it phonetically, but I can't speak it. Yes, it is one of my biggest regrets." Now, she feels the film is bringing her closer to her south Indian roots. "This part of me had been dormant for a while. But the Devara team is very patient and helpful. They are working with such stalwarts and I am so grateful they are just a call away to help me with my lines," she smiles. The film also co-stars Saif Ali Khan and Prashant Raj.