ince Shahid was away for 60 days shooting for Kismat Connection in Toronto, on his return to Mumbai, he has gone all out to promote Jab We Met (JWM) by giving interviews and making various promotional appearances on television shows galore. He was spotted on Star Voice Of India, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa as well as Nach Baliye 3. “That was quite an experience for me. I was amazed at the talent of people on these shows and I wish them all well. Anyway, it was an attempt to endorse JWM since it is very close to my heart,” says the actor who seems to have enjoyed his work on the film.
The film, he says is a romantic comedy with a very contemporary subject made by a young director. Imtiaz Ali, he says, is a man with fresh ideas and has made the film from his own experiences as he comes from the small town of Jamshedpur where most of the travel is done on train. The director, Shahid claims, has never been influenced by anyone. “JWM is his own perspective and moreover it is after a long time that a love story is coming since it was the genre of comedies for some time. The story of JWM is very novel and will connect with people, young and old alike,” he says. But from the promos on TV, doesn’t the film look like a take-off on Ajay Devgan-Kajol starrer Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha. Shahid refutes the statement and insists that JWM is an original. “That way even Dil Hain Ki Maanta Nahin was on the same lines,” he points out.
Without any pangs of remorse, he speaks about his lovely co-star, “Kareena is a great actor and together we have a very good product coming up for release. I have been getting positive reactions for the film and I am very excited as the day is nearing,” he adds.
Would their “split” be a publicity gimmick as it is being suggested taking into consideration their three flops - Fida, 36 China Town and Chup Chup Ke - together? Shahid refutes the allegation with a firm,"No, it is not a stunt of any kind. I wish Kareena all the best in life.”
When queried about the title of the film, the young actor divulges that it was his dad Pankaj Kapur who came up with the unique title. "We were looking for a name with the combination of English and Hindi words. One day I was at my dad’s home for dinner and lost in my thoughts. I was mumbling something to myself looking out of the window. Sensing my dilemma, dad asked what the matter was. When I told him, he instantly came up with Jab We Met. I loved it. Then we ran a contest all over with three names, Punjab Mail, Ishq Via Bhatinda and Jab We Met. And Jab We Met won. So here we are,” he smiles.
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Shahid was a bundle of nerves when the film was shown to his parents at a private viewing and he says he was relieved that they liked his performance in the film. “It was important for me as after Vivaah, I was sitting at home without work for six months,” he admits.
Talking about his future projects, Shahid sits up and says, “I am just back from Canada where we completed 70 per cent work on Aziz Mirza’s film. Tentatively titled Kismat Connection, it has Vidya Balan as my heroine. Another shooting spell shall start from November 27 after which the film would be complete. I am very excited about my dad’s directorial venture and we shall start work on it soon. It is going to be a big challenge for me and what more can an actor asks for than to be directed by his father.” To go on floors sometime next year, the film needs to be shot during the four seasons of India. “That’s right. It is a seasonal film and we have yet to finalise on the heroine as well as the title,” he says proudly adding that plans are also on to pitch both the father and son together in another film. “I am eagerly looking forward to that. I am going all weak in the knees just at the thought of it,” he confesses.
But as of now, plans are afoot to launch Ken Ghosh’s out and out musical film that will be on the lines of Broadway. “For this I shall go abroad to learn different dance styles as well as work on my body to look like a dancer. You see, I have a lean body,” he chuckles when asked if like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, is he too all set to get a new look what with the six-pack abs in vogue now.
Milenge Milenge, he says, is 70 per cent ready. But since the last three years, the producers haven’t approached him. “So I don’t know the status of that film,” he shrugs declaring that he has 5.5 crore deal with UTV for two films that are yet to take off.
The 26-year-old, who has 10 films to his credit in five years, has had the rare privilege to work with the likes of Priyadarshan, Sooraj Barjatya, Abbas-Mustan and Ken Ghosh. His eyes shine at the mention of the above names. “While Priyan makes comedies, Sooraj is a pro at family entertainers, Abbas-Mustan are thrill masters, Ken and Imtiaz specialise in love stories. I was fortunate to have worked with these eminent people in different genre of films,” Shahid signs off.