Arjun Kapoor: 2 States character a lot like me

Highlights

• In his first two films, Arjun Kapoor played gun-toting characters, but the actor is happy to finally get to be a regular, romantic guy on screen in his upcoming film 2 States.
• Based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Chetan Bhagat, the film is produced by Karan Johar and directed by Abhishek Varman.
• It is a story about two people from different states of India, who fall in love and how they convince their parents to accept them.
• "I relate to the character a lot. He is a lot like me in that sense. The characters I played in Ishaqzaade and Aurangzeb were not regular. Guns were always around my characters. This time I have cakes and flowers around. Living the college life, working in a bank, travelling across India to woo my girl in love," said Arjun.
• The actor, who plays Krish Malhotra, has cropped his hair short and will also sport a light stubble to complete his look for the film.
• "I am excited about the look. I will be seen as a boy rather than the man that I am perceived in front of the camera. I am wearing jeans and T-shirt, glasses, which I have not worn in my last two films. I am goofy in front of the camera. It is a lot like what I am in real life," he said.
• Since the 27-year-old actor plays a Delhi boy, he was recently in the capital to shoot the third schedule of the film alongwith co-star Alia Bhatt, who plays his south Indian lady love Ananya Swaminathan.
• "I like shooting for 2 States primarily because it is a Dharma (Johar's production house) film. It is all chakachak, clean, young but it is not a frothy rom-com. It is more realistic and that is why we came to Delhi as the book brings the story here.
• "We wanted to show the whole vibe of the city through in the film. We didn't want to compromise by shifting the film to Bombay," said Arjun, who has previously shot in Gurgaon for Aurangzeb>.
• When asked if he read the popular book in order to understand his character better, Arjun said, "I read the script and then I asked Abhishek if I should read the book. He asked me to avoid it as he thought I could get caught up in it. He has his point of view through the book and wanted me to bring something fresh."
• 2 States is slated to release on April 18 next year. The actor is also busy shooting for Yash Raj Films' Gunday, which will see him opposite Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra.
• Besides that, Arjun will be seen in father Boney Kapoor's production, which is the Hindi remake of hit Telegu film Okkadu and Homi Adajania's Finding Fanny Fernandes.
• "We have finished the Kolkata schedule. We have still got some action sequences to be shot in Mumbai but we will finish Gunday by July. As far as Finding Fanny is concerned, we will be shooting in Goa. I will finish that and then begin dad's film opposite Sonakshi (Sinha) by the end of the year as I want to give my undivided attention to it. I am pretty much sorted till end of year," Arjun said.