Most actors would tell you that the weeks leading up to a film’s release are the most hectic. The interviews, city visits and television appearances are all-consuming. But when we met Arjun Kapoor in his beautiful Juhu pad a few days before the release of his second film of 2017 (Mubarakan, July 28), the first thing that struck us was how calm the house was. The sprawling living room, a mostly white space with bold splashes of colour thanks to some quirky artwork. And Arjun, sprawled on a couch close to a well-stocked bar with a neon sign. 

It’s a lovely home and it’s understandable why the actor is house-proud. “My sister (Anshula) and I re-did the house about six months ago. This is our refuge... our space. My sister has mostly designed the house, but I’ll take credit for some pieces like this table,” he said, pointing to a glass table made of interconnected cubes with movie posters.

With each film, Arjun seems to be coming into his own and that is being reflected in both the personal and professional space.

A number of films have been announced with you in the lead. There’s one with Dibakar Banerjee, another co-starring Sidharth Malhotra and then Namastey Canada, the sequel to Namastey London... 
The only movie that’s been announced officially is the Dibakar one. That’s what I am going to be shooting next. The rest is all speculative. [Namastey Canada was formally announced after the interview was done.] I’ll start shooting with Dibakar in October and I am obviously very excited about it. He’s always been on my wish list. Hopefully, I can tick him off after we start shooting and not ‘tick him off’ (laughs). It would be nice to work with Parineeti (Chopra) after all this time (Ishaqzaade, their debut, in 2012).

Happy with the direction your career is going in?
Of course! Just look at my last four films. I worked with (R.) Balki, Mohit Suri, Anees Bazmee and now I’ll work with Dibakar. You can’t predict the trajectory of my career. I know what I am good at, but I want to continue pushing myself. That’s what challenges me as an actor. There are genres that people think suit me but I want to continue discovering what else I am good at. Mubarakan is in a genre that I haven’t explored before. I have done a little bit of comedy in films like Ki & Ka and 2 States, but nothing that’s an out-and-out comedy. 

Like you mentioned, you are going from an Anees Bazmee film to a Dibakar Banerjee film. Is that intentional?
Absolutely. I am lucky to have been at a stage when I can choose what kind of films I want to do. I spent a year making an Anees Bazmee film and it was a really hard film to make. Films like Mubarakan require you to be spontaneous after multiple rehearsals. And, I am doing a double role. From that I am going to go to a Dibakar Banerjee set. It’s going to be lots of fun. 

I am very happy with my career. If you told me five years ago, when I was starting out, that these would be my first 10 films, I would have been impressed with my selection. Regardless of whether a film worked or not, the intent was always right. I haven’t done films to make a quick buck. 

So, what were your reasons for doing Mubarakan?
When I was growing up, I only watched films like this. Until Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge happened, the only family films were the kind David Dhawan made. I have always loved this genre because it brought families to the theatre. From my contemporaries, I don’t think anyone, apart from Varun Dhawan, has attempted this genre. So, I thought it would be interesting to do. What also excited me about Mubarakan was that it’s not slapstick. It’s a situational comedy which gives an actor a lot of scope to perform. This is my chance to experiment with comedy. 

Are you funny?
I think I am. I am told I am inherently a funny guy. But my sense of humour, off-camera, is dry and sarcastic. On camera, I am funny because I am filmi. Now it’s up to the audience to decide. 

It’s no secret that you are an Anil Kapoor fan. What is your earliest memory of watching his films?
I think it was Mr India and then, probably, Ram Lakhan on VHS. It used to be really strange because we’d be watching him on the TV and then he’d be sitting next to me eating rajma chawal! It was surreal. I’ve seen both Anil Kapoor the star and the chacha at close quarters. The moment he stepped out of the house and into a public space, I could see the aura he carries. I understood stardom through him. 

And this time you got to see him as a colleague... 
Ya, man! Honestly, I had never thought this would be possible. When this happened, I was also very proud of having made it on my own. It’s not like I asked Anil chachu to do a film with me. I’ve got a chance to share screen space with my idol on my own steam. My career trajectory has been such that he’s wanted to share screen space with me.... They always tell you not to mix personal and professional relationships but in this case, I think my personal equation has grown after working with him. Now we are more like friends rather than chacha-bhatija. 

Does he really call you chachu?!
Ya! (Laughs) It started years ago because I would go to his sets and call him ‘Anil chachu’. He, obviously, didn’t want people to know his age and so he started calling me ‘Arjun chachu’ and it’s just stuck!

This is your first film with Athiya Shetty and there have been these romance rumours…
Haven’t they already died out? They started even before we started filming, so I am guessing they are on their last leg now. See, I am quite used to this now because I have been around for a while. I feel bad for her because this is only her second film. Also, this link-up is really bizarre because she’s been my sister’s friend for years. We’ve known each other for so many years but rumours only started after some members of the media saw us talking at a friend’s party. A few days later, Mubarakan was announced and people dreamt up an affair. 

If you were seeing someone would you go public with it?
Billion dollar question, this is! I have constantly struggled with this. I have always felt that it’s better to admit and get it out of the way. But if you do, then the relationship is scrutinised to within an inch of its life. If there is someone in my life and if you see me having dinner with someone else, it’ll be construed as an affair. All relationships have ups and downs, but if a celebrity breaks up it becomes news. That’s just too much pressure on the relationship then. Essentially you are screwed whether you admit or don’t! (Laughs)