Actor Shahid Kapoor has come a long way since his first film Ishq Vishq which released in 2003.
Despite being introduced to Bollywood with classic chocolate boy looks, Kapoor never hesitated from trading that image for a darker on-screen character delivering one brilliant portrayal after the other.
After being the face of romantic comedies and drama in his initial years, the actor shed that image by choosing off-beat roles with films like Kaminey, Haider and Udta Punjab.
With Udta Punjab, Shahid who plays Tommy Singh has managed to impress the audience and critics alike and without a doubt is one of the shining aspects of the film.
After winning accolades for Haider, Kapoor chose to portray another out of the box character and succeeded in proving his acting prowess. It is ironical that an actor like Kapoor who loves to stay low key never shies away from experimenting with risky roles.
After delivering a super-hit like Jab We Met, Kapoor teamed up with Vishal Bhardwaj for a thriller titled Kaminey. The film had everything Kapoor had never done before. Nonetheless, he took on the challenge to prove himself.
Playing the double role of Charlie and Guddu, Kapoor surprised everyone with the ease with which he handled the contrasting characters. With high end action sequences and money-chase, Shahid's portrayal of the sulking criminal made the audiences gape in amazement.
Kapoor's second gamble with Bhardwaj was an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Set in Kashmir, this was Kapoor's first political film where he played the crazy protagonist. While Vishal is known for extracting the actor within a star, it was Kapoor's talent that immortalized the film in Bollywood's history.
From innocent efforts to find his father, and to finally gather the hatred to take revenge, Kapoor portrayed the turmoil of a troubled mind perfectly, earning him the many awards and accolades.
And with Tommy Singh the Punjabi rock star who is also a wayward drug addict, unpredictable and weird, Kapoor has portrayed something that is completely unlike him.
Off-screen, Shahid is a teetotaler and complete introvert, truly dedicated to his work. How does a charming face like that of Kapoor ensure justice to a dark, unpredictable character like Tommy is a secret nobody has found out.
At a certain point in Udta Punjab you actually wonder if Tommy is Kapoor’s alter ego. Describing it as his career's most taxing role, it was very courageous of Kapoor to say 'yes' to something that goes against who he is in real life.
At a time when stars are conscious about their image and the kind of films they take up, Kapoor has been breaking the norm with each passing year. The actor never forgets to prove that being 'A' lister can’t stop you from taking risks.
There is no denying the fact that Kapoor has the charm of a romantic hero. His innocent looks and deep eyes are perfect for a romantic role.
But somehow it has always been the crazy streak that has worked for him.
The actor is all set to experiment yet again with Rangoon. With Vishal Bhardwaj at the helm, we can expect another enthralling performance by the charming Kapoor.
He might not be the 'ideal' Bollywood star with a 'cult' following, but he is definitely the star made for character roles.
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