“Other People's Failures Don't Make You a Success.”

Arjun Kapoor is constantly re-inventing himself to keep up with his personal and professional life. In an honest chat with Cosmo, he talks about his body image issues, tackling social-media trolls, and starting afresh with half-sisters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor.

- Sreeparna Mazumder

Arjun Kapoor can come across as “silent and broody”. Or, at least that’s how he sees himself. Others, not the same story.

At the Cosmo cover shoot, Arjun walks in several minutes before the scheduled call-time, and is in a good mood. He greets the crew, and there are hugs and hellos all around. Later, he reveals that he makes a conscious effort to be more friendly, lest people see him as a moody type. He’s doing a good job of it, because within minutes of setting the shoot in motion, Arjun’s ‘reserved’ side takes a backseat, allowing a wittier, warmer version of him to take over. The energy on the set changes—with Arjun playfully teasing the photographer and indulging in self-deprecating humour. The atmosphere is light, easy, and there are no invisible barriers between him—a celebrity— and the rest of us.

As we sit down to chat in-between shots, that’s the first thing we talk about. “If I’m comfortable, I can make everybody around me comfortable,” Arjun grins, “On sets, I’ve learned how to break the ice because, as an actor, I might come across as moody or detached. So I always rely on my humour... It has allowed me to connect with people.”

By his own admission, Arjun is not the kind of guy who will walk into a room and be the life of a party. “I’m controlled and I like to switch off instead of making a conscious effort of putting myself out there,” he explains. “On the other hand, if I’m at ease, I can trouble the living daylights out of my friends and the people I’m fond of.”