Will Devara give Jahnvi her first big hit?

“Finally feels like a homecoming” is how Jahnvi Kapoor sees her much-awaited Telugu debut Devara, opposite Jr NTR. The actress is also finally getting to play the typical heroine in a commercial mainstream film, another first for her.

Though her recent espionage drama Ulajh received an underwhelming response at the box office, it won Jahnvi accolades for her nuanced performance as a diplomat caught in a conspiracy. Her co-star Adil Hussain, who had shared screen space with her mother Sridevi in English Vinglish, remarked that her dedication and spontaneity reminded him of the late icon.

Janhvi, who has constantly been commended for being a natural on camera, finds navigating the box office her biggest nemesis. Her sports drama Mr and Mrs Mahi had a lifetime collection of a little over Rs 50 crore. In an industry obsessed with numbers, navigating the box office is a strategy which it seems only a few can master.

Film Critic Joginder Tuteja says there is no denying her talent, but Janhvi has not adhered to the conventional Bollywood heroine image. “Post her debut Dhadak, which made Rs 70 crore, Janhvi didn’t follow the route most do — a song-and-dance film followed by a multi-starrer where you up the glam quotient along with the rest. Had Gunjan Saxena been released in theatres, Jahnvi’s career could possibly have taken a different trajectory. Likewise, had Ulajh been on OTT, it would have gained a different popularity. The box office is tricky, especially post-COVID, and this year. But Janhvi continues to get films, and that’s a major plus.”

Reduced to arm candy!

Though everyone expects Devara to be that one big box office hit, there are a few who voice their concern. “An actor who has helmed films on her own steam will be relegated to the position of the hero’s arm candy in the film,” they point out. Asked about this view, Jahnvi had said, “Working in films is my job, and I should be noticed for my talent. For that matter, star power cannot overshadow the film or story.”

Talking about her filmography, which includes Roohi, Good Luck Jerry and Milli, Jahnvi says, “These movies allowed me to showcase my range as a performer and I have learnt on every set. I can’t do the same thing over and over again because I get bored easily. I hate repeating things and have to set up challenges for myself because that’s when I know I’m growing. Otherwise, I feel like a waste of time.”

Even as her co-stars, from Roshan Mathew to Gulshan Devaiah, call her a professional, Janhvi says she is aware. “People (in the industry) think I take my position for granted. That’s the biggest misconception they have about me. They think because I’m privileged that it makes me unaware of what it’s like to work hard. I may not be the most talented, or the most beautiful; I may not have many skills to offer; but I can promise you that I am the hardest-working person on the set. This is something I can give in writing in blood, so you don’t doubt my work ethic again.”