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With Shuddh Desi Romance slipping into the list of 10 highest opening weekends of the year, everyone’s talking about The New Girl. Just another model till the other day, Vaani Kapoor is the new face at Yash Raj Films as the bewitching Tara in the Maneesh Sharma film. Here’s getting to know Vaani better...
How have these last few weeks been for you, leading up to the release of your first film?
Nervousness and excitement... they have gone hand in hand. I was actually feeling very numb also... a little zoned out. Everything happened so fast. All I was hoping, and I am still hoping, was that people don’t get bored and are entertained.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. The pre-Bollywood Vaani Kapoor...
I’m from Delhi. I have done tourism studies and post that I started modelling. It was almost after three years of modelling that I got a call from YRF. I did this series of auditions and got approved by Adi (Aditya Chopra, producer) and Maneesh.
How did YRF find you?
I was with Elite Model Management. At that time Elite was on the verge of merging with Kwan, which is based in Mumbai. So, my photos got shared with the agency. And I believe YRF casting director Shanoo Sharma had approached Kwan to hunt new talent. They had shortlisted a lot of models and we had all gone together to meet her. It’s not like I had a single introduction opportunity. She never even liked my photos actually. They were crap for her. But then I met her and she liked me in person.
Were you auditioning for Shuddh Desi Romance?
No. I was just generally auditioning for Yash Raj Films. I did not even know that this movie existed. They never revealed anything.
So, did you ever ask Maneesh why he cast you as Tara?
Good idea! I should ask him that. (Laughs out loud)
Are you like Tara?
No, Tara is actually very different from me. Sometimes even Maneesh must have wondered why he cast me! I remember during the reading stage he used to be scared whether I would be able to pull Tara off. From our energy levels to our emotional make-up to our way of dealing with a situation, Tara and me are very different. I had a lot of questions in my head as to why she is behaving like this.
Did you have any acting experience before Shuddh Desi Romance?
No. I wish I did. Now I feel I am screwed! But I have been learning. Learning a lot. I am even hunting for acting courses; if and when I get time, I’ll get myself enrolled. Because now I have started taking acting very seriously. And I know it’s not a cakewalk. Especially people at Yash Raj Films stress a lot on talent, it’s not about how you appear.
What was it like working with Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra, who are also not that old in the industry?
Parineeti sounds like a veteran to me! (Laughs) So does Sushant I think. And these people have already shown their talent. People have already appreciated them for their past work. I am still a nobody from nowhere. So, I was very aware that if anything went wrong from my end, everybody would have to face the consequences. I did not want to disappoint anyone. I did not want to be the weak link.
Would you have been happier if it was a solo-heroine project?
Maybe. But if that solo-heroine film did not have the kind of substantial part that I have in Shuddh Desi Romance then I wouldn’t have been happy. I am hoping my efforts here won’t go unnoticed.
Do you have a three-film contract with Yash Raj Films?
Yes.
Have they put you on to your next one?
No. That’s so scary! (Laughs out loud) I hope the next one is nice.
