Janhvi Kapoor steps into the world of espionage with ‘Ulajh’

A new chapter in Bollywood

Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor is set to make her mark in the espionage thriller genre with her upcoming film, Ulajh. Directed by the acclaimed indie filmmaker Sudhanshu Saria, this project marks his commercial debut. Produced by Junglee Pictures, the film follows a young Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, portrayed by Kapoor, who finds herself caught in a perilous conspiracy during a diplomatic mission.

The journey of preparation

Kapoor’s preparation for the role was nothing short of intense. She underwent a nine-day acting workshop with coach Atul Mongia and spent 15 days in script readings with Saria. Reflecting on this experience, Kapoor mentioned, “It really changed the way I look at my craft. I wanted to spend time with the script and myself at home, getting familiar with the text.”

Saria’s direction pushed Kapoor to shed her apologetic, people-pleasing demeanor. “He wanted to work on getting my way in an argument without diluting myself or trying to seem lesser,” Kapoor explained. This approach was a significant departure from her previous roles and personal tendencies.

Embracing a new character

Kapoor, the daughter of the late Indian screen icon Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, has often felt the weight of her lineage. “There’s an aspect of my predisposition in life where I’m a little apologetic about where I come from. To compensate for that, I kind of have a people-pleasing way of dealing with situations,” she shared. However, her character in Ulajh, Suhana, is different. “She’s not afraid to have an opinion. She knows how to get her way and handle male egos,” Kapoor said.

In portraying an IFS officer, Kapoor focused on intellectual rather than physical preparation. “I wanted to do the training that Suhana probably had done in her life. When I was thrown into physically demanding situations, I approached it the way Suhana, who doesn’t have any combat training, would,” she noted.

Experimenting with voice and ownership

Kapoor also experimented with her vocal performance, aiming for a more commanding presence. “I wanted to have a voice that was a little more commanding, a little less meek,” she said, acknowledging some nervousness about how it will be received. “I’ve tried a different voice in the film. I don’t know if anyone will even notice or if it’ll make any difference. But it was an attempt.”

The collaborative nature of the project was a refreshing change for Kapoor. “I’ve never taken so much ownership of a film and been so obsessive or sensitive about a film before,” she said. “They really made me feel involved and empowered, and I have a voice. It’s a very good feeling.”

A rising star in Bollywood

Since her debut in 2018 with the romantic drama Dhadak, Kapoor has quickly established herself as one of Bollywood’s most promising young talents. Her performances in films like the Indian Air Force biopic Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and the horror-comedy Roohi have showcased her versatility as an actor. In 2022, Kapoor starred in Mili, a survival thriller remake of the Malayalam-language hit Helen, which saw her take on a physically demanding role as a woman trapped in a freezer. She followed this with Good Luck Jerry, a black comedy crime film that is a remake of the Tamil-language hit Kolamaavu Kokila.

Kapoor’s Mr. and Mrs. Mahi, in which she stars opposite Rajkummar Rao, is centered around cricket and required Kapoor to undergo training in the sport. She has also ventured into the streaming space with projects like Ghost Stories for Netflix. Despite facing initial scrutiny as the daughter of Sridevi, Kapoor has worked to carve out her own identity in the industry, taking on diverse roles and collaborating with both established and emerging filmmakers.

Future projects and reflections

Currently, Kapoor is wrapping up her first Telugu-language film, Devara, alongside RRR star NTR Jr. and shooting a romantic comedy titled Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari with Varun Dhawan. She’s also set to begin production on a project with the other RRR star Ram Charan, currently identified as RC 16. “‘Devara’ is just a very, very unique film. Both ‘Devara’ and ‘RC 16,’ I don’t think you can limit to any one specific genre. It’s cinema, I think, at its best,” Kapoor said.

Reflecting on recent box office trends in India, where the 2023 rage for big canvas blockbusters has given way to appreciation for plot over spectacle, Kapoor emphasized the importance of emotional resonance over budget size. “What matters to Indian audiences, and always has, is if they strike a chord with the story and the emotion of the film,” she said. “Even if it’s an emotion that can be bracketed into a mass or commercial film, I know that there’s always a thought, or at least the seed of a thought, that connects with the audience.”

Kapoor also noted the impact of global content on Indian viewers. “Over the course of the last couple of years, they’ve been exposed to so much world cinema and art and shows from all around the world through the boom of digital media,” she observed. “I think that’s maybe influenced their taste a little bit.”

Ulajh releases worldwide theatrically on Aug. 2.