JULY 14, 2019 • THE WEEK 69DETOUR
SHOBHAA DEhttp://www.shobaade.blogspot.comThe other Kapoors
PHOTO SHAHID KAPOOR, WIFE MIRA RAJPUT, AND THEIR CHILDREN/PTI
A
ctor Shahid Kapoor’s quiet dignity and
confidence make him stand out in an
industry that encourages flamboyance and
OTT conduct. From the start of a career that has
been marked with critical and commercial suc-
cess, Shahid has held his own against colleagues
who were taller, brawnier, better looking, and
yes, compulsive attention-seekers. For instance,
he did not book a grand villa on Lake Como for
his wedding, nor plaster every tiny detail of the
pre- and post-ceremony on social media plat-
forms. He chose a private, family celebration and
a bride who was not from the film industry. It was
as close to an arranged marriage as you can get!
Mira Rajput (14 years his junior)—the lovely, fresh
faced young girl who became Mrs
Kapoor and shifted sans fuss to
Mumbai—obviously took her cues
from her husband, and maintained
a low profile, while adjusting to
life in a manic metro. Soon, they
had a gorgeous little girl, followed
by a baby boy. Through all these
personal developments, Shahid
continued to make his mark in
films. Some worked, some did
not. It was when his latest Kabir
Singh (a remake of Telugu hit Arjun
Reddy) created a national debate
on misogyny, that Shahid attracted a fresh round
of attention. After a controversial start, the film
has crossed the magic 0 100 crore box office mark,
and it is safe to conclude that Shahid will be in the
running for top acting awards in 2019.
I refused to watch the film after reading about its
content. But I figured it was my prerogative. When
I tweeted my view, it led to an avalanche of mixed
comments.This column is not about the movie or
Shahid’s character in the film. It is about Shahid. And
what I have observed over the years. Shahid’s father,
Pankaj Kapoor, is a contemporary. He is one of our
most talented actors (watch him in Maqbool—bril-
liant!). He is also an admirably low-key person; you
would not recognise him if he were seated across the
aisle from you on a flight! As I did not. All I noticed
was a loving grandpa, keeping an eye on a gorgeous,
restless granddaughter, who was running up and
down the aisle, happily engaging with strangers. It
was only after a few passengers started clicking the
kid, that I discovered her parents! There they were—
Shahid and Mira, just another young and good
looking couple, returning to Mumbai from Chan-
digarh, after visiting Mira’s family. No bodyguards.
No entourage. No fuss. No uniformed nanny. Just
a regular ‘didi’ seated a row behind them. How re-
freshing! Shahid leaned across the aisle and offered
me home-cooked aloo parathas, neatly wrapped
in foil. We got chatting. And the time just flew by as
both he and Mira spoke animatedly about their lives
and the choices they jointly made.
I could have been talking to any
successful couple, making plans for
the future. She mentioned they were
planning an addition to the family—it
was stated most naturally. He talked
about his role in Padmaavat and
his forthcoming projects. We also
gossiped (a little!) and laughed at the
ludicrousness of showbiz. Unlike a lot
of Bollywood stars whose eyes glaze
over the minute the topic shifts from
them and their amazing selves, Sha-
hid talked about so many develop-
ments—in the business and political spheres. Both
of them were engaged and engaging, which again,
came as a delightful revelation. Movie stars across
the world are nauseatingly narcissistic. Their world
view begins and ends with their latest triumphs.
The Kapoors behave like regular folks, because
that is how they have been raised. I recalled spend-
ing a few days at Ananda In The Himalayas, and
noticing a cute, young boy on the premises, whose
head was always inside a big, fat book, even during
meals! He was polite and courteous with waiting
staff, but preferred to be left alone. It was on my last
day there that I was told it was Shahid’s half-brother
Ishaan Khattar, who had just made a terrific debut to
great reviews in Beyond the Clouds.