‘I would like to play Sania Mirza’, says Shraddha Kapoor

Shraddha Kapoor has had a busy schedule this year, shooting for three films — Street Dancer, Chhichhore and Saaho. “It’s been very exhausting. I think I can cope with it only because I love what I do, be a part of such amazing films and live my dream,” she exults. And now, the actress is gearing up for her first release of 2019, Saaho, which also marks her debut in South cinema. Not only that, in a fresh pairing, she plays the love interest of Baahubali hero Prabhas. Ask her how it was to work with the Telugu superstar, and she gushes, “He has such a warm smile. From the moment I met him, he was so kind and happy. He spreads good energy around him. He is passionate about the work he does and that charges you up. 

After interacting with him, I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’ he’s so humble. He also has an amazing sense of humour. And he took such good care of my team and me on the sets.” In another first, the film will see her wielding the gun as she plays a crime branch officer. “Holding and firing a gun gave me a sense of what it feels like to be in a responsible position as a police officer, who has the licence to use a weapon. Throughout the shoot, I got so comfortable holding the gun that it almost felt like an extension of my body,” smiles Shraddha, who will be seen doing a fair amount of action sequences. “It was absolutely amazing to work with international technicians and action directors. Also, for the first time, I spoke in Telugu, which, of course, was challenging, but also so much fun to do something new,” she enthuses. 

Interestingly, a week after Saaho, her next film Chhichhore will hit the screens, and she will start promoting the Nitesh Tiwari directorial, too, simultaneously. “Throughout this year, I’ve been juggling the shoot of three films and now, it is ironic that two of those films are releasing just one week apart. It is the first time that something like this is happening to me. Promoting two films at the same time is going to be hectic, but I am excited about both the projects, especially, because they are so different from one other,” she says. 

In Chhichhore, which is based on university life, Shraddha says it was a blast revisiting college days. “They are the best days of your life. Woh mastiyan, woh pal, I got to relive them. There was a lot of nostalgia,” she grins. The actress has also been in the news for the Saina Nehwal biopic, which she was slated to do, but now Parineeti Chopra has taken over. When asked if she regrets letting go of the film, she says, “I don’t regret anything in my life. I just wish I could do all the things that are offered to me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do this film because I fell sick on the first day of Saina shoot and then it got pushed. Later, Street Dancer came my way and because Remo (D’souza, director) had given me ABCD 2, I couldn’t say no to him. So, I had to let go of Saina.” But, with her lean physique and athletic body, she fits the bill as a sports personality. Any other sportswoman that she would like to essay? “Sania Mirza. Not only the fact that she is a tennis champion, but I think her journey is very interesting,” she muses.  

Hits and flops are a part of every actor’s career trajectory, and Shraddha is no exception. Last year, she got a big hit with Stree after a couple of box-office failures like Haseena and Half Girlfriend. However, her next release, Batti Gul Meter Chalu, which came on the back of the hit horror-comedy again did not fare well. “You know, even if a film doesn’t do well, and people like your work saying you have done something different, you feel appreciated. Whether the film does well or not is not in your hands. Ups and downs happen, but I just want to continue being a part of good films, work hard and do my best as an actor,” she signs off.