From shy to sassy

 Recently, when Aamir Khan invited his colleagues for a special screening at home, a luxury sedan rolled in with an unlikely trio- Karan Johar, Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Kapoor. Hours later, Arjun was spotted at a chic restaurant, having dinner with Ranbir and Katrina. A few weeks before this, Arjun was the life and soul of a party hosted by his cousin Sonam, attended by Bollywood's hottest pack - Ranveer, Parineeti, Priyanka, RK, Deepika, Varun, Alia, Siddharth, Imran Khan. This is around the same time twitter was abuzz with pictures of yet another cosy trio - Kareena, KJo and Arjun.
If you still haven't guessed it, Bollywood's new Mr Congeniality has arrived. Arjun Kapoor, Fubu to his friends, seems to have come a long way from his bespectacled, 140kg avtar to the dashing, very sociable guy who seems to be in very frame that matters. Yes, especially with Alia Bhatt.

The metamorphosis of Boney and Mona Kapoor's son has taken many by surprise. But those in the know say this has been in the making since the 28-year-old's debut film Ishaqzaade became a success.

Anil Kapoor, Arjun's uncle who stood by him through the impressionable years when his parents' marriage went through wear and tear, says: "We never knew he wanted to be an actor, he always wanted to be behind the camera." But being friends with Arpita Khan those days meant getting close to Salman as well, who encouraged him to get into shape.
Shedding weight prompted shedding inhibitions. Says the Kapoors' family friend Indra Kumar, "The change in his demeanour came after he lost weight. But the warmth that he exudes comes from his mother, the late Mona Kapoor. She was very loyal to her friends. Arjun is exactly like her. Success seems to have brought out the best in him."

Poonam Dhillon, who's known Arjun since his childhood, ascribes his underplayed wit to his father: "Arjun is popular because of his wit, which he has inherited from his father. His sense of humour clicks with his peers." Padmini Kolhapure, who was also very close to Mona says: "Boney, Mona, Tutu and I used to hang out a lot. Unlike other star kids, Arjun didn't have a swagger. But just an impish charm which is a winner even now."
  Arjun may have also benefited from the tremendous goodwill his mother enjoyed in the fraternity. What earned him respect however was the fact that unlike every star kid, he was not launched by his father. In the process, he acquired some crucial people skills. The image he has created for himself, is that of an affable, approachable guy. Tanuj Garg, Balaji's CEO, says, "I see Arjun as a sibling I never had. He is down-to-earth and freespirited and as non-celebrity as is possible. He is his own person and that's what makes him different and special."

Arjun, who is just two films old and one hit old, seems to have an easy way with the media as well. A producer on request of anonymity said, "Mona was worried about how her son would handle the media. But Arjun seems to have become sharper, confident. He says it as it is, but with a smile." From a social recluse to a guy who is on everyone's friend list, we trace the metamorphosis of Arjun Kapoor aka Fubu.