Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde brought energy and candid insights as they joined HT City for the latest edition of Stars in the City. The duo discussed what drew them to Deva, their upcoming action thriller. The event, filmed by Boomcast, ended on a high note with a dynamic performance by Stance Dance Studio.
Known for taking on a variety of roles, Shahid Kapoor shared that Deva pushes him into new territory.
“This has been one of my most challenging films. It revolves around a layered character placed in a commercial setting,” he explained. “It’s an action thriller—something I haven’t explored before. I always want to give audiences something unexpected.”
Pooja Hegde, who plays an investigative journalist in the film, revealed that she was eager to step outside her comfort zone.
“When Deva was offered to me, I was looking for projects that would allow me to break away from how people usually see me as an actor,” she said.
Despite her success in South Indian cinema, she acknowledged that Hindi audiences hadn’t seen her in a more intense, serious role. “My character really stood out to me—she’s bold and speaks her mind. Plus, shooting in Mumbai, my hometown, made the experience even more special.”
Addressing whether his family influences his film choices, Shahid emphasised that the responsibility lies with the actor alone.
“The choice to do a film has to be your own, and you need to take full ownership of it,” he said. “Of course, I talk to my team, friends, and my father, Pankaj Kapur, about my roles, but at the end of the day, I’m the one who has to live that character.”
When asked if his wife, Mira Rajput Kapoor, weighs in on his scripts, Shahid jokingly replied, “She charges too much—I can’t afford her!”
As she continues to establish herself in Bollywood, Pooja reflected on what she learned from working with Shahid.
“It’s easy to act opposite someone who’s really good because you naturally respond to them,” she shared. “I remember doing close-ups where he was so in the moment that I thought, ‘Should I redo my shot?’ His performances feel very real, and that makes a difference.”