Arjun Kapoor: When I went bald for Panipat, I didn't think ki yaar Ranveer bhi yeh kar chuka hai

Despite growing up in a filmy family, Arjun Kapoor says he never imagined he’d become an actor one day – and a successful one at that. And despite having completed nine years in the industry now, he says he still can’t evade the jitters before a release – especially because nervousness and self-criticism comes quite naturally to him. “With every film of mine, I get nervous and think about whether I will fulfil my own expectations.I judge myself a lot and that’s my nature. I try to find faults in myself even if there aren’t many. I am quite a realist by nature. I am not an eternal opti mist and I never try to live in the delusion that I am perfect. I always try and find ways to evolve and get better, so every film for me is an understanding of where I am going wrong. And after so many films, I would like to be happy with this performance,” he tells us.
In a chat with Pune Times, he talks about why he thinks he has met his own – as well as director Ashutosh Gowariker’s – expectations this time, why his Sadashivrao Bhau and Ranveer’s Bajirao are nothing like each other, as well as how he got into the skin of the character of the Peshwa warrior.
‘I have not dwelt on the comparisons with ranveer’

In Panipat, both Arjun and co-star Kriti Sanon sport looks that are strikingly similar to Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone’s in Bajirao Mastani. But Arjun says the overlap was inevitable, as the stories are set in the same era.
“If we take such comparisons too seriously then we miss out on telling stories,” he reasons, adding, “We can’t stop making films because other films were the same. Primarily because there are so many stories related to the Maratha Empire, and how can we not tell them? Those overlaps will remain because history is very deep and rich.”

He continues, “My job as an actor is, to be honest to the director’s vision. And his (Ashutosh Gowariker) vision is to be authentic and forget all the vanity and comparative conversations. Instead, you have to think about the film and the story being told. So, when I went bald for the film, I didn’t think ki yaar Ranveer bhi bald ho chuka hai. The truth is that in order to portray the Peshwa community in the right way, I followed the authenticity of the film and of the time and of the story. I have not dwelt on the comparison. I think people will watch the film for the film eventually, and I am a great believer that all these conversations are healthy and somehow make people more curious about the film.”

‘Some of the memes are really funny, and sweet too’
One of the memes making rounds on social media
His biggest worry while filming was to ensure the human side of Sadashivrao Bhau came through in his portrayal of the warrior. “For my research, I turned to Ashutosh, who has done so much research on the subject. He wouldn’t make a film unless he has done a thorough study. So, it became very important for me to spend time with him and talk about the characters. You see, Sadashivrao isn’t a fictional character – and so, I had to make him human so that you empathise with him over the course of the film. It was important to show him with his wife, his family, as well as with his people, and how he would be when alone. The audience will see different shades of him, how he is strong yet vulnerable, commanding yet understanding. He is stern and stubborn, yet he gets what you are saying. He laughs, yet there’s certain sharpness to it. These are all traits of his personality. And Ashu sir had all his accuracies in place. So, I followed him. This story has never been told and I didn’t watch anything related to it either because I didn’t want to get influenced by anything.”
In the end, he says, “I feel that I have managed to fulfil the expectations of Ashu sir.”
Following the release of the film’s trailer, Arjun has also found themselves becoming the subject of memes – some of which, Arjun admits, are “really funny”.
He says, “I laugh at myself before anybody else does, so that doesn’t bother me. I’m fine with the memes. Honestly, some are really funny and some are really sweet too. As long as these memes are not crossing the line, by disrespecting Sadashivrao Bhau, as he has given his life for the country, so we shouldn’t do that.”
‘I never imagined I would be an actor or do a 100 crore film’

He says he’s made his peace with being a public figure and scrutiny surrounding his personal life – and the fact that he comes from a Bollywood family and is surrounded with Bollywood pals has a lot to do with it.
“I have been in and out of the film industry because of my parents, so I am used to the scrutiny over my personal life, and it never gets to me. I have to embrace what comes with the territory. But I have learnt the art of bargaining out of it when I choose to,” says Arjun. Still, he says he can never run too far. “I have a selective bunch of friends and they happen to be from the industry as well, whether it is Ranveer, Ranbir or Varun, so main dur bhagna bhi chahu, toh kitna bhagoon industry se?”
And with this movie, he seems to have gained one more filmy pal. “Kriti was my biggest strength on the sets. We spent the most time together,” he says, adding that they were lucky to have developed such a strong bond. “If we didn’t end up getting along with each other, this would have been the longest film for me!” he laughs. “There’s no doubt that I was the funniest on the sets and Kriti is just like me,” he continues. “That’s why we got along so well. She is a great co-star to have, great friend, and somebody who I can just pick up the phone and ask anything without thinking. With this film, I have gained in terms of being an actor, in terms of character and work; And I have also gained a few people that I can call friends for life, and Kriti is one of them,” he adds.
In the end, he says he’s thankful for the opportunities that have come his way – especially since he doesn’t consider himself to be a ‘planner’.
“There are a lot of people who set their minds on something and they achieve it, but it is not the same with me. I am somebody who didn’t imagine doing a 100 crore film, but it happened, I was this overweight obese kid, I never imagined I’d ever become an actor, it happened. Growing up, I never thought that at 25, I would be making my debut and that people will like me. When people started liking me and my films were doing well, I realised that kai cheezen life mein apne aap hoti hai. You need to prepare and you need to work hard and all, I agree, but I stopped planning in life. And I stopped manipulating time and manipulating situations because maybe it doesn’t suit me. I just go with the flow.”