Though we arrange to meet at the coffee shop of Juhus Novotel hotel,Kunal Kapoor suggests we move to the lounge by the sea-face. I grew up in Juhu by the beach and the desire to be around the sea comes naturally, he explains with a smile that is to remain on his lips throughout the conversation. The mellowing sun in clear skies gives off a radiant glow to the choppy waters of the sea. The cool breeze sets the mood for the chat. The dishy actor,who won critical acclaim and a female following in equal measure for his intense character in Rang De Basanti,will be seen in Rahul Dholakias Lamhaa after a two-year gap. The world was going through an economic crisis and I realised I had to take care of it. Now that its sorted out,Im back, he jests,debunking the assumption that his character in RDB bears any resemblance to him. He adds on a serious note,Though Ive not been shooting,the last one year has proved productive. Ive had the chance to attend workshops to develop myself as an actor. I finally feel I can deliver a performance that is credible by my own standards. Kapoor is aware that he has gambled enough by being selective about his roles. Lamhaa,he hopes,will reinstate him in the audiences memory. A film that brings to attention the political turmoil in Kashmir,Lamhaa has the 35-year-old play a young politician with a history of violence. After having walked that path,his character Aatif realises that peace is the solution to the problems in the Valley. Aatif is far removed from what I am. He comes across as normal in routine life,but carries within him a mad passion for politics, he says as he waves back to a child on the beach who has recognised him. As if shooting in the Valley was not dangerous enough,Dholakia,he says,chose to film in guerrilla style at the locations that the security forces had warned the crew against. While pointing out that Aatif reflects Dholakias passion and impulsiveness,Kapoor states that he often decides to do a film based on who the filmmaker is. But from this point on,he says,every film that he does will see him as more than just an actor. Ive been working on scripts with filmmakers I like, he explains as he talks about an as-yet untitled film with Navdeep Singh likely to go on floors from August. Only the happy,colourful and jovial side of Punjab has been showcased in films up till now. We want to present the darker side. However,what excites the actor the most at the moment is Anurag Kashyaps big screen adaptation of the popular Hindi comic book Doga where Kapoor is to play the superhero. It sounds fun right now but I will have to put on 20 kilos for the role and dress up in uncomfortable costumes,hopefully without the underwear on the outside, he says. When young,all girls want to be dolls and all guys superheroes. This is my fantasy come true where I can dress up as a superhero without people laughing at me. Not that Kapoors life has lacked adventure of late. He trained in flying an aircraft,followed it up with sky diving and intends to go deep sea diving. The next one year,though,is packed with projects. But only till my next vacation, he winks.
