MUMBAI — The cub wants a cubby-hole of his own, but with a difference —unlike Ranbir Kapoor or Alia Bhatt, he does not want to move away from his parents, Jackie and Ayesha Shroff. Tiger Shroff merely wants a private studio someday where he can rehearse for hours without any interruption.
“I would ideally want to buy an auditorium of my own where I can practice my acrobatics, gymnastics, martial arts and dance,” he said.
Taking money from his parents for this, however, is a complete no-no for the actor. He decided that he will make money on his own and then buy it.
The “Heropanti” actor is now doing two films, has completed one very successful video for T-Series and is in the process of doing another.
Shroff sat down with India-West at the T-Series office to discuss his father, films and his video “Zindagi Aa Rahaa Hoon Main,” whose viewership (of only the official YouTube video) has crossed 7 million in a very short amount of time.
Q: What was the concept behind making this video?
A: After the appreciation I got from kids, youth and teenagers for my film “Heropanti,” I wanted to give back something in return. Whatever I have achieved is largely because of them. So I thought I should say something to them about life, about maximizing its opportunities and about celebrating life. My message to them had to be to make the right future decisions and taking that call based on positivity and some thought on whether it is the right decision.
As it was my concept, I spoke to Ahmed-sir (choreographer Ahmed Khan) who directed “Aa Raat Bhar” and “The Pappi Song” in “Heropanti.” We decided on the kind of video we wanted and approached Bhushan (Kumar)-sir at T-Series. His one-line response was the song title “Zindagi Aa Rahaa Hoon Main,” which we knew was Javed Akhtar-saab’s line. But we wrote a fresh take after Bhushan-sir got Amaal Mallik to compose the music and Manoj Muntashir to write the words.
Q: Dancing is one of your strengths, and you show only your dancing skills in the video. How will the message you want to give go across?
A: By showing how I choose to live my life. Sab ka alag alag nasha hai, dancing mera hai (Everyone has his own passion and mine is dancing). Live life to the fullest in what you believe in and dream. The lyrics were written according to my core idea, but I did not supervise them.
Q: You work hard at everything — action, dance, acting. What was your approach when you decided to become an actor?
A: When I decided on acting, my first thoughts were: What distinct identity can I carve? What can I give when I am coming in a crowd of newcomers? How can I show my talent, and what can I show that is different from the crowd? For example, there are some things I believe require greater attention to detail like dancing. Like if for some reason the viewer hits the pause button in my video, what will he see in that frozen visual? Will I look nice? What will be my physical position, or that of my hands? I think a great deal about such things.
Q: But you are extremely choosy.
A: I am grateful to the industry for offering me many films after “Heropanti.” But I am not choosy per se. I focus more on my preps and that consumes time. Main mazdoor insaan hoon, talented insaan nahin hoon (I am a laborer, not a natural talent). I can’t work like papa in many films at a time. Prep, shoot or post-production, I have to give my heart and soul to every film and cannot think of the next one till that is over.
With “Baaghi,” the expectations are much higher than with my debut. I have to prove now ki mujh mein baat hai (that I have that X-factor). I have to show that my debut film was not a fluke. And I am a shy person, so I find it difficult to give interviews, promote a film, and go all out. I am not into partying and have no weakness for alcohol or the flesh!
Q: Do you also get involved in other departments of filmmaking?
A: Not at all. I give my 100 percent as an actor and expect technicians to do the same, so they must get their space and privacy. I never intended to be an actor. I wanted to be a professional in football. All the while, my teachers, fellow students and friends would say, “Tu to actor banega (You will become an actor)!” Somewhere, listening to that over the years made its mark. I passed my 12th standard and knew I had no qualifications for anything else. But there was something else as well, merely being my father’s son did not mean that I could act! So I asked myself what strengths I had to show the world.
And acting is something that comes with experience — I do not think that it can be taught! Look at even my father in “Hero,” his first film, then in “Parinda” and then in “Aurangzeb,” and you will see what I mean.
Q: Would you like to do a film with your Papa?
A: Not so soon! I would be terrified of working in a scene with him!
Q: Jackie Shroff has got two of his best recent roles with Yash Raj Films in “Aurangzeb” as well as “Dhoom: 3.” Have they offered you anything?
A: No, sir.
Q: What does Jackie Shroff mean to you?
A: A superstar! Unnke baare mein jitna bolun kam hai (Whatever I say about him will not be enough). He’s my best friend, my guide, my real hero. Bahut jalta hoon papa pe (I am acutely jealous of him). I have never seen a man so carefree, so stress-free, so different and yet frank about what he speaks, which is always from his heart. Someone who has values like what he taught me — “Badon ki izzat kar, garibon ki madat kar, jhukke baat kar (Respect elders, help the needy and be humble).
Q: Did you attend any shoots of his films as a kid?
A: I was almost three when I attended a shoot of “Gardish,” in which Papa was being beaten up. I thought it was for real and said, “Chhod Papa ko!”
Q: Jaikishan and Jai Hemant. Both of you have names that have been changed for the screen.
A: True, but I have now officially changed my name to Tiger, a name I have been called since childhood.
Q: What after “Baaghi?”
A: I have signed for the super hero film “Turbanator — The Flying Sikh” with Balaji, Telefilms and director Remo (D’Souza).
Q: So it’s all about action?
A: I love to watch action films! My favorite is “Krrish.” My father’s “Hero” and “Parinda” are special to me. After some films, I will try to change course, like Hrithik Roshan did with “Koi…Mil Gaya.”
