Actor Aditya Roy Kapur talks to HELLO! about his journey in Bollywood, The Night Manager, and so much more…
HELLO!: Congratulations for your ‘Best Actor’ win! When you signed The Night Manager, did you expect the kind of success the show has seen?
Aditya Roy Kapur: “One doesn’t try to think too much about the outcome at the outset. But I think I always felt like the show had the potential to be something special. I love the original and how the directors adapted it. We had to make sure that we did our jobs well and gave it our best to make it something that connects with the audience. So I was optimistic that people would like it.”
H!: How did you feel when you got the call from the ‘OG Night Manager,’ Tom Hiddleston? Were you expecting it?
ARK: “Our producers were screening the show in London, and our directors Sandeep Modi and Priyanka Ghose were there. Sandeep had texted me after the screening — it was around 2.30am for me in India — asking whether I was awake and that someone wanted to speak with me. He then video-called me and surprised me with Tom! I wasn’t expecting it. It was a very pleasant surprise. He had some kind things to say about the show. It felt good that he and a lot of the makers of the series felt we had honoured the original. They all seemed to have enjoyed it.”
H!: Your year started with bang. Any more exciting projects in store for 2023?
ARK: “I’m looking forward to the second part of The Night Manager that’s coming out in a couple of months. I’m also starting work with Anurag Basu on Metro...In Dino, which is a sequel to Life in a...Metro, pretty soon. So I’m getting back in the field and have a packed schedule for the next 3-4 months for sure.”
H!: This was your first time at the HELLO! Hall of Fame Awards. How was your experience?
ARK: “Oh, it was lovely. It was nice to see so many people from different walks of life come together under one roof. It’s great that HELLO! hosts these awards to appreciate all the work that people do in different spheres. Everyone seemed to be having a really good time. It wasn’t too serious, and the hosts were doing a good job. All in all, it was a fun evening.”
H!: We noticed a warm camaraderie between you and Anil Kapoor at the awards. What was it like working with him?
ARK: “I was fortunate enough to work with him on Malang. So getting the opportunity to share screen space with him was one of the things that had excited me about The Night Manager. I don’t know what I can say about him that hasn’t already been said. He’s one of the most inspiring people to work with. His commitment to being his best, doing the best and wanting the best for the project is infectious. I hope we get to work together again sometime.”
H!: What’s the one biggest takeaway from all your years in the industry?
ARK: “I don’t know if I can distil it down to one, but if I had to, I’d say work hard and keep working hard. Don’t stop doing your best. The rest will flow from there.”
H!: From Aashiqui 2 to Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Malang, Kalank and Fitoor, good music has always followed you. Are you conscious of that?
ARK: “I’ve been lucky on that front because an actor has very little part to play in the kind of music made for films. I just consider myself fortunate that the films I’m in have such good music.”
This has been adapted for the web from a story originally published in the May 2023 issue of HELLO! India. Get our copy of the latest issue right here!
