Indian actor Shahid Kapoor stated that he handles rumours and public narratives surrounding him by taking everything “with a pinch of salt”, adding that he does not automatically believe rumours or get influenced by outside opinions.

Reflecting on his 23-year journey in the film industry, Kapoor opened up on negative PR, online trolling, and the pressures of fame during an interview.

The actor revealed his approach to dealing with rumours and online criticism. “I personally never believe anything anybody says unless I was in the room and saw it myself,” he said, adding that maintaining a healthy level of skepticism has served him well throughout his career.

“I take everything with a pinch of salt in life and I think that has gone well for me because what happens is that when you start believing people, now they know you know and you are buying into what they are saying, so they manipulate you,” he said. The actor added that he applies this mindset universally, stating that even if his best friend says something, he takes it with a pinch of salt, applying the same to his parents.

Discussing the alleged trolling of fellow-star Alia Bhatt during the Cannes Film Festival, Kapoor stated, “It is sad. When one talks about these things, the pressure can really get to people and be hard to handle.” He added, “But that’s why we are here. It comes with the job, with the money and the fame. It is the negative aspect, and that is how life balances itself sometimes. With all that love can come that much negativity.”

Reflecting on his career, Kapoor acknowledged that his last two films did not perform as expected but stressed that he has never been driven by insecurity. “I have never been insecure, but that is a personal thing and I have no right to comment on someone else,” he said. 

He also explained that he prefers to form his own opinions rather than rely on public narratives, noting that he is not dependent on what people are saying about others, adding, “I’ll make my own assessment.”

Kapoor also offered advice to fellow actors, encouraging authenticity over image-building. “I just feel: be real,” he said while adding that he feels every artist should know that even if they’re imperfect or insecure, they should let it show. “Let people see you for who you are,” he urged.

Discussing how the Indian entertainment industry has evolved, Kapoor noted that the shift has made it increasingly difficult to maintain a carefully constructed public persona. “There was a time when you could build a persona and you could manipulate people’s perceptions of you, that time is gone,” the actor said. He added, “You can do that on your phone on Instagram today. Practice a thousand times and create a certain perception which is a digital perception of you and people will believe it.”

While social media allows people to curate their online image, Kapoor believes audiences can still see through inauthenticity: “If they see you being yourself, they forgive you but they will not forgive you for trying to manipulate them,” the actor said.

Kapoor concluded the conversation by discussing his work ethic and drive for excellence. “If you want to achieve excellence or achieve a specific result, regardless of how difficult it might be for people around you, you have to push everybody to a point until you get that result,” he shared.

The actor also touched upon his upcoming film Cocktail 2, revealing that the role marks a departure from the characters he has portrayed in recent years. “After a long time, I am playing a character who’s not an alpha, who’s not hard. I am playing an extremely likable, warm, and relatable character,” he said.