Arjun Kapoor Recalls How His Mother Would Make His Birthday Special

Actor Arjun Kapoor has always spoken fondly of his mother, whom he lost to cancer five years ago. On his birthday today, the Bollywood hunk says that no celebration can match up to the “loving birthday atmosphere” that his mother would always create for his special day when he was a kid.

“She would go out of her way to make it special [for me]. And that’s something that I still hold very close to my heart. She would always plan well in advance, and it really mattered to me. It still does,” says Arjun. Ask him to share more childhood birthday memories, and you can sense nostalgia in his voice. The actor recalls how “it was a big party with friends”, as summer vacation would be nearing an end and he could hardly wait for school to reopen. “My birthday was a high point of starting school every year. It would give me a chance to meet all my friends. We’d have fancy dress competitions or hold movie screenings. We were allowed to party late in the night... till 10pm! That was late for us at that time,” laughs Arjun.

The bachelor still enjoys the special day, but adds that celebration has changed over the years. “With time, I guess, you get a bit chilled out and laid-back in life. And in the [acting] profession that I am, I prefer spending or celebrating my birthday with just family and close friends around. I mean, you prefer spending time with quality people... So, I still celebrate my birthday, but it’s not that loud. Bas style change hua, celebration toh hoti hi hai,” says Arjun.

How does it feel to turn 32? “I’m very happy. I never imagined myself to be in this position [in life], to have hold on my own, have a foundation as an actor in this industry. I try and assess from the point of view of a young Arjun, and what he dreamt of achieving then. Life has progressed in a positive manner. So I’m not getting old, but just more wiser and experienced.”