Bollywood Showtime August 2014 | Page 25

Bollywood Alia Bhatt I’m a huge Shahid Kapoor fan Mumbai: Alia Bhatt, who has confirmed she has signed Vikas Bahl`s `Shaandar` for a role with Shahid Kapoor, says she`s a fan of the actor, whom she first fell in love with when she was all of 11. OM PUri undergoes mouth surgery, quits smoking “I`m a huge Shahid Kapoor fan. I must have been 11 years old when I went to see Shahid in `Ishq Vishk` at Gaiety-Galaxy (in Mumbai). I`ve been a fan since then. He is a fabulous actor and from what I hear, a very supportive co-star” Alia said. Shahid is a generation removed from most of the co-stars Alia has worked with so far. Gently, she corrects that by saying: “You forget I`ve done `Highway` with Randeep Hooda. But yes, that apart, I`ve so far worked with actors my own age. So there was a natural comfort level with them. “But it`s not like Shahid is any different from Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor or Sidharth Malhotra. He is a very chilled-out guy. He has been around for so many years. I am sure he`s a thorough professional. And I am really looking forward to working with him.” The actress, who was recently seen in `Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania`, admits there is plenty on the plate. But she isn`t allowed to speak about them all as yet. She is, however, excited about `Shaandar`. “I`m very excited. I loved his (Vikas Bahl`s) `Queen`. And I am really looking forward to what he does in the film with me,» said the `Highway` actress. `Shaandar` is to be shot in an undisclosed part of England later this year. Bahl`s last film, the much-lauded «Queen» had been shot in Paris, one of Alia`s favourite cities where she got a chance to holiday recently. “I am very excited about this film. It`s something I haven`t done so far. I want to work with every major actor,” she said. A cancer scare caused by an intimidating white patch in his mouth had all of actor Om Puri’s friends and well-wishers worried after the report of the physical irregularity was out. But after a recent mouth surgery, he is fine and says he has kicked the butt. The veteran actor sounded hale and hearty when this writer spoke to him. Talking about the ordeal, Om said: “When this white patch was detected in my mouth I was hospitalised and fearing the worst, immediate surgery was performed. Most luckily for me, the patch was found to be benign. So there is no threat to my life.” Om has been strictly advised to quit smoking. “After years of inability to kick the habit I’ve quit smoking with immediate effect. Nothing is more important than one’s health. I’ve realized this after being in hospital,” he said. The actor whose next release “The Hundred Foot Journey”, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, features him as the main lead opposite formidable British actress Helen Mirren, says roles have dried up for him at home. “Indian cinema seems to have nothing to offer me any more. After having seen and done it all, I suddenly find myself jobless at home,” he said. Remind him that the West still reveres his talents and Om says: “But that can’t keep me going as an actor. A good offer from the West comes once in a blue moon. I need to be valued at home.” August 2014 25