Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor is all set to appear in her first spy thriller, “Ulajh”, directed by acclaimed independent director Sudhanshu Saria in her commercial debut.
Produced by Junglee Photos, the film follows a young Indian Overseas Service (IFS) officer, played by Kapoor, who becomes embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy while on a diplomatic mission.
Talking to SelectionKapoor mentioned her intensive preparation course for the role, which included a nine-day acting workshop with acting coach Atul Mongia and 15 days of script readings with Saria. “It really changed the way I viewed my craft,” Kapoor said of the experience. “And then I just disappeared for 10-12 days before the shoot with the script. I had to spend time with the script and with myself at home… getting used to the text.”
The famous actor who inspired Saria to maneuver away from what he perceived as an apologetic, people-pleasing behavior. “He had to work to get my points across in an argument without diluting me or trying to make myself seem smaller,” Kapoor explained. This approach marked a departure from his previous roles and personal tendencies.
“There is a side, I guess, to my disposition in life where I am a bit apologetic about where I come from. And to compensate for that, I kind of have a nice way of dealing with the conditions,” Kapoor said. The actress is the daughter of the late Indian screen icon Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor. “That’s one factor that he (Saria) recognised was very different from Suhana (her character). She’s not afraid to have an opinion. She knows how to get her way, she knows how to deal with male egos,” Kapoor said.
While portraying an IFS officer, Kapoor focused on mental preparation rather than physical preparation, noting that her character approaches demanding conditions as a rookie. “I had to do the training that Suhana (the IFS officer character) had probably done in her life. And once I was thrown into these physically demanding conditions, I approached it in the best way that Suhana, as someone who doesn’t really have any fighting training, would do,” Kapoor stated.
Kapoor also experimented with her vocal efficiency, following Saria’s instruction of “no lady, lady”. “I needed to have a voice that was a little more commanding, a little less meek,” she said, acknowledging some nervousness about how it would be achieved. “I tried to have a distinct voice in the film. I don’t know if anyone will ever find out or if it will make any difference. But it was certainly an attempt.”
The actress praised the collaborative nature of the challenge, saying she felt more concerned than she had on previous films. “I’ve never taken so much ownership of a film and been so obsessive or so delicate on some films before,” Kapoor said. “They really made me feel cared for and empowered and I have a voice. It’s a great feeling because I’ve never taken so much ownership or had so much input on anything to do with the film.”
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Since her debut in 2018 with the romantic drama “Dhadak,” Kapoor has quickly established herself as one of Bollywood’s most promising young talents. Her performances in films such as the Indian Air Force biopic “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Lady” and the horror comedy “Roohi” have showcased her versatility as an actress. In 2022, Kapoor starred in “Mili,” a survival thriller remake of the Malayalam-language hit “Helen,” which saw her take on a physically demanding role as a woman trapped in a freezer. She followed that up with “Good Luck Jerry,” a black comedy crime film that could be a remake of the Tamil-language hit “Kolamaavu Kokila.”
Kapoor’s “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi,” in which she stars opposite Rajkummar Rao, is centered around cricket and required Kapoor to undergo training in the sport. Kapoor has also ventured into the streaming industry with projects like “Ghost Tales” for Netflix. Despite facing preliminary scrutiny as Sridevi’s daughter, Kapoor has worked to carve out her own identity in the industry, taking on various roles and collaborating with both established and emerging filmmakers.
Kapoor is currently wrapping up her first Telugu-language film, “Devara”, alongside “RRR” star NTR Jr. and filming a romantic comedy titled “Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari” with Varun Dhawan. She is also set to begin production on a film opposite “RRR” star Ram Charan, currently billed as “RC 16”. “‘Devara’ is just a very, very distinct film. Each ‘Devara’ and ‘RC 16’, I don’t think you can pin it down to any particular style. It’s cinema, I believe, at its best,” Kapoor said.
Reflecting on the current nature of the field in India, where the 2023 wave of blockbusters has given rise to an appreciation of story over spectacle, Kapoor emphasized the importance of emotional resonance over financial measurement. “What matters to Indian audiences, and always will, is that if they are struck by the story and the emotion of the film,” she said. “Even when it is an emotion that can be bracketed in a mass or industrial film, I know there is always a thought, or at least the seed of a thought, that connects with viewers.”
Kapoor also highlighted the effect of global content on Indian viewers. “Over the last two years, they have been exposed to a lot of global cinema, art and exhibitions from around the world through the rise of digital media,” she noted. “I think that has probably influenced their style a bit.”
“Ulajh” will be released worldwide in theaters on August 2.