But he does so without coming across as pretentious. "My father has so much goodwill in the industry," he says, "the least I can do is be respectful to others. I don't want to disrespect him in any way by making a fool of myself. I just hope I make my parents proud."
Excerpts from an interview with the 24-year-old actor.
I'm pretty sure your father didn't have to give so many interviews in a day?
No, not at all.
So do you tell him that he had it easy?
No, not at all.
But there was no online media. Even the TV presence was limited.
Back in the day, actors would do three to four shifts in a day. Their style of working and ours is different. The way the industry functions now, it's so organised. A lot more people are employed now in the industry. Back then it was more focused on the actors.
What is the earliest and fondest memory you have of watching a film?
The reason I am here is because of Bruce Lee. When I was four years old, I saw 'Enter the Dragon'. When you are that young, you really don't grasp what's happening. But that man had an aura which I was drawn to. I knew, right then, that that's what I want to be when I grow up. He has been my inspiration. He is more than a martial artist. He is a philosopher. He speaks so much sense. The values and words of wisdom he shares, I try to apply them to my own life and the way I work.
So it all started with Bruce Lee and not films.
Yeah, he was my inspiration. I got into martial arts training at the age of four. On the other end was Michael Jackson. I remember seeing him for the first time in "Thriller" and my feet just started moving. I couldn't stop myself from dancing. Both have made a big impact on my life. They brought things out of me which I never knew existed.
You are also shy like them?
Yes. I am most comfortable on stage. I am most comfortable performing something that I have rehearsed for hours - a dance, an action sequence or a scene. I am comfortable in my character's skin. I am uncomfortable being in my own skin.
While growing up, your parents kept you and your sister away from the spotlight.
My parents have given me a normal childhood. I studied in Besant Montessori School in Juhu. I never really cared much about academics. I was into sports. I remember when I was young my father used to take me to shoots whenever they were in Mumbai. I remember being on the sets of Rangeela and Aar Ya Paar. I didn't really understand much what was happening but I loved the attention and star treatment that my father got. Every son's first hero is his father and when you see him in this larger-than-life persona and getting all the adulation, you are amazed.
When did you know that you were ready to be an actor?
After my 12th standard, I started preparing for the film industry. I've had no formal acting training. I was lucky enough to get offers from a very early age, one of them happened to be Heropanti. Sajid Nadiadwala's production house was generous enough to invest in my training in the form of look test, photo shoots and script workshops to mould me in my character.
What made you pick Heropanti for your entry into Bollywood?
I was getting a chance to showcase my skills. This is what I've been working for ever since I saw 'Enter the Dragon'. As I grew older, I realised that Bruce Lee was an actor first and a martial artist second. If he wasn't a convincing actor and didn't have the emotion in his eyes before delivering a kick or a punch, it wouldn't have made that much of an impact.
The trailer highlights that action is your asset.
It has become a reflex, it is almost second nature. Every time I go for an action scene, my father always tells me, 'You don't have to do anything to prove to anybody, safety first.' But he has to understand that I have been preparing to do this all my life. I am well aware of safety, of what my potential and capabilities are. I have been training in a way that it would look very attractive to the audience.
Are there more expectations because you are a star kid?
Because of the struggle our fathers have gone through, it is natural for people to think that since we come from a film background we are destined for this and we should be preparing for this for a long time. It is fair for the public to perceive us that way. But they also have to realise that there is an expectation we have to match. I use it as a fuel; to motivate myself to work harder, to prove people how different I am from my father. I want to be myself and accepted. It's not my fault I was born in this family. I am thankful for that and I can't apologise for that. The least I can do is work hard to prove myself.
Do you find yourself changing as a persona as you go through the rigmarole of film promotions?
I'm trying to open up as much as I can to people. I don't talk much. I'm trying to find a balance now. I am trying to give whatever little fans I have as much information as they want from me. I don't want to come across as arrogant or mean by not telling or giving them what them I want. These are the people who make you a star.
What kind of cinema did you grow up watching?
I used to watch a lot of my father's films when I was growing up. That's mainly because my grandmother used to have tapes of all of them. I used to watch one film every night before I went to sleep. I really admire Hrithik Roshan so I watch his work sometime.
Did you consult your parents before signing Heropanti?
I'm blessed and happy that my parents gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do. I don't want my father to influence me in any way because he may rub off on to me. I don't want his style to be seen in me. I want to create my own identity. We are two different personalities, you can't compare us and I hope people understand that when they see the film on May 23.
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