Arjun Kapoor opens up about failing class 11 and quitting education: 'If 'Ishaqzaade' had not worked, I would have had to live with the regret

Arjun Kapoor, who is currently basking in the success of his Diwali release Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty, recently shared insights into a challenging phase in his life, revealing that he had flunked the 11th standard and subsequently quit his formal education, taking a risk by depending solely on his debut film 'Ishaqzaade'.

He shared in a candid interview with Pinkvilla about how his passion for cinema led him to step away from academics with the support of his family; an enormously rare choice permissible by his parents, including his father, producer Boney Kapoor. "It's tough for any parent to let their child drop out of education, but my family supported me," Arjun reflected.

In recalling his early career, Arjun stated that he began by assisting the director on 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', and he was planning to assist for the movie and be off back home. However, his determination in the film industry grew much stronger, despite his chances of immediate future depending on his performance in 'Ishaqzaade'.
"If 'Ishaqzaade' had not worked, I would have had to live with the regret of not having any educational qualifications to fall back upon," he admitted. "Ishaqzaade was an emotionally and professionally significant journey for him. He recollects that his mother passed away just 45 days before the film's release. "I was numb then during the film's promotions," he added.

Despite the heartache, Arjun continued with the film's release activities and gained solace by seeing positive reactions from the audience. "That day, seeing the audience cheer, I realised that it could be my life," he said.

Reflecting on the risks he took, Arjun admitted to having made a gamble with education. He stated that the success of 'Ishaqzaade' changed his life on all levels and that it was a piece of luck from his late mother as the release date of the film marked a life-changing moment.