📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Aditya Roy Kapur: The Unusual Hero Films are beyond your control, Aditya has taken self-imposed sabbaticals and dealt with lows, simply because he can find satisfaction in other pursuits like sports and travelling

By Priyadarshini Patwa

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Entrepreneur India

Blenders Pride Reserve Collection presented Entrepreneur India's 35Under35 2020 list which included some leading names from the field of entrepreneurship and Aditya Roy Kapur made it to the coveted list.

Actors do not have luxuries like that of singers who get to practice their notes and dancers who know their steps. For them, each day is a new day. Sometimes the camera wants them to be serious, while the other time it demands them to be quite the opposite. The glamourous faces that we see on the big screen get happy and gets hurt. But it takes a real person to be okay with every factor that creates an actor.

Aditya Roy Kapur is one of those few who have gracefully handled this bumpy ride of highs and lows. From becoming an overnight sensation with Aashiqui 2 to delivering a series of films that tanked at the box office, he has witnessed a lot. However, one thing that has remained constant is his effortless acting and those expressions that instantly strike a conversation with you.

Source: Instagram

The Beginning

The talented actor started as a VJ under the tutelage of Lola Kutty and still remembers wearing a t-shirt that clearly stated 'Trainee VJ'.

"VJing happened to me. I happened to be called for an audition that I went for. I wasn't even trying to take the job but I wasn't doing anything that time. My mom told me you better take this up because you're doing damn all with your life, you might as well be constructive in some way so I reluctantly took the job. I did that for four and a half years and I loved it. I interviewed half of the film industry before I got into it," he said.

Acting followed in a similar pattern. He gave an audition for 'London Dreams' and got a role. Followed by some notable roles in Guzaarish and Action Replay. Aashiqui 2 gave Bollywood a new passionate lover but then came the rocky road. Some would blame the director or the scripts he picked but he has no rue.

"At that time all those movies seemed right and I could never have said no to. A lot of them haven't done well one could say, they were mistakes but I don't regret having done any one of them. I feel I've learned a lot from every filming process, every director, every character I've played. It has informed me and and and enriched me in some way or the other."

New Innings

The thing with the films is that it's beyond your control. The only thing to him is that he loves being on set and working on with different teams on films. What makes him interesting is a simple fact that he ain't like your usual heroes but his perfected sculptured face tells you another story.

He has taken self-imposed sabbaticals, dealt with lows, simply because he finds satisfaction in other things too.

"I can't take work if I'm just not 100% convinced about wanting to do that thing just for the sake of work. I have other interests that I derive joy from, I love sport, travelling, different things that that can engage me. I can find satisfaction from them in the lows and the time I spend away from filming. The ideal thing would be to try and maintain an equilibrium through all the highs and lows. It is easier said than done." he said.

The chiseled actor is back and all set for his second innings. 2020 looks promising for him with Mohit Suri's Malang that has just hit the screens followed by Mahesh Bhatt's Sadak 2 and Anurag Basu's Ludo. He is totally the new action hero on the block!

(This article was first published in the February issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. To subscribe, click here)

Priyadarshini Patwa

Former Features Editor, Entrepreneur India

Priyadarshini Patwa is the Former Features Editors of Entrepreneur India and hosted an Instagram show every Friday named ‘Lighten Up’, about people from different walks of life and talk about their work and beyond. She handled the lifestyle, features, technology, entertainment segments and was also responsible for the Digital Covers. Previously she has worked with MensXP, a Times of India entity and Deccan Chronicle. 

Thought Leaders

It's the End of the Entrepreneurial Era As We Know It

With the rise of advanced technologies and AI, are we losing all sense of the independent business person and entrepreneur?

Business News

These 4 Words Make It Obvious You Used AI to Write a Paper, According to New Research

Scientists are increasingly using ChatGPT and other AI bots to write studies.

Science & Technology

Exploring How Virtual Reality is Changing Startups

Virtual reality's immersive environment is where startup marketing is headed, and early adopters will be the ones who profit.

Green Entrepreneur®

A Deer Invasion in Hawaii Has Turned Into an Environmental Crisis—And a Sustainable Business Opportunity

How Maui Nui Venison built a for-profit harvesting business that protects the land and helps the local community.

Growing a Business

'Marketing Happy Hour' Podcast Hosts Share the Best Way to Connect With Consumers: 'Think of Social Media Like a First Date'

Brand marketing experts and hosts of the Marketing Happy Hour podcast share tips on how to launch, grow, and make the most out of your small business's online presence.