3 min readMumbaiMay 26, 2025 12:59 PM IST
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 2019 Hindi film Kabir Singh, led to a debate around the titular character, played by Shahid Kapoor, and whether it was used to glorify violence against women. However, Shahid’s younger brother Ishaan Khatter has an interesting take on it.
“If somebody is so attached and opinionated, it’s coming from a place of passion. We have a very passionate cinema audience. Certain societal discussions about that film were important and conversations that should’ve been had. Not giving the film a hall pass and saying it was good because it started that conversation or was intentioned for that, I’m not saying that,” said Ishaan in an interview with Zoom.
He added, “Not only as a brother, but also as an actor, I saw the layers Shahid brought to that part. It’s not easy to watch a character like that, let alone empathize with. While seeing all the red flags laid out in front of you, it’s undeniable there was a large audience who loved that work and the film.”
Ishaan Khatter further praised Shahid Kapoor’s performance and said, “He deserved the love for the work he put in and what he was able to bring to the character. I’d go as far as to say he brought layers, a certain dignity, a righteousness, and at the same time, a brokenness to a character that only an actor of that calibre can. I’m very proud of him and look up to him. He puts his heart and soul into his work.”
Ishaan pointed out that even before Kabir Singh, Shahid has maintained a standard of quality despite all the commercial setbacks in his over-two-decade-long acting career. “We’ve seen it time and again he’s challenged the status quo. He’s gone right, he’s gone wrong. He’s been ahead of the curve. He’s done films like Haider, which were highly ahead of their time,” added Ishaan.
Shahid Kapoor played a disillusioned Kashmiri student in Vishal Bhardwaj’s 2014 political crime thriller Haider, an Indian adaptation of William Shakespeare’s seminal play Hamlet. Prior to that, Shahid and Vishal collaborated on the 2009 action film Kaminey, which Ishaan also mentioned while lauding Shahid’s choices.
“He’s also done things like Kaminey at age 29, which no one expected him to do. He’s constantly trying to push the envelope as an actor. I’m all for that cause. Of course, there’s a certain responsibility you have as a public figure to talk about things that matter and get behind things you believe in. I don’t think it’s okay to be irresponsible. But as far as his work is concerned, he’s always been top of the line,” said Ishaan.
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Ishaan Khatter also mentioned Imtiaz Ali’s 2007 cult romantic comedy Jab We Met as one of his favourite Shahid Kapoor films, besides Kaminey and Haider. The Royals actor added he’s biased towards his brother’s Udta Punjab (2016) because he worked on it as an assistant director.
Ishaan Khatter prasies Shahid Kapoor's performance in and as Kabir Singh.