Dapper and oh-so-hot! That was Kunal Kapoor who walked in a co-ords set by SVA by Sonam & Paras Modi at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, held in Mumbai recently. We caught up with the Rang De Basanti actor before he walked the ramp.
How is life right now?
It’s great. We just had a boy about nine months back and he is growing up really fast and it’s been a wonderful time.
Are you hands-on as a dad?
I am hands-on, but I am not as hands-on as the mother (Naina Bachchan) is. She is absolutely amazing. I have also taken a break and have been with him. I have had the chance to spend a lot of time with him.
You are someone who is so fashionable. What is fashion for you, vs style?
I think for me it has to be comfortable and it is really important. I see people wearing clothes which they have taken from designers but are really uncomfortable in them. It never looks good, right? The other is of course knowing what your individual style is. There might be something which is in vogue or out of vogue, but you have to maintain your own individual style. I had the pleasure of doing my first film with Mr Husain (MF Husain; Meenaxi) and all he wore were a pair of jeans and shirt and long sherwani and that was his style statement and that is probably more stylish than most people. You have to find out what works for you, what your story is and what you are all about.
Has your brush with fashion impacted how you dress?
I enjoy dressing honestly. I enjoy fashion and follow what’s happening in the world of fashion. So, it’s not something that is thrust upon me. It’s always been great fun since I was young. I enjoy the whole space.
You were just saying you love bright colours. So, is this you?
This might be a touch brighter than what I usually wear (laughs), but bright colours are great.
You also like classics...
I love a lot of vintage clothes too, bell-bottoms and striped shirts, old vintage sweaters and I love technology as well. So, I am exploring futuristic fashion right now.
How do you take care of yourself?
It comes down to genetics really. I don’t do that much. I am somebody who’s always been healthy. I eat healthy and I work out and sleep early and wake up early and meditate. I think those are things that really help and those are the things I have been following for a really long time and maybe that’s what shows externally.
What has changed in your life in the last two years... something that you may have gotten rid of and maybe something that is a part of your life now?
One of the things that has happened post-pandemic to each and every one of us is that we have realised that life is really unpredictable and what are the things that are important to you. A lot of the excess stuff has been cut out and people have gone to the core of who they are and what they would like to do with their lives.
I think health has become a really important part of it. I see a lot of people before this weren’t interested in being healthy. Suddenly, they are sleeping on time and eating well.
Besides that, on the crowdfunding platform, people want to contribute and make a difference, right? The pandemic was challenging but this is something good that has come out of it. More empathy and I hope that stays.
I am hands-on, but I am not as hands-on as the mother (Naina Bachchan) is. She is absolutely amazing. I have also taken a break and have been with him. I have had the chance to spend a lot of time with him (son) — Kunal Kapoor
What are your priorities, right now?
My priority is my little young boy right now, but I am also writing some stuff, some scripts, which are also my little boys and girls. These are stories and ideas that I have had for a long time. I am developing them into scripts... some I’d like to produce and some I’d like to act in.
Kunal’s F&B faves in Kolkata...
I just discovered Balaram’s mithai and got a whole bunch of it
Going to one of the tea stalls and getting a kulhar chai