Coming of Age

Agirl-next-door who effortlessly transitions to a show-stopper for couturiers Khushi Kapoor is fashion's favourite muse. But underneath the It girl lustre, she is a 24-year-old with a maturity that belies her age. The actor lets us into her very stylish world.

- SONAL VED

From donning international labels and being the show-stopper for homegrown couturiers to hosting fashion collaborations, Khushi Kapoor’s fashion flexibility is the focus of our cover shoot with her. That she has a model-like face, a gait to match, and a seemingly unending energy to pose through our 10-hour shoot schedule is confirmation that Kapoor is here to keep things stylish. In an exclusive conversation with Bazaar India, the young actor speaks to us about finding her feet in the industry, who she turns to for acting advice in her family, and why Betty Cooper’s character is so close to her heart.

Harper’s Bazaar: You’re one film down, and you have another coming up in 2025. What have you learnt about the industry that you didn’t know before you started acting?

Khushi Kapoor: Each film you do is like a lifetime’s worth of knowledge so I feel I’ve learnt so much over the course of this year. Most importantly, I’ve learnt to believe in myself and what I have to offer. It’s easy to get swayed by what other people say, but selfconfidence is one of the most important things for an actor and I’m definitely less fearful now of things that are not within my control. It has made such a difference in the way I approach work.

HB: What does Khushi, the actor, mean to you? Are you deliberately crafting an image for yourself?

KK: I don’t want to create an aura or image of myself. I feel open to trying on different hats and exploring versions of myself that I haven’t seen or been in touch with, so I’m not married to one particular idea. I think it’s extremely early on in my career and I’d like to use this time to try everything and see what works best for me and what I enjoy doing the most. Regardless of the characters I choose to play, I always think it’s important to stay true to myself and tell stories that are exciting to me.