Talking to Janhvi Kapoor is effortless and organic. Pegging her as an actor might be too facile. She is sharp-witted, engaging, ever the professional. Not once does she come across as too cool for the room. There’s that Janhvi Kapoor who is picture-picture on-screen, on our magazine cover; and there’s the Janhvi Kapoor who is unassuming, funny and stunningly relatable for someone who grew up with a fabled last name. The twain have almost never met. But she does rhapsodize about classic love stories. “I really enjoyed doing my debut film Dhadak, so I want to try my hand at another love story. That’s because I absolutely love watching them. I also want to be part of a comedy film. Not just a passive participant, but actually doing comedy,” she tells me.
The apple doesn’t fall too far
An icon passed the mantle onto her lookalike daughter, who remembers spending her formative years “watching films, talking about films, thinking about films. Subconsciously, acting was always part of my plan. I was studying art and history, and also considered fashion as a career choice. I landed up doing a film course and realised that it was stupid of me to pretend that I wanted to do anything other than be an actor,” Kapoor confesses about how being part of the film industry was an innate decision. She admits to always having a genuine interest in the same industry that her parents—legendary late actor Sridevi and her father, Boney Kapoor who produced cult favourites like Mr. India—ruled over, but her affinity lies on the other end of the stardom spectrum: “What happens between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is what I love the most about my job. The prepping I do for my roles, the travels, meeting new people and constantly being inspired by their creativity—it’s all very enriching to do this for a living,” the actor shares, reinstating her love for her profession.
I am all ears because the young star is disarmingly open about how she keeps her creative juices flowing in a way that anyone from any industry can relate to. “Nothing helps you hone your skills as much as doing the practical work. Other than that you need to be aware of your surroundings to grow as a person. I make a conscious effort to keep watching cinema and interacting with others to learn more. The more your experience and emotional bank fills, the better it translates into your work as an artist too. And sometimes being unaware helps—it makes you more accessible,” Kapoors chimes in.
The heyday of films
At just 24 and mere three films later, Janhvi Kapoor moves like a director’s actor. She signals with her eyes. Her sonic delivery is low-ley and annotative. Kapoor’s indelible performance in her second film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, flawlessly dramatising the trajectory of the first woman to helicopter into combat for the Indian Air Force, blazed apart archetypical markers of Bollywood roles, with no signs of slowing down. Playing a ghost who abducts brides on their honeymoons in Roohi that had an OTT release, Kapoor proved her mettle as a chameleonic actor. “OTT platforms have been such a blessing for actors, directors and writers, who felt liberated enough to make content they would have probably not considered before. It’s a wonderful time to be making films!” Next on cards is Good Luck Jerry. “I just finished shooting for it. It’s the Hindi remake of Tamil film Kolamaavu Kokila. It’s a really fun plot—there’s action, there’s comedy, there’s family drama,” she adds. Also on her docket is Karan Johar’s Dostana 2.
“Every challenge that has come my way has seemed like a means to further my journey. And when an opportunity has eluded me, I have truly believed that there are better things waiting.” Her ultimate cinematic vision is “to keep doing good content, regardless of the medium.”
?The social network
Despite all the silver screen exposure, in vivo and on social media Kapoor has kept things toned-down. Is she perhaps too jaded to enjoy the frisson of fame and too familiar with it from family life? “It’s not a conscious decision. Of late, I have tried to be more active on social media. I know many people orchestrate posts and pictures—it’s great for them and it pays off well. But I like to post organically. If I click a picture and I like it, then I post it. My aim is to be myself, be natural, and most importantly, to connect with my fans,” Kapoor tells me. ??Fashion fundamentals
Besides carving out meaningful projects and roles, Janhvi Kapoor also owns her own agency when it comes to her sartorial sensibilities. She wears scene-stealing gowns by ace couturiers, but she has made the humble kurta her off-duty uniform, whether she’s running errands or going for a Pilates class. “My relationship with Indian wear started when I began learning Kathak about two years ago. It makes me feel very confident and comfortable. I think classic Indian pieces can make you feel pretty in a way that no other Western clothes can,” avers Kapoor, describing her penchant for traditional styles and silhouettes.
For festive occasions, Kapoor often relies on arresting lehengas and kurtas. “Saris are a constant though. I love bright colours. I am big on chiffons and organzas. My first and foremost memory of a sari is when I wore my mom’s sari to collect the National Award on her behalf for her film Mom. It was an extremely big occasion and it was my first time wearing a sari. Hopefully, someday I’ll be able to fit into her saris,” Kapoor tells me as a metaphor for filling her mom’s shoes.
“There was a phase when I over-accessorised, where I wanted everything—a nath, a choker, a matha patti, and a mala. But I feel a person looks younger with just one statement piece. This is something that Manish [Malhotra] taught me. He’s always guided me with all things fashion and films and I really respect his advice.” Her skincare routine, however, isn’t as carefully curated. “It depends on the season, the weather and what part of the world I am in. But I try to keep it as organic as possible. The only thing that’s part of my beauty regime every day is a DIY recipe. I mix yogurt, honey and a little bit of malai and put it on my face. I put yogurt and honey on my hair as well. And sometimes, avocado as a hair conditioner,” she discloses.
Recalling her experience playing the perfect modern-day princess bride for Khush Wedding’s cover shoot she says, “It was a blast shooting for the cover. I loved the outfits, the setting. The gold lehenga and the yellow sharara set are my favourite looks.” I ask what her dream wedding would look like, she says modestly, “Just take me to Tirupati and give me sambar rice. My perfect bridal outfit will be a Kanjeevaram sari!”
Editor-in-Chief: Sonia Ullah
Creative Director: Manni Sahota
Fashion Editor: Vikas Rattu
Styling: Tanishq Malhotra
Photography: Nishanth Radhakrishnan
Makeup: Riviera Lynn
Hair: Mike Desir
Set Coordinator: Rajesh Shekhawat
Assisted by: Tanya Sachdeva
Oufits: Abhinav Mishra, www.AbhinavMishraOfficial.com
Jewellery: AKM Mehrasons Jewellers, Instagram: @AkmMehrasonsJewellers & Kasmia Fine Jewellery, Instagram: @KasmiaFineJewellery
As seen in Khush Wedding 30. Download this FREE issue here