‘You need to acknowledge where you come from’: Khushi Kapoor

Khushi Kapoor: Ultimately, every film finds its space and its audience. I feel like we have had the privilege to be a part of such an amazing project.

Jyoti Sharma Bawa: Khushi, your father, Boney Kapoor is an old world producer. He is known for his generosity on sets. But at the same time, when a film like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja or Maidaan underperforms, how does he deal with this? Also, is he larger-than-life with you as well?

Khushi Kapoor: My father is very passionate about his work and that’s why he sees things on a larger-than-life scale. To me, he stands out more than anyone because he’s willing to put in time, effort and money to make these movies.
He is the star of the house, the biggest diva. He played a role in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar and didn’t have many scenes in the film. He had to shoot in Delhi, and took 13 large suitcases along. I realised he had packed his entire wardrobe. He wore his own clothes on screen. When I visited him on set, he was dressed in the exact outfit he wears at home. I thought, ‘Is he on a movie set, or is he just chilling at home?’

Sampada Sharma: In an interview, your sister Janhvi had spoken about how your mother never wanted you both to be in the movies. What made her say that?

Khushi Kapoor: As a mother you don’t want your children to go through any hardship. Being an actor can be mentally and physically taxing and she had started working since she was four. She wanted us to have a sheltered life.

Sampada Sharma: I want to go back to both your debut films. Khushi, yours was this Zoya Akhtar film on Netflix along with so many other people. Junaid, yours was a YRF film. Both huge films and political in nature. What made you choose them?

Khushi Kapoor: Betty Cooper is an iconic character and I knew Zoya Akhtar was all heart. The Archies was the first audition I ever gave in my life. I didn’t choose it because it had a political stance but because it was a sweet and wholesome film. I felt it was not a very serious film.

Junaid Khan: I liked the script. Maharaj is a sensitive film and Yash Raj is one of the biggest producers in the country. I trusted him to tell the story in a responsible way.

Jyoti Sharma Bawa: Is there anything you would want to change in The Archies and the polarised reactions it received?

Khushi Kapoor: Not everything is made for everyone. The Archies was meant for a young audience and people who have come up to me and appreciated it are mostly under-16. So, marketing wise, it should have catered to that audience. I don’t regret it, I have learnt everything from that film and Zoya.

Jyoti Sharma Bawa: Was it harshly judged because it had star kids? Also, Vedang Raina really stood out in the film and he has no ties to a film family.

Khushi Kapoor: Expectations are higher when you come from a certain background. We are here because we come from a place of privilege. We need to acknowledge where we come from, and appreciate our background. We work really hard too, but the main issue is when people in this position play it down by saying it is hard for everyone. Of course, everyone has to work hard in this profession, but you need to accept certain things, and I guess I can’t control the way people perceive me. Even before the first look of the film was released, there were certain impressions about the series. People will have an opinion no matter what you do.

Sampada Sharma: Khushi, you have spoken about unrealistic beauty standards. You have openly spoken about getting work done on yourself but kids who look up to you know you don’t wake up like this and they know probably getting some work done is the answer to looking like this. So how does that solve the problem of unrealistic beauty standards?

Khushi Kapoor: It’s a vicious cycle. When I was a young girl, I was made fun of for how I looked. I didn’t look like my mother or sister. That takes a hit on your self-esteem as a very young child. I took a keen interest in vanity and wanting to look a certain way and I don’t think that it is a bad thing, especially because I knew that these are the things people are pointing out. And I felt a certain way about it. In no way am I saying that this is something that everyone should do or needs to do at all. Of course, I haven’t done the hundred things that people have said that I have done but it is a part of taking care of yourself. Sometimes you do skincare or facials or fillers if you want to. I don’t think it should be something someone should be scrutinised for because it’s a personal choice. You are not forcing someone to do something or not condoning it in any way.

People had an issue with the way I looked when I was younger because I hadn’t done anything and I was called certain names and then, after I came out and said ‘yes, I changed the way I looked’, people had an issue with it because I changed how I looked. So, I think, each to their own.