An Actor And A Gentleman Arjun Kapoor

Arjun Kapoor Lets Hello! Into His Life, In A Heart-to-heart Conversation Touching On Evolved Masculinity, Female Role Models, And Carrying The Family Legacy Into The Future Sans Any Delusional Sense Of Entitlement…

- Sangitha Singh

When Arjun Kapoor was being raised by Mona Kapoor, his mother, a single-mom and pretty much the centre of his life, his sister Anshula and he were imparted daily lessons in humility and sensitivity towards fellow humans. She didn’t really sit them down with lectures on morals and morality, but Mona led by example. Her own life was understated despite the fact that she was CEO of the largest shooting studio in Mumbai, apart from handling other businesses. Yes, she was earlier married to film producer Boney Kapoor, Arjun’s father. Despite the obvious trappings, she chose to shun the limelight and concentrate on making good human beings out of her children. “My mother would’ve wanted me to be a good actor, but, most importantly, a good human being,” says Arjun about his mother, who, today, is clearly an internalised force.

This good ‘human beingness’ is really the core of Arjun’s existential evolution. It clearly supersedes any other trait, when one sees him in totality today. He also uses his heightened emotional intelligence to be sensitive: Recently, when in a moment of frenzy, a photographer tripped and fell on his feet while trying to get a shot of Arjun at a party, the actor went out of his way to ask the photographer if he was alright – not once, but a few times. The onscreen hero often transforms into a real-life star with such hallmark acts of empathy. “And kindness is not something that takes an effort – it’s a basic human quality – you must have it with your friends, fans, peers… whosoever,” he explains.