Don't date an actor: Jahnvi Kapoor's advice to sister Khushi

The talk about nepotism in the Indian film industry has been rife. From renowned filmmakers being accused of harbouring lesser talented individuals from within Bollywood to several star kids making headlines for all the wrong reasons, the debate about making it big in the Hindi cinema has been garnering attention from critics. 

The likes of Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra among others have successfully built their career - after being launched under the banner of Dharma production, owned by Bollywood bigwig Karan Johar ten years.

But the newer generation hasn't been so lucky. Even though star kids such as Sara Ali Khan, Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor haven't had the smooth sailing as their predecessors, they still hope of making it in the cutthroat industry. 

In a recent interview with Film Companion, Janhvi, who began her Bollywood career with the 2018 film Dhadak alongside Ishaan, spoke about what advice she would want to give her younger sister, Khushi Kapoor. The younger Kapoor sibling is all set for a star-studded take on The Archives, helmed by Zoya Akhtar. 

When asked to list her two pieces of advice for Khushi as she entered the film industry, Janvhi told the publication, “Don’t date an actor. Just because I think the kind of girls I and her are, I just think it would be better.” She continued to share her other advice for Khushi, and said, “Know your worth, know that you do have something to offer despite what faceless people on Instagram might say. I want her to know that she brings a lot to the table, more than just her pedigree.” Janhvi also added how Khushi dealt with criticism, especially on social media, was ‘her battle to fight’.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Janhvi Kapoor (@janhvikapoor)

In another interview with Times of India, Janhvi further divulged about apprehension before she signed her recent offering, Mili. "No, because logistically speaking the film wasn’t dubbed and released in other languages, and I felt like it was such a good, simple story, and told so beautifully that it should reach as many people as possible," she commented. "And I wanted to try my hand, try to do my take on a performance like this because it's such an opportunity for an actor to push yourself this way. Ironically I was reflecting on most of my film decisions." 

Mili is a story revolving around Janhvi's relationship with her father in the film. "Barring Dhadak almost all of them, almost all my characters have had a strong connection with their mother or their father. Even in Good Luck Jerry, it had a lot to do with her family, so I think that organically that’s what moves me when I read scripts, so I gravitate towards it," the starlet added. 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Janhvi Kapoor (@janhvikapoor)

Mili serves as a maiden project for Janhvi in her father, renowned filmmaker Boney Kapoor's production. Elaborating on how she prepped for the role of a lifetime, Janhvi revealed she had intense discussions about the film with her father. "We have spoken about a couple of things before, but at the heart of things this is a story of a father and a daughter and I think it felt like the right decision for me and Papa to collaborate on a story like this. Especially because I could see that it meant so much to him," she said.

Janhvi also shared which film of her Boney and her mother, late superstar Sridevi's was her personal favourite. "Mom, I guess, because I was around for the filming of it, and it was just such a thrill for me to see mom and dad collaborate professionally, and how on their team they were," she remarked.

"They were on each other's team in such an empowering way for a young girl to watch. Here’s a husband who is so encouraging of his wife’s career, who pushes her so much, puts her on a pedestal, and here’s a wife who’s so supportive and encouraging. That film went through its tough phases as well, but the way they stuck by it, the way they stuck by each other. The process of it taught me so much about the kind of relationship I would want with my husband and my family. Their professional partnership was so cool that they created something together as a couple and it meant so much to the both of them," she added. 

At the trailer launch of Mili, Boney asked the critics to stop comparing Janhvi to Sridevi. Addressing the same, the Gunjan Saxena actor responded, "I honestly don’t have such a big problem with it, because logically you are going to compare her 200th film, to my 4th film. But that’s fine by me because you are going to compare me to someone or the other. I am flattered that the standards that you are holding me up to are the standards of the greatest, most iconic actor of Indian cinema."

She further commented, "So if you are comparing me to that, that’s what I think I need to aspire to be, then at least I will come close, so it's motivating. Why should I be offended or apologetic? We have the same genes, I have her blood."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.