Restless Shahid Kapoor goes spiritual

Last month Shahid Kapoor turned into a nervous wreck. And his condition has to do with the sudden change in his work schedules.

Having finished all his assignments, the actor has no projects on hand at the moment besides his dad's film Mausam. A timely visit to papa Pankaj Kapoor's spiritual guru in the hills has shown Shahid the virtues of stillness in an otherwise-overactive lifestyle.

Says Shahid, “All I can say is faith makes all things possible. That"s why it's called a leap of faith. I was working 20 hours a day till the 20th of January. I was working insanely. When I woke up on the 21st I had no work to do. Initially I felt a sense of freedom. Then immediately it was followed by panic…what do I do with myself? I"ve become an insomniac and started tweeting at 4 am. I don"t feel tired. I feel I haven"t earned the right to rest. And I don"t know what to do with myself!"

However there is the upside. “Every time I"ve sat at home without work it has worked for my career. I did it before Vivah and before Jab We Met."

Shahid will be doing only one film in 2010, and that is his Dad Pankaj Kapoor"s Mausam. He will serve as a hands-on technician, spot-boy whatever…for his dad"s project.

“While I"m being directed by my Dad I"d like to learn in every department. I want to learn about cinematography, choreography and direction. Most of all I"d learn a lot about acting from my Dad. I want to try and absorb from him."

The thought of acting in front of his father petrifies Shahid. “It"s a very scary thought. But in life you"ve to face challenges. Of course there"s anxiety and fear about acting in front of my father. I quite often think I"ve given a decent performance. And then when I hold a trial show for my father all the confidence crumbles."

Shahid remembers a nightmarish incident when he had to act in front of the great Pankaj Kapoor. “I remember this one time when we were shooting for Jab We Met near Khandala. Dad dropped in and was watching me on the monitor. And I just couldn"t give my shot! I actually had to tell my dad to leave. I tactfully told him to proceed, and I"d join him for lunch. He immediately understood. And my next shot was okay."

Explaining his reason for staying away from all other projects Shahid says, “It"s a film very close to my heart because after 35 years of acting, Dad is finally directing a film After being the best actor in the country (that"s what I believe him to be) he has decided to make a film with me in the lead because he wants to project me in a certain way. It"s a huge sacrifice for someone who does so little work as an actor. The least I can do is to be there unconditionally for him during the time that he makes the film."

To prepare for Mausam, Shahid needs to go train as pilot at a military academy.

Says Shahid, “I don"t want to reveal right now what all I"ll be doing. But yes, I do play an air force pilot. But if you think I"ll learn how to fly a plane for the film then all I can say is, I haven"t reached that stage of madness."