Janhvi Kapoor on Her Wedding, Her Personal Style and a Beauty Ritual She Swears By

It’s not just that she is the daughter of celebrity parents, the late Sridevi and Boney Kapoor; or that she commands a bevy of flashlights while on an errand run; or has the kind of face you’d see in a vintage Bollywood film. In a conversation with Brides Today, the covergirl lets in on the little things that make her the quintessential star...

What do you think are the rules of the ‘sister-codes’?

Janhvi Kapoor: Women should just respect each other. I don’t think there should be any rules or pointers—they should just be humane, good to each other, and encourage each other. A lot of competitiveness is encouraged in girls, and it is usually for male attention or in the professional space. For men, it is not perceived as volatile, but terms like ‘cat fights’, and women being pitted against each other, are all looked at as a common aspect of female relationships. That mindset needs to go, and I think it starts by being happy for each other, supporting each other, and being vocal about that support. It also reflects a great deal of self-security, which is extremely important.

We believe you once dressed up as a boy to help a friend make another boy jealous...

JK: Yes! And we continue to do these weird things even today. We always have very elaborate narratives, it is almost like an Abbas-Mastan thriller...the ideas we come up with to mess with people, sometimes.

How did you pull it off, though?

JK: I wore an oversized hoodie, and to bulk up, I stuffed it with pillows to make it seem like I have biceps,and all. We took a photograph from the back to send him. Come to think of it, that was my first acting job—and I think it worked, because that guy did get jealous after seeing the photograph.

You’re a good wing woman, clearly! Is it true that you actually thought of deleting all your old Instagram photographs before your Bollywood debut?

JK: Yeah, I did delete a couple. Most of them were with my friends, and I assumed that they may not becomfortable with the whole world seeing their photographs.

Do you have a mental image of how your wedding will look?

JK: I’ve had a very clear picture of that, right from the start! I want to be married in Tirupati; it will be a very intimate affair. I know what I will be wearing—a gold, zari Kanjeevaram sari; and I’ll have lots of mogras in my hair. My husband is going to be in a lungi. And we will all eat food on a banana leaf after the wedding.

When and how did you come up with this plan?

JK: I visit Tirupati a lot. And when taking such a big step in my life, I’d want to get married there, with the person that I love. Also, in the past, I attended the wedding of a family member there...and really enjoyed it. I don’t like big weddings—they’re fun to attend, but being the centre of attention at such a big event will give me too much anxiety!

What is your go-to look for an Indian wedding?

JK: It depends on my mood, really. Sometimes, I’ll wear something light, with silver jewellery and kohl. Other times, I like going super-traditional, with vintage and classic pieces. But it always has to have an element of bling, like sequins, or zari, or mirror work.

You are one of the rare stars to have actually made ethnic-wear ‘cool’. Tell us a little bit about your style.

JK: Most of the times I’ve worn ethnic-wear, it has been for my dance classes. I’m required to wear Indianwear for it. Actually, that’s also how I began enjoying the outfits. Once I started dancing, I understood the aesthetic of it, and it began appealing to me. Also, I find it extremely comfortable to wear cotton kurtas and churidars. I also love wearing jhumkis. I feel there are so many styling opportunities that come with Indianwear, because, unlike western clothes, they are so decorated and detailed with such exquisite kaarigari.

Is there a beauty ritual that you swear by?

JK: Putting food on my face. I apply whatever’s left from breakfast—it’s legitimately the most useful thing that you can do for your skin. Fruits are the best.