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Shraddha Kapoor tells that she bagged her debut role in Teen Patti on her own merit and not because she happens to be the daughter of Shakti Kapoor or the niece of Padmini Kolhapure.

What is your role in Teen Patti?

I play the role of Aparna Khanna who is a studious girl and is also a guitarist in her college’s music band. Aparna is a very intriguing person. The film is all about Aparna’s journey and how during the journey Aparna starts discovering things about her which surprise her.

Do you think Teen Patti is the right launching pad for a newcomer like you?

Teen Patti, let me reiterate is not a quintessential Indian cinema about boy meets girl. Nor is it about gambling. Gambling forms just the backdrop of the film Teen Patti. It is something which Indian cinema has not seen before. I thought that the script was very gripping and my role was well etched. I really felt that the film was good enough to be my launching pad.

To what extent could you relate to the character of Aparna in the film?

With my glasses on, I look like Aparna at home. I could relate to the role of Aparna to some extent since we look almost similar. The curiosity which both Aparna has and I have is another similarity between both of us.

Did you learn acting to equip yourself for the part that you are playing in Teen Patti?

I did not learn acting from any acting Institute. I learnt acting from my dad and Padmini mausi. As far as preparing for my part for the film Teen Patti was concerned, Mohit Tugnait taught me the nuances required for the role of Aparna.

How was the experience of working with an actor like Amitabh Bachchan?

I was extremely excited and also very nervous at the same time because I had got the opportunity to work with a legendary actor like Amitabh Bachchan in my very first film. The stature of the film was set automatically because of the presence of Amitabh Bachchan.

Did the fact that you are Shakti Kapoor’s daughter help you bag your first break easily?

Just because I happen to the daughter of Shakti Kapoor and the niece of Padmini Kolhapure, the role did not just land on my lap on a silver platter. I got my break on my own merit. Not many are aware of the fact that I had actually gone to audition for the role. It helped me that Ambika Hinduja who is the producer of Teen Patti had seen my picture on Face Book.

However, I would admit that the biggest advantage that I have is that people know me better even before I have made my debut as an actress because the media is more interested in me because I am the daughter of a celebrity like Shakti Kapoor. I also confess that I have more connections in the film industry because of dad and hence people know that I exist.

And what according to you is the flip side of the coin?

The flip side is that people will compare me with my dad and my mausi. All that I’d say is that even if I have 2 percent of the talent that they have, I’ll be happy.

How intimidating was it to share the frame with Amitabh Bachchan?

It was simply a great learning experience to work with an actor of the stature of Amitabh Bachchan. Amitji knew that he would unknowingly make us feel intimidated and hence he made it a point not to spare us and left no opportunity to pull our legs and make us shed our inhibitions and feel comfortable and at ease while working with him. In fact, I’d be worried if I was not asked to give a retake or Amitji did not give me any suggestion to improve myself.

What did you find interesting about Mr. Bachchan, as an actor?

It was interesting to note that Amitji used to cut himself off and be aloof whenever he had to do a serious scene. Amitji made me realize to what extent you have to go as an actor to go inside yourself to perform the character that you are playing.

What about your experience of working with R. Madhavan?

Working with an actor like R. Madhavan, who we used to call Maddy fondly was great fun. Maddy taught me a lot of card tricks while we were shooting on the sets for the film.

What kind of roles do you like to take up as an actress?

As an actress, I’d like to do a wide range of roles and be a part and parcel of what is known as versatile cinema.

Which films of your mausi do you like the best?

Prem Rog is my most favorite film among all the films in which my aunt Padmini Kolhapure has acted.

Who are your favorite directors?

Among the directors who I’d like to work with are Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Kashyap and Karan Johar, to name a few.

Who are your favorite actors and actresses today?

My most favorite actor among the stars of today is undoubtedly Ranbir Kapoor who has shown a lot of caliber even though he is only four films old till date. Among the actresses of today, I like Priyanka Chopra as well as Vidya Balan who are performers of the first order.

Shraddha Kapoor, who is making her debut with Leena Yadav’s Teen Patti, calls her dad Shakti Kapoor ‘Baaps’ as she offers him coffee. Both get comfortable for a joint interview in the conference room of the production office of the film.

Dressed in denims and a tee, Shraddha starts off with her childhood dream, “Since childhood, I have seen my father and my aunt Padmini Kolhapure at shoots. I had a natural inclination to follow in their footsteps.”

Doting dad Shakti, looking at his daughter with pride, says, “She is pretty and talented and nothing can stop her. She is very bindaas, and very few people make me laugh like she can.”

Her training started in school where she learnt Kathak and started doing theatre in 9th grade. She says, “That gave me a taste of the stage. Before Teen Patti, I trained with Mr Mohit Tugnait, who taught me acting and diction. For Teen Patti, we did many workshops with Barry John and Ashley Lobo.”

Did Shakti warn her about the wolves in the industry? He says, “I always believe that if you are strong, nothing in this world can hurt you. Wolves are everywhere, but in show business, we are more exposed to them.”

At this juncture, Shraddha quips, “I think there are bad people everywhere and I can also turn into a wolf!”
Shraddha had read several scripts before Teen Patti but no role offered her such scope and range. And, of course, Shakti thinks his daughter is lucky to debut in a film that features Amitabh Bachchan.

He says, “The audience will go to the theatres for Mr Bachchan and will recognise the young talent. In the movie, she plays a college girl, a pick-up, a socialite, a tapori, chaalu ladki eating paan, while all the monsters are ogling at her. She might not have the songs or the romantic angle, but she portrays a wide range of emotions.”

Shraddha gently chides him as she tells him not to give away too much information about the film. Shraddha is open to the idea of bold scenes, and Shakti is supportive of her stance. He only says, “She is an adult and knows what is right or wrong.

All I tell her is that we come from a respected family and that she should know her boundaries.” It’s actually her mother who gives Shraddha advice as she makes frequent visits to the sets. Shakti has the final word as he says, “Good people make good actors.” And, we presume, he’s referring to his daughter.

"Coming from a family with a background in movies, I always aspired to be an actress. I started learning Kathak while still in school,and when I was in the ninth grade, I started doing theatre. I trained in acting and diction under Mohit Tugnait. Ambika Hinduja, the producer of Teen Patti, saw my photographs on Facebook. It was only after we met that she learnt that I’m Shakti Kapoor’s daughter."

"I auditioned for the role and couldn’t have asked for a better debut, since the film features Mr Amitabh Bachchan and Sir Ben Kingsley. For Teen Patti, we did many workshops with Barry John and Ashley Lobo. That taught me a lot about the finer nuances of acting. The role offers scope to portray a range of emotions."

"When you come from a film family, you can’t escape comparisons. Since I’m Padmini Kolhapure’s niece and Shakti Kapoor’s daughter, people will be waiting to see how good I am. If I can achieve even one iota of what my aunt achieved in her debut movie, it will be great. I want to do good work with notable filmmakers. I haven’t signed anything else yet. There are a couple of scripts waiting to be read. I’m waiting to see the response to Teen Patti before deciding anything."

She’s extremely confident, ‘ambitious’ in her own words and believes in her capabilities, and when it comes to Bollywood — she’s no babe in the woods. Because this gal hails from a khandaan that boasts of father Shakti Kapoor, aunt Padmini Kolhapure and grandfather Pandit Pandharinath Kolhapure. Presenting the latest Kapoor — Shraddha Kapoor!

“I grew up in an atmosphere where I saw my father leaving early for work, having odd hours and then to see the difference between him on-screen and the way he was off-screen. I found the whole process of becoming someone else fascinating!” she smiles.

Considering her lineage, it’s but natural to expect offers on a platter. But Shraddha didn’t take her entry into filmdom for granted. The newcomer, who makes her debut in Serendipity Films’ Teen Patti coming Friday, believes her journey towards acting started the day she was born 21 years ago. Shraddha’s done theatre for four years, learnt acting from Mohit Tugnait and later from Barry John, was part of a dance troupe at Boston University and knows how to play the guitar after six months of learning it for the film (“I play the lead guitarist of a band,” she informs us). Of course, she’s lucky to have an acting guru at home itself. “He is so humorous that I got to learn a lot just by observing him,” she adds about dad and filmi bad guy Shakti.

It’s a given that any newcomer working in a film with none other than Big B would be asked how the experience with such an accomplished actor was. But we threw her a different one — was it more difficult working with one of the biggest superstars of the millennium or to act with her father? “The day I was acting with my father was by far the most challenging for me!” she admits, “I think I must have made the maximum mistakes that day. My dad kept yelling at me ‘I’m not your father here, I’m an actor’!” she laughs at the memory.

Her father’s name might help her to an extent but after that, it’s her talent that would have to speak and Shraddha’s aware of that. “I am ambitious. I like to think and dream about the future,” she says. Considering the competition that lies ahead, would she be able to pitch in her best? Would she, for example, wear a bikini if the role requires it? “Nobody’s made that proposition yet, so I’ll consider that when it happens,” she says. Okay, but does she consider herself sexy? “Sexy?” she asks with a laugh, “We’ll let the audience decide that. Sexy’s not the way I would define myself. Moderately reserved, a little shy and very curious. But sexy? Nah!”