Stark, authentic, dark, lunatic – these are some choice words being brandied about by media folk, in response to upcoming Bollywood release, Haider. Attending a press conference in Dubai, the star of the film, Shahid Kapoor was anything, but.
Having been at the receiving end of some negative press comments a few years ago, over the past 12 months Shahid has transformed himself into a smiley, media-friendly, not-quite-your-boy-next-door, affable, dude. Arriving on time and making sure his singing co-star Shraddha Kapoor was comfortable, he was diplomatic when asked by the event’s radio hosts if Dubai has the most well-dressed media.
In reply to ARY News’ question asking if, after working with his father – the much-respected Pankaj Kapoor – he now pays more attention to the kinds of scripts he chooses, he answered wryly ‘I think I’ve always chosen scripts carefully.’
One point surmised from the film’s promos shown at the press conference, is that director Vishal Bhardwaj, he of Omakara and Maqbool fame, likes to make challenging films that will make you question themes such as love, deception and revenge.
Although Shahid Kapoor did not explain why his co-stars Tabu and Kay Kay Menon were not part of the promotional tour, Shraddha Kapoor did regale the audience with stories of Shahid’s intensity during filming.
With Kashmir’s Dal Lake as a backdrop and the mighty Gulzar’s lyrics, Shahid Kapoor was at his confident best, knowing that his highly-publicised Kashmiri folk dance will go down a treat with the audience.
This adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet will be released globally on the 2nd of October. We leave the last word for Shahid Kapoor. When asked why people should watch his film instead of the simultaneously-releasing Hrithik Roshan starring Bang Bang, he simply answered ‘ Go and see both films.’
