In a chat with Pinkvilla, Kapoor revealed the doubts he had before agreeing to star in the film. Although she eventually gave one of the most acclaimed performances of her career, she initially struggled to understand how she could portray a character so different from her own life.
Shahid Kapoor ‘s first reactionSummer Punjab ‘
Shahid Kapoor shared his immediate response to the director Abhishek Chaubey it was surprising. The actor explained that he had never consumed alcohol or experimented with substances in his life. As a result, it was difficult for him to truly portray someone struggling with addiction. Recalling his conversation with the filmmaker, Shahid said, “Why did you offer me this role? Bro, maine life mein kabhi sharab nahi pi hain. Aaj tak nahi pi so. Maine life kabhi koi substance nahi ki hain. (Brother, I’ve never drank alcohol in my life. I haven’t to this day. I’ve never done a substance in my life.) I don’t know what it’s like to be high”.
Abhishek Chaubey’s confidence changed everything
While Shahid had reservations, Abhishek Chaubey remained convinced that the actor could bring the character to life. According to Shahid, it encouraged the filmmaker to trust his instincts and rely on his abilities as an actor rather than personal experience. Sharing what the director said, Shahid recalled, “But as an actor I think you can do this character, and I feel if you put your mind to it.“Those words eventually helped Shahid see the role from a different perspective and take it as an acting challenge rather than a personal limitation. Even after deciding to look into the project, Shahid admitted that he continued to struggle with self-doubt.Kapoor worried that people with first-hand experience of drinking or substance abuse might question his portrayal. The actor was afraid of criticism if the audience felt the inauthenticity of the performance. Speaking about that phase, he said: “Honestly, I went through a lot of doubts, because I knew that my drinking friends would ask: ‘Why did you do things when you don’t know?’ I thought I would be embarrassed, and that I would look bad. But I loved the script and I loved the character. Then I finally said to myself, ‘If I can do this, which I can’t relate to at all, if I can do this, I think I’ll be scared for the rest of my life as an actor, because this is as far from my reality as I can get.'”
Why was the role impossible to pass up, according to Shahid Kapoor?
For Shahid, the script ultimately became too compelling to pass up. He realized that opportunities to play such layered and unconventional characters don’t come around often. The actor believed that turning down the role might be one of his biggest professional regrets. Reflecting on his decision, Shahid added, “And it’s also a great role. I mean, if someone else does it really well, I’ll look back and say, ‘How stupid was I to pass this up’, because how many roles like this get written? Usually, it’s these nice guys who are running around and doing all this.“Released in 2016, ‘Udta Punjab’ had an ensemble cast including Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and others. Diljit Dosanjh Along with Shahid Kapoor. On the work front, Shahid Kapoor will next be seen in ‘Cocktail 2’.
