Shanaya Kapoor says she is driven by the excitement of risk rather than the need to silence critics.
The actor made her debut last year with Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, where she was paired opposite Vikrant Massey. The noticeable age difference between the two became a talking point at the time.
In her latest release, Tu Yaa Main, she stars alongside Adarsh Gourav, and this time, conversations have centred around their height difference.
Both casting choices have deviated from conventional Bollywood pairing norms — something Shanaya believes reflects a broader shift within her generation of actors.
‘Risk Is What Excites Me’
Reacting to discussions around unconventional casting, Shanaya explains that her motivation is purely creative.
“It’s not about proving anyone wrong,” she says. “As an actor, it’s about taking that risk. That’s what excites me.”
She adds that repetition doesn’t appeal to her. If a role feels too familiar, it loses its spark. Instead, she gravitates towards scenes that challenge her abilities.
“I want to read a scene and wonder, ‘Am I going to be able to pull this off? How do I find the truth in this?’ That’s where the magic lies — when you attempt something new rather than staying in your comfort zone.”
A Changing Box Office Landscape
While risk-taking in cinema does not always guarantee box office success, Shanaya believes the industry is currently witnessing renewed energy.
She points to the impact of films like Dhurandhar and Border 2 in recent months as signs of audiences returning to theatres.
“It’s an exciting time for actors and creators,” she says. “Audiences are back in cinemas. For a while, that excitement had dipped. Now even for international films like Marty Supreme, people are going in groups. That’s the collective experience I missed as an audience member.”
‘More Exciting, More Motivating’
For Shanaya, this resurgence has made the craft even more motivating.
“The fun of watching films together — that feeling is back. As an actor, that makes everything more exciting.”
As Gen-Z performers continue to experiment with unconventional pairings and storytelling formats, Shanaya Kapoor appears determined to embrace uncertainty — not as a rebellion, but as a creative necessity.
