Shahid Kapoor: I'm willing to work with Kareena again

Shahid Kapoor is a man with many looks. We've seen him with long hair as well as a clean shaven chocolate boy look.

Recently, we caught sight of a bearded Shahid -- it's hard not to! -- while he was out doing promotional work for his upcoming films, Paathshaala which releases this Friday and Badmaash Company.

The reason for the bearded look, we found out, is for his father Pankaj Kapoor's next film, Mausam, in which he plays an air force pilot.

Nithya Ramani quizzed Shahid about his many looks, his childhood crushes and how he became independent at a young age. Excerpts:

We couldn't recognise you in this new look. Is this for Mausam?

I'll take that as a compliment [smiles]. Yes, it is for Mausam.

When I was promoting Jab We Met, I was in my Kismet Konnection look --with long hair. When I was promoting Kismet, I was in my Kaminey look. And while promoting Kaminey I was in my Badmaash Company look. Now I'm promoting Paathshala in my Mausam look.

It is quite weird the way I keep changing my looks for every film. My stylist has put a lock on her salon, and won't let me in. My films have exhausted her of all ideas! [Laughs]

A lot has happened, in your life, since Jab We Met...

True. All for good I guess. I've become more mature and responsible, understood my flaws and learned from my mistakes.

And what would they be?

I think we all prefer to keep our flaws and mistakes to ourselves. I learned from them and that's all that matters. Same with my strengths. So, yeah, life has been good and challenging. I am taking it as it comes.

We also read reports that you are doing Air Force training for Mausam?

Yes. I am playing an Air Force pilot in the film, and I think it is important that I do some background research. It involves a lot of national security issues, but if I get the permission it is nice to learn something.

Paathshala is about school life. What are your favourite school memories?

I studied in Delhi till fourth standard and then shifted to Mumbai. In Delhi, I was the don of the class, and I had a group of friends who were of the same category. We used to be outstanding students, because we were always up to something and would be punished.

I was the hero of the class there, but in Mumbai I felt very out of place. The batch I was with had been together since kindergarten. When I joined, I was the outsider, and they didn't like it. I was used to being the hero, so that's how I would act, but I always ended up being punished. I was very active in sports but wouldn't be allowed to join the rest of my class. They would all complain about me. My teacher felt sorry for me.

But college was great fun, the best days of my life.

Crushes during school were difficult, because it was a boys school. I didn't have many options. That year my college had introduced co-ed, but the ratio was 20 to 1. We were 40 boys and there were only two girls. They would sit in one corner of the class, scared and conscious of the boys; and all the boys would constantly stare at them, because they hadn't seen girls in their class before. Since I came from a co-ed school, I was okay.

By the end of the year, there were 13 girls, and still I didn't have too many options. So we were left with only teachers to have crushes on. There was a teacher I had a crush on, but I was heartbroken when I learned she was two-timing me [makes a sad face].

Paathshala talks about children's school days, because that is something we all really enjoy. We want to go back to our school days. But today's kids dread school because of the various pressures they go through. During my time, school days were fun, because there were games and very little studies or things to worry about. Today children go through a tough time.

The film deals with the education system, a sensitive topic, and looks at how teachers and parents can do their bit to make children feel better. As a suggestion, you have a box where children can anonymously drop in their problems, and teachers and parents can read them and try to help them.

Anyway, parents get to meet the teachers once in a year, during their PTAs. But what about the other days? They don't really know what is going on with their kids.

You recently danced to Michael Jackson's songs as a tribute. Who were your idols then and now?

Michael Jackson will always remain my idol as far as dance is concerned; Amitabh Bachchan, as far as acting is concerned. My father is my idol. Nothing has changed. They're pretty much the same. I think, in that way, I still am a kid and have the same idols [smiles].

When I look at you and Ayesha [Takia], I'm reminded of the Complan advertisement you guys did together. How was it working with her now?

[Laughs] I know. That was a long time ago. It was my first ad, but she had already done many ads and was the star then. I was quite nervous.

But it's great working with her now. She is a very sweet girl and I always have fun with her on sets. She is very energetic and alive.

How would you best describe Shahid the teenager? Any instances you remember?

I came from a broken home. My parents divorced when I was very young, so I was mostly with my grandparents. Vacations are usually when children spend time with their grandparents, but I always had them. And they would always spoil me.

But we were a middle-class family with financial issues. Being the elder son, I started a part-time job very early. I joined Shiamak [Davar's dancing school] and then became an instructor there. At times I contributed money to the family -- my mother would be expecting her money in ten days, so I would give her a few thousand rupee notes and she would treat us. So I have learned the hard way and have always been independent.

What is happening with Milenge Milenge?

I have done my part and am promoting the film. I am doing what I am asked to.

Will you be promoting it with Kareena Kapoor?

I don't know. If I am asked to, sure.

Would you work with her again?

Nothing has been offered to us yet but yeah, why not?

What about Mausam? The film is already creating quite a buzz...

True. It's funny but nice that the film is being talked about so much, even before shooting. Shooting starts soon and I'll be able to talk more about it then.