Mumbai: Kunaal Roy Kapur, best known for his
performances in films such as "Delhi Belly" and "Yeh Jawaani
Hai Deewani", says one of the biggest struggles for him is to
break away from the tag of a comic actor.
Kunaal, who has been acting for nearly two decades,
started his career with the TV show "Just Mohabbat".
"Once you're known as a comic actor, it's difficult to
break out. People say 'Oh, he's a good actor but very good at
comedy', so I think it'll be a long drawn out process for me
(to break that). That happens with other actors as well... It
takes a few years to reinvent yourself, to straddle genres,"
Kunaal told PTI.
The actor is aware of his own "shortcomings" of not
actively pursuing different films but says he tries to
make the best of what is offered.
"For me, as a Mumbai-bred guy, there is a certain zone in
which I can or cannot be cast. That is something which people
have now slowly started to see beyond. I'm hoping to do other
kinds of roles - drama, serious stuff.
"But you can only do what comes your way, the liberty is
only that much. You deal with what opportunities that come
your way."
Currently, he is looking forward to the release of
"Kaalakaandi". The Akshat Verma-directed film chronicles the
story of six characters from different parts of Mumbai in a
span of 12 hours and how the lives of complete strangers
intersect.
Having already worked in dark comedies before, Kunaal
says he understands the language and humour such films have to
offer but the challenge for him as an actor is something else.
"You're always struggling to get your voice heard as
close to as you'd like to. Whether you're directing or acting,
you'd want people to hear your own voice.
"Sometimes, you feel you've lied to yourself, cheated in
a certain performance. Those are compromises you end up making
along the way. But sometimes, you also get opportunities which
make you feel you can give it a shot."
Apart from "Kaalakaandi", which is headlined by Saif Ali
Khan, the 38-year-old actor is also looking forward to getting
back at direction.
He made his directorial debut with the 2009 "The
President is coming", starring Konkona Sen Sharma.
"It (direction) is something I'm looking to actively
pursue now. I have been pitching a few things for a while.
It's still work in progress but direction is something I will
definitely take up at some stage."
"Kaalakaandi" is scheduled to release this Friday.
PTI
