Khushi Kapoor shares her journey of finding her feet in the industry and becoming fashion’s favourite muse

From donning international labels and being the show-stopper for homegrown couturiers to hosting fashion collaborations, Khushi Kapoor’s fashion flexibility is the focus of our cover shoot with her. That she has a model-like face, a gait to match, and a seemingly unending energy to pose through our 10-hour shoot schedule is confirmation that Kapoor is here to keep things stylish. 

In an exclusive conversation with Bazaar India, the young actor speaks to us about finding her feet in the industry, who she turns to for acting advice in her family, and why Betty Cooper’s character is so close to her heart.

Harper’s Bazaar: You’re one film down, and you have another coming up in 2025. What have you learnt about the industry that you didn’t know before you started acting?

Khushi Kapoor: Each film you do is like a lifetime’s worth of knowledge so I feel I’ve learnt so much over the course of this year. Most importantly, I’ve learnt to believe in myself and what I have to offer. It’s easy to get swayed by what other people say, but self-confidence is one of the most important things for an actor and I’m definitely less fearful now of things that are not within my control. It has made such a difference in the way I approach work. 

HB: What does Khushi, the actor, mean to you? Are you deliberately crafting an image for yourself?

KK: I don’t want to create an aura or image of myself. I feel open to trying on different hats and exploring versions of myself that I haven’t seen or been in touch with, so I’m not married to one particular idea. I think it’s extremely early on in my career and I’d like to use this time to try everything and see what works best for me and what I enjoy doing the most. Regardless of the characters I choose to play, I always think it’s important to stay true to myself and tell stories that are exciting to me.

HB: Despite sharing the screen with six other young actors, your character (Betty in The Archies) stood out. Has it been hard to shed the ‘girl-next-door’ label? And how do you ultimately want audiences to perceive you?

KK: Betty’s character is actually pretty close to what my actual personality is like. I’m introverted and shy, and I’m a huge caretaker. I’m okay with however the audience wants to perceive me. With the few external interactions I have had, I’ve always been true to myself. I’m not one to go out of my way to prove a certain point and I don’t see myself being extremely talkative about my personal life in the future and I’m okay with that. I love films, acting, and fashion and that’s what I’m here to do.

HB: We always see you as fashion’s favourite muse. Is this an intentional choice or do you just love great clothes?

KK: Fashion is something I’ve always loved and had an interest in. I’ve somehow always gravitated towards dressing a certain way because that’s what makes me feel confident. Like I said, I’ve always been a shy person who’s used to being in the shadows of her family. So, I found comfort and confidence in dressing up a certain way. It would definitely make me feel better to go out and do events and red carpets by myself if I felt confident in what I’m wearing. It’s so cool that people are actually recognising that 

HB: You seem to be into fitness—your social media reflects it, and a large part of your wardrobe is athleisure. Take us through your fitness and beauty regime.

KK: I’m a Pilates enthusiast and do weight training too. Fitness boosts my mood. In terms of beauty, I think because there’s so much happening to my skin and nails during the shoots, I try to do as little as possible in my free time. I regularly oil my hair at night and do hair spas to avoid any kind of heat damage. I moisturise, use a good SPF on my face, and never forget to double cleanse.

HB: One moment we see you in a girl-next-door fit while at other times your high fashion choices impress us. What is Khushi’s style?

KK: Every girl enjoys playing dress up and trying on something different once in a while. I enjoy experimenting with my looks and fashion. I definitely dress based on my mood, the brand, and the brief. It’s just fun to play around with different silhouettes and styles.

HB: When did you realise you wanted to act? And if you didn’t act, what would you do?

KK: I always knew I wanted to act and so did everyone around me. It was never a question because it’s all I’ve grown up around. At the dinner table, the only discussion would be films. During the day, I’d always be playing around mom and dad’s sets. In my free time, we would go to the movies and come back and enact everything for our family. There was no light-bulb moment because it’s the only thing I’ve thought about ever since I can remember. If I had to do something else, I think it would definitely be something in fashion because that’s something I’m genuinely very passionate about too.

HB: With all these fantastic female actors in your family—from Janhvi to Sonam—who do you go to for work advice?

KK: I go to Janhvi, dad, and Arjun (Kapoor) bhaiya the most. They have many more years of knowledge than me. So it definitely helps to get their opinion on things when I’m not entirely sure of how to handle certain situations.

HB: There has been immense chatter about who you’re dating. How do you manage to navigate this aspect of being an actor?

KK: It’s definitely new for me and it’s not something I had to put much thought into before. I would like my work to be the main focus. I understand there’s a certain curiosity when you’re in the public eye but I think it’s best to keep your personal life private and let your work be the priority.

HB: You come across as a girl I can borrow lipstick from if I met you at a party. You seem like a girl’s girl. Am I reading this right?

KK: I’m definitely a girl’s girl, I just love all my girlfriends and my girl time is like therapy. Those friendships are so special. All my girls I’ve known for years, so they are more like sisters to me. We always seek each other’s opinions on things, get ready together, borrow clothes, and then of course occasionally, have a good cry together and vent about life.

Editor: Rasna Bhasin (@rasnabhasin)

Digital Editor & Interview: Sonal Ved (@sonalved)

Photographer: Mazen Abusrour (@mazenabusrour)

Creative Stylist: Priyanka Kapadia (@priyankarkapadia)

Cover Design: Mandeep Khokhar (@mandy_khokhar19)

Editorial Coordinator: Shalini Kanojia (@shalinikanojia)

Hair Artist: Mike Desir (@mikedesir)

Make-up Artist: Tanvi Chemburkar (@tanvichemburkar)

Fashion Assistants: Iram Halai (@iram_halai); Esther Pinto (@esther_pinto) 

Art/ Set Designer: Janhavi Patwardhan 

Artist’s PR Agency: Communiqué Film PR (@communiquefilmpr)

Outfit from ready-to wear collection; Louisette Earrings; LV Janet Ankle Boot, all by Louis Vuitton (@louisvuitton)

Also read: Vicky Kaushal on childhood, stardom, and being a full-blown green flag

Also read: Sara Ali Khan lets us in on her journey—personal and professional—and the lessons she has learnt along the way