His last few films could not create magic at the box office but Shahid Kapoor is hopeful that with R...Rajkumar, things will turn around for the better. He speaks to Deepali Dhingra about doing action for the first time and going bald for another film

By his own admission, Shahid Kapoor has not had the most successful career so far. The actor, who is awaiting the release of his next R...Rajkumar, is in a contemplative mood, when we meet him during the promotions of the movie directed by Prabhu Deva. But don't take the contemplation bit too seriously. Shahid is, in fact, quite upbeat about his future projects. `Honestly I've had four or five successful films till date, but still there are some fantastic filmmakers willing to work with me. It makes you realise that if you do a good job, people will appreciate it. The rest is just a matter of luck. I think I deserve a little luck now,` he smiles.

The actor isn't exaggerating. A spate of unsuccessful films at the box office, including Milenge Milenge, Mausam, Teri Meri Kahaani and more recently, Phata Poster Nikla Hero, are the reasons Shahid is being extra careful about the films he greenlights now. He acknowledges that there are times, when one feels like giving up. `It does feel that you've given so much and notgetting anything back, so it gets tiring after a point. But I thinkthe audience has faith in me as an actor. Things could've gone my way easily but they didn't. It's that kind of business. It's a matter of luck,` he says. Luck, as you can see, is a word that was mentioned quite a number of times during the conversation.

Moving on to happier topics, one that immediately brings out that trademark, dimpled smile of his, is the mention of R... Rajkumar. He's acting in an out and out action role for the first time. `When Prabhu sir and I discussed the film the first time, he told me that I'll need a long holiday after doing the action. I didn't take him seriously at that time, but after the shoot was complete, I limped upto him and said, 'Sir, you were right,` he laughs. Prabhu Deva's action, says the actor, is very stylised.

`There's a certain sense of rhythm in his action. He takes normal situations and makes them larger than life,` he says. As for his slightly odd pairing with Sonakshi Sinha, Shahid says it might be imperfect, but very likeable. `Imperfection is any day more attractive than perfection, perfection gets boring after a while, na?` he asks with a smile.


Next on his plate, is Vishal Bhardwaj's Haidar. After Kaminey, it will be the second time that Shahid is pairing up with the director. Shahid is chopping off most of his hair for the film. It has been a tough call for the actor who is super possessive about his mane. How did Bhardwaj convince him to part with his prized possession? `I think Vishal sir wanted to do that ever since Kaminey. He used to always say 'Tu baal banaane mein bahut time lagata hai' (You take too much time adjusting your hair). So he came to me with a role where I won't have to do that at all!` he laughs.

On a serious note, Shahid says the script was enough to convince him. `It's totally justified and it will help the film,` he says. His only worry, he says, is sitting at home after the shoot, waiting for his hair to grow back. `I'll need to find a film which requires short hair,` he grins. For now, he's happy to run his fingers through it, as if, reassuring himself that it's still all there.