Clean-shaven Kunal Kapoor claims his latest film, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, doesn't subscribe to the cliched portrayal of Punjabis in Hindi films. He is equally gung-ho about co-star Huma Qureshi

You've always sported a beard onscreen but you shed it for Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana.
It felt good. It was like someone just took a mask off my face. In the past, wanted me to sport a beard for the roles. This time, I knew the director well and the role demanded a clean-shaven look. Punjabi boys, who go abroad, are usually clean-shaven and sport a goatee.

What is the film's USP?
My director and I stayed in Punjab before we shot for this film; our writers are from Punjab, so we have successfully avoided the cliched portrayal of Punjabis. I call it a Kashraj film, a mixture of Anurag Kashyap and Yash Raj Films.


Your co-star in the film, Huma Qureshi, is just one film old.
She is very talented. This is her second film after Gangs Of Wasseypur. It's remarkable that she has played two very different characters in spite of starting off recently. We had a workshop prior to the shoot of the film, so that made the job easier.

Do you cook?
I cook 'bachelor-style'. I can cook noodles, boil eggs, make French fries. Nothing more (laughs). I am not a cook, and that is evident in the film also.

Are you satisfied with your career?
I am happy with the way things are moving. I am sure Luv Shuv... will connect with audiences. People now accept smaller budgets films, too.


You do few films. But in showbiz, out of sight can translate to out of mind.
The audience does have a short memory and yes, out of sight is out of mind, but I would rather do good films, than do bad films just to stay in sight. One of the best things about being an actor is that you play different characters in just one life. I want to make optimum use of that.

A lead in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana or a supporting role in Don?
My character should be interesting; lead or supporting is secondary. I should feel good about doing the role.

You have expressed a desire to be a director. Having worked with Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, who will you cast in your directorial venture?
I will cast myself. The script will have to be brilliant for me to take it up for direction. It will match my criteria as an actor, too. So first and foremost, I will cast myself; I am a very selfish actor.


What about Luv Shuv... in your own life?
I am in a happy space in my love life. But I am not too happy speaking about it.