Shahid Kapoor: Good looks alone can’t sell a film

He came to Ahmedabad during Navratri seven years back, and his career took an upward turn when his then to be released film Jab We Met went on to become one of the biggest hits of his career.

And now that he came visiting yet again during Navratri to promote his upcoming film Haider, Shahid Kapoor accepted that the festival has a special place in his life. In Ahmedabad to attend a garba event organized by Radio Mirchi, Shahid talked about a host of things close to his heart in a free wheeling chat:

From your last visit, which was during the promotions of Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, you seem to be in a different zone. I am in a very different zone, indeed. We have also had a very hectic schedule promoting the film, something that you commit when you sign a film even if you don't want to. And you end up working equally hard during the promotions as you do while making the film. And I think it is necessary as well since there is so much riding on you. You don't want to disappoint the people who have trusted you and put so much on stake just on your trust.

Your last few films have been the typical masala Bollywood entertainers. But now you will be seen in a rather intense drama. Yes, and it is a very different feeling to be associated with a film which is so intense. I have actually enjoyed doing different genre films. But after being part of Haider, I feel very satisfied as an actor. Not that I haven't enjoyed doing masala entertainers, but I feel why didn't I do this kind of film before. This film has not only taken a lot out of me, but it has given me a lot too.

Since you are so satisfied with intense films, you think you will continue doing entertainers too? You know, right now I feel I am in such a zone that I can't really say how I will go on selecting my films. I am not sure if I will only do such films, but one thing is for sure that I will surely want to do more of such films. But the important thing is to wait and see how the audience reacts to Haider, and if the response is positive it will give me the courage to go out and do more experimental cinema.

Many films that hit the coveted `100 crore mark are mostly criticized to be low on content. Yet they do well. Why is that? You should ask the audience that. A film will only do well if there is an audience for it. But I believe that whatever kind of film you are making, whether it is masala entertainer or an offbeat film, the end product should not be shoddy. And these days, good looks alone can't sell a film. You can probably sell the trailers of the film with a good looking hero and a sexy heroine, but the film has to be high on content, if that is not there, then it will not work beyond a point.