I did movies for Kareena: Shahid

Shahid Kapoor, who turns 30 a month later, says that he's done movies in the past because his girlfriend was in it, but not anymore

You turn 30 next month. How different are you from the time you entered Bollywood seven years ago?

Thank you for reminding me (smiles), but it hasn't really sunk in yet. I really believe that the best years of my life are starting now. I've worked enough now to feel at ease with what I am and who I am. Also, God has been very kind. I've done some very good work, and whether or not my films do well, I always get offered good work.

The work comes because of luck or hard work?

I feel very proud of the fact that I have pretty much done all of it on my own. When I look back, I feel fortunate to be where I am. In this profession, it's not easy to make it on your own as it's very unpredictable, and has its ups and downs. It becomes easier when you are from the industry, but my father, even though an actor was very much away from it. So, I wasn't exposed to people. My beginning was very humble.

You had no advantage then and struggled like any other person would?

Oh yes. I believe I've made a lot of mistakes. I have done some things right but I have committed a lot of mistakes. But even after making those mistakes, to be where I am, I am fortunate. So, am really happy doing what I am doing and I have survived 7 years, and am hoping to survive another 17, probably 20 years, and do work that I am proud of. In fact, it's in the recent past that I've done work that I'm really proud of, actually in the last 3-4 years, that I am doing work that I like, love, enjoy, and am proud of. Till then, I was finding my own identity. It's a very interesting phase, the best years from a work point of view are yet to come and the best years from a personal point of view are yet to come, and I think I am my own person now and I am comfortable with who I am. I think it's only when you are comfortable with who you are that you can have stability in your personal space or in any relationship.

Yes, we've noticed that you are now quite comfortable being spotted with a certain someone who you are being seen with. You also said that in a recent interview, right?

The question that was posed was that the media is linking you with people and you're not responding, and my answer was that I would never be governed by what the media says about my personal life because it would be a very restricted and scary place to be in. I will live my life the way that I do and I've learnt that it's a part of the profession and that things will be written about you and people would want to speculate. And I am not going to get scared or get worried about that and not live my life. I think that I am answerable to the people that I am answerable to and not to the media as such regarding my personal life. I think professionally, there's a huge amount of interaction happening with people...

Yes, you are less uptight now.

Yes, everyone tells me that. You know, I was very scared and very shy and people thought I was uptight, maybe it came across like that and I am very sorry if it did. Abhi toh I know everybody in the media, so I have a personal equation with people, and I have reached that point of comfort where I can open up and say what I feel and not feel any pressure. There used to be a point at which I used to feel a lot of pressure maybe because I was very new and I was still finding my ground, professionally. And it was very upsetting to constantly answer about your personal life. Then one day I just decided that I am not going to answer, write what you want. Life became a lot simpler after that and I think it became simpler for everybody, even for the media and for me.

What mistakes were you referring to earlier?

Lots of mistakes ya... I had no experience, so I used to do films for different reasons. At times I would do a film because I was excited about working with a certain director, sometimes I would be insecure about sitting at home, sometimes because my girlfriend (We assume he means Kareena!) was in it, different reasons, sometimes even because people used to tell me to.

You did movies because your girlfriend was in it?

Ya, and I am very honest about it. Sometimes I did a movie because everyone told me that you must do this film and you cannot say no to these people and then over time I realised that you know success is really periodic. It'll keep changing. What matters is satisfaction. And what's most important is to find success where you are happy and not run after it. So, I stopped. Three or four years ago I stopped running... of course, it's most important in this profession to be successful. But the idea should not be to run after that. Do work that you believe in and that makes you happy. That's what I am doing right now – trying to work with likeminded people, trying to work with people who I think I can talk to about films , who I think think similarly.

No emotional decisions anymore?

I wouldn't say those were emotional decisions, I just think there was lack of experience, so I was trying everything. Acha yaar aisa bhi try kar lete hain... waisa bhi try kar lete hain... Then, it's only over a period of time that you discover yourself as an actor and the person, which I think I have in the last few years. So, I feel comfortable now taking decisions.

You struggled because you were Pankaj Kapoor's son?

Maybe even worse because there were more expectations and I think when you are Pankaj Kapoor's son, everyone's like yaar isko acting toh aani chahiye. I had no advantage of getting a free launch or anything.

You came without a free launch, but were declared a superstar in the making. Unfortunately, you've always been a step or two behind that title...

That's ok, I don't live my life by titles. I feel terrible about the comparisons with everybody because I feel I am really undeserving of being compared to someone like a Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan or any of these people who have had such achievements. There's a long way for me to go and I don't want that pressure on me, frankly. Like I said, it's not easy when you don't have anyone backing you.

Even without the backing, have you achieved everything you wanted to by the time you are 30?

I have a lot more than what I had expected. But there's too much more that I need to do and I am ready to work day and night for it. I remember, Will Smith said this one very beautiful sentence, which for me has become my mantra. I was watching his interview sometime after "Hancock", when he was being touted as the biggest star in Hollywood and that's very surprising with actors like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt around and he said, "You can be better looking than me, you can have a better body that me, you can be a better actor than me but when you run with me on the treadmill, I will outrun you." That was very beautiful, he said that I work harder than anyone else and that's what makes me what I am. That's my mantra – I'm ready to work harder than anyone.

Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan's hideout

Hrithik Roshan is a great actor, and his Zee Cine Awards nomination (as we go to print) for his performance in ‘Guzaarish' proves it. But did you know he also makes fabulous Spanish omelettes?

Greek deity is a synonym often associated with this six-foot hunk. He has always had a larger-than-life aura but Hrithik Roshan the man is content living life in a luxurious yet understated way.

Home is where the heart is
El Palazzo in Juhu, Mumbai, is Roshan's address. His huge duplex in the high-rise qualifies as one of the most sought after and costly properties in the city.

The hunk's hideout is best described as warm and classic, yet contemporary. And the credit goes to wife Sussanne for making the house a home. Not only is she the decision-maker when it comes to the whats and hows of the house, she is also the interior designer.

The home reflects a regal aura with its spacious settings, white and off-white walls and upholstery, and wide marble stairs. It's a home where everything whispers and nothing shouts including the family photographs (past and present) that adorn the walls. This has been Roshan's home for the past seven years.
The drawing room on the first floor encompasses full-length bay windows, which offer a breathtaking view of the city's skyline, palm groves and some vintage bungalows.

A recent addition to the house is the newly done-up kids' room for Hrehaan and Hridhaan. Sussanne, a qualified interior designer, was at the helm of this project but Roshan made sure he contributed too.

"Both kids live in the same room and the bedroom has been designed accordingly. Sussanne and Hrithik firmly believe it's always good to keep the kids together because they bond better. I made sure Zayed and Sussanne had the same room when they were young," beams Zarine Khan, Roshan's interior-designer mother-in-law.

To make sure the home is child-friendly, the couple have made a few changes. The in-house gym has been relocated to the terrace and he has also filled his DVD rack with movies the kids like to watch.

Sussanne has designed the gym keeping Roshan's health condition (his knee injury) in mind. But the other members of the family (Hrithik's parents, Pinkie and Rakesh) who live on the ninth floor of the same building, also share this gym.

The room that Roshan cherishes the most is his entertainment den. It was a surprise gift from his lovely wife. "Well, she knew I needed a place where I could be by myself — with my gadgets or just watching movies. So once, when I was on a long outdoor spell, she got one of the rooms converted into a sort of den for me. It was a super surprise!" he says. Although he has recently bought Paras, a villa in a nearby lane, he plans to move there only after his sons have grown up.

The health buff
There is no denying the fact that he has one of the best bodies in the industry. But it definitely doesn't come easy. The gym in his house is equipped with world-class gadgets. Revolutionary fitness fads always find a place in his workout haven. His favourite training partner, apart from his trainer Satyajit Chaurasia, is his petite-framed spouse.

"Privacy is something that Hrithik is always looking for — even in his workouts," his trainer says. Roshan admits he is addicted to workouts, "I don't feel good if I don't work out. Right after the workout, there is a total sense of calm within me. The stress flows out."

He also gives us a sneak peek into his workout regime. "I start my exercise with jogging and then do my regular workout. I concentrate on each part of my body and do special workouts designed for each. I also own two separate sets of exercise equipment — one, which is kept at home, and the other, which I take along when I travel. They are imported pressure pull machines, which help me work out during my free time — even on a flight. With the help of a vacuum press, I fix this equipment on to a flat surface and pull the handle to exercise the biceps. I follow the same process for my legs. This special mechanism is an essential part of my entourage, along with dumb-bells."





The food freak
Roshan says he never refrains from eating something he really wants to. But he quickly adds that he always balances it by either sweating it out or making sure his next meal is lighter. He sheds some light on his eating habits.

"My dietary restrictions are few because I work out. Yet I avoid oily and fried food. I like Chinese and Indian food but I don't like milk so I don't have any milk products except chocolate. Every day, I have a special chocolate shake rich in protein, recommended by my instructor. I also have a heavy breakfast because it's the most important meal of the day. My afternoon meal is mostly on the sets and an evening snack is optional.

"Since I work late into the night, I either have dinner on the sets or go out with friends to restaurants. I have a sweet tooth and love anything that has sugar but I don't overindulge."






Does his wife charm him with her culinary skills? "Sussanne makes the best spaghetti bolognaise. She cooked me a lovely Italian meal on my birthday, which coincided with my honeymoon in Australia. Except for her cheesecake, which is the best dessert in the world, I avoid sweets. And there is nothing that beats the bread pudding my mum makes." He also doesn't shy away from showing off his skills.

"I make the best eggs in the world — fabulous Spanish omelettes and very good scrambled eggs. When I was in school I used to get ready early and then go into the kitchen and make eggs."
He adds: "According to me, one's body is 90 per cent his/her diet. Hence, one should eat only the right food. I eat very little oil, butter, ghee and fatty stuff. I balance out my meals — protein, carbohydrates and fats. I drink lots of water."

An ideal day
When he gets a day off, which is rare, he likes to just chill out at home. Watching movies and spending time with his wife and kids make a perfect picture for him. "Sussanne and Hrithik are devoted parents. No matter how busy they are, they always make time for their kids. Even with his busy schedule, he tries his best to attend school functions and other activities his kids are a part of," divulges mum-in-law Zarine.





Whenever he takes the family out for a holiday, he keeps in mind not to repeat a destination they've already been to, "I don't like to repeat memories because that can't happen," says Roshan. "I would rather explore the places I've never been to."

Stinky Bollywood actor Aamir Khan?

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's wife Kiran reveals he is not fond of bathing

Unsurprisingly, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao says the one thing she dislikes about her husband is that he doesn't bathe regularly.

"The one thing that I don't like about him is the fact that he doesn't take a bath. And trust me when I say this that his bathing habits are not very regular," Rao told Live India in an interview.

To this, the actor jumped to his own rescue and said: "I do take a bath when I go out for work. And considering most of the time I step out for work, I take a bath most of the time. It is only when I am not stepping out or when I am on a holiday that I don't take a bath."

Rao is all set for the release of her directorial debut Dhobi Ghat, which stars her husband in a pivotal role.