Beat of the young

Nonika Singh

The attention that is following this onscreen couple makes you believe that they are stars in the making, if already not there. But one-film-old Ishaan Khatter and debutant Janhvi Kapoor are like any other youngsters in their twenties, a whole lot excited and a wee bit nervous about their upcoming film Dhadak. So expect no starry tantrums from these two with solid filmy connections, nor pompous statements. Even when Janhvi quotes Frida Kahlo, “I am my own muse the subject I know best” there is no echo of ‘we know best’ sentiment. 

In Chandigarh to promote their film, Ishaan is a tad more confident and lovely Janhvi attired in a lilac ensemble, “dressed up for Chandigarh in Patiala pants” more earnest. The world may see her as iconic actress Sridevi’s daughter, but she knows it’s her first film and she has to not only prove her worth but also be worthy of the love that fans have bestowed upon her family.  So, at the fledgling stage of her career, she quips, “I am in no position to pick and choose or decide which genre of films I would like to focus on in the near future.” 

Honest attempt

Though it was only the other day she saw Dhadak, yet she and her co-star would not go to town about it except; discover the movie for yourself. Indeed, it’s an adaptation of superhit Marathi film Sairat. Yes, they did see the original twice over before the shooting began. But there was no conscious attempt to be different or like the lead pair of Sairat.  Never mind that it is coming from Dharma production, the stable of gloss specialist Karan Johar, both insist, “It is an honest film by an honest director Shashank Khaitan, who with Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania behind him, can easily be called the master of love stories.”  

Says Janhvi about her director, “His characters are so real for they come from his heart.” Undying love in today’s day and age, the duo feel isn’t an anachronism. Ishaan spells love as devotion, complete surrender in which detachment has no place. For Janhvi, first love is always special and true love is all about other’s happiness mattering more than your own. She can’t, however, say whether love story is the best platform to make one’s mark. Yet, being part of a Karan Johar film is as good as it can get. There indeed is no downside to working in Dharma production, only pluses they can keep enumerating, especially the complete involvement and commitment of Johar.

Handling pressure   

As for the pressure of being who they are and what is expected of them, especially Ishaan who has already bowled over critics with his superlative performance in Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds, well, well pressure is a word they have been dealing with for months at end. Ishaan would rather substitute it with responsibility. “It was very important for us not to make a mockery/mimicry out of Sairat.” 

As the clock is ticking, what with only four days for the film to hit the screens, they entreat viewers to go and watch the film. Why should they? “For it’s one with a heart, a true-blue love story.” And the pair who is making many hearts go dhak dhak, immediately gives you a sample and breaks into a jig to the lilting song Jo Mere Dil Ko Dil Banati Hai, which is already ruling the charts. Will they too… the verdict is reserved till coming Friday. For now it’s the freshness of their youth and disarming simplicity that is endearing.  

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Mom’s inspiration  

Questions on the late Sridevi might be forbidden for these make daughter Janhvi very emotional. But on her own accord she does admit to mom’s inspirational presence, even though when it comes to the crunch she has actually seen only five of her films. 

Real take 

From Majid Majidi’s realism to producer Karan Johar’s cinematic world high on glamour, you may think Ishaan has made a leap of a different sort. But he feels there is a difference between natural acting and realistic. “Yes more actors are waking up to realism. But ultimately it’s the genre that decides the style and treatment of both the film, and the acting method.”