Shahid and I have inherited everything from our mother, says Dhadak actor Ishaan Khatter

He has already had a tryst with the silver screen, thanks to Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds. And now, as Ishaan Khatter readies for his second film, Dhadak (adaptation of Marathi hit, Sairat), he admits that promotions can be “a little hectic” but he is “enjoying it.” “Everything is an opportunity to learn about yourself,” says Ishaan, as he talks about his film, brother Shahid Kapoor and more.

Are you feeling a little more relaxed than Janhvi?

Even during my first release, I enjoyed the process of interacting with people and talking about the film. A lot of people feel exhausted by the promotions and you are often asked similar questions repeatedly, but I think it is still interesting.

Dhadak is more commercial in nature than BTC. In that sense, do you feel the entire experience is different because at the end of the day, it’s all about the numbers?

Not for me. Honestly, it shouldn’t matter to actors, but it does dictate a lot of the opportunities that come your way. To be honest, I do feel the difference in terms of Dhadak is being presented, and a much larger audience is receiving this film, so the reactions are overwhelming. So, I do feel the magnitude of it. Hopefully, people will see that we have made an honest effort and it’s a film of its own besides the fact that it’s an important story.

So, as an artist, you don’t see even the slightest difference?

Honestly, these are things that I consider as externalities. I am very fortunate that for a living, I am getting to do what I love. I am beginning to understand the way industry works but for me, it’s most important to maintain the momentum of positive energy, and get better with each film vis-à-vis my job and craft. I don’t discriminate between films. What’s most important is that I keep growing as an actor. It’s important to not get caught up in a rat race that you start losing your sense of self. So, I am just focused on building myself as a person.

Are you anxious that Dhadak will be compared to Sairat?

Comparisons are already on. I think in a way, Dhadak is a tribute to Sairat. We did not make this film with the intention of making a better film than Sairat or even as good as that. We never intended to compete with Sairat. Our idea is to take the story forward and make it accessible to a larger audience and interpret it in our own way.

You are also a very good dancer like your brother, Shahid Kapoor? Guess dancing runs in the blood.

I feel very fortunate. Our mother (Neelima Azeem) is the first dancer in the family and she is a very developed and a far superior dancer than either of us. We have inherited everything from her. I come from a family that loves its job and is very involved. So, I want to keep getting better so that I can make them proud.

Your mother must have been a great pillar of strength for you…

She is a symbol of strength in my life. She is somebody from whom I have directly derived the meaning of strength and resilience, and she has also deeply embedded the importance and the value of women in my life. Women can be and most often are far stronger than men and so I think she has been the most important person in my life. Also, we also have great time discussing films (laughs).

You have always been very close to Shahid. How do you define the equation?

Shahid bhai has been the strongest male influence in my life and I have a very deep attachment to him. Since I was a kid, I have looked up to him. I was about eight when he became a movie actor and so, I was very happy to tail him around on his sets as I got to see the inside view of cinema through film-making so I spent a lot of time on the sets. Later, he became very busy but I have always vied for his attention. He has also been one of my big influences as an actor too.

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