Shahid Kapoor, 33, may be a mainstream star who loves to dance and sing and who is a heart-throb for girls in India, but he has grown up believing that it is the actor in him that will make him the star.

He did Haider for free as he believes much like his director Vishal Bhardwaj that there are some stories that must be told and there are films that you do for enriching yourself and making your soul happy. Over a quick conversation ahead of his film's release he talks about his father Pankaj Kapur, his godfather Vishal Bhardwaj and his fan moments, sharing screen space with Irrfan.

Excerpts:

What made you do Haider for free? The industry right now is like an open field where everyone can come and grab their own land. It's scary for the people who have been in the industry and have been there for a while as it is unpredictable, but from a creative point of view, it's a great time. 75% of our audiences are between the age of 15 and 35 and they have a fresh and open perspective towards cinema. So, what you want to make sure is that you make a good film and if you managed to do that, you will find an audience for it. And that's what we are trying to do with Haider, not worrying about anything. It has broken every possible type of stereotype that makes a film a commercial success. Today, the marketing of a film is becoming such a big deal, that people have started thinking about it even while writing a film. It's great to be good at marketing, but eventually films are about storytelling. I really think that the finest filmmakers, some of whom may also be the biggest filmmakers, are people who are storytellers. They are people who have gone out there and taken risks and found themselves the space.

The striking filmmakers in our country are people who did not follow norms, be it Anurag Basu in Barfi, Sujoy Ghosh in Kahaani, Vikas Bahl in Queen, Ashutosh Gowariker in Lagaan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra in Rang De Basanti, Raju Hirani in Lage Raho Munna Bhai or filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali or Vishal Bhardwaj who have done that in their whole career. I did one such film called Kaminey and it gave me the belief deep down that while I am an entertainer and love to dance and sing, eventually I want to act. I have grown up being told that it is the actor in me that will make me a star. And after being in the business for over 10 years, I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am that I have done this film. I am happy for my soul, for the actor in me. I feel enriched to have stood in the frame with Irrfan, Tabu and Kay Kay, to have been directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, to get a chance to play Hamlet. This film will help me for the rest of my life. It stands for cinema of passion. It stands for taking risks and for making cinema that you believe in.

Kaminey was your finest performance so far. Have you beaten that in Haider?I can't comment on my own work. Initially, when I said yes to Haider, I didn't realise how complicated and complex the role would be. But after starting to do the film, I felt the weight of the role on me. This was the kind of role Vishal sir would give an actor the level of my father Pankaj Kapur or Irrfan, people with very high calibre. He took a big risk by casting me in it, but he had that confidence and love for me. It completes Vishal sir's trilogy. I just read a line in his book where he says that he had pre-decided that I was going to be Haider and that he wouldn't have made that film without me. I wouldn't have cast myself in this role. So, I think I have some kind of a connection with him. Vishal sir and my relationship has really grown. In Kaminey, it was a good relationship between a director and actor. But with Haider, I have an emotional connection with him.

The other day I read your story with him and Gulzar sahab and I just wished in my heart that I could have that relationship with him. He recently said while promoting the film, 'Shahid has so much more as an actor that you can tap into.' I thought to myself, 'Wow man. I didn't even think I had this much.' That's amazingly encouraging, coming from someone who has worked with so many great actors in our country. Haider is a film that needed parents. It needed to be nourished, protected and taken care of. It is a very pure and honest attempt and has a story that needed to be told. Vishal sir and me started trusting each other during this journey. There is a weird understanding, where if he looks me in the eye and tells me to do something, I will do it. While I would do that professionally for my other directors, I can't promise that I would feel like that for everybody.