At the much-awaited trailer launch of Deva, Shahid Kapoor shared his excitement and insights about his most challenging role to date. The event, attended by director Rosshan Andrrews, co-star Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, and Umesh Kr Bansal, saw the release of a gripping trailer that left audiences eagerly awaiting the film’s release.
Shahid spoke candidly about the dedication that went into making Deva, describing the process as a three-year journey—one year of shooting and two years spent developing the character. “This is three years of our work, one year of shooting. This is every day of giving everything that we have—from our head to our heart to every little frame of this film—to give you an experience that will stay with you,” Shahid shared with enthusiasm.
In a deeper reflection on his role, Shahid revealed that Deva is the most complex character he has ever portrayed. “This is the most complex character I have played. Having said that, I’ve played a few, but any character that has challenged me to ask myself if I am capable of doing this, that would be Deva’s character,” Shahid admitted. He gave full credit to director Rosshan Andrews for creating such a multifaceted role, adding, “Rosshan created this character. We developed it for one year, and then we shot it for another year. Whatever I did in this film, it’s only because of Rosshan.”
Shahid also spoke about the personal growth he sought as an actor and how Deva gave him that opportunity. “As an actor, you wait for that opportunity to take you to the next level. It’s not easy. I can’t do everything myself. It’s the story of the film, the world of the film, and its requirements that guide me. I can only do what the film needs. If I do more, I’ll ruin it; hopefully, I won’t do less,” Shahid said. He elaborated on how the character’s presence and aura required a delicate balance, combining both physical and emotional depth to bring Deva to life on screen. “This film gave me a chance to make myself happy, but there is also a lot of presence and aura to this character. There is an overwhelming personality of Deva that gives him that charisma. It needed to be a combination of both these elements.”
Shahid expressed excitement about Deva's unique appeal, explaining that it belongs to a category of films that stay with you long after the credits roll. “In my career, I’ve done a lot of films, but after watching this film, especially the climax, I feel it belongs to a category of films that you can talk about even after watching it. You can watch it a second time. It’s an entertaining film, but it’s also a very complex world and character.”
Shahid’s deep reflection on his craft and Deva shows his commitment to growth as an actor and to creating roles that challenge both him and his audience.
The film is all set to hit the cinemas on 31 January, 2025.