AFTER playing gun-toting bad boys in his first two films, Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor is happy with his onscreen character of a regular, romantic guy in upcoming film 2 States.
Based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Chetan Bhagat, the film is being produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and directed by Abhishek Varman.
It is a story of two people from different states of India, who fall in love and have to convince their parents to accept them.
“I relate to the character a lot. He is a lot like me. The characters I played in Ishaqzaade and Aurangzeb were not regular. Guns were always around my characters.
“This time, I have cakes and flowers around me. Living the college life, working in a bank, travelling across India to woo my girl,” Arjun said in an interview.
The actor, who plays Krish Malhotra, has cropped his hair short and will also sport light stubble to complete his look for the film.
“I am excited about the look. I will be seen as a boy rather than the man that I am perceived to be in front of the camera. I am wearing jeans and T-shirts and glasses. I am goofy in front of the camera. It is a lot like what I am in real life,” he said.
The 27-year-old actor plays a Delhi boy and was recently in the capital to shoot the third schedule of the film along with co-star Alia Bhatt, who plays his south Indian lady love Ananya Swaminathan.
“I have enjoyed shooting for 2 States primarily because it is a Dharma film. It is all chakachak clean and young but it is not a frothy romantic comedy. It is more realistic and that is why we came to Delhi as the book brings the story here.”
“We wanted to show the vibe of the city in the film. We didn’t want to compromise by shifting the film to Bombay,” said Arjun, who has previously shot in Gurgaon for Aurangzeb.
When asked if he had read the popular book, Arjun said, “I read the script and then I asked Abhishek whether I should read the book. He asked me to avoid reading it. The director has his own perspective on the book and wanted me to bring something fresh on board.”
2 States is slated for release on April 18 next year.
The actor is also busy shooting Yash Raj Films’ Gunday, also starring actors Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra.
Besides that, Arjun will be seen in father Boney Kapoor’s Hindi remake of hit Telegu film Okkadu and Homi Adajania’s Finding Fanny Fernandes.
“We have finished the Kolkata schedule of Gunday. There are still some action sequences to be shot in Mumbai, but we will finish the film by July,” Arjun said.
As far as Finding Fanny is concerned, we will be shooting in Goa. I will finish that and then begin dad’s film opposite Sonakshi (Sinha) by the end of the year, as I want to give my undivided attention to it. I am pretty much sorted till the end of the year,” he added.
