Actor Shahid Kapoor has come a long way. From his chocolate-boy charm in Ishq Vishk to his rugged, shirtless look in Kaminey. The actor has two new films up for release Kaminey and Dil Bole Hadippa. In an interview with CNN-IBN’s Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand, Shahid talks about his films, his new well-toned physique, Kareena Kapoor and his “single” status.

What is with the six packs?

Though I haven’t really counted it, it wasn’t about getting a six or an eight pack for this film. The six packs will be for a later film directed by Ken Ghosh, for which I will have a much more defined torso. For this film it was about getting the body for Charlie because Charlie and Guddu are twins in Kaminey and both the characters need to look very different from each other. Charlie’s body is shown more than Guddu’s. Guddu’s body is more covered.

There is a shot in the Kaminey trailer where you are running shirtless with white stallions. That particular shot can be credited with increasing your popularity.

What sort of reactions have you got for that shot?

It’s amazing. Almost everyone that I’ve met seems to mention it. It was a shot, which Vishal (Vishal Bhardwaj) had in his mind very early. He discussed the shot with me quite early and he gave me almost a year to get ready for the shot. A lot of hard work went into the shot and I think it’s come out really well.

Could you run as fast as the stallions?

You think? No way, I was a hundred feet ahead of them and they would still get ahead of me in five seconds.

Vishal recently took a crack at you. He said Shahid should stop concentrating on his hair, make-up and muscles and he would be a better actor?

We are all in a very kamina (mean) frame of mind these days. Well, my response to that is I quite like my hair and thankfully I have some. Secondly, it was his idea to get the hair extensions on, so he shouldn’t be complaining. Jokes apart, Vishal and I have a relationship where we can be honest with each other. I always tell Vishal that you are an art director and I’m a commercial hero so he should take care of the art and I’ll take care of the commerce. He always says these things in jest and I get back at him.

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