Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 12, 2017)

Shahid Kapoor has left no stone unturned to lend support to brother Ishaan Khatter. As the young artiste gears up to make his acting career, Kapoor is certain to turn up on the sets of his films to encourage him. Yet, the Rangoon actor says Khatter is paving his own path in Bollywood. “Ishaan knows how to craft his future and make a career as an actor. The decision to choose this line is entirely his. He wants to do this,” Kapoor tells mid-day.

That Khatter was only nine when he began accompanying Kapoor on the latter’s film sets implies that he picked up the ropes of filmmaking early on. “Ishaan was very young when I became an actor. He has spent his childhood accompanying me on set. So, he has seen the process [of making a film]. He is fortunate to have grown up in such an atmosphere.”

Khatter’s international debut, Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds, was applauded at the recently concluded IFFI festival in Goa. However, Kapoor says he is yet to watch the film. “I have been pleading Ishaan to show it to me. But, it’s not his decision. Majidi has to take that call. I hope he keeps a few screenings,” says Kapoor, earnestly adding that he’d even like to learn “a thing or two” from his brother. “He’s a talented actor.”

Yet, having spent 15 years in the industry, there are surely some insights that Kapoor could offer Khatter. “I tell him that success comes easily, but a star must know how to maintain it. You need to battle downfall. I can’t think of any star who hasn’t gone through a bad patch.”