Actor Harshvardhan Kapoor was in Bengaluru for the launch of a new watch collection at Longines luxury watch store in UB City. RITZ Magazine spoke to the fresh and raw yet promising Bollywood actor, better known as Anil Kapoor’s son in a candid interview at the launch.
BY NAMITA GUPTA
Which was the first watch that you bought for yourself? What kind of a watch person are you?
That chapter in my life has yet to come. I’m very new to watches. I haven’t really bought any luxury watches yet, but my dad has a lot of them that I wear sometimes. My watch will depend on the look I’m carrying for the day, could be casual or formal. It depends on your aesthetics. But maybe this association might take my attention to watches.
What is your style statement?
I like to keep it casual. I love street wear and luxury sports wear. I don’t like things that are super flashy. Since I live in tropical climate, street wear is quite apt. I like sweat pants, sneakers and oversized shirts. Street wear is also largely influenced by musicians and rappers and one can follow their style and decide what really goes with their personality. Accessories are something you can age with.
What are your favourite accessories?
I love my sneakers. I also have a lot of jumpers, jackets, sweat shirts and track pants for my travels, but I can’t do without my sneakers.
How’s your journey been so far?
I made my acting debut with Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s movie Mirzya and before that I worked on Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet as an assistant director and then Vikramaditya Motwane’s Bhavesh Joshi. I’m in no rush and like to take one step at a time.
What do you have to say about your film Mirzya that won critical acclaim, but didn’t do too well at the box office?
It’s still a film that I can watch five years later and be proud of. I don’t want to do films that I would cringe watching later myself. If I do a film that I believe in and it reaches out to the right people, for me that’s the best feeling in the world. I’m happy to be doing something new and also to reaching out to many people. I can now look back and say that the film didn’t reach out to the masses, but it still is a wonderful film. I’m thankful to Netflix as my films reached out to so many people who loved it even after it wasn’t running in the theatres. It took two years to make Bhavesh Joshi and Mirzya as they were lot of problems to make them. They were both experimental films and were not cheap to make either and I won the best male debut award for Mirzya.
What are the current projects you’re working on?
I’ve said yes to four films for now. I can’t talk about all of them, but I’m doing a thriller, a romantic film and a drama. All these films are at a very nascent stage right now. I can talk about the biopic on shooter Abhinav Bindra that I’m working on, as it’s been officially announced by the producers. We are currently writing the film and that will take some more time. Once everyone associated with the film is happy, we will start shooting in 2019. It’s been produced by Nikhil Dwivedi and Anil Kapoor Film Company.
What do you like about Bengaluru?
I’ve heard so many great things about this city that I’ve always wanted to come here, but never got a chance. I’m finally here and I’m super excited. People are very warm here and the weather is great. I hope I get to come back to see more.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do?
Hanging out with friends, watching films, reading books and keeping fit. Currently I’m involved in the writing process of the Bindra biopic and also touching base with the writers and producers of my other films that I’ve signed on. I also love to travel. I like to go to London a lot and do things that a normal 26-27-year-old does.
Are you a mama’s boy or papa’s pet?
I think I’m very close to my mom (Sunita Kapoor). I’ve also grown up with two elder sisters (Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor) and my mom. When I was growing up my dad ((Anil Kapoor) was working on four to five films a year, so he was busy. I have a lot of memories of the three women at home from my childhood days. I feel very comfortable in the company of women.
What kind of tips did you get from your dad before stepping into the industry?
I like to see myself as a very individualistic person. That also reflects in my choices and the stuff that I’ve chosen to do so far and will continue to do. You can’t really apply anything that somebody else tells you to do. Specially when you’re an actor and making films, it’s very personal. When you go on set you have to be yourself.
