Interview : Junaid Khan : Acting is all about living different personalities!

#AamirKhan’s son Junaid Khan entered filmdom as an actor with a web film ‘#Maharaj’. He received a lot of praise for his performance. He is now debuting big screen with #AdvaitChandan directorial ‘#Loveyapa’. Our Sr Editor Keerti Kadam interacted with Junaid Khan during the film’s promotional event.

 

Your movie ‘Loveyapa’ is releasing shortly. Butterflies in the stomach?
I’m excited! I believe we’ve done everything we could, and I absolutely love the film, the trailer and the music. So, I’m really looking forward to it.

The trailer looks fantastic. It feels like a film for the new generation and the subject has a futuristic touch. Can you tell us how the script reached you and what did you like most about the movie?

I really liked the story. Madhu (Mantena) Ji approached me and told me that he had the rights to the Tamil version of the movie. He asked me to watch it, which I did, and I absolutely loved it. The one-line hook of the film is also really strong, like, “Dad tells us to exchange our phones, and then he will accept the marriage.” I was really drawn to the story, so I told him that I’d do it, but I asked if he was sure he wanted me in this film (laughs), since my character is quite different from my own personality. He assured me that he was certain, and that’s how it all came together.

Was it difficult to act since the character was different from your personality?
Every character presents its own challenges, but yes, this one was particularly interesting. Advait (Chandan) has a unique way of drawing out the best performances from actors, even in the smallest parts or scenes. He really brings out the best in all of us, which made me even more excited to be a part of this project.

You did ‘Maharaj’ and everyone loved it. Your acting was really impressive and we could clearly see the theatrical influence in that character. It was quite intense and different. Now, you’re jumping into a more comedic role. Was that transition difficult for you?
There was a gap of two years between the shoots. We filmed ‘Maharaj’ in 2021 and ‘Loveyapa’ in 2023. So, the transition wasn’t too challenging. I think this is what acting is all about – living different personalities.

There are often comparisons when a star kid is launched, and people expected to see Aamir Khan’s influence in your performance. However, that didn’t happen, as you brought your own unique personality and style to the role. What do you have to say about this?
Dad (Aamir Khan) is a really good performer, so I don’t know if this is a good thing or not (Laughs). But every actor has different acting abilities and everybody has different career graphs.

Everyone tends to remake or adapt certain acting skills from other actors, which is why we often see traces of other actors’ styles in their performances. Would you say the same about you and Aamir Sir?
No, we both look really different. He still looks quite young, and even now, people are surprised to learn that he has a son of this age.

In ‘PK’, you worked as an Assistant Director. How did that experience help you at this stage of your career?
While assisting in ‘PK’, I gained a lot of knowledge about the sets, because Raju (Rajkumar Hirani) Sir is a prep-heavy director. He plans everything well. I think ‘PK’ was the last film to be shot on 35mm film because by that time, everybody had already started using digital cameras. So, while shooting a film, there is a certain decorum on the set. While using the digital camera, you can keep rolling and it doesn’t affect anything. So, I learnt how a set works. What I learned might not help me in acting now. But it is our workspace, so the understanding will help me somewhere or the other. But yes, I enjoyed a lot in ‘PK’.

How was your experience working with Khushi Kapoor, especially since she’s also a newcomer in the industry? Between the two of you, who ended up playing the senior role?
I really enjoyed working with Khushi. We actually have similar personalities; both of us are quite reserved. During our very first meeting with Advait, Khushi and I, we were talking about the storyline and sitting quietly in a corner, giving one-word responses like “Yes Sir” and “Okay Sir.” Advait got a little worried and asked, “You both know what kind of film this is, right?” But then we started rehearsals for 4-5 weeks. And during our first scene, Khushi’s performance during a phone call scene, especially the way she screamed, was phenomenal. Once we started working, we both gained confidence and delivered.

This is your first commercial film in theatres, and while ‘Maharaj’ had a commercial role, here you’re doing a bit of comedy. There’s a certain dialogue in the film – do you think it’s connecting with the audience?
I believe every dialogue in the film can connect with the audience because it’s a very ‘Chatpati’ movie. You’ve only seen a sneak peek in the trailer, but once you watch the full film in theatres, you’ll see how great the dialogues are. The dialogues and adapted screenplay were written by Sneha (Desai) Ji, the same talented writer who worked on ‘Maharaj’ and ‘Laapataa Ladies’. She’s amazing at writing both drama and comedy.

Did Aamir Khan watch the film and what was his reaction to it?
Yes, he watched the film and loved it so much that he not only launched our trailer with us but also joined us on Bigg Boss to promote it.

Once, when we were chatting with Aamir Sir, he was all praise for you. He had watched a scene of yours and he thought it was so brilliant that he couldn’t believe it was his son performing. He is very proud of you. What do you have to say about that?
He is very proud of me and he praises me a lot. But since he is my father, everyone should take his praise for me with a pinch of salt.

Do you take any advice from Aamir Sir or does he allow you to do things according to your own thinking?
He always allows me to carve my own path. If I have any specific question about anything, he is always there to answer it for me and he always gives wonderful advice. But generally, he allows me to do things on my own.

Do you ask Aamir Sir for advice before signing films or do you decide on your own whether to sign a film or not?
I usually decide whether to sign a film or not based on my own instincts. But sometimes, I ask him and take his advice.

In the era when ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ was released, the pairing of Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla brought a certain freshness in the industry. A similar chemistry can be seen in the trailer of ‘Loveyapa’. Is it safe to say that the same freshness and chemistry will be seen in ‘Loveyapa’ again?
Now, that will be decided by the audience. We have given our best in the film. So, I do hope that the audiences see a similar freshness and chemistry in the trailer, the songs and the film.

What is your process in order to prepare for any character?
I like to take cues from my directors when it comes to approaching a character or acting in a scene. Every director works in a different way. Every director has their own style and we get to learn something from each of them. That makes us stronger as actors as we get to learn about many options that can be used to approach scenes, in case if we are stuck.

Are you still performing on stage?
Yes, of course. In January, I performed in shows at the Prithvi Theatre. On March 22 and 23, I have some shows lined up at the NCPA Experimental Theatre. So, I will continue working as a theatre artist.

Which medium (cinema or theatre) gives you more satisfaction? A theatre has a live audience where you can observe the reaction of the audience instantly. However, when it comes to cinema, the audience’s reaction is understood much later. Also, in theatre, actors get a chance to improve themselves every day with every show. So, how do you look at it?
I think both mediums have their own benefits. But theatre will always be my first love. I can’t remove theatre from my heart.

There is a segment of actors in the industry who work in 4 – 5 films every year. And then, there is Aamir Sir who makes 1 film in every 2 – 3 years. Which segment will you be a part of?
If I get 3 – 4 film offers every year, I will definitely do them. I shot for ‘Maharaj’ in 2021 and then, I got a chance to shoot in 2023. For the 2 years in between, I was not shooting for anything. And no, I did not reject films. Nevertheless, I am very happy that 2024 was a very busy year for me as I shot for 2 films. One is ‘Loveyapa’ and the other is Aamir Khan Productions’ ‘Ek Din’. Sunil Pandey has directed the film which is currently in the post-production stage. I also performed in a play.

What kind of films / web series / content do you like to watch?
I watch all types of films and all kinds of content. I also watch both Indian and international content. But I like to watch live content.

The audience is loving your performance. But as an actor, when you see yourself on the screen, do you feel you are doing a good job? Are you personally satisfied with your performance or do you think that you can do better?
I think that I can do better at all times as I am always in the process of learning. In my experience, whenever I review any of my performances after 6 months, I always feel that I could have done something better. And I think, one develops this mindset when they work in a theatre. For us theatre artists, we always have a next show because a play never ends. One show ends, we learn from it and work on the next one. We can always improve, experiment and do something new.

There are many people who praise your work. But, have you ever encountered any critics who have questioned your skills and have said that you can perform better?
Yes, absolutely, and one of them is my mother. She watched my first play in Mumbai in 2017. It was an English play named ‘Mother Courage and Her Children’. The show that she watched didn’t turn out well. When we came out of the theatre, I asked, “How was the show?” She said, “Look, I am trying to find good things to say about the show. But I can’t find any, so I will stay quiet.” (Laughs…)

Post the release of ‘Maharaj’, did you see any changes in the behaviour of the people around you? Have more people started recognising you?
Not much, but to a small extent. I genuinely believe that the stardom enjoyed by Papa (Aamir Khan), Shah Rukh (Khan) Sahab, Salman (Khan) Sahab, Hrithik (Roshan) Ji and all other big stars in the industry did not come just after 1 or 2 films or 1 or 2 years. For that stardom, one has to perform consistently at a certain level for years. Even in today’s day, if I walk on the road with Kiku Sharda Ji, more people will recognise him. He is an A-List star on television and everyone knows who he is. This is because he has worked for several years. So, the stardom takes time.

Does the number of people that recognise you matter to you?
No, it doesn’t matter to me at all. Papa (Aamir Khan) has been performing for nearly 40 years now. So, I will have to perform at a certain level to gain stardom.

Recently, when we were speaking to Sunny Deol, he said that according to him, once he has worked in a film, it is not his job to promote the film. He said that the audience will watch his film and that he will not go for movie promotions. Do you agree with him or do you believe in the current trend where actors themselves step out for film promotions?
Now, I cannot say anything about Sunny (Deol) Ji because generally, the stars who are at the same level as him, actually don’t need to do film promotions. The audience knows when their films will be releasing and they will go to watch the films. But what I believe is that my producers have invested a lot of money in me, so I have some responsibilities towards them. I should give them whatever kind of support they need from me because making films is expensive. I don’t know much about marketing and promotions as it is not my department. My producers know better about these things. So, I believe that I should give them whatever kind of support they need from me. And, this is what I always try to do.

You always maintain a very simple look whenever you step out. Did you possess this quality of simplicity since your childhood? Or, did you develop this maturity and simplicity much later in life, considering that you are the son of a huge superstar and that your lifestyle is constantly being observed by the public?
I don’t know about these things, but according to me, simplicity is practical. In a city like Mumbai, nothing is more practical than traveling by rickshaw. But I know that people are observing me. Recently, someone showed me a spoof video of mine where an individual was carrying a backpack and walking like me. However, I have never paid attention to these things.

In the film industry, fitness holds a lot of importance. Actors should be physically fit, and taking this idea one step ahead, we should also promote mental fitness. What do you do in order to develop physical and mental fitness?
There are 2 aspects of physical fitness. Firstly, actors should have the stamina required for making films and shooting for 12 hours every day. Secondly, actors should look like their characters. I leave the second aspect to my directors. I ask them how they want me to look for the character and I try my best to deliver the look according to their expectations. When it comes to mental fitness, I would say that it is more important than physical fitness. I think I am very lucky that I have a very supportive family that understands the industry as well as the importance of mental fitness. So, I get a lot of support from Mummy (Reena Dutta), Papa (Aamir Khan), my sister Ira (Khan) and my grandmother. My grandmother understands the film industry the most as she has been observing what happens in the movies for 90 years. So, I am very lucky that I have so much support.

What message does the film ‘Loveyapa’ give?
According to me, the message that our film ‘Loveyapa’ gives is that the restrictions that usually exist in love are majorly created by us, and I think this is what our film portrays. But leaving the message aside, I think that the film is very entertaining. And, this is why people should watch it.

The title of the film is very different and unique. How was the title selected and who suggested the title ‘Loveyapa’?
Advait (Chandan) came up with the idea of naming the film ‘Loveyapa’ specifically. But 3 – 4 titles were considered in several discussions. I really liked ‘Loveyapa’ and it is my favourite title.

On the personal front, do you have any expectations from this movie?
I just hope that people like the film. We have given our best during the making of the film and we have done whatever we could. Now, we can only pray that the audiences like the film. It is also important that the media likes the film.

By Keerti Kadam