Shahid Kapoor on working with Pankaj Kapur in ‘Jersey’

I feel fortunate as I get to learn a lot from him. After the success of Kabir Singh, Shahid Kapoor returns on the big screen next week with Jersey. The film was gearing up for a 14 April release, however, was pushed last minute due to accusation of plagiarism. For the unversed, the film is an official Hindi remake of the Telugu superhit film of the same name that was headlined by Nani.

In a recent interview, Shahid Kapoor shared his thoughts on the film, doing remakes, and various other things.

How do you feel as the film nears its release?

This film earlier scheduled to release in December and again it got delayed by a week, but since the film is really close to my heart I didn’t feel negative or got disheartened. This film has changed me from within. I saw ‘Jersey’ a week before ‘Kabir Singh’ released and I wanted to tell this story in Hindi cinema but people advised him against playing a family man or father role after his role as a college boy and an aggressive character. Interestingly, Arjun Talwar’s destiny and the film’s destiny are similar as both are striving hard to fulfill their dreams.

When the Jersey release got postponed for the first time in December,  there was a scenario of partial lockdown in the country, so why didn’t he opt to release the film on an OTT platform?

So actually we had this though before also when the lockdown was imposed because we had no clue when the theatres would open, but this film was created for the big screens and we made it wholeheartedly. So whenever we had discussions regarding this subject, which happened many times, because we have to be practical also, everyone eventually would come to the conclusion that this film should be watched by the audience in theatres only. The producer showed a lot of support, the director and us actors believed in the same thing and because everyone was feeling the same regarding this, the film is finally going to reach theatres. If one or two people would have had contradicting views then it might have got released on the OTT platform.

Is it because being a father in real life as well, you emotionally connected with the film?

Not just the father part, but it’s the climax of the film that blew me away. It is important to understand in life that the story of a common man can also woo the audience and it it not always the aggressive and testosterone kind of characters that amaze the audience. Actually, by releasing the film in theatres I wished to gauge the response of the audience regarding this. By releasing it on OTT, I would have not got the answer. I wanted to know whether I can only play Kabir Singh kind of roles or I can essay roles like Arjun Talwar as well.

Seconding his thought on age is just a number Shahid said,
“Anyone can do it at the age of 25, the one who can achieve it at the age of 35 is in special.”

Any particular scene you could relate to?

There father-son relationship and the latent desire to prove yourself in the mid 30’s is something I could relate deeply with. Because this is a profession where young people spike up very fast and they can easily become the flavour of the season. People are used to you. Many times you feel that have I become boring since I have been around for a while. It is a challenge to surprise people and that’s why I strive to get into the skin of different kinds of characters.

To what extent can you go to fulfil your children’s dreams?

They should work hard and earn by themselves as it is their individual desire. They have to do that alone. Because he will be worthy of it only when he works for it. It should not be like you support someone so much that they become dependent on you. Whatever my duty as a parent is I have to fulfil that. On keeping Jersey close to reality…

We have tried to replicate the sport the way it is played and we have done this most authentically. We have not shot any scenes using graphics. Because Gowtam and I felt that it should turn out to be fun watching. A lot of people on set even got pissed, but since I love cricket so much that I loved working hard.

Are you worried about the box office collection?

Box office collection matters to every actor whether they say it or not.

Were you nervous working with your dad Pankaj Kapur?

I feel fortunate to share screen space with him as I get to learn a lot from him. I don’t get nervous but I make sure I am on my toes. He is a great actor and I don’t want to spoil his shot. His professionalism, his simplicity and his humility to approach every film is like it’s his first is what I admire the most.