Janhvi Kapoor: “I want my wedding to be quick and the honeymoon to be very long”

From all that you’ve seen and known, what does marriage mean to you as an actor in the public eye?

JK: There was a big stigma in the industry, and in general, that if a female actor got married, it meant her career would end. But I’m so happy that the biggest heroines in our industry have changed what that means, from Kareena to Deepika to Alia and Kiara. I feel they’re doing some of their best work after getting married—and I don’t think the audience’s gaze toward them has changed. I know that when I get married, I’ll want to give that my best. Right now, I’m not at the stage where I can lose focus from my career and shift my attention, or even divide my attention with anything else.

It could be said that Gen Z has fewer reservations about sex and relationships. You have various means to connect but the downside is a less idealistic approach to romance. What are your views on love in a time of instant gratification?

JK: It’s so funny that you ask me this, because I was just thinking about it the other day. I think it is almost impossible to fall in love now. If you’re from this generation and you’re navigating your way in this world of finding a partner, instant gratification has made the entire idea of romance so transactional that I don’t know if we have the patience, aptitude or openness for a real connection. We’ve also become so rigid in our ways that we judge people a lot more. It’s ironic, really—this entire woke culture is about judging people less, right? But for me personally? I’m a hyper-romantic, devoted individual. But I also think that I’ve been extremely lucky in my personal life, so I value and cherish how rare what I’ve found is. And I love the institution of marriage. I love the idea of creating a family life, a unit that is yours, of having someone who’s on your team, of being devoted to them.

How do you see yourself as a bride?

JK: I’ve been dressing up so much that on my wedding day, I’d just like to be comfortable. I know I want to get married in Tirupati. I definitely don’t want too many people there. I want it to be quick, I want the honeymoon to be very long. I definitely know that whatever I wear will be Manish [Malhotra], because he’s my favourite person and he’s family.