Janhvi Kapoor: Initially, people were divided on whether I can act or not

Janhvi Kapoor

As we sit opposite a hungry Janhvi Kapoor who has flown down from her Good Luck Jerry shoot in Chandigarh, she requests her Man Friday to source parathas. "A month of Chandigarh has spoilt me. I am on a steady diet of parathas and butter," she laughs, ready to talk about all things Roohi. Her fourth outing after Dhadak (2018), Ghost Stories (2020) and the understated Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020) is far from your run-of-the-mill fare. She volunteers that she has spent a sleepless night feeling jittery about doing a day of press interactions. "I have worn these big glasses to hide my dark circles," she tells us. Needless to say, returning to on ground promotions is a tad disorienting. "This is feeling new because I haven't done this since Dhadak (Debut film)…"

In the horror comedy, also featuring Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma, Kapoor takes centrestage as a woman possessed by a ghost. "I should have worn knee pads while shooting for the sequences as a witch," she laughs. The physically draining film left her with many physical bruises and scratches. "I shouldn't wear extensions in heat. After sunset my hair would be filled with bugs and it was a task to physically comb them out. My hair was a horror show in itself."

A still from Roohi

The film is personally important to her - with a narrative that is entirely driven by her, she hopes to prove her mettle as an actor. "After Dhadak there was a divided house on whether I can act or not. I knew main khokli artist nahi hoon. I hadn't showcased my skills enough in that film. I work with a gusto that I want to grow as an actor. I consciously go for parts that will help me push myself. At the same point, I don't want to be in a box. People are lazy and quick with opinions and I know I have to keep chasing diverse roles to prove myself. I hope there's a big pay off with this film. Roohi and Afza are diametrically opposite. And I submitted entirely to the characters. I walked out with no inhibitions in terms of vanity because I look scary. This film was extremely liberating. It was a lot of fun especially in scenes when in one take I switch between the two parts. I had a blast doing a film there was so much playing field."

Coming from the universe of Stree is bound to build pressure on the artistes. Ask her how she tackled it, and Kapoor says, "I loved Stree. And I was made aware that this is a universe. The milieu of this film is completely different. We hope that this film gives as much love."

While Kapoor's choice of projects is garnering attention, her competition with peers Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday is often discussed. The actor is game for healthy competition. "But in this industry, it is often made bitter. I don't understand the voyeuristic pleasure that is sought by putting two of us, side by side, and asking who wore an outfit better. It's an extension of their idea of pitting women against each other. Right now, there are 10 top actresses who have huge fan bases and enviable line-up of films. Then, why should there be [a race] between the three of us? There will be roles that two or more of us will be vying for but ultimately it comes down to what the creators are looking for. As an actor, I want to appreciate the good work of my contemporaries and never be shy of patting them on the back. I want to try everything, every space and I am charting my territory and enjoying the journey up to it."