STAR BY CHANCE, ACTOR BY CHOICE

In a flurry of ever-updating, ever-changing rules for the world of celebrity and their social media vibe, Aditya Roy Kapur continues to choose an offline persona, and let his work speak for him

- SAMREEN TUNGEKAR

Crochet floral mesh shirt, Harago, ₹31,000: pearl pendant necklace, Misho ₹8,446

It's a bright sunny Monday morning in Alibaug when Aditya Roy Kapur arrives, fresh and ready with his coffee for our cover shoot. Serving look after look, the actor is at ease with himself - happy to be out of the chaos of the city and quite content with the calm vibe of the space he's in - for the shoot, and in life. Roy Kapur's The Night Manager was the talk of the town for most of 2023. Critics lauded the performances and the adaptation of an already-successful series, while the audience witnessed the actor in a role that was clearly written for him. His second much-appreciated project of the year, Gumraah, was also an adaptation of a Tamil thriller, and saw him in a double role with a plot that had a pacey screenplay and was an enjoyable thriller.

"I hadn't watched the original show [The Night Manager] but when the role came to me, I watched it and loved it. The role was exciting and compelling, and had a tonality that I hadn't explored before on celluloid. Also I loved the way it was adapted. Many things drew me to the project: The platform, the kind of team that they were putting together, and Sandeep [Modi, creator]'s vision. Overall, it was just one of those things that was undeniable. It just felt like it's a great role to dig your teeth into as an actor," he recalls.

Jacquard Knitted Vest, Shivan and Narresh. ₹32.950; wide legged jeans Huemn. ₹ 7,900; lapis bracelet, Misho. ₹8,240: suede sandals, Hermès, price on request