Mother was very much dependent on Sridevi, confuse after her departure: Janhvi Kapoor

Jahnavi Kapoor had become a star even before the release of her debut film Dhadak and her work was also well-liked when the film was released. Jahnavi, who once again came into the limelight with Gunjan Saxena’s biopic at the beginning of the lockdown, is in the news these days due to his new movie ‘Roohi’, which is released in theaters on March 11. In this meeting with Navbharat Times, she talks about her family, mother Sridevi, father Boney Kapoor, brother Arjun Kapoor and the film…

In the new year, AAP and Rajkummar Rao are coming to theaters with their film ‘Roohi’. What are the expectations from the audience?
‘I will appeal to the audience that please keep wearing masks, keep using sanitizer and take all precautions, but do come to watch our film in theaters. Now see, people are going in restaurants, local trains and buses. Cinema, films, theater and TV are a very big aspect of our culture and country. We can’t let it die. If there was even a little risk in it, I would never say that as a public figure, you come to theaters to watch the film, our film has to earn money. Entertainment not only connects us, but the employment of many people is connected to it.

As a family member, how much have you benefited from parents (Sridevi-Boney Kapoor) in your film career?
‘There is a lot of benefit. Movies are always discussed at home. There are talks about the experiences of Mama (Sridevi). Papa is a producer, so I was always able to check what kind of behavior of the actors hurts the producers. I got a lot of opportunity to go on shoots with Mama. The world’s best actress (Sridevi) was at home and the world’s most talented and sensible producer (father Boney Kapoor). I am very lucky that I have got access to his brain. Hearing his words from childhood, work ethic and passion has sat inside me.

Being the daughter of Sridevi is also a responsibility as an actress. Which of his things do you remember the most today?
‘I used to depend on them very much. It was such that the world said anything, if my mother said good then it is good. I am still a bit confused. If they do not have an opinion, then I ask 10 other people, yet that thing does not seem right. Always remember that she would have said this, she would have said that. It is true that earlier Mom used to think about me, I used to be careless but now I have to think about myself. ‘

How strong has your sister happily bonded in lockdown?
‘We got to know each other a little bit more. I have started respecting her more. The way he is self-reliant is really awesome. Happiness is never shaken by beliefs and faith. She loves me, Anshula Didi (Anshula Kapoor), Papa and Arjun Bhaiya (Arjun Kapoor). Earlier she used to be in tune, I might not have realized this much but during lockdown I showed that she can do anything for us. ‘

Arjun Kapoor makes you feel very protective as a brother, girls always find the same qualities in their father, husband and boyfriend?
‘As I said, I consider myself very lucky. My and Arjun Bhaiya’s relationship was quite late, we came together after a long time and got connected. Our relationship is still building and deepening day by day, but the way they have adopted us and the kind of love and support that they have shown to us has given me a lot of courage in life. The biggest lesson I have learned from Anshula Didi and Arjun Bhaiya is that he always encourages us that you don’t need anyone. He says that you try to be self-content. ‘

Is your role with Papa (Boney Kapoor) reverse now? How do you take care of them now?
‘They don’t need anyone. Not at all in this profession. His mind is very sharp and understanding of everything. They just need the pampering and love that I keep giving them. ‘

What was your take away from the lockdown?
‘Hum has awakened more humanity. Having spent so much time with myself, maybe I have come to know myself a little bit more. It is also to be known about myself that I am afraid of being alone. I had a house, had food and my family was safe, so what should I complain about? But what I had seen my year had changed. There were many thoughts in mind. Will that year go like that, how will my career be, will our relationships change and will I be able to keep my family safe or not? However, the problems of the rest were so great that I would not get food or not? Will I live in these conditions or not? ‘

You have a double role in the film, one of Roohi and the other of a witch, how challenging was it to play them?
‘Physically quite challenging. It was difficult to sit for 2 hours every morning for prosthetic makeup and it was very difficult to remove that scary voice. If you would have asked me this question a year ago, I would have told you a lot. For now, I remember that my back was very painful, there was a lot of itching from prosthetic make-up and there was a lot of sore throat because Hafza (witch character) had to make different sounds.

Do you believe in supernatural power? Has any horror happened on Roohi’s set?
‘No, I’m sure but I don’t believe in these things. Manali was the first day of the schedule where we were shooting a scene. A piece of bread fell and the thing was recorded in the camera that the piece suddenly bounced up and fell down. We were so shocked because my hands were not in the frame. Then it seemed that the piece of bread might have stuck to the hair but the hair was not even in the frame. We were very scared. ‘