Indian Cinema News

Kunal Kapoor happy with first on-screen kiss

By Subhash K. Jha Oct 15, 2007, 5:34 GMT

Mumbai, Oct 15 (IANS) Kunal Kapoor gave his first on-screen kiss to Konkona Sen Sharma in his just released 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' and the actor, who dabbles in poetry, is pretty happy with the lip-lock.

'My first on-screen kiss, and Konkona and I did it well, considering we did it in below-zero temperature in Switzerland with 50 people gawking,' Kunal told IANS.

This was Kunal's first family drama as well and he shared screen space with Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan in the film.

His next is 'Aaja Nachle'. After that he doesn't have any films in hand, but the actor is chilled out. Kunal says films or no films, he is always occupied.

'I was supposed to do a play 'Baghdad Ka Ghulam' with Barry John. Unfortunately, it got postponed. I'm hearing scripts. I write poetry and I like to jot down my thoughts. And I'm a passionately inquisitive person. So there's never a dull moment in my life.'

Excerpts:

Q: You do a lot of dancing in 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' (LCMD)?

A: I love dancing. But I'm not very good at it. I was intimidated by who I was dancing with. Abhishek and Rani are good dancers. Finally, they made it easier for me. But you know what? You don't necessarily have to be a pro at dancing to enjoy it. You've to be shameless before the camera.

Q: You have a kissing scene with Konkona in LCMD?

A: My first on-screen kiss and Konkona and I did it well, considering we did it in below-zero temperature in Switzerland with 50 people gawking.

Q: Are you making excuses for bad kissing?

A: Ha! No. Actually, I got good reactions to it.

Q: You are a huge fan of Jaya Bachchan?

A: Oh yes, and I couldn't believe it when I got to work with her. Jayaji fed us the best lunches on the sets. She used to bring lunch for 15 people. I eat enough for five people. When you grow up watching and admiring someone and then you get to work with her, the feeling is unbelievable. I got the same feeling when I worked with Aamir Khan. When we worked with him, we became friends. But even today when I look at the posters of 'Rang De Basanti', I can't believe that's me with him.

Q: LCMD is your first family film.

A: Yeah, I guess my films so far have been unorthodox with me cast as a loner. But you know what? I'm a very family-oriented person. I've grown up watching the family films of Sooraj Barjatya and Yash Chopra. I haven't done a conventional family film before. Here the sharp editing and other technique add rather than take away from the main drama. Dada (Pradeep Sarkar) brings in a lot of technique without taking away from the main drama.

Q: Good boy, that's you what you are supposed to say.

A: No seriously. I wouldn't endorse a product I didn't believe in. If I don't like one of my films I'd keep quiet.

Q: Like 'Hattrick'?

A: I don't know why this belief went around. I liked 'Hattrick' and so did some people.

Q: You're paired with Konkona again in 'Aaja Nachle'.

A: Yeah. Konkona makes me feel like Salieri while she's Mozart. A third film with Konkona? I don't know...

Q: Are you admitting Konkona is superior to you?

A: That's an understatement. You know I'd come on the sets, do my rehearsals, get my lines right, be fully prepared. She'd just come on the sets, casually inquire about the scene, then read a book, and give a perfect shot.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: Nothing after 'Aaja Nachle'. I go by my instincts. It took me just a couple of minutes to say yes to LCMD and 'Aaja Nachle'. If I've to convince myself to do a film then it's not worth doing. Maybe I'm being naive. But I really see no point in doing a film just to be busy.

Q: What will you do in the coming months?

A: I was supposed to do a play, 'Baghdad Ka Ghulam', with Barry John. I had worked with Barry earlier and this play had Raghuvir Yadav in it. Unfortunately, it got postponed. I'm hearing scripts. I write poetry and I like to jot down my thoughts. They never seem to end though. And I'm a passionately inquisitive person. So there's never a dull moment in my life.

Q: What are you looking for?

A: I'll know when I get the next good offer. But whatever the role, lead or otherwise, it has to help me grow as an actor.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service