At the beginning of his career, baby-faced Shahid Kapoor was everybody's favourite 'Bollywood Chocolate Boy', but now, having been in the film industry for eleven years, there's a certain rugged charm that's taken over the actor.

Full of bubbling enthusiasm, Shahid Kapoor arrived for a chat with the Screen team at the Indian Express office on Friday (June 27).

`Right now I'm on vacation,` he starts off saying. `I'm chilling till August and then I will start shooting for 'Shaandar' along with Alia Bhatt.` Press him further for details, `It's a destination wedding love story... That's all I can say.`

After his incredible hard-hitting performance in Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Kaminey' Shahid has teamed up with the director for what's hoping to be yet another masterpiece, 'Haider', which is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

`'Haider' is complete. It has been a very exciting experience working on that film. With 'Haider', Vishal has given me the best role of my life,` he says. `Haider is Hamlet in its core, in terms of human relationships.`

Talking about shooting for the film, he says, `Going to Kashmir was a huge learning experience. It's a beautiful place but there's a sense of pain you feel. I can't explain.`

On being asked to comment on the newcomers in the industry, Shahid reveals that he does feel senior to them. `Suddenly I feel like a senior. Like I'm required to be more mature since I've been in the industry for eleven years now.`

He also confesses to being a Ranbir Kapoor fan from the all the youngsters in Bollywood. `I really like the way Ranbir is handling his career. I enjoy seeing his work,` says Shahid.


The actor also spoke about how playing different characters changes him as a person. `You tend to understand yourself a little better after each role you play. There's somewhat of a self-discovery,` he says. He further adds `Success and failure come and go. But I really want quality work and not just Box Office hits.`

Going back to the very ambitious 'Mausam' that saw Shahid romance Sonam Kapoor and also being directed by his father Pankaj Kapur, he says, `A lot of things went wrong with Mausam. Firstly, it took too long to make. Secondly it went over-budget and we had to release it in a hurry'.

When asked to share the greatest compliment he has ever received, after much thought, Shahid says, `So my father has seen 'Haider'. And after discussing the film, I asked him 'so dad what do you think I missed out in the film', because I constantly felt like I was falling short while playing the character. He thought for about five minutes and said, 'Nothing. I think you got it all.' That was the biggest