"Any angle, he just looked like a star": Director Duo Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao share how they discovered Shahid Kapoor, a rising star

Time of India

17-05-2025

Director duo
Vinay Sapru
and
Radhika Rao
, known for their work in music videos and films like 'Sanam Teri Kasam,' recently shared anecdotes from their extensive career on the 'Hindi Rush Podcast.' One memorable story involved their discovery of a young
Shahid Kapoor
during the casting process for the song 'Aankhon Mein Tera Chehra.' Vinay Sapru recounted their initial search for a "sweet, little boy," which led them to renowned choreographer Shiamak Davar. Davar pointed them towards Shahid, who was then a student in his dance class. Vinay remembered going to the class and spotting
Shahid
dancing in the background. Radhika Rao, who joined the casting process later, recalled Vinay's enthusiastic description of Shahid as a "cute, urban Archie" and his connection to actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem.
Radhika Rao's First Impression of a Budding Superstar
Radhika vividly remembered her first impression of the young Shahid, describing him as 'incredibly cute and an exceptional dancer.' She spoke about the abundance of impressive footage they received during the shoot, noting that typically, directors struggle to find the perfect take during editing. However, Shahid stood out as an actor whose every take was remarkable, often leaving them in a dilemma about which one to choose. Radhika recalled sensing a natural spark in him, recognizing his potential to become a future sensation. She added that even at the editing stage, they realized he possessed a superstar quality, despite him being unaware of his own potential at the time. Vinay added a specific moment during the editing process where Radhika, upon seeing Shahid in a shot where he wakes up to an alarm, confidently declared him a future superstar based on his expression.
The Camera Loves Shahid Kapoor and
Salman Khan
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Radhika elaborated on what makes an actor truly camera-friendly, explaining that some actors possess a natural photogenic quality where they look good from any angle. She used
Salman
Khan as an example, stating that he always looks amazing on camera due to his perfect proportions, due to which there's often no need to manipulate angles. Radhika noted that Shahid possessed similar qualities, making him shine like a star from any angle. Reflecting on their early work with him, the director duo now believes that Shahid was destined for great success; even in his debut appearance, he was phenomenal. 'Now, in hindsight, we feel he was meant for greater things. Even in his first appearance, he was phenomenal,' Vinay said.
Debunking Claims of Salman Khan's Carelessness on Set
Radhika also shared her experiences working with Salman Khan, emphasizing the need for directors to be sharp and well-prepared when directing him, as he is exceptionally intelligent and has had a deep understanding of storytelling from a young age. She vehemently refuted any claims of Salman being careless on set, stating it as "the biggest lie on earth." According to Radhika, Salman spends his entire day observing everything around him, particularly focusing on films, stories, music, and people, often catching details that others might miss. They emphasized that to offer an opinion or suggestion to Salman, one must be prepared with logic and confidence, as he has already thought several steps ahead, and working with him in fear is not an option. Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao directed Salman Khan in the film '
Lucky: No Time for Love
.'
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