Alia: Arjun can't say that I'm a bad kisser

'My father (Mahesh Bhatt) only shows kissing in his films. I don’t think he has shown anything beyond that.'

Alia Bhatt, in a candid chat.

Alia Bhatt seems quite upbeat about her forthcoming film 2 States, especially her kiss with co-star Arjun Kapoor in it. In fact, that's all she talked about in a media interaction recently!

So what exactly did she love about the kiss? 

Sonil Dedhia finds out, in this interview with the actress.

The kiss between you and Arjun Kapoor In 2 States has become the talk of the town. Do you think it is overshadowing the film?

Yes, I do feel that. That's why I took to twitter and wrote about it.

I think it will drive away the family audience, who are the most important audience for our film.

In the trailer, you see other characters like Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Revathi and Shiv Subramaniam. The film is not only about two characters -- it’s a love story between two families.

All parents and youth will relate to it. It is a family film and is not about just one kiss.

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So was it necessary to have the kiss in the trailer and cash in on it during the promotions?

The kiss is not part of the trailer just for the sake of promotions.

In the trailer, we have tried to make people understand that the most important thing required to get married is to be in love.

Also, kissing is an important part of the book. Krish’s character is avoiding Ananya constantly because he always feels like kissing her and wants to make her his girlfriend.

During the trailer launch, Karan Johar said kissing and intimate scenes bring good openings for films.

I think he said it in jest. Films like Chennai Express and Ek Tha Tiger did not have any kissing scene but they still did well.

People don’t look down upon it any more if done tastefully. Our film has got U/A certificate and we want the entire family to come and enjoy it.

Some of your contemporaries like Sonakshi Sinha still have reservations about doing certain things on screen. Do you think there is a clash of opinion within the industry?

I think to each his own. You have a certain idea of what you want to be like, how you want to lead your career.

If a kissing scene is important for the script I will do it. If I feel it is unnecessary then I will express my opinion.

I would never do a nude scene as it is something I am not comfortable doing.

Saif Ali Khan has said that we cannot portray a kiss properly in Bollywood and it always ends up looking awkward or weird. Is that still the case?

Things changed with Band Baaja Baraat. The kiss in that film was quite organic.

But at the same time, I feel that awkwardness will always remain.

Did you feel awkward when you kissed Arjun?

Of course, you have that awkwardness. It is not like we are having fun thinking we are going to kiss today.

The only reason it is written about so much is because Arjun and I said that we were okay with it.

Arjun said you are the best kisser. Do you take it as a compliment?

I don’t think Arjun can say that I am a bad kisser. I mean what else can he say?

It is acting at the end of the day. We are not Arjun and Alia when we are shooting. We are playing our characters.

What are your thoughts on marriage? What qualities are you looking for in a guy?

I am 21 and have no plans of getting married anytime soon.

I haven't yet found the man with whom I want to be in a relationship.

There are certain things like loyalty and trust that I would be looking in my man. The guy should accept me the way I am.

I am an actor and I will have to find someone who accepts me as an actor.

What will you do if your parents don’t approve of your choice of life partner?

In school, when I had a boyfriend I never told my parents about it because they would think I am not studying and I am having a boyfriend and all.

But my parents are liberal and keeping that in mind I know that I will be able to choose a nice guy for myself. If they are not happy, I will convince them.

Highway got critical acclaim but it didn’t do well at the box office. Were you disappointed?

I was not disappointed as nobody lost money with the film. It was a low budget movie.

I was very happy with the response the film got. It made Rs 30 crore or so and it gained certain amount of love and respect which we needed.

We did not want it to be a big blockbuster. I got a nice experience of acting while working on Highway.

You expressed your opinion on Koffee With Karan about getting married to Ranbir Kapoor…

(Laughs) If I wanted to get married to Ranbir, would I say it so openly on Koffee With Karan? That was just like a fan girl talking.

I said I want to marry him because he is so cute; I meant it like a fan and not in real terms.

Talking about being a fan, you were star struck the first time you met Arjun.

When I first met him, before we started shooting for 2 States, his first film Ishaqzaade had already released and my first film Student Of The Year was yet to release.

Technically, he was already an actor. I remember the first time he came on the sets and I saw him, I was like ‘Oh that is Arjun Kapoor.’

I had this reaction because I had not met him earlier and had just seen him on the big screen. That star struck moment was for a very short time.

Did you see Varun Dhawan in Main Tera Hero?

Yes, I saw it and loved it. I was so happy that he has got a good opening in his second film.

It comes a lot from the lineage of his father David Dhawan’s comedy films.

Comedy is loved so much in our country and I feel only his father could have made this film with him.

He has shocked everyone with his splendid performance. Comedy is his forte and he has done his job so well.

When do we see you doing a film with your father?

I don’t know. Nothing has come my way yet. Whenever it has to happen it will happen.

We will come together only when it is worth it and not just do it in a hurry.

Your father’s films are very bold and you mentioned earlier that you are not ready to do the kind of films he makes.

I have already kissed on screen. My father only shows kissing in his films. I don’t think he has shown anything beyond that.

If wearing a bikini is bold, I have done that too.

All these things are done very tastefully and aesthetically. So I am fine.

But obviously, I can't be like Sunny Leone. I am very young and that image does not come yet.

Have you spoken to your father about working in his production house?

No, I will wait for him to come to me. 

Your mother Soni Razdan is acting in movies again. Is there anything that you could share about the project and would you be part of it in any capacity?

I am not going to be part of it. I think whatever details are there they will share it. I am not allowed to talk about it.

What has been your mother’s contribution in your career?

She has been the biggest contribution in my career and as a person as well.

She keeps me healthy, makes sure I eat healthy. She is the one who controls my diet and looks after everything.

She is like the captain of my ship.

Who is more critical about your work, mother or father?

I think both of them. My dad is a fantastic filmmaker and my mother is an actress and they both have opinions. Dad keeps a track of what I am doing because he is interested in films.

They never praise me. If they think I was good they don’t tell me how good I am, they will tell me what they think was wrong and say I did a good job.

They will never be the first members of my fan club ever.

What are the things they have liked and disliked about you and your performance in films?

I have done two films till now. They were aware that I was finding my feet and trying to learn things when I did Student Of The Year.

They loved me in Highway but they did not praise me. But I could see it in their eyes and that makes me happy.

Do we see you working with your sister Pooja Bhatt?

I would like to work with Pooja. It is a dream for me to work with both my sisters, Shaheen and Pooja: I will act in the film, Shaheen will direct and Pooja will produce it.