The term Meteoric and Kismat are often used to describe the career paths of film actors. It is usually inaccurate, ignoring a plethora of dodgy TV shows and unwatchable films made while the suject graually and painfully learns their craft. With Shahid Kapoor though, meteoric and kismat are absolutely on the nail. Most importantly perhaps, he is already one of the most compelling, adaptable and convinving actors around.

Shahid Kapoor has wowed the critics as well as the masses for his excellent performance in “Jab We Met”. Considering that Shahid has given solo hits is commendable, since he is the only actor to do so and is giving the superstars a run for their money. In fact the distributors are unanimous that Shahid can carry a movie on his shoulder alone.

The dashing actor is taking over the mantle as the romantic Lover Boy image in Bollywood. Obviously, with all the top banners approaching him after the box office hit, it is Shahid, who is laughing all the way to the bank. Now Kismat Konnection is all set to change actor Shahid Kismat.

After having deliverd two back-two-back hits Shahid is ready to rock the box office again with his upcoming film Kismat Konnection. The trade is agog about the whopping price the movie has been sold for and trade watchers are predicting superstardom for Shahid. Obviously all this praise is well deserved and now with Kismat Konnection he is all set to woo the NRI market that was solely the territory of the three Khans!

Shahid says, “Yes this is the first time I am doing full fledged NRI romance. I am not playing a rich kid living abroad like it is usually depicted in other movie. I am playing a guy who is not so well off, trying to make a living in a forign country. He is simple and sweet. He is the kind of guy who tells you that you can make it big if you work hard with a little bit of Kismat on your side”!

With his biggest release and his highest grosser Jab We Met behind him, this energetic actor is giving all he can in his next venture to portray what he calls is his best role till date. We do detailed chat with the shy guy, who is difficult to catch hold of when it come to giving interviews. Well, look at our kismat, we not only got hold of him but also managed to ask him a question, which he would have avoided. But we did, and it was about his fortune, his Konnection with Vidya Balan and wait… Kareena Kapoor.

After a long one week wait, we have finally managed to get hold of you. Shall I says it is my Kismat?

Of course, yes. (Laughs) It is your Kismat and mine too for talking to you in London.

It is Aziz Mirza coming back after a long time, its Vidya Balan with you for the fuirst time and above all, Sanjay Chhel who is the scriptwriter of Kismat Konection. How did the Konnection workout with all of them?

Well, Aziz uncle has not made a movie since five years. Then he came across a story, which he really liked and wanted to make a movie with it, and contacted me. This is the first time that Aziz uncle is working with someone besides Shahrukh Khan. So, it is a huge compliment. I really liked the subject because it was very different from what I have done in the past. Then he told me that he wanted to cast Vidya Balan. The cast was decided and we started shooting soon. Sanjay Chhel as we all know is a brilliant scriptwriter and his screenplay has always done well. So, I hope this movie changes a lot of stars Kismat.

You did change your Kismat with Jab We Met. What’s going to change with Kismat Konnection?

To begin with, it is a new movie. It is very different suject and too new character for me, I think in Jab We Met, my role was very quiet and introvert kinds. Here it is loud, talkative and vociferous. So, I am hoping that it will be a change for the viewers to se me doing something different here. Apart from that, my Kismat is in the hands of my fans. If they love the movie and my character, I have no complaints. If they do not, I still have no complaints.

Were you surprised when you first heard that Vidya Balan was going to be paired opposite you in Kismat Konnection?

Not really, why I become surprised? As I said when I met Aziz uncle, he had already told me that he wanted to cast Vidya opposite me. He thought that Vidya was just the right actress for the part, and I had full faith in him. Yes, it is Vidya and my first movie together si I hope the chemistry works. It think it has worked out really well and we both are looking very nice on screen together. She is a great actress and we had a lot of fun working together.

Tell us something about your new long hairstyle. Who recommended it to ou? Or was it your own decision?

I am trying to do something new in mine every movie. I do not want to sport the same look in every movie and I have jsut started a new project with Vishal Bhadwaj for which I needed a different look. So, the long hairstyle is for that. But I guess after a couple of my new releases, I will do something drastically different by cutting my hair really short. I am already tried of the long hair.

Now that we have seen your solo release Jab We Met do really well. Will Kismat Konnection finally establish you as an actor who can carry a movie on his own shoulder?

I do not know whether Kismat Konnection will establish that or not. But it is not only Jab We Met, which has established me as a solo actor. I have also been a part of two other solo movies - Ishq Vishq and Vivah. They both did really well for me. Eventually, it is about doing good projects and a director coming up to me with a character which I would like to do regardless whether or not it has another lead actor or not; but I am proud of the fact that few of my solo hero movies have done well and it is a good and happy feeling for mr. Hoping that Kismat Konnection will also follow on the same track.

You are also working with directors who are debutantes for you Vishal Bhardwaj and your own father Mr. Pankaj Kapoor. But keeping in mind the genre, which both these celebrities are fond of, are these two movies going to be very contemporary, rural or dark? Will it show a new Shahid? 

Absolutely, I am really excited about both these movies, but it is a bit premature to talk about them right now. I have just started shooting for Vishal’s flick and dad’s project is being scripted as of now. But sure, both the movies will showcase a new Shahid and a different side to me, which the viewers will be surprised to see.

Which is your favourite track from Kismat Konnection?

I really like the song “Bakhuda Tumhi Ho” sung by Atif Aslam.

In movies, you have held too many beautiful ladies in your arms. When are we going to see you hold a gun?

Very soon man! (Laughs) very soon.

Your biggest success has been with Kareena Kapoor. Professionally, are we going to see both of you together sometime?

It is not really up to me. It depends on my directors who approaches me with such a script and if he thinks that Kareena is right for the part opposite me, I will have no objection about working with her because at the end of the day we are professionals. If my director thinks that Kareena will be a part of the movie then I will support my director all the way.

What’s cooking between you and Vidya off the sets?

You had to ask this, did not you? What can I say? She is a good co-actor and a great person with whom I have shared some fantastic 80 days of shoot for the movie. Everything else you want to hear can be found in the gossip mills. Do I have to be linked with all my female actors just because we get along very well on and off the sets? (Laughs).

Has Imtiaz approached you with a fresh script?

Lte’s see. Imtiaz is one of the best talents that we have in our industry right now. He has just started out. We have had great fun working on Jab We Met and if he feels that some thing comes along which he thinks is right for me, he will come to me and I am always looking forward to work with him.

You have said earlier that you have done enough boyish characters. But why the promos of Kismat Konnection are not very different from what you have mentioned earlier?

To say that I would not be doing any boyish characters is not what I have in mind because people have really liked me in a certain space. So, I am going to lose that. I am 27 years old, I connect with the youngsters, connect with the youth, I am going to do young roles wich I feel my USP. I will never let that go and at the same time, I would like to discover new areas and try something different as well. It is going to be the heathy balance of both.

Will you describe Kismat Konnection in one sentence?

If I had three hours to kill, I would go and watch this breezy, feel good, fun, young and worth your time movie.

This the first time Vidya make her or you forget your lines, steps taken wrong, etc?

The first day we were shooting, (laughs) Vidya came up to me because she wanted to break the ice. So, she took the paper and pen out and asked me for my autograph and the whole unit started laughing. There was a good atmosphere on the sets generally. Everyone was too chilled. Aziz uncle is someone who really likes the work to happen not very seriously and likes o have fun on the sets. That is what reflects in his movies are so light hearted and easy to watch. So, you must watch my latest film Kismat Konnection that makes a really Konnection with me and my fans.