Sidharth Malhotra may be pacing out his films — he’s done only two since he made his debut with Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year (SOTY; 2012 — but he claims that the next few years are his "prime years". He also talks about his ‘serious’ image, why alleged girlfriend Alia Bhatt is special for him, and more.
Why do you have a ‘serious guy’ image.
I think it comes largely from my films. In my personal time, I do socialise with my friends. However, I don’t mix my personal and professional lives, maybe because I come from a middle-class background where I have seen that happening. Now, there’s a lot of interest in my life, but I can’t change and suddenly start coming out in public more often because of that.
You are set to work with Alia again. What kind of equation do you share with her?
was my first co-star. Everything might change, but that won’t and it’s special. Now, we are meeting again for our new film, three years after SOTY. It’s an amicable and emotional relationship, because the first film will always remain the first. We share our opinions and encourage one another.
Alia and Sidharth (Photo: Yogen Shah)
There is buzz about Karan favouring you, since you are working in many of his productions.
Every actor wants to work with his banner. I am lucky, because they are making some of the best films in the country today. No one forces us (anyone who has been launched by Karan), and no one overrides the director. Maybe it has just happened by chance that the director and script came to me, and we all liked each other. As long as the films are good, that’s what matters. Also, all of this is just industry talk; no one outside of it even has an idea.
Like your contemporaries, have you also started thinking of settling down?
No, it’s too early. I am 30, but I don’t feel that old. A recent family trip made me realise how important it is to settle down (in my career). I have just started off, so the next few years will be my prime years. My passion for performing and acting is consuming more time than my personal life.
You recently shot for a song with Kareena Kapoor Khan. How was it working with her?
I hit it off with Kareena instantly. She is so easy-going. I hope to reach that level of comfort and professionalism someday. I remember, at one point, I was just looking at her when she was performing. Her energy is amazing.
Kareena Kapoor
Is there any truth to stories suggesting a rift between you and Varun Dhawan?
It’s news to us too (smiles). By now, I have realised that people scrutinise each and every move. If we have met each other while entering a party, then we would obviously meet others at the bash too. But that’s what gets misconstrued. It doesn’t affect our equation because whatever’s written is an outsider’s point of view. There’s no such problem to clarify. And if there was, we are mature enough to pick up the phone and solve it like friends do.
Do you get the time to socialise with your friends in between your packed schedule?
I like socialising with people I know. You can’t put filmi parties in the bracket of socialising because eventually we are all there for ‘work’. I think there’s a difference between professional socialising and casual socialising.
Have you started working on your next, which will be directed by Shakun Batra?
We are prepping for it currently; that’s why I have lost some weight. It’s exciting because after Ek Villain (2014), in which I was mostly intense and quiet, it’s good to get one-page-long dialogues. It’s a small film, so we will finish it fast. Then I will start work on Nitya Mehra’s film (also starring Katrina Kaif), which will take longer to finish because the story spans a considerable period of time, and the film will be shot on multiple locations.
Read: Wish we had younger Kareena for me to date, says Sidharth Malhotra
Kareena Kapoor
Is there any truth to stories suggesting a rift between you and Varun Dhawan?
It’s news to us too (smiles). By now, I have realised that people scrutinise each and every move. If we have met each other while entering a party, then we would obviously meet others at the bash too. But that’s what gets misconstrued. It doesn’t affect our equation because whatever’s written is an outsider’s point of view. There’s no such problem to clarify. And if there was, we are mature enough to pick up the phone and solve it like friends do.
Do you get the time to socialise with your friends in between your packed schedule?
I like socialising with people I know. You can’t put filmi parties in the bracket of socialising because eventually we are all there for ‘work’. I think there’s a difference between professional socialising and casual socialising.
Have you started working on your next, which will be directed by Shakun Batra?
We are prepping for it currently; that’s why I have lost some weight. It’s exciting because after Ek Villain (2014), in which I was mostly intense and quiet, it’s good to get one-page-long dialogues. It’s a small film, so we will finish it fast. Then I will start work on Nitya Mehra’s film (also starring Katrina Kaif), which will take longer to finish because the story spans a considerable period of time, and the film will be shot on multiple locations.
Read: Wish we had younger Kareena for me to date, says Sidharth Malhotra
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