Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor, who will be twinning in his latest film Mubarakan out in the UAE this Thursday, is an acquired taste.
The 31-year-old actor, whose credits include the star-crossed romance Ishaqzaade and the cross-cultural drama Two States, evokes polarised reviews and opinions on his acting skills and his choice of films. His recent romance, Half Girlfriend with Shraddha Kapoor, which was pulverised by critics with some equating it to a cinematic equivalent of a painful ulcer, still made decent money (Rs324 million, Dh18.4 million in three days in India).
While some write off the son of producer-director Boney Kapoor as a fluke with questionable talent, Kapoor isn’t fazed by the negativity around him. He claims he will not let that fear deter him from making acting decisions.
“I am not going to let the pen of a few journalists or their words define me. I am open to critics and criticism, but it’s the box office that gives you the true measure,” said Kapoor in an interview with Gulf News tabloid! over the phone.
To prove his point, he says that his most preferred film among critics was Finding Fanny, but it didn’t set the box office on fire. He was proud of the film, but the audience’s verdict counts for a lot more.
“I don’t live as per their views. I can always tell if a critic is being personal or vindictive… I am not the first actor to be questioned and perhaps they feel they can because I am not as defiant as some other actors… I am not everyone’s cup of tea, but I can be their cup of coffee,” said Kapoor. While we munch over that thought, here are ten things you need to know about Mubarakan told from Arjun Kapoor’s perspective.
1. Mubarakan is a mad caper filled with comedy of errors
Directed by Anees Bazmee, it’s a tale of identical twins who gets engaged to the wrong women. Their uncle (played by Anil Kapoor) is on call to sort out the mess.
“I play Karanveer Singh and Charanveer Singh. While one is more subdued, the other one is brash. While one of the twins — Karanveer — wants a normal life with a 9 to 5 job, the other is more adventurous. All hell breaks loose when the twins are engaged to women that they are not in love with,” said Kapoor.
2. Mubarakan prompted Arjun Kapoor to explore his acting prowess
“While one twin who grew up in London exudes a certain cool, the one who grew up in Chandigarh is different and more grounded. While we have different personalities, it’s interesting in the way they react when they are angry. They both become insane, zany and mad in a similar fashion,” says Kapoor.
3. It’s not a tale of mistaken identities, but it has a crackling ensemble cast
“Aneez Bazmee is the king of comedy and he has a proven record of making clean, family entertainers. When was the last time where your entire family could head to the cinemas for a stress-busting comedy?”
Kapoor insists that Mubarakan isn’t a grim story that delves into the world of third world problems or makes you reach for your tissues.
4. Mubarakan is the first film in which Arjun Kapoor unites with his uncle Anil Kapoor
“I have always wanted to work with him but I didn’t want it to be a mediocre film… Plus, I have reached a stage in my life when I felt comfortable to share the screen with him. When you have such a talented individual like him, you have to be sure of yourself as an actor. So I knew I shouldn’t come with head down but bring my A-game into the filming sets,” says Kapoor.
5. Mubarakan doesn’t take the mickey out of Sardars
It’s no secret that Punjabis and Sardars are derided and caricatured relentlessly in Hindi films, but Mubarakan doesn’t feed off that stereotype.
“Sardars are overtly emotional people. But at no point do we reduce them to caricatures here. In this film, you will find the genuine banter that takes place in joint families among some colourful character. We have embraced the Punjabi culture and Mubarakan is about the clash in the joint family when the wrong girl gets engaged to the wrong twin,” says Kapoor.
6. Everyone looked up to Aneez Bazmee for guidance
According to Athiya Shetty, who plays Anjali in Mubarakan, there was no rivalry on the sets to outdo each other. Director Bazmee, Illeana D’Cruz and the Kapoors ensured that a convivial atmosphere reigned on the sets.
“We were like one big happy family. During our shoot in London, we helped each other and made one another feel at home. It was like the perfect working holiday,” says Shetty.
For Kapoor, Bazmee played his guide on how to tackle his twin role.
“Too much can be grating and too little can fall flat in a comedy. The trick is to find the right note while acting in a mad caper. So its success comes down to the people whom are you with. Your director has to be there to guide you every step of the way,” said Kapoor.
7. Kapoor’s biggest rival on the filming sets was himself
“When you are doing a double role, I had to work on myself. I was my own competition and my own inspiration. I had to show how Karan and Charan were inherently different, yet similar in some aspects. It was interesting to bring that similarity and the differences in this film,” said Kapoor.
8. Mubarakan was shot in London and in Chandigarh
The film will take you on a whirlwind tour of the UK including its shopping malls and a Gurudwara. It will also take you to Chandigarh in India.
9. Arjun Kapoor is no stranger to playing twins
In the action-thriller Aurangzeb, Kapoor tried his hand at playing twins — one was the evil one. But in Mubarakan, it not good vs evil twins. Both just want to marry the right woman.
10. Mubarakan has been given a clean chit by the censor board in India.
Bazmee is notorious for his allegiance to family entertainers. With Mubarakan, he has lived up to his promise of delivering only clean, double-entendre-free films.
Don’t miss it!
Mubarakan is out in the UAE cinemas on Thursday.
