Shashi Kapoor’s grandson Zahan Kapoor is the new Kapoor on the block. The son of Shashi’s elder son Kunal Kapoor, Zahan is a theatre actor who has made his feature film debut with Hansal Mehta’s Faraaz. In the film based on the 2016 terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Zahan plays Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, a 20-year-old who was killed along with other hostages while trying to save his friends.
When asked about his memories of Shashi Kapoor, Zahan says, “My memories of my Dadaji are of a Dadaji only. We always had our breakfast together. I used to watch movies with him. I used to watch him shave his beard when I was little. I remember playing with him on the terrace and going for lunch at Kamling restaurant.”
The family name may open some doors for him, but Zahan believes it’s finally up to him whether he can make it or not. “As an industry kid, you see from close quarters what it means to succeed or fail and to work hard because the struggle doesn’t stop. The advantage is of course that there’s a certain amount of accessibility,” says Zahan. “But if you’re lucky enough to have parenting and family as I had, it was never like ‘you have to become a film hero or you will be a hero’. It was more like ‘Explore it if you want to but know that it’s very hard. Know that it’s going to take a lot from you. And at the end of the day, your surname will not matter if you cannot do your job.’”
Zahan has taken that advice to heart and turned his entire attention to his work. “I have the privilege that I could be given an opportunity but that, too, is not in my hand. What’s in my hand is my hard work, professionalism, work ethic, discipline and dedication. I made sure that I focused on those things. My foundation is not my family name. My foundation is my life experience.”.
One of the crucial factors in his debut film is the fact that Hansal Mehta — who discovered Zahan around Prithvi Theatre where the director used to live — has allowed him to be a part of the process of Faraaz right from the research stage. This, Zahan feels, has helped him make a mark in a short but pivotal role. “I have not asked for favours or handouts from my family, and I am happy that my journey so far has been like that. I am happy to have found a beautiful story to be a part of and I am proud that I did it on my own,” he adds.
Produced by Anubhav Sinha along with T-Series, Faraaz also stars Paresh Rawal’s son Aditya Rawal as one of the terrorists. The two young actors have been into sports before; Aditya has been a footballer and Zahan is a polo player. The duo are working on a play together. “Aditya and I are working on a play that he has written. We are developing it together and we are hoping to perform it soon,” he says.
While he admires contemporary actors like Rajkummar Rao, Vicky Kaushal and Ayushmann Khurrana — people who have carved their careers after starting out small — his biggest inspiration remains his grandfather, Shashi Kapoor. “Within my family, I am hugely inspired by my grandfather’s career. He was the first crossover artist. He worked in so many genres and styles… Raj Kapoorji as well. I hope I can learn from their careers and legacies and also champion my own cause,” Zahan signed off.
