After news of Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh being cast together in Padmavati broke, reports of a rift between the two talented actors have also emerged. Some months ago, the film media was agog with news of Singh asking for Kapoor's role in the film to be cut. Kapoor's recent interview ends these rumours.
Speaking to a national daily, Shahid Kapoor said he never had any insecurities about taking on the role. "What is there to be insecure about?" he said. "Thinking that somebody will be better than you? That’s a real loser attitude. If somebody will be great in a film, they will be adding more credibility to a product that you are a part of. It’s only beneficial, right?"
The Udta Punjab actor added, "To be your best, you have to be pitted against the best. People who don’t get that are just dumb."
Padmavati is not the only two-hero film Shahid Kapoor has lined up. He is also starring opposite Saif Ali Khan in Vishal Bhardwaj's next, Rangoon.
Speaking of the two-hero syndrome, Kapoor said, "A star is a star. A star will get the importance and the focus that they would on the basis of their stardom, right? If you are working with somebody who is extremely popular and credible, whatever comes on the table, comes regardless of whether they are male or female. So I don’t really see any difference in that."
Padmavati is an ambitious project by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whose last venture, Bajirao Mastani (2015), proved to be a blockbuster.
Kapoor has not started shooting for Padmavati, but he has great expectations of his partnership with Deepika Padukone in the film. "In Padmavati, we have a lot of work together and I am really looking forward to working with her," he said. "I have been seeing her do some great work, especially in the last few years. She has really upped her game and she is at her best right now. She is probably doing better work than many today."
Kapoor is set to begin shooting for Padmavati next week, while Padukone has already begun her schedule. This is one film we can't wait for.