I was watching Koffee with Karan season 6. The episode of Jhanvi Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Whilst, the saccharine appearance of their relationship is evident, I could sense the underlying rivalry between step-siblings. The intense irritation in Arjun Kapoor's answers and competitive nature was invisible in his earlier appearance with Ranvir Singh where he described the pain and sorrow of his mother passing away; growing up seeing a mother pine for her husband who had left her for a more good-looking woman; the angst of growing up without a father; the knowing that his father's home was just a stone's throw away, yet he could not access his dad; knowing that his father (a successful producer) will never launch his career or support him in the intensely nepotistic Bollywood; knowing that his father and his step-sisters are blissfully enjoying the perfect home, while his mother's home lay broken. The episode with Ranvir Singh was fraught and heavy with his emotions against his father.
Fast-forward: recent episode with his step-sibling Jhanvi Kapoor. It was not a friendly competition. There was a sense of irritation when she was winning. He was angry at Karan and behaving like a whiner. The child who lost his father to another kid has raised its ugly head and occupied his entire being. You could see Karan Johan trying to pacify a tantrum. There was the same look that I have when I know my daughter is being nasty but I have to put up with the behavior because it is a public place. Karan was vainly trying to pacify him while he was behaving like a toddler, unable to accept the impending defeat. The realization that life is yet again going to take away something precious from him and land it wrapped in a gift-box into his step-sister's hand.
I don't blame Arjun Kapoor. He has faced the worst fear a child can face. Fear of abandonment. You could see the child in him fighting against fate when the hamper was won by Jhanvi. Some might call it exaggerated assessment, but I could see a young Arjun Kapoor witnessing life meet out a bad deal for the second time.
I could also see his intense hatred for South Indians. The South Indian woman who stole his father and left his mother heart-broken. Jhanvi says she would spend time with Deepika Padukone and they would hear South-Indian film music together. He quips "She would go a Thangabali on you." It may seem he wanted it to be funny, but there was a sense of irritation toward Jhanvi's interest in South-Indian music.
Watching the episode, what intensely struck me was Jhanvi. Her ability to stay connected to her Telugu roots, for which I think the credit goes to Sridevi. She cultivated a connection despite the glam wold of Bollywood as well as the artificiality of a North-Indian culture. It is true. While South-Indians have many flaws, artificiality is not one of them. North-Indians would never mean what they say. They are polished in their language and attitude but they hold intense hatred for anything South-Indian. North-Indians also have a desire to dominate. It is in their genes to subjugate the other. Sridevi has raised her girls to be rooted to their Telugu culture, which is difficult given the scenario that they were raised in a North-Indian background. Kudos to Sridevi that Jhavnvi talks of Vijay Devarakonda in high regards, which means she actually sees Tollywood movies and keeps track of South-Indian cinema.
It is just not Arjun Kapoor. I felt the North-South divide with all actors invited to the show. On being asked who they thought was the better actress: Alia Bhatt or Deepika Padukone. They all chimed Alia Bhatt. Whilst Alia Bhat is a good actress, she can never even come in close competition with Deepika Padukone. She could never handle roles as diverse as Padmavati or Mastani. She could never go from a jeans to a historical attire. She could not portray roles that demand dignity and royalty. Alia Bhatt can be your everyday girl but never a Cleopatra. Yet, people in the show said she is a better actress. That is because among the contemporary star actresses there are no true-blue North Indians except Alia Bhatt. It is obvious that it is a competition between Alia and Deepika for the top position. North-Indians film fraternity desperately want Alia to rule the roost, but Deepika clearly has taken the crown much to their dismay. It actually funny because Deepika us not even your typical South-Indian. She is as much a South-Indians as Madhuri Dixit. Unlike, Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Rekha, Vyjayanthimala or even Vidya Balan, Deepika may have been brought up in Bangalore, but the genes are Aryan. Are they not Konkani Brahmins? So Aryan, So North-Indian. Yet, because she comes from Bangalore, she is tagged as South-Indian. Yes, her tastes may be South-Indian in music but she married a down-right, hard-core epitome of North-Indian Delhi boy.
Back to Jhanvi Kapoor. I felt sorry for her. Her desperate attempt to be part of the Bollywood and a family that has taken her into their fold to show their magnanimity. It should have been evident to her. Anshula, the sister of Arjun, would not help her in the last round because her brother threatened her. He would not let history repeat his childhood. He will not lose out to his step-sister. He may donate his spoils to her, but he will not let her win the loot. Whatever they may portray: a broken family that got back together; modern family with peace among its members; the last statement by Jhanvi sums up the equation of their family "why did Anshula not help me win?"
