Sohaila Kapur on life, bond with brother Shekhar, and mental health: ‘Have experienced depression in my youth’

Q. You have been a journalist, actor, anchor, director, and even a playwright. How would you describe your journey?

Sohaila Kapur: The journey has been very creative and satisfying. I indulged in each as and when I felt inspired.

Q. Which of these roles gives you the most satisfaction, and why?

Sohaila Kapur: Perhaps the vocation that allows me total control over the subject and where I can project my vision. That means writing and directing.

Q. Despite hailing from a film family, you made your on-screen debut fairly late. Was acting not on the cards initially?

Sohaila Kapur: It was because I belonged to a film family that I debuted when I did. Young girls of the family were discouraged from joining films, while the men could. I stepped in only when I was old enough to look after myself and after I had fulfilled certain domestic responsibilities.

Q. Take us through your growing-up years—with the famous Anand brothers as your mamas, and Shekhar Kapur as your brother.

Sohaila Kapur: It was a fun time with my mamas. We went to Mumbai during the holidays and stayed with them. Watching their shoots and being introduced to their co-stars was exciting. I even interviewed some of them for my school paper. I guess the making of the journalist had already started!

Shekhar, being older, never accompanied us. He had graduated from university by then and was busy with his life and girlfriends! He bullied me as the younger sibling, and I submitted to it because I simply adored him.

Q. Tell us about your upcoming play, Doubt: A Parable. What do you seek in a story—whether on screen or stage—before agreeing to be a part of it?

Sohaila Kapur: Its poignancy and relevance to the contemporary world. And Doubt was just that. It’s a story about how we have stopped trusting each other and the disastrous consequences that follow. Are we not seeing it in today’s world, where wars are being fought for years without a solution in sight?

Q. Despite working in many genres and platforms, has there been a role that made you feel, ‘This is it—this is me’?

Sohaila Kapur: Not really. But perhaps the role that came closest to me as a person was that of Rajeshwari Rathod in Aarya. A woman who defied definition. She wasn’t black and white, as most women on screen tend to be—whether heroines or character artistes. Her grey shades made her more human in a complicated world, which resonated with me. I’ve been in the industry for just a decade, so I hope to experience many more such characters.

A scene from the play, Doubt: A Parable, directed by Sohaila Kapur. (Photo: PR handout)

Q. Over the years, how have you seen the industry change?

Sohaila Kapur: I haven’t been in the industry for very long. But the change I’ve noticed is that there are meatier and more varied roles for older women actors than there were, say, five years ago. And fewer stories are now formulaic, with greater grit and variety.

Q. With age, how have you tweaked your lifestyle, diet, and fitness routine?

Sohaila Kapur: I still feel 21… I guess it’s in the Anand genes! But yes, age does take its toll on health. I’ve had stomach issues right from childhood, and I manage them today by being more careful than I ever was. For instance, I am a foodie but have restricted my eating out. I’ve trained myself to relish ghar ka khana (homemade food) now, which I hated earlier because I always wanted to eat out. Today, I do yoga, dance, and gym sessions.

Q. Mental health is a widely discussed subject today. Looking back, do you wish you had known more about it while navigating life’s curveballs?

Sohaila Kapur: I have experienced depression in my youth, especially when I couldn’t achieve what I wanted. But I discovered how to remain cheerful in every situation, and that keeps me afloat. Spirituality plays a big role in this.

Q. How would you describe your bond with Shekhar Kapur now? Do you discuss work with him?

Sohaila Kapur: Now we do, but earlier I was just the irritating younger sibling, whose pocket money was more useful than her! I think we’re more like friends now.

Q. How does your approach differ when you are acting versus directing?

Sohaila Kapur: As an actor, I submit to the director’s vision completely. As a director, I expect my actors to submit to mine. But I also give them a lot of freedom to explore their characters and contribute their bit to the performance.