Aditya Roy Kapur On Learning, Letting Go And Being The Accidental Leading Man

“Never say never, ” Aditya Roy Kapur says with a grin, reflecting on a career that ’s been as unpredictable as it has been unplanned —and marked by the occasional flash of real presence. The ride, he admits, has schooled him in the brutal realities of success, failure, resilience and raw self-awareness—life lessons too intricate to distill into any neat, glib takeaway.

In many ways, Kapur didn’t just enter the industry; he came of age within it—growing up on set, picking things up as he went, shapeshifting just enough to stay in the frame. He’s been working since he was 19, and the two decades following that have been in front of a screen.

You’ve got to trust your gut—before your head steps in and starts second-guessing everything,” says the actor, talking about the instinct that’s guided most of his career. It’s how he stumbled into show business in the first place: partying in Goa, loitering outside college—until a friend of his brother’s suggested he audition for a VJ gig for Channel V. He “had the look,” the friend said. “The afro.” That offhand nudge—which he thinks of as his “acting school,” in a way, eventually led to a role in London Dreams (2009). Back then, the film set was more playground than purpose. But a year later, by the time Action Replayy and Guzaarish came around, Kapur knew this was the thing.

Aditya Roy Kapur wearing the Tommy Hilfiger collection: Breton stripe half-zip, double-breasted peacoat, and seated fit classic chinos, all by Tommy Hilfiger Photo by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

“He’s thoda lazy sometimes,” a co-star once said about him in an interview. “No matter how focused he is, he’ll always have that laidback vibe.”

And yet, in the years since, Kapur has quietly strung together a career built not on strategy but feel—offering up marquee moments from Aashiqui 2 (2013) to The Night Manager (2023).

It isn’t about strategic career moves or meticulously plotted game plans; it’s about an almost primal connection—to the material, to the director’s vision, to the intangible alchemy of a team coming together to breathe life into a story. “A film is a collaboration—an intricate dance between many moving parts— and when the story, the people, and the energy align, that’s when I know it’s the right time to dive in. Overthinking it kills the magic,” he says. It’s not the most conventional approach. But then, Kapur was never trying to play by the book.

Take, for instance, his low-key entry into the industry—opting for supporting roles in films his older brothers, producer Siddharth and actor Kunaal, weren’t involved with. Kunaal wasn’t particularly surprised by his decision to pursue acting. “Aditya loved watching action and martial arts movies when he was a kid,” he says, adding, “He also loved cricket and eating large bowls of ice cream; still does.”

Aditya Roy Kapur wears the Breton stripe half-zip, double-breasted peacoat, and seated fit classic chinos, all by Tommy Hilfiger Photo by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

Ask the youngest Kapur sibling if there’s a performance he wishes had gotten more love, and he shrugs off the notion with matter-of-fact ease, refusing to indulge in what he sees as a self-defeating trap. “I try not to dwell on that stuff. It’s not very constructive,” he says. “You can end up chasing that kind of validation—and it’s hard to control how something is perceived or received. There are just too many variables: why a film works or doesn’t, why something resonates or fades out. Maybe not enough people saw it. Maybe it just wasn’t the time. Unless there’s something to learn from looking back, I don’t see the point. Feeling slighted doesn’t really get you anywhere.”

Flip the coin, though, and he’s happy to receive the love. “It’s a really valuable thing—to have a random person come up to you and appreciate what you do. Who gets that? It can lift your spirits. It can change you,” he’s said in an earlier interview on YouTube.

This year, the actor’s gaze is set firmly forward, fuelled by the same restless hunger that’s always kept him evolving. His new film, Metro… In Dino, drops in July—a project he says he knew was right from the very first conversation.

So far, his gut hasn’t led him astray.

Aditya Roy Kapur wears the Breton stripe half-zip, double-breasted peacoat, and seated fit classic chinos, all by Tommy Hilfiger Photo by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

Aditya Roy Kapur wears the mix stripe Poplin shirt, regular fit water-repellent Harrington jacket and tapered fit Herringbone chinos, all by Tommy Hilfiger Photo by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

With his sleepy eyes and easy charm, It’s no surprise Kapur has earned the title of the internet’s favourite boyfriend. Reddit is full of people asking for the inside scoop. Instagram fan pages track his gym routines, press appearances and random airport sightings like it’s a full-time job. And if rumours of a love interest pop up, the comments aren’t always kind.

Surprising, given how little of this attention he actually courts. Probably because he enjoys keeping things a perennial mystery. He barely posts on social media. Every so often, there’s a flurry of activity—then radio silence. For the longest time, he didn’t even have an account. No attention-grabbing captions, no curated grid, no “look at me” energy. He’s not chasing the limelight—it just seems to find him.

So, what is it about Aditya Roy Kapur that cuts across gender lines—and has everyone hooked?

Aditya Roy Kapur wears the stripe-wicking polo by Tommy Hilfiger Photo by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

“That’s a question for you to answer, not me!” he laughs, effortlessly flipping the narrative and only building to the myth. He’s no stranger to being objectified—something he once candidly acknowledged, recalling his early days as a VJ when the promotional campaign itself featured him taking his shirt off. “It’s a visual medium, so if one can tick that box then it’s a good thing,” he said in an interview with Anupama Chopra. It’s this unstudied charisma, that unfiltered ease, that makes him so dangerously magnetic. He’s not trying to be relatable. No smoke, no mirrors, no rehearsed soundbites or faux humility. What you see is what you get. He’s thoughtful, quietly principled, and committed to making a difference beyond the frame.

The physical transformations, too, are par for the course— but they’re never about vanity. The shift from lean to bulked-up beast is always driven by the demands of a role, and Kapur adapts like a chameleon, overhauling not just his workouts but also his diet, mindset, even his posture—embodying whatever the story calls for. He approaches these changes with an almost method-actor authenticity, refusing to build a body that doesn’t serve the narrative. Some characters call for subtlety, an every-man vibe; others demand something more gladiator-esque.

“It’s also about finding that fine balance between artifice and truth, knowing when to push and when to pull back,” he explains—this from someone who’s previously admitted he loves his food and can’t really do without it.

Sometimes, the transformation isn’t even physical—like the beard that morphed into a kind of career-era symbol. He wore it for nine months, loved the identity it gave him, but when it was time to move on, he didn’t flinch. Shaving it off felt like shedding a skin. “A kilo lighter,” he jokes—a small but strangely exhilarating victory.

Kapur’s personal style, much like his persona, leans toward the timeless rather than trendy. Shooting with the legendary Tommy Hilfiger for Esquire India, he says, was a full-circle moment. “It’s a brand I genuinely loved growing up, one I still associate with street cred, baggy jeans, that boyish thrill of owning something cool, you know?” He chuckles, recalling how he once badgered his older brother into scouring Hong Kong for a rare pair of Tommy carpenter jeans. “I treated those with so much love and care, and now I can’t bloody find them! I’m so irritated,” he laughs. “I think they’re at my mom’s place.”

Aditya Roy Kapur wears the Tommy Hilfiger towelling regular polo and Tommy Hilfiger towelling shorts, all by Tommy HilfigerPhoto by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

There are no frills, no reinventions for reinvention’s sake. If something fits, he’ll buy it in every shade—like a man who knows what he likes and isn’t looking for applause. “Fashion is a form of expression, but it’s never a performance. It’s about simplicity—knowing what flatters my frame and sticking with it. A black suit, a great pair of jeans, versatile sneakers, a perfect white T-shirt, a casual shirt—those are the essentials I can’t live without.” Practical, yes. Never boring.

And while he doesn’t see himself as a poster boy for avant-garde fashion, he’s a keen observer of the revolution unfolding around him: men daring to be bolder, louder, more irreverent. “The visual landscape has changed and so has the mindset. There’s less judgment now, more room for self-expression—and it’s exciting to witness,” he says, with the easy enthusiasm of someone who believes the evolution is only just getting started.

Actors of yesteryear threw themselves into their craft, with little room for anything else. Kapur, a true millennial, refuses to stick to just one lane. When a film demands it, everything else steps aside—he gives it his full 100%. But outside the frame? He’s got plenty more going on.

When he’s not shooting, Kapur throws himself into life with the same instinctive gusto.

Sometimes that means catching a flight to Thailand to reconnect with old friends; other times, it’s staying put in Mumbai, juggling shoots, meetings and carving out rare pockets of downtime. And then there’s music— the self-proclaimed rock enthusiast is a talented singer, and clips of him strumming his guitar and singing along have captured the attention of fans and music lovers alike in recent years.

His off-set rhythms are often grounded by the comforts of home. “As a family, we love having a meal together and talking about everything—movies, sports, current affairs,” says Kunaal, speaking to the easy closeness the Kapurs share.

Aditya Roy Kapur wears the Tommy Hilfiger towelling regular polo and Tommy Hilfiger towelling shorts, all by Tommy HilfigerPhoto by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

Those in-between moments are sacred—essential to recharge and rediscover forgotten pleasures like playing football, sparring in MMA or getting lost in music. “It’s an underrated art, doing nothing,” Kapur muses. After weeks swallowed whole by the intensity of a film set, losing oneself in the artifice of make-believe, the sheer luxury of stillness becomes a recalibration of the soul.

There’s also the call of purposeful action. Longtime friend, producer and environmentalist Pragya Kapoor recalls his involvement in a tree plantation drive she organised.

“Apart from his good looks, I think what really sets Aditya apart is that he doesn’t overthink things. When I asked him to join me for the launch of my NGO, the Ek Saath Foundation, he said yes in a heartbeat—no questions asked, no managers or entourage, just him, comfortable and secure in who he is. That’s what I love about him. If he believes in something, he’s all in,” she says.

Fame hasn’t gone to his head. “He’s as kind and down-to-earth as he was when I first met him during the shoot of Fitoor,” she adds, referring to the film he made with her husband, director Abhishek Kapoor, released in 2016.

Aditya Roy Kapur wears the stripe-wicking polo, regular fit water-repellent Harrington jacket, wide-leg stretch chinos, and the runway collection flag scarf, all by Tommy HilfigerPhoto by Nishanth Radhakrishnan

With a life so well lived, is there any time for loving? Kapur's been linked to a string of actresses over the years but remains famously private about his romantic life. “He doesn’t open up easily,” says Kapoor, “and there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye.” So, what does his ideal partner look like? “Oh, I think the entire nation wants to know that!” she laughs. “I’d say someone easy-going and fun—nothing overly complicated. A girl who enjoys staying in, maybe playing video games with him.”

Regardless of his relationship status, there’s a new energy to Kapur these days—a sense that he’s not just riding the wave but shaping it. In an industry built on reinvention, his ability to evolve without losing his centre might just be his greatest strength.

Photographs: Nishanth Radhakrishnan

Style & Creative Direction: Vijendra Bhardwaj

Grooming: Stephen Jadhav

Fashion Team: Komal Shetty

Bookings & Production: Varun Shah

To read more stories from Esquire India's May-June 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.