Janhvi Kapoor is the hero of her new release Ulajh. Tell her this and she demurs, “I think the story is the hero of my film. I think the director Sudhanshu Saria is the hero of my film. I think that all of the actors, all of our combined effort, all of the technicians, I think, I don’t think there’s a single hero to this film at all. I know a lot of female leads, mainstream leads had a slight apprehension with this. They wanted to change a certain aspect of the script because of the moral ambiguity of a female protagonist and the way that she is being presented in this film. But I actually found that part exciting. I liked how the director Sudhanshu Saria wasn’t trying so hard to make her a likable character. She is a flawed character. And I know that her decisions are going to cause a lot of debate.But I think that it was exciting to take that head on. So, yeah, I guess in the start I was a bit nervous. But right now, when I see the film, that’s what I like about it the most. I don’t think I’ve ever been this invested and involved in any film. And honestly, the credit for that goes to my director Sudhanshu Saria and everyone at Junglee Pictures for empowering me so much to have so much of an opinion and be involved at this level in the film.I think that really goes with the grain of what this film really is about and what my character is about. Someone who has a lot of agency is finding what her, wo kehte na ek insaan ka jo maqsad milta hai. I think it’s about how my character Suhana Bhatia thought she was doing something for the right reasons and then the discoveries she makes.I’m very excited. For the first time I’m playing, I think a protagonist that’s not a bechari, that’s not helpless, that takes things in her own hands. And it’s honestly, I think for the most part, people will find a little morally ambiguous, which I quite enjoyed.”
About her preparation, Janhvi revealed, “A lot of the prep was actually keeping in mind that her job involves her being in the room with a lot of powerful men. And I mean, powerful people in general, but for the most part, men. I mean, that is the way of the world, unfortunately, at this point, especially in the world of politics, of course, we’re seeing a change.But yeah, and how every action or reaction of hers has national implications, has diplomatic implications and how she needs to leave every conversation, deal and negotiation in a way where, you know, she gets her way. It’s a win for her and the country without really ruffling any feathers, hurting anyone’s ego and still being diplomatic. You can never get hysterical, I think, in her line of work.And you need to keep perception in mind. You need to keep, you know, history and baggage in mind when you’re going into these negotiations. And you need to get your way.So much of it is mind games, I think. Getting into someone’s head, getting your way out, using your cards, right. And a lot of my exercises actually involved fun things like, I would sit in a room with my fellow actors and I’d say that, and everyone would be given an intention, an agenda.And I’d be given an exercise like you need to get him to admit to doing something or you need to get him to, suppose Roshan Mathew was playing a foreign ambassador of a country that has an asset that I want, but he wants to make a deal with, say, China instead. How am I going to get my way on behalf of India? And so we’d do our little research in whatever time we were given and we’d, you know, carry out these exercises, which was a lot of fun, especially for someone who loves history as much as I do. I don’t think I’m the hero of my film. “
About her Roshan Mathew and Gulshan Devaiah , Janhvi says, “Roshan was honestly my partner in crime, my partner in anxiety, my partner in overthinking and just my partner on the film. And he still is. I really feel like, although we didn’t spend so many days together, he feels like someone I can confide in, someone whose judgment I trust greatly, someone whose work I admire so, so, so deeply.And I really hope I get to work with him again because I really do enjoy his energy and I have a lot of respect for his work ethic. And yeah, I think, I don’t know, I guess I have a soft corner for anyone who is a South Indian. So I know he’s from Kerala and that’s very different from where I come from.But still, there was a sense of familiarity. I don’t know if I can attribute it to that or just the kind of person he is. And Gulshan too, I mean, honestly, like he said in I think every interview he’s done, I guess we didn’t get the kind of time to really hit it off or spend time with each other. I also think once you watch the film, you realize why that might have been the energy on set even when we were shooting. But I have so much respect for him as an actor and what he brings to the table. I think his skill set is so envious.”
She is all praise for her director, “I think his honesty, I respect a lot on and off camera. I think, you know, it started off as an equation where I really felt like I had to impress Sudhanshu and I was almost very scared of him. But I think as our relationship developed and he really empowered me so much and I think that that was his sort of mental tactic to get me into the skin of Suhana.And I think he took it to such an extent where I felt like I had so much of a voice with him that I think he kind of regretted it, honestly, because I became quite volatile and quite opinionated and quite aggressive with my opinions with him. So I think it went from me being kind of scared and intimidated by him to me just being very aggressive and violent and passionate about all of my thoughts and creative opinions with him. So our relationship really has progressed and evolved and changed. But I’m very grateful for him.”
Janhvi is also excited about her forthcoming films. “ There’s Devra, which is releasing soon. There’s Sunny Sanskari ki Tulsi Kumari, which I’m having a blast shooting. And then I start RC16 soon, which honestly, I’m dying to work with Buchi Babu Sir as well. And of course, Ramcharan Sir. I think there’s a lot of history there, you know, with our parents.And that’s something I’m waiting to renew.”