I Credit A Lot Of My Upbringing To The Women In My Life

Reports about Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan being arrogant and snooty have been doing the rounds. SpotboyE.com caught up with the youngster to get his version on the same and also explore his personality. The lad's debut vehicle Mirzya arrives October 7.

You are Anil Kapoor’s son, we all know that--- but who is Harshvardhan Kapoor?
He’s a 25 years old guy living in Juhu, who studied acting & writing in LA for 4 years. He is making his Bollywood debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya. Somebody who’s grown up watching a lot of films and all kinds of films, somebody who is an independent thinker, somebody who hopefully should not be misunderstood and somebody who is genuine and honest.

It is being said that you are rude and arrogant. What do you have to say about that?
So it was a very long day of interviews. We were sitting on a couch for a group interview. To make myself comfortable, I sat with my legs folded up on the couch.

It was also said that I am not very nice to press photographers, when they click my photographs. Well, I just try and tell them to use the best pictures because a lot of people are going to see it.

Tell us about your school days. How was it growing up in a Bollywood family and being influenced by Anil, Sonam, Sanjay and Boney?
The great thing is that I had a very simple upbringing because we didn’t go to filmi events. Sonam, Rhea and I went to Arya Vidya Mandir School in Juhu.

I feel it was a very good time to grow up in Bombay in the 90s. The kind of relationships I built with the people in school at that time have come a long way. Those are still my best friends.

Besides that, it was really good to go to school with Sonam and Rhea because a lot of times, in a lot of families kids don’t always go to the same school – some go abroad, some stay back.

In the 80s, Dad was a reigning superstar and that continued through the 90s when I was growing up. In 1992 Beta released, which was a blockbuster. He got busier as the culture that time was to do three movies in a year, work in double shifts.

I didn’t see a lot of my Dad in my first few years, so I credit a lot of my upbringing to the women in my life – Sonam, Rhea and Mum (Sunita). Especially Sonam and Rhea who have kind of made me the person I am. So, I had a very relaxed, happy and a laid back childhood.



We also know that you have Sonam and Rhea’s names tattooed on your back...
Yes, I was studying in LA at that time. When you are a home-bound guy, attached to siblings, you tend to get nostalgic about them when you’re away. That’s what led me to get their names inked as tattoos.

Are you single right now?
Yes, I am single. I’ve not had a girlfriend since a very long time.

Buzz was, you going around with Nidhi Agerwal?
Nidhi and I never dated-- but I do know her and we are friends. When you are in the process of getting to know somebody, for example I know Saiyami now since the past 4-5 years, we have done a film together and an article like that won’t affect our relationship--- because we know it is not true. But a person whom you don’t know that well or you're kind of getting to know, wrong buzz just ruins it. But coming back to Nidhi, let me repeat I am not dating her.

Are you finding love?
To be honest, I think there’s a time and place for everything and I am open to it but it’s not happened for me and there’s so much that is going on right now professionally that I have yet to find that balance--- but then love is something that can surprise you!



Were you attracted to Saiyami at any given point of time?
Saiyami is very different. I grew up in Mumbai, I am an urban guy, progressive thinker. I like watching contemporary films and music. She’s born and brought up in Nasik, her upbringing is very different, very idealistic and we are different people. Obviously she’s an incredibly beautiful girl but we haven’t had that kind of connection.

You both did workshops together for so long and still...?
I think it may happen at some other point in my life. It’s impossible for me to sit here and say that I may never have feelings for somebody I work with--- but it hasn’t happened so far.

Do you think it is easier for star kids to bag a role in this industry?
I think it used to be a lot easier say 20 years ago. Times have changed a lot now and I’ll give you a lot of reasons. With Netflix, Torrentz and other content available online, people have so much to watch. They are watching so many young actors from all around the world that you have to be genuinely talented and original to impress them.

Back then, the young generation didn’t have so much exposure to world cinema. Now they do--- which in turn makes it harder for producers to back the new actors with the money. At the end of the day, they are making a financial investment in you. And nobody wants to lose money because you're related to someone, no matter who you are. In my case directors like Mehra, Motwane or Raghwan will work with you and put you at the forefront of their vision--- but only if they think that you can act.



Have you given auditions?
I auditioned for Life of Pi which I failed because of the way I look. I also gave audition for HBO’s The Night Of which Riz Ahmed bagged recently. People don’t know these things.  I was also turned down for Bhavesh Joshi in 2012 when I first auditioned for it. I had to convince Vikram. The role went to Imran Khan and Siddharth Malhotra and finally it came to me but Vikram still wasn’t convinced--- and only after he saw rushes from Mirzya, he decided to go ahead with me.

Did you ever tell your Dad that you need help to get an entry into Bollywood?
With the kind of directors I am working with, if somebody from my family would call them and say something like that, it would put them off. I am not that kind of person either.

So you are saying you did go through a struggle?
Everybody’s struggle is different. My struggle isn’t going to be like my father's. He grew up in a completely different world. He’s also a star kid at the end of the day. His father also had success as well as failures as a producer. My family was in this business even before my Dad became an actor which a lot of people don’t know. He had to bring food on the table and was financially driven. For him there was a need to make money. For me, I am somewhere lucky enough to be privileged. So my ambition, drive and motivation come from a different zone altogether.

You also train yourself a lot for a role. You shifted out and stayed somewhere else for Bhavesh Joshi. Will you call yourself a method actor in that case?
To me this whole term of method actor sounds very pretentious. I believe in “whatever works”, that’s what I keep telling myself “do whatever it takes” – whether that’s riding horses for 18 months because otherwise you won’t be able to gallop at full speed and shoot an arrow without your hands because of which the scene won’t look as real and good.

The reason why I moved out of my house is because in Bhavesh Joshi I am actually playing a guy that lives with somebody else – we’re college kids who are also roommates. I had to find that physical bonding between me and my friend to grow close as we are playing characters who’ve known each other since teens. That’s why I and one of my co-stars moved in together. It is very different to wake up with somebody, you are eating breakfast with them, you hang out together and that can only happen by these exercises.

We heard that you fell off a horse...
No, I didn’t. I hurt my head in a scuffle sequence while going backwards; I hit my head on the trunk of a tree. It has nothing to do with the horses.

We heard that you went all the way to the  US to get the horse riding training. You cleaned the stables...
Yes, after learning horse riding in India for a year, I went to Seattle for a month-and- half and lived on a ranch. Basically Mehra had given me a list of some 15 kind of intense things that I had to learn.



Saiyami recently said that you give her relationship advice. In your case who’s the one?
I haven’t been in a relationship.

But still... childhood crushes, who did you go to?
Maybe I need one!

Who are you closer to – Sonam or Rhea?
Sonam is very busy because she’s an actress and she’s travelling a lot. Rhea and my room are 3 feet apart. Also the age difference between Rhea and me is less – she’s more like a friend. Sonam is very elder sister like.

Is Sonam a protective sister or you are a protective brother?
Sonam is a protective sister.

So when she is trolled on social media, how did you react then? you act like a protective brother?
I am over it now. She’s very strong. For somebody to reach where she is today with all of that hate and negativity around her, it takes a very strong woman to do that.

We’ve spoken about your Dad but your Mom is the real strength of pillar behind you all. What was her reaction when you decided to be an actor?
She keeps the family together. We are four different creative people; she pulls the strings and keeps it all together. She always knew that I would do something in films but never thought I will be an actor. She is happy.

If not an actor, what would you have trued your hand at?
Writer/Director

If it was nothing to do with films?
My dream would be to be an athlete.

You look really fit in the trailer but you don’t have six pack abs. Why so?
I don’t believe in doing things unnaturally. Secondly, maybe I will surprise you in the second half of Bhavesh Joshi.

..Which is a superhero film?
(Avoiding the question) I don’t think six pack abs were needed for a character of Adil who’s from Rajasthan and then I play a warrior, so it I had to look fit and athletic.

Do you believe in superstitions?
No. But I am superstitious in a way! For example, for a person to do a cameo in the film so that it does well. I am cinema superstitious!



So, is there someone’s cameo in Mirzya as well?
I asked Mehra to have a cameo in Mirzya but he didn’t listen to me. In Milkha, he was a pilot and in Rang De Basanti, he was a farmer in the last scene.

(Meanwhile Mehra in the background says: It was such an amazing performance that nobody remembers it. I actually prepared for 6 months for a role of 30 seconds.)

What are your dinner table conversations?
I eat alone.

Why? I saw you having a pizza with everyone. Are you a foodie?
No, I am right now abusing my body during promotions. I am stuffing myself with pizza, cookies. I am luckily blessed that nothing changes in my body; I can go back to the gym and be fit again. For Mirzya, I was so disciplined and I know for second half of Bhavesh Joshi, I have to train like a monster.

So you will have a shredded body?
I am not making any promises--- but I will try my best.

Coming back to family  conversations?
I would be lying if I said we don’t talk about films because we talk about films a lot. We also talk about taking holidays which we never end up taking. I didn’t go for the Italy vacation as I was busy shooting, I even missed IIFA Mirzya trailer launch because I was busy with Bhavesh Joshi.

Why did you choose Mirzya to be your first film?
I really relate to the characters. I wanted to work with Mehra and it’s amazing to work in a film written by Gulzaar saab, it’s an honour that I will live with for the rest of my life.



Why not a YRF or a Dharma to launch you?
They don’t offer me films! Please offer me films!

What will audience take back home after watching Mirzya?
They will take back a very emotional story of two characters that will stay with them for a very long time hopefully. Incredible visuals and some outstanding music.

Image Source: SpotboyE Team & facebook/HarshvardhanKapoor