We’re pitted against each other like race horses: Arjun Kapoor

Arjun Kapoor is a happy man as far as the box office and audience verdict for his latest release Ki & Ka goes. Says the actor, “I am in a very happy state of mind. I am feeling validated by the audience for my selection of the script — this matters the most in this business if you want to be a lambi race ka ghoda.”

Arjun is aware of how harsh the industry can be after one slip-up. “We are treated like commodities, pitted against each other like race horses. The race is very long and it’s still going on. The Khans are still running the race — it’s never-ending, but an actor has to find his groove, his own rhythm. I have always said that you have to nurture newcomers who are making unique choices. But what happens is that everyone is out there to compare your films and say ‘this one is not good enough’, ‘that one is bad’. This keeps changing every Friday.”

A few films old already, Arjun believes he is equipped to deal with the industry’s harsh judgements. “If I get shaken up by one flop, then I will have to leave the profession. You become a star on the basis of how you deal with failures.”

Having said that, “If you don’t feel the jolt then there is something wrong with you.”

Referring to his box office debacle Tevar he continues, “I won’t say it’s an outstanding film but I won’t say it’s a bad film either. Any other day the film would have made another '15-20 crores easily. Unfortunately, the release date was such that it didn’t.”