Zahan Kapoor on getting accolades for Black Warrant and being compared to grandfather Shashi Kapoor, says 'can only accept it with grace' - Exclusive

Zahan Kapoor is the grandson of Shashi Kapoor

Zahan Kapoor has been garnering praises for his performance as Jailor Sunil Kumar Gupta in Vikramaditya Motwane directed Black Warrant, which released on Netflix recently.

Black Warrant was the first series to release in the year 2025 and it has been praised for its storyline.

In an exclusive conversation with Money Control, we asked Zahan about all the love coming his way and on being compared to his paternal grandfather (dada ji) and veteran actor Shashi Kapoor.

Not many know that Zahan had made his debut three years ago in 2022 with Faraaz. The young actor is on cloud nine and says he is thankful for all the love and appreciation coming his way.

Talking about comparisons with Shashi Kapoor, Zahan said in the early stages of his life he 'grew up somewhat oblivious' to who his grand dad was.

Zahan said he is happy to get so much love and thankful to be compared to the legendary Shashi Kapoor and

Zahan Kapoor, who is the cousin of established actors Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, said he would love to do an out and out romantic film soon.

Excerpts from the interview:

Adulation for Black Warrant and the most challenging part of the role

Uff. it's nothing short of overwhelming. It is incredible. I don't know half the time I'm I'm I'm at a loss of words, but I'm I'm just, I keep reminding myself that I'm that this is all possible because of a very, sincere collective effort. And I'm very grateful that so much of that effort is being made. Like you said, it's so rare that almost every aspect of, a story of a series, or a film, or anything is recognised and and also, valued so much. And I'm so lucky, I think in a way to be in this company, at such an early point in my career. So it's gratitude above all.

Making debut with Faraaz three years ago, getting recognition with Black Warrant

I understand. I mean, I I understand why it feels like that for a lot people because I think the amount of attention it feels like it's this kind of fresh discovery, you know. They say things as much as you'd like to believe they don't happen overnight. Right? Yeah. And the funny part of this story is that I started wanting to act almost 10 years ago. I started dedicating my time to it. I did Faraz is my first I've done actually 2, 3 other things that, have I've done 2 plays before I started with the Yes. I did Faraz. Then I did a couple of more things for camera, which unfortunately, those projects haven't yet been released. But my most recent work, which is Black Warrant, has released next. So it's become the second credit I have. But it's been the 5th thing experientially for me. In terms of, as a professional actor, it's been the 5th project.

So, I have of course, kind of had a little bit more confidence yet at the same time, this was the biggest opportunity that had come my way. It was the most responsibility that was placed upon me to carry a role like this in a world like this. And I had to push myself the furthest I'd ever push myself.

Challenging to do the role of Sunil Kumar Gupta

It was challenging. Like, you'd asked about it was challenging for these reasons. And again, in in a series, you know, you're you're shooting. I shot 51 days out of the 52 days, I think, overall that we shot this series. And the sheer volume was literally I was just, I mean, there were so many times I was just holding on for dear life and saying, I hope I've done the work. I've done the prep. Now we're on set, and I just hope everything comes together. And that's the benefit of having such an aligned group of people, be it the technicians and the craftsmen to the your co-actors and co-artists. It does not happen if you don't have that.

On comparisons with veteran actor and his grand father Shashi Kapoor

Zahan: I'll tell you it's a funny thing, you know, it it on one hand, I, he had retired by the time I was born, pretty much. He was not a working figure in the industry industry when I was growing up. So I knew he is my dada ji. He was that. He was my dada ji. And at home, my family, none of them really overemphasized their position in the industry or their or their legacy, so to speak. It was a very contemporary household in terms of the things that were discussed and, and were off importance. The past was not. So, I grew up somewhat oblivious, to be very honest.

At adolescent age I started to discover dada Shashi Kapoor's contribution to cinema

As I became an adolescent, I started to learn and discover what his contribution to cinema was and theatre, of course, as well. And a little bit of it obviously is kind of going to seep in, but it's so unconscious, that, like, there's no effort to do anything to create this, callback. And there's it's been several years since his passing as well.

Unfortunate that dada ji was not able to see me act

Zahan: So I think, you know, it really is he's unfortunately was not able to see me, act in anything. And I was that's a big, kind of a personal loss that I feel. But when people say this and like you have said is that I the way I interpret it is I think it is a reminder of the impact and significance that he had on so many people. It's a reminder of how they felt.

Receive the love with grace

Zahan: It's a familiarity. It's a it's like, you know, you go to an old place, you smell an a dish that you remember, and it it brings out brings forward also. So I'm very grateful that that same love is conjured, when you're seeing me doing what I'm just trying to diligently do. So this is nothing I'm this is nothing that has come out of any intention, but I can receive it hopefully with grace and be asking about it. That's my view.

Zahaan on cousins, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and not doing romantic film

It's not a conscious choice of wanting or not wanting, to be honest. It's not an act of imitation, which is what I'm very proud of, which is that it would then it would be a comparative idea. Yeah. This is a journey that is organic. My journey is organically slightly different to theirs. I love commercial romantic. I would says I'm dying to do one. That opportunity hasn't presented itself yet in a way that I was, was able to jump in and really give my heart and soul. So I'm very optimistic about getting that opportunity and very keen on being able to put my entire being behind it.

No doors are closed for me

I think they (Ranbir, Kareena) are also products of a different time and a different, machinery of the industry. I am fortunate to live in an era where stories like this are being championed by the best of the best. Not just by your independent, you know, smaller makers. You are talking about the best of the best championing stories like this. So that is such a unique opportunity for all of us. So, let's see where it goes. No doors are closed for me.

Zahan Kapoor is the grandson of legendary Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kapoor. Shashi Kapoor was younger brother of Raj Kapoor. Ranbir and Kareena are his second cousins. The Kapoor family is very close knit.

Talking about Black Warrant, the series directed ny Vikramaditya Motwane also stars Rahul Bhat, Anurag Thakur, Paramvir Cheema, Sidhant Gupta.

The 7-episode series which has one hour long episodes each is based on the infamous Tihar Jail. The series is narrated through the eyes of underdog Sunil Kumar Gupta played by Zahan Kapoor and how he grows over the years in the most toughest jobs.

Black Warrant is based on the 2019 non-fiction book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer by Sunil Gupta and journalist Sunetra Choudhury, about Sunil Gupta's time as a young jailer at Tihar.