Mausam starts in 1992 & ends in 2003 but it's not a period film Shahid Part 1

Mausam starts in 1992 & ends in 2003 but it's not a period film Shahid Part 1
By Devansh Patel, April 6, 2011 - 12:45 IST


About ten years ago if you had met Shahid Kapoor, he would've come across as funny, strange or even skinny. It's 2011. Today he might still be questioning why women find him so attractive. So as I type few of my last tweets before heading to his Andheri residence, I immediately get girls hooked on, sending their wishes and messages. Doesn't that describe the actor's mad fan following? There's no denying he's earned it the hard way. In person, Shahid looks every inch the movie star; a toned, somewhat rangy alpha male who parries questions with an easy twang. And yet on screen, there can be something low-key, even anonymous, about him. Kaminey is a film which many of his well wishers think is one act he will find difficult to surpass. What they don't realize is that the film was just the start of there being madness in method acting. But the actor is too fast to answer, "They haven't seen Mausam". Waiting for me in his apartment, Shahid looked relaxed in his dark blue chequered shirt and denims. His stubble made him look as if he's just returned from a prison break and his attitude made him look one hell of an actor who steals the show, come what may. Is this early interview an indication of Shahid Kapoor's soon-to-come mesmeric performance in Mausam? Whatever the answer, Shahid Kapoor is raring to steal the scenes. So over a cup of black coffee on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent met up with the uncanny and unstoppable Shahid Kapoor. Presenting the 'exclusive first' of the two part special only on Bollywood Hungama.

"My father waited six months for me to complete other projects because I had to give my heart and soul to Mausam" 

Mausam does require complete dedication and that's why I was told by my father, the director of the film too, to give my heart and soul to Mausam as the principal characters, played by me and Sonam travel twelve years through the film. He very specifically told me, 'I don't want you to do anything else in between while shooting for Mausam'. He waited six months for me to complete other projects and then decided to start the shoot. 


"Air Force Pilot is one of the four looks I have in Mausam" 

I have four different looks in the film and my first look of an air force pilot is just one of them. It will be wrong if I say that I cannot surpass any of my previous performances, especially Kaminey. All characters I portray in films are different and cannot be compared. There are lot of films I've done and some performances that are very close to my heart. Mausam is again a special film for me. How successful it is, time will tell. We've tried to keep Mausam as commercial as it should be because it is an expensive film and has taken a year of my life. Yes, it will be released on a large scale.

"Our biggest struggle is that we have an extremely varied audience" 

Hollywood has mastered the art of making great films that can connect with any audience. We still need to learn that. We can work harder. Our biggest struggle is that we have an extremely varied audience. A country like the US speaks the same language, there isn't any cultural difference. India has so much cultural variety and so many languages, that it becomes difficult for us to cater to each one of them. That is why the word commercial means something that can connect to the entire nation.

"The biggest hits in our country have been love stories" 

Love is a universal emotion and that's why the biggest hits in our country have been love stories. It connects to one and all. National pride too is a universal emotion. That's why you will see films like Lagaan, Rang De Basanti and Chak De Indiawork. We just need to learn the art of how to do it. There are few people who have learnt that art and are successful today in our industry. 


"Mausam starts in 1992 and ends in 2003" 

Mausam starts in 1992 and ends in 2003. It is spread over twelve years and it is not a period film. The agenda to release the first look quite early was because of many reasons. I play an air force officer and we never wanted to confuse the audience that it's a war film. It is a love story. The love story starts when the boy and girl are seventeen years of age and it goes on till they are in their thirties. You will see an adolescent and a mature love story too.