Exclusive - Junaid Khan on being trolled for his dance steps in Loveyapa, says "People make fun of me for that, it is...'

Junaid, who made an impressive debut on OTT with Netflix's film Maharaj, has shifted away from his serious avatar and will be seen in a light hearted comedy.

As for his future projects, Junaid said he wants to be a part of stories that resonate with him. Junaid said though he's open to exploring different genres, but admitted that he's not comfortable with acting in south films for now.

Here are some excerpts from the exclusive interview:

I would put up my films for free on Youtube

Junaid : I feel that as actors, I don't think it really matters, which platform our film is being watched. I think as an actor, I would like everyone to see my film, so I would like you to reach as many people as possible. If it was up to me, I'd say put it up free on YouTube so everyone can see. I mean, obviously, it's not practical in the real world. But, you know, I feel our our producers and distributors, they really understand how to get the maximum reach for our films. So I trust their judgment on how best to reach people.

Online trolling for dance step in Loveyapa

Junaid: I have a publicist team who obviously does let me know. I guess it depends case to case. I think I am not a very good dancer and people make fun of me for that. It is probably expected. I think it's okay. I don't particularly mind it so much. I think that beyond the point, you know, we are all trying to get our film out there as much as possible. As long as you know about the film and if it makes you watch the trailer, then it's okay you can make fun of me a little bit.

No Friday Nervousness

Junaid: I don't think we've had the time to feel the pressure. You know, it's been really exciting. It's the first time I've promoting a film like this, where, I am meeting so many people, doing events, where, traveling. We travelled to Delhi, went to Lucknow, Pune. It's been exciting. We're also getting a lot of excitement and love from people, where we've gone and where we met. So it's been exciting. And, you know, we saw the final print of the film two days ago and, we liked it, and now I'm just hoping that audiences also connect with it.

Loveyapa director Advait was big help

Junaid: We shot Maharaj in 2021. This we shot in 2024. In fact, when I was doing interviews for Maharaj, we were in the middle of shooting. So, I think it there was there was a gap between the two characters. The character of Loveyapa is, further away from my natural personality and also Maharaj. And I think, I think Advait (Loveyapa director) was very helpful with that. Mhmm. No matter what his real age, I think Advait is truly Gen z. And, you know, I think as a director, he's someone who who really gets fantastic performances from from all his cast, even actors who are, doing one or two scenes. I think the way he shoots the scenes and the way he rehearses with everyone, I think he's able to get, like, the best work from from all from all his actors. And I think I've I've also seen that in his other films as well in the past. I think Advait had a lot to do with that.

Junaid: Sneha, who wrote the adapted screenplay and the dialogues for Loveyapa, also had written the dialogue from Maharaj. So I think she's someone who's very well acquainted with all my strengths and weaknesses.

Aamir Khan's advice ahead of film's release

Junaid: He didn't really give me that much advice. He also liked the the script in the initial premise of the film. When he saw the film, I think he really liked it. He as an actor, does tend to like films. As an audience, he does tend to like films a lot. He always goes in wanting to like things when he watches things as an audience. And he himself is an audience, not his own films, but, so he really liked it. But, I think he also liked it enough to volunteer to launch the trailer. So I think that was that was very flattering. That was very flattering. Nervous for mom Reena's reaction

Junaid: Mom is actually going to be watching the film today. She always likes to watch the final copy. So she's watching it today with some of her friends. She did like the role in Maharaj. I think mom is the toughest audience to please. I'm actually quite nervous that she's going to watch it today.

We ask: Will you be there with her when you when she watches it?

I'm supposed to fly back from Delhi today. I'll hopefully make it back by the end of her screening. That's the plan. Wont's watch it with her. I think I'll only make it by the end of screening.

Maharaj was a sensitive film, marketed keeping that in mind

Junaid: Maharaj was a sensitive thing, a sensitive topic. And I think, Siddharth (Siddarth P Malhotra) made it very respectful and very sensitively. And I do feel that also Netflix and, Yashraj (YRF) also did market it keeping in mind that same respect and sensitivity, which I think is important. I mean, I think we should be able to tell the stories we wanna tell, but we should say them in a way where we don't unnecessarily hurt people. And I think care was taken in the case of Maharaj, and I'm happy for that. This is a different kind of film. And it's coming at the right time and at a different time. We're all excited and we're all, trying to, get it get the message out to as many people as we can because we're all really excited about the film and all.  She doesn't really have much of an opinion at that point. Okay. When she watches it, that's when, she really comments. She liked Maharaj but she had a few notes, but she really liked it. I get attracted to good Stories

Junaid: I get attracted to stories. I think I'm fairly genre agnostic. I think I would love to do any any kind of film. And it's not so much the character so much as the story. I think it's it's the story I connect with the story, and, it's been made by people who I trust to make it well. That particular story, make that story well. Then I would love to do any any genre of film. And I like to take my characters, I like my directors to take the lead at least on the character and how they would like to see it being portrayed.

Difference between an OTT release and big screen release?

Junaid: I think as actors, as I said, it's important that as many people can see it as possible. So I don't think for me, it really matters so much where they see it and how they see it. Watching movies in theatres is important

Junaid: I hope so. I think, as a medium of distribution, theaters are important. Now every film obviously is different. And I think producers and producers look at every film differently as well. And I'm glad if that is the case that, more films are coming in theaters because it's another avenue for people to consume our films. Theaters have a certain community experience where you're watching a film with, lots of other people. I mean, at home obviously, in Indian families also at home, not everyone watches things alone. You watch it with your parents and family. But in a theatre, you're watching it with a whole group of people sometimes, like in the hundreds depending on the size of the audi. So I think that there is a community experience in watching in the theaters, which is also very lovely. Does Ira want to be in films?

I don't think so. But I wouldn't be able to tell you for sure. I don't think so. I think she's really doing well for herself through Agatsu Foundation. She's getting a lot of love also, she's getting a lot of work love and she's, doing a lot of work and she's really making a difference.

Working with Khushi Kapoor in Loveyapa and Sharvari in Maharaj

Junaid: I've been lucky to have worked with some fantastic people. Khushi's really good. She's a very dependable actor. Khushi always has your back. In Maharaj, there was, Sharvari and Shalini. They were really fantastic performers. I think I've been very lucky to, work with them. In the film, I've had a great experience. And even, the senior actors have gotten a lot of that. I actually, I really love working with with, like, senior actors like Ashutosh Rana sir, Kiku ji, Jaideep sir. You know, these are actors who've been working since long. And, you know, when you're doing scenes with them, they bring so much to the scenes, that I think it lifts the performance of everyone in the scene. I really love working with them. I think there's so much to learn there. That's really nice.

Not comfortable doing other language films

Junaid: I don't know if I'll be able to act in another language. I always find it really fascinating how people are able to act in languages that they don't speak. I don't know if I'll be able to do it. So who knows? I have another film that Aamir Khan Productions It's called Ek Din, It is with Sai Pallavi. That will come out hopefully later in the year at some point. Let's see. We finished shooting it. I'm on stage at the NCPA in March. There's stuff happening. I'm very excited. Take care of your mental health

Junaid: I think everybody is different. Yeah. I think as as actors, we we are always, in the spotlight a little bit. And that I think that was the case even before social media. I think it is part of the job. And I do feel that we sometimes generally neglect our mental health. But I think it is important for us to keep going back to that and looking after ourselves, not only physically, which actors tend to do a lot, but also look after our mental health and our mind. I've always had a very supportive family that is, always understood this and I think that way, I'm also very lucky. I think for for all actors, I think it is a challenge because you're always in front of people. Yeah. I think as long as I think everyone should should look after themselves.

With Loveyapa set to release on February 7, Junaid is eager to share his work with audiences. Loveyapa is directed by Advait Chandan and written by Sneha Desai. It also marks the debut of Khushi Kapoor. The film also has Ashutosh Rana and Kiku Sharda in pivotal roles.