Gearing up for a double debut

Vaani Kapoor, who had impressed everyone in Shuddh Desi Romance, is flying high these days. She will be seen in the Tamil-Telugu bilingual 'Aaha Kalyanam', the remake of the Bollywood hit 'Band Baajaa Baarat' and Yash Raj Films’ first South film.

The 22-year-old comes from a conservative Delhi family, but it wasn’t difficult for her to convince her parents about her move to Bollywood. “My parents are more protective than conservative,” she says, adding, “Plus, I started my career with  YRF, this made it easier to convince my parents.”

She’s reprising Anushka Sharma’s role from Band Baajaa Baraat and realises that she’s got some pretty big shoes to fill. “Anushka did a brilliant job. She fully justified the character. I won’t be comparing our performances. She understood the role, and did it her way. I’ve done it my way, without deviating from the story and the character.”

About her co-star Nani, she says “I only got to know him once we started shooting; he’s passionate about his work.” She adds, “No tantrums, very down-to-earth and friendly.”

It’s not every day that an actor debuts in the Tamil and Telugu film industries simultaneously, and Vaani realises how lucky she is. “It’s a great opportunity for me. I’m only hoping that people accept me,” she says.

“My director Gokul took great pains to guide me and teach me the language apart from being a support. I was very diligent in learning both Telugu and Tamil.”

Like most B’town actors, Vaani’s favo-urite South stars are Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, and also Dhanush.

Ask her how she maintains her fit figure and she attributes it to her sound metabolism. “I love eating; I love chocolates, red velvet cakes and butter chicken! I do watch that I don’t go overboard… Luckily, I’m blessed with good metabolism.”