Shraddha Kapoor has surprised her fans and critics alike by her flawless moves in the promotional tracks of ABCD 2. The actress talks to Karan Bhardwaj about her long-standing desire to dance on screen
There’s still some time in ABCD 2’s theatre release but Shraddha Kapoor is already on the seventh cloud, thanks to the feedback to her effortless dance moves in the promotional songs. “It’s great. I didn’t know I would be able to pull it off,” she beamed up as we spoke over the phone. Directed by Remo D’Souza, a choreographer himself, ABCD 2 explores the journey of an Indian dance troupe, a motley assortment of boys and girls who come from the backstreets of a Mumbai suburb. The star cast majorly comprises trained dancers, including Varun Dhawan, but Shraddha comes as a surprise. “I was apprehensive earlier about doing it. I was unsure if I would be able to pull off the character of a professional dancer. I do not have any formal training in dance. So I offered auditions to Remo sir. I wanted him to see me dancing and performing stunts. The reason why I wanted to do this film was very simple. I was always interested in dance and had never danced on screen before,” she said. The actress credited the director for bringing out the best from her. “Remo noticed that I was enthusiastic and I really wanted to do it. It was his conviction that instilled confidence in me. He has been extremely patient with me,” she said adding that her fans would be shocked to see her performing those “tough moves.”
ABCD 2 has been a roller coaster for her and it has left an indelible mark on her personality. “I will be dancing more now. We rehearsed a lot with the troupes. Remo sir wanted us to spend maximum time with the dancers and understand their journeys. The sequences have a lot to do with the team and not an individual. There are more wide shots than close ups to focus on the group as a whole, which is also the essence of the movie,” she said.
She also survived many injuries on the sets. “In fact, that was a ritual,” she chuckled. “It was challenging. The training was so aggressive that it would become exhausting at times. This process has been special. It was like covering two separate disciplines in one spectrum. It’s really difficult to be able to learn dance and act simultaneously. I hope people come out of theatre with a smile,” she said.
The actress had a protective upbringing but got a refreshing experience during the shoot. “I met so many new people and real dancers. They are passionate and dedicated professionals. They really inspired me. We ended up becoming friends. The experience was very close with dance. It’s a nice way to get into dancing through this movie,” she said.
Shraddha has been a part of blockbusters like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain but couldn’t impress critics unanimously. Some called her over the top while others questioned her acting skills. But the 26-year-old doesn’t take criticism to her heart. “There’s a whole range of people who would say different things. It feels good when people praise your work. But sometimes, people criticise you without any logical perspective. I have been critical of my own performances. If I am not satisfied with something, I would admit it humbly. That’s the way I’ve grown up. I always welcome constructive criticism. I take feedback seriously if it makes sense to me. But I take it to my head, not heart,” she summed up.