“Finally feels like a homecoming” is how Jahnvi Kapoor sees her much-awaited Telugu debut Devara, opposite Jr NTR. The actress is also finally getting to play the typical heroine in a commercial mainstream film, another first for her. Though her recent espionage drama Ulajh received an underwhelming response at the box office, it won Jahnvi accolades for her nuanced performance as a diplomat caught in a conspiracy.
Her co-star Adil Hussain, who had shared screen space with her mother Sridevi in English Vinglish, remarked that her dedication and spontaneity reminded him of the late icon. Janhvi, who has constantly been commended for being a natural on camera, finds navigating the box office her biggest nemesis. Her sports drama Mr and Mrs Mahi had a lifetime collection of a little over Rs 50 crore.
In an industry obsessed with numbers, navigating the box office is a strategy which it seems only a few can master. Film Critic Joginder Tuteja says there is no denying her talent, but Janhvi has not adhered to the conventional Bollywood heroine image. “Post her debut Dhadak, which made Rs 70 crore, Janhvi didn’t follow the route most do — a song-and-dance film followed by a multi-starrer where you up the glam quotient along with the rest.
Had Gunjan Saxena been released in theatres, Jahnvi’s career could possibly have taken a different trajectory. Likewise, had Ulajh been on OTT, it would have gained a different popularity. The box office is tricky, especially post-COVI.