Shahid Kapoor: Don’t judge a film by its promo

Shahid Kapoor’s controversial film Udta Punjab is finally set for release on June 17 in India (June 16 in the UAE), and the actor has urged people not to judge films before they watch it.

“Stop judging the films and characters after seeing a one-minute promo. It’s a two-and-a-half hour film. If you feel any credibility in [us actors], please wait until you view the film before passing judgement or creating a controversy,” Kapoor told reporters at a press conference for the film on Tuesday.

“All the controversies were created without viewing it. Our names and images are at stake. Why would we do that to ourselves?”

Kapoor also said that credit should be given to his co-star Alia Bhatt, who is “known to look desirable and lovely and who got the courage to go and play the role of a drug addict.”

“Why is she doing that to her image? Because there is some substance within her which is making her feel responsible enough to pick a role that’s not just about looking desirable but a role which is real,” he said.

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, Udta Punjab also features Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh.