Arjun Kapoor, son of filmmaker Boney Kapoor, is all set to make his debut in Bollywood with Yash Raj films movie ‘Ishaqzaade’. The newly turned actor said that he owned Salman Khan his acting journey and newly sculpted body.
“Salman is a brother to me. I look at him in a very emotional way at both the professional and personal levels. Salman bhai is above and beyond a mentor for me,” Arjun said to IANS.
“Normally I don't talk about how I feel about Salman bhai because it gets misconstrued... I love him and I feel I can make him proud. I can't thank him enough for keeping faith in me,” he added.
Being son of Boney Kapoor and late Mona Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor dint have to struggle to get a launch in the industry. But Arjun faced a big channel of losing weight before he made his debut.
“I was very lucky that I didn't have to struggle much. But I never wanted to be an actor. I wanted to direct; so I was very happy as an assistant director. Then I met Salman bhai who made me pursue acting,” he said.
“I was 140 kg. He said I have the potential. When somebody like him shows faith in you, you take it seriously. I took up this challenge,” he added.
“I was fortunate that he took me along wherever he went and trained me. I traveled with him, worked out with him, lived with him, and ate what he told me to eat. He took me under his wings and it took me four years to lose weight - and losing 50 kg was my struggle,” he further added.
Arjun Kapoor, who was previously an assistant director, said that days when ‘fathers used to launch their sons’ were gone and ‘now it's the time to make good films’ and get practical.
“Newcomers can't start thinking that they are superstars. Even if my dad is going to make a film, he can't make a Rs 50 crore film with a newcomer. Eventually, it's all about business. Emotions are one side and business is on the other side,” he said.
Rather than making a debut under his father’s production house banner, Arjun Kapoor is being launched by Yash Raj films.
“Who would say no to Yash Raj? I think it is the biggest achievement for me and for my father who is already a big name in the industry. If I make my own mark over here, he would definitely be more proud that I have done it on my own,” he said.
The movie is being directed by Habib Faisal, who previously made ‘Do Dooni Chaar’, which though won a National Awards failed to create magic at the box-office.
“Habib has not made a blockbuster film; he made a critically acclaimed film that people loved. But the credibility that Habib sir has within the fraternity is commendable,” he said.
“I was happy that I got a good director. This is the most irregular launch that anybody had because a newcomer has never played this kind of a character. It's not safe at all,” he concluded.
The movie will release on May 11th, same day as Karisma Kapoor’s ‘Dangerous Ishq’.