How learning to shoot taught Shahid Kapoor a lesson about life

Time of India

21-06-2025

Shahid Kapoor revealed a life-altering lesson learned while training in shooting. Initially wanting a real firearm, he practiced with an air gun, struggling until his coach advised focusing on breathing and process, not the target. This counterintuitive approach led to bullseyes, teaching Kapoor that a correct process naturally yields the desired result.
Shahid Kapoor
has always been known for his versatility — from intense roles in Kaminey, Haider and
Kabir Singh
to light-hearted entertainers like Jab We Met. But beyond his on-screen persona, the actor shared an unexpected and deeply personal lesson he picked up while learning how to shoot, one that ended up changing the way he approaches both his craft and life.
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In a candid interaction with Pinkvilla, Shahid recounted how he once decided on a whim that he wanted to learn shooting. 'You know, there's a thought that comes to mind — I want to do this. So I was like, let's do this,' he said. He found a seasoned coach, someone who had not only taught at a national level but also competed there. Eager to hold a real firearm, Shahid was initially taken aback when his coach handed him an air gun instead.
'I was like, air gun? I want to hold a real gun. What is this air gun?' he admitted with a laugh. But trusting the process, he agreed. Inside an indoor facility, Shahid began practicing with tiny pellets so light that even a hint of wind could alter their path. To his surprise, his shots were wildly off-target.
Frustrated, Shahid asked his coach what he was doing wrong. The advice he received wasn't just about shooting — it was about life.
'He asked me what I was looking at. I said, 'the target.' He told me, 'I want you to focus on your breathing. Focus on firing the gun without moving your hand. Don't look at the target.''
Following this seemingly counterintuitive advice, Shahid noticed a remarkable difference. 'Every time I focused on the process, I hit the bullseye. It was like magic,' he shared.
That moment, for Shahid, became a metaphor for life. 'If you follow the process the way it is meant to be, the result is a natural outcome. You cannot get it wrong. It's math. But if you focus only on the result, your brain is not on what it should be focusing on.So focus on the process. The result has to happen if your process is right.'
Shahid will be next seen in Vishal Bharadwaj's Arjun Ustraa with Triptii Dimri, he also has the second season of Farzi in the pipeline along with Cocktail 2 with
Rashmika Mandanna
and
Kriti Sanon
.