Mumbai: In an Exclusive conversation with Kunaal Roy Kapur shares insights into his upcoming project and discusses his thoughts on the re-release of "Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani" and his experiences working on "Delhi Belly". He also opens up about the rise of OTT platforms and the value of stage performances. The conversation concludes with a rapid-fire Q&A session, revealing fascinating facts about Kapur's life and career.
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00:00Mr. Kunal, first of all, welcome to INS.
00:02Thank you. Thank you for having me.
00:04First of all, I would like to know that this is the era of Diwani Music.
00:08People are giving a lot of love to Taran.
00:12What would you say about that?
00:14Love is always welcome.
00:16I am so happy that people have got a chance to watch the film again.
00:21I have received a lot of love online.
00:25I am also getting messages.
00:27My friend has sent me a video from Pondicherry.
00:29People are singing songs, saying dialogues, dancing in the halls.
00:34So it's really really lovely that the impact of the film
00:39and the way it has stuck in people's hearts.
00:43So I feel honoured actually.
00:46Mr. Kunal, I would like to know one more thing.
00:49You have seamlessly balanced Bollywood, theatre as well as OTT also.
00:53Yes.
00:54What is your favourite genre, theatre, Bollywood or OTT?
01:01Well, there is not much difference between OTT and film.
01:06In the sense that when you are doing a series in OTT,
01:09you get a chance to explore the character.
01:12So the scope of the character increases
01:15because you are doing multiple episodes, multiple seasons.
01:18So the journey of a character is stretched out
01:22and it can go on for years.
01:24And people are also with the character for longer.
01:32So there is a different kind of joy in that.
01:35In film, you shoot for 2-3 months
01:39and if the film goes on, it stays in people's hearts.
01:43It's a good thing.
01:44Otherwise, you move on to the next thing.
01:46But your experience is shorter.
01:49Because when you are doing 2-3 seasons in a series,
01:52like tripling a series,
01:54we have done 3 seasons.
01:56We started with multiple years in 2015.
01:59We shot a season in 2022.
02:02So so many years have passed.
02:03People are also changing.
02:04Technicians are also changing.
02:06Directors are also changing.
02:08So there are a lot of changes.
02:10In OTT, directors also keep changing.
02:13Sometimes from episode to episode, sometimes season to season.
02:16So the way they look at it,
02:21they might change the tone of the series also.
02:26Whereas in film, it is one director and one person's vision.
02:30So that is also a difference.
02:33In theatre, the one-on-one interaction you get with the audience,
02:40you don't get anywhere else.
02:42There is no filter between you and the audience.
02:45No editor can cut you off.
02:47No director can put you aside.
02:50It's just you and the audience.
02:52So that is a different fun.
02:53But...
02:54How do you get excited in the media?
02:56Everyone is exciting.
02:58Everyone has different challenges.
03:00In film and OTT,
03:03how do you graph the character?
03:06When are you shooting?
03:08No one knows.
03:09Are you doing it in the last, first, first, last,
03:11in the middle, are you starting?
03:13It is so difficult to graph the character.
03:16Even in the day,
03:18sometimes you shoot the later scene first,
03:21and then you shoot the later scene.
03:23So there is no linearity in it.
03:26So that is also difficult.
03:28If you get it done from a theatre artist,
03:30sometimes they can't do it.
03:32Because they generally have the same vision
03:35that I have to start and finish in two hours.
03:38But that is also difficult.
03:40Yes, but in theatre it is difficult
03:42because you have to remember all the lines.
03:44There is audience interaction.
03:46Sometimes...
03:47You can't make changes.
03:49You can't make changes.
03:50But every medium is different.
03:54But there are challenges in both.
03:56Talking about Delhi Valley,
03:58you had a very iconic role.
04:00Do you think Bollywood will dare to make such a film?
04:06They are doing it.
04:08Take Malegaon Express.
04:11It is quite out there and very entertaining.
04:18The shows they are making in OTT,
04:20they are also quite progressive
04:22and quite out there.
04:25And they are exploring many other things.
04:27From caste, class, wealth, social stigma,
04:33they are dealing with so many things
04:35in their OTT shows.
04:37I would say they have gone well beyond.
04:39But as a film,
04:44Delhi Valley was ahead of its time in that sense.
04:48But now what we have started doing on OTT
04:51has far exceeded that.
04:53Do you think Bandish Bandits,
04:56which was a mix of music and drama,
04:58do you pick up any musical skills
05:00while working on these shows?
05:02I didn't need any musical skills
05:06because I am not singing in it.
05:08Everyone else is singing.
05:10Atulji, Sheebaji, Rajesh Telang, Ritwik.
05:14I tried in school but I don't have the voice for it.
05:22I have never learnt how to play a musical instrument.
05:25This is a regret in life.
05:27Because if I had learnt piano,
05:30harmonium, flute, violin,
05:33I would have learnt something.
05:35But I don't have any musical instrument.
05:37Tabla, drums, nothing.
05:41You have recently returned to theatre
05:43with Constellation after a decade.
05:45What was the biggest challenge
05:47in making the comeback?
05:49Getting back into the rhythm of theatre.
05:52It is a discipline.
05:54We rehearsed for the show for a month
05:58from morning to evening.
06:00In our time,
06:02we used to rehearse for 2-3 hours in the evening
06:06and the show would be ready in 2-3 months.
06:09But in this, we were rehearsing
06:11from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening.
06:13Like a 9-to-5 job.
06:15It was very regimented.
06:17And for 3 weeks.
06:19It was a different schedule.
06:21The commitment was at a different level.
06:23Also, it was only 2 actors.
06:25Ahana, Kumra and myself.
06:27It was more difficult with only 2 actors.
06:29There were different situations.
06:31Very minor changes.
06:33It was a difficult piece.
06:35And it was not comedy.
06:37That was also a different thing.
06:39It was not funny.
06:41The commitment to readjusting
06:43to that level of rigour
06:45was something that took some time.
06:47You have started your podcast
06:49last week.
06:51Yes.
06:53Loyal Family.
06:55What is the funniest and weirdest
06:57listener's reaction you have ever received?
06:59Actually, in our show,
07:01we invite listeners
07:03to send their problems.
07:05If you have any problem in your life,
07:07you can send us.
07:09So,
07:11whatever is troubling them
07:13in that week,
07:15they think of something
07:17that is irritating to them.
07:19Like a problem.
07:21So,
07:23every week,
07:25we have 2-3 listeners
07:27send us some problem
07:29and we have to solve it.
07:31That is the format of the show.
07:33We also have problems every week
07:35that we try and solve for each other.
07:37Can you give us a sneak peek
07:39of your upcoming projects and any surprises for your fans?
07:41Well, surprises.
07:43Hopefully, they are all
07:45in different genres.
07:47That is what is exciting.
07:49In one, I am playing quite a serious role.
07:51In another, I am doing something different.
07:53Generally, I do comedy.
07:55But in this, I got a chance to do something
07:57very straight and serious.
07:59It is a kind of light-hearted thriller.
08:01We have just completed the film.
08:03Then, there is a series
08:05I have done with Pankaj Kapoor
08:07and Mona Singh
08:09which is like a family drama.
08:11Then, I have done another series
08:13which is kind of behind the scenes
08:15of a...
08:17which is again...
08:19It is a drama but fun.
08:21There is a fun character I am playing in that.
08:23So, there are three series,
08:25two films and one road film
08:27with Manish Paul.
08:29So, I am doing that as well.
08:31Yes, there are many things.
08:33You have been part of
08:35some experimental and
08:37outward films also.
08:39So, do you feel Bollywood is still hesitant
08:41about unconventional storytelling?
08:43In Bollywood,
08:45the space has actually shrunk
08:47now, I think.
08:49Now, we are looking at most mainstream things
08:51because if you want to run a film
08:53in a theatre,
08:55you need something that is more
08:57down the centre.
08:59Small films, dramas,
09:01comedies, they don't get space now.
09:03Unless it is a film that has
09:05worked in the past, they can re-release it.
09:07But otherwise,
09:09it is all very mainstream,
09:11very larger base
09:13kind of catering to a larger audience.
09:15So, all these things have moved
09:17on to the OTT space.
09:19So, people are taking these risks
09:21but not for screen,
09:23they are taking it for OTT.
09:25If we talk about Denny Belly,
09:27it has a fair share of bold humour.
09:29So, if it were made today,
09:31do you think the cancelled culture would allow it?
09:33No, there is no such thing
09:35which was
09:37either chauvinistic
09:39or patriarchal.
09:41In fact, to the contrary, it was
09:43about strong women, characters.
09:45So, there is nothing to cancel.
09:49It wasn't derogatory
09:51to anyone in that sense.
09:53So, I don't think it would be cancelled.
09:55I think people would love it right now.
09:57Many actors from
09:59Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwaani have got
10:01a big budget post-release.
10:03So, do you feel you are underrated
10:05despite delivering a memorable role?
10:07No, I don't think so.
10:09I think it was the correct rating.
10:11I think it was the correct rating.
10:13Many people have got good films
10:15after that.
10:17So, do you think your role
10:19was small but good?
10:21No, thank you.
10:23But I think that
10:25I am very happy with the kind of roles I have got.
10:27So,
10:29in this industry,
10:31getting a job
10:33and running your house
10:35is a big thing.
10:37So, I don't think that
10:39there is any complaint in that side
10:41to say that I didn't get this role.
10:43I didn't get that role.
10:45The roles I am getting are good.
10:47I just hope to do more such roles.
10:49If you are part of such
10:51iconic films like Yeh Jawaani
10:53and Delhi Belly, it's a privilege.
10:55Hopefully, in 20 years,
10:57if I get 2-3 more films like this,
10:59what else do I need in life?
11:01When the boom of OTT,
11:03do you think Bollywood is struggling
11:05to keep up with fresher,
11:07more direct storytelling?
11:09Well, I think that
11:11firstly, we have
11:13completely
11:15alienated the mass
11:17audience from cinemas.
11:19Cinemas are now only for
11:21privileged people who have money.
11:23Cinema used to be
11:25the medium for the masses.
11:27Now, the medium for the masses is everyone's phone.
11:29The medium for the masses
11:31is now everyone's television.
11:33The medium for the masses is not the big screen
11:35anymore because we have outpriced it.
11:37So, that is the major
11:39change. Bollywood
11:41is also now catering to a different
11:43audience than it was in the 80s.
11:45In the 80s,
11:47we were catering to
11:49the large chunk of the Indian
11:51population that was a working class
11:55because they could afford that ticket.
11:57They could go to the cinema.
11:59Now, you have completely outpriced them
12:01from the thing. Now, you are only left
12:03with people.
12:09Now, if you have
12:11a big film like Shah Rukh Khan's
12:13film, that is meant for the masses
12:15and people go because it is an event film.
12:17I am not talking about that because it is a big film
12:19and an event film. But by and
12:21large, everyone cannot
12:23go. The footfalls that we used to get
12:25will never come back because
12:27we have completely outpriced the
12:29cinema hall ticket prices.
12:31So, how will
12:33someone working as a labour
12:35go and watch a film for so much money?
12:37It's impossible.
12:39As a theatre actor, do you think Bollywood
12:41is still undervalued because of
12:43stage performance?
12:45No, I think people have a lot of respect
12:47for people who are from the stage but
12:49having said that, every stage
12:51performer does not make a good film
12:53actor and every film actor does not make
12:55a good stage performer.
12:57So, as I said, those are different skill
12:59sets.
13:01Your podcast takes
13:03witty digs at pop culture.
13:05Has anyone ever taken offence at something
13:07you have said?
13:09No, not till now. We do it in a very light-hearted
13:11way and we try not to offend anyone.
13:13So, it's very
13:15quite mild that way.
13:21One Bollywood film wish
13:23you had starred in?
13:25Wish I had starred in?
13:27Satya.
13:29The funniest blooper
13:31moment from Delhi Bailu?
13:33Blooper moment?
13:35I think one of the
13:37blooper moments is that there's
13:39a sequence in which I'm riding a scooter
13:41and Veer is behind me and
13:43that goon pulls his
13:45tie and his neck
13:47gets pulled.
13:49So, I think in one or two takes
13:51his neck actually got pulled
13:53because it was very scary.
13:55But it was also, I mean the first time
13:57it happened was quite scary but then
13:59after that we had to do a detachable
14:01tie.
14:05A role you regret saying no to?
14:11I don't
14:13know. I don't have any regrets
14:15that way of saying no to anything.
14:17No regrets.
14:19If Tashi from
14:21Delhi Bailu beat Taran from
14:23Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani,
14:25what would your conversation be like?
14:27I think Tashi would
14:29stereotype him and say
14:31he's a rich guy, he's born with a
14:33silver spoon in his mouth.
14:37Whereas Taran might seem like that but
14:39Taran has a little more depth.
14:41He's not like that actually.
14:43So, I don't know what the conversation would be.
14:45But Tashi
14:47is one who
14:49likes to expose people.
14:51That's this thing.
14:53So, let's see.
14:55Your go-to guilty pleasure movie?
14:57Guilty pleasure movie?
14:59I don't know. So many are there.
15:01Mad Max.
15:03Fury Road.
15:05One actor you would do a full-fledged
15:07comedy film with?
15:11Varun Sharma.
15:13Manish Paul.
15:17Which I am doing.
15:19Hopefully people will enjoy that.
15:21If you had to pick a stand-up comedy special
15:23or staring in a
15:25Masala Bollywood film?
15:27A stand-up comedy special or
15:29Masala Bollywood. I would do the Masala Bollywood film.
15:31Lastly, what one
15:33message you have to give to your fans
15:35as well as a Valentine's Day wish?
15:37A Valentine's Day wish?
15:43I wish everyone a happy
15:45Valentine's Day. It's a day of love.
15:47Love not only for your boyfriend
15:49or your husband or your wife but also for
15:51everyone around you. So, spread the love,
15:53spread the joy and happy Valentine's Day.
15:55And a message
15:57for my fans is
15:59thank you for watching my films
16:01and series and
16:03thank you for all your messages that you have
16:05sent me online.
16:07So, keep watching
16:09what I do. Sometimes it will be good, sometimes
16:11it won't be good. You can let me know if it's not also.
16:13I don't mind.
16:15Keep sending your love. Thank you for
16:17watching me.