Shahid needs company

There were talks then that he was set to become the next superstar. However, his next three releases, Dil Bole Hadippa, Chance Pe Dance and Paathshaala sank at the box office.

Where did Kapoor go wrong? "I don't think I have gone wrong as I'm still in the early stages of my career. I am trying to experiment with different types of roles," says Kapoor.

The good-looking actor has an instant explanation for taking up the movies that flopped. He did Dil Bole Hadippa as it was an opportunity to work with Yash Raj Films. "Any actor would like to do a film with them. So I was more than happy to do Dil Bole Hadippa. Besides, I had an opportunity to work with the talented Rani Mukherji," he says.

Kapoor says Ken Ghosh gave him his biggest break with Ishq Vishq and when the director approached him with Chance Pe Dance there was no way he could refuse it.

Kapoor says he had an "extended" guest appearance in Paathshaala as he shot the movie for around a week, though he is seen in more than half of the film. "I wanted to do Paatshaala because of its noble subject - tackling the issue of children's education system. I have a good rapport with Ahmad Khan (producer of Paathshaala) so I had to be part of his project. All these films may not have been as successful as we wanted them to be, but such things happen in an acting career and you have take it in your stride," he says.

Now Kapoor has an opportunity to bounce back with yet another Yash Raj movie Badmaash Company. This is the second release of his three-film contract with Yash Raj Films and he is determined to take it to the top. "After Dil Bole Hadippa, doing Badmaash Company felt like I was visiting my family again as they take care of their actors very well. You feel extremely comfortable working with them," says Kapoor.

In Badmaash Company, Kapoor plays Karan, an intelligent middle-class boy who dreams of becoming a millionaire. "One day he hits upon an idea and teams up with Bulbul, Chandu and Ming (Anushka Sharma, Vir Das and Meiyang Chang, respectively) and starts the Badmaash Company to make money the wrong way. And as they hunger for more money, their friendship and love is tested," says Kapoor.

Given the film's commercial approach, is Kapoor feeling more secure with films like Badmaash Company? "I think the line dividing commercial and parallel cinema has been erased with the advent of the multiplex era. Today's audiences are open to any format. So there are just good films and bad films. Badmaash Company will be appreciated by the audience if they think it is a good film," he says.

The movie is directed by actor-turned-director Parmeet Sethi. Recently there were reports that Kapoor was unhappy with certain portions of the movie and had a fight with Sethi. Likewise, earlier there were rumours that Kapoor had a serious showdown with Ghosh during the making of Chance Pe Dance. "I don't know why I am made to look like a guy who can't see eye-to-eye with my directors. I have no issues with any of my directors and as an actor I offer suggestions to improve the movie I'm working on. Similarly, I provided my views to Parmeet and Aditya Chopra (producer of Badmaash Company) and wherever they were convinced they have incorporated my ideas," says Kapoor.

Besides reports of altercations with directors, Kapoor is constantly linked up with his co-stars and the most recent one is Sharma who stars alongside him in Badmaash Company.

"It has become a norm for the media to link me up with every leading lady and honestly most of the times I am unaware of these rumours. I have learnt to ignore them and focus on my work," says Kapoor.

After Badmaash Company, Kapoor has just one film in hand which is being directed by his father Pankaj Kapoor. The actor says he prefers to concentrate on one film at a time rather have a series of releases.

"I am involved in my father's film, where I have a completely different role. It demands a lot of attention if I am to do justice to the character. I have always preferred to do one film at a time, it was just by chance that I had a rush of releases recently, which again was not in my control. I am trying to ensure that all my films offer something new to the audiences," says Kapoor.

Shahid has no say in the matter

Of all the films Shahid Kapoor has worked in so far, he always had the chance to offer suggestions on the scenes or perhaps the costumes. Now Kapoor is in a tight spot as he is being directed in Mausam by his father Pankaj Kapoor who, according to Shahid, is the most "demanding film-maker".

According to reports, Shahid is forbidden from speaking about the film or making any suggestions, even on the looks he is set to sport in the film.

Initially the hunk was asked to grow a beard, but now Pankaj thinks it wouldn't be appropriate for the role of an Air Force officer.