Shahid Kapoor keen to do Magadheera remake

Shahid Kapoor

There has been a lot of speculation about the Hindi remake of S.S. Rajamouli’s Telugu historical romance drama Magadheera. Sometime back, there were reports that Ranbir Kapoor had been approached for the Hindi remake. The 2009 flick had Ram Charan Teja and Kajal Aggarwal as lead actors and was the highest grossing Telugu film of all times. Reports now say that the film will be made in Hindi by Sajid Nadiadwala in collaboration with Madhu Manthena who apparently has the rights of the Hindi remake and Shahid Kapoor will play the protagonist.
When contacted, Kapoor smiled enigmatically and said. “I have been wanting to do Magadheera for the longest. I have seen the film and loved it…..I think it’s a killer subject. I am aware about this news that I will be doing the film, but I cannot substantiate it as I don’t want to talk about anything prematurely. If you read the story that was published, there were no quotes from anybody. But maybe at some point ….,” trailed off the actor giving the impression that the project is indeed in the offing.
Meanwhile, Kapoor who was last seen in Prabhudheva’s masala entertainer R…Rajkumar will now be seen in the dark and edgy Haider in which his character transforms from a simple student to a rather complex personality, conceded that the role is fantastic.
“When Vishal sir (Vishal Bhardwaj) met me before the shooting began, he had told me that I was very lucky as Haider was a fantastic role for any actor. And that it was was the second time I was getting such a fantastic part (after Kaminey). So yes, I am very lucky and he’s very lucky for me. I feel very content that I did this film. You know there are certain films which depend pretty much on whether they do well or not, and there are certain films you do because you want to experience it as an actor. Haider, is that film!,” said Kapoor about the family, revenge drama.
As for trying to balance his acting career between a Prabhudeva entertainer and Bhardwaj’s edgy cinema, Kapoor laughed and confessed that the experience was schizophrenic.
“I don’t think I planned it and I am sure it’s not going to happen all the time. I select films which excite me. I am not going to let go of a film if it excites me. It’s a keeda that I have in me, because I am my father’s son. As an actor you have to keep doing what you love. One thing you need for film-making is enthusiasm, and for that you need to do stuff from your heart. And I have always said that Haider is a cinema of passion.”
Talking about Tabu playing his mother, he said that it would have been more difficult for her. “It wasn’t difficult for me. I am sure she did this role because she wanted to do it as an actor. Only passionate actors can take such risks,” said Kapoor who is now moving into another genre with Vikas Bahl’s Shaandar. I am getting the opportunity to work in varied genres because of the burgeoning new talent. The film will be going on the floors very soon. Centred around a destination wedding, it will be shot in the UK. And let me tell you that some interesting actors will be coming on board soon,” informed Kapoor who also has Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab and Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.’s Farzi on his platter.