Kunaal Roy Kapur talks about his role as Taran in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, says "I can't take credit for any of that..."

Kunal Roy Kapoor as Taran in YJHD

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is back in theaters, rekindling the love it first sparked in 2013. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, this coming-of-age drama resonated deeply with young audiences, diving into themes of friendship, love, and the search for self-fulfillment. Featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, the film became the ultimate aspirational journey for many.

The dynamics between the lead pair and their friends, played by Aditya Roy Kapur and Kalki Koechlin, were widely appreciated. But it was Kunaal Roy Kapur’s Taran who unexpectedly became a fan-favorite, earning social media fame for his quirky, “green flag” character that embodied positivity. The film’s enduring popularity continues to strike a chord with fans, making it a timeless classic.

In a recent chat with India Today Digital, Kunaal shared his thoughts on the growing social media following for his character Taran. Despite the increasing fanfare, he modestly declined to take credit for the character's popularity, emphasizing that the credit belongs to the writer and filmmaker behind it.

Discussing how such characters eventually manage to get their due, the Kunal said, "Honestly, it depends on how it resonates with people. You go through your career and continue to do different types of roles, and a few of them manage to stick. Some are hits, and some misses. But by and large, the effort is to play parts based on some sort of reality that serves the story primarily or serves the themes of the story. And if that resonates with audiences, it sticks in people's memory. You cannot, however, enter it thinking that I want to do these kinds of memorable roles. You have to keep working and, hopefully, some will be memorable. The bad ones will be forgotten, fortunately. But you cannot plan a lot of things."

When asked how he reacts to social media celebrating Taran and his personality, Kunaal smiled to say, "It's the writing. I don't know, it's the filmmakers and the writers. I can't take credit for any of that. I just did a role that was shaped by others."

During the conversation, Ritwik Bhowmik, his co-star from Bandish Bandits, joined in and offered his perspective on Taran, commenting on how social media has been enthusiastically celebrating the character.

Also Read: Shahid Kapoor grooves to song 'Dhan Te Nan' from Kaminey on the sets of his film Deva, watch 

"Instagram came in now, but I remember watching this film with an auditorium filled with people. And when he does his little thing, telling Kalki's character why are you fighting with your friends, we will take care of it. The audience collectively went 'awwww'. He has always been a total green flag," he added.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was re-released today, January 3 and is running in select cinema halls.