In celluloid, Tiger Shroff is the quintessential Bollywood hero - wooing the girl, dragging the bad guy through the dirt, burning up the dance floor. However, the shy, young man who sat down with Indiatimes to chat couldn't be more removed from his onscreen persona. As audiences gear up to receive 'Heropanti' this Friday, here's presenting Tiger who's more bashful that his name suggests (incidentally, he was born Jai Shroff). Excerpts from the interview:
Only a little while to D-Day now. How are you feeling?
I think the question to ask is, what am I not feeling?
At this very moment, I'm uncomfortable. See, I'm a shy guy. I'm ok when I'm performing on stage or filming a scene. When I'm giving interviews, I have to be myself. There's no camera to hide behind. Being this open to so many people is a first for me.
So I'm assuming that acting wasn't always the plan.
No, yaar. When I was growing up, I was into sports and the martial arts. I was also a fair dancer. But after I completed 12th grade, I was lost because I had no academic qualifications to speak of. It was then that I thought, 'Hey, I'm getting film offers. What if I got a script that would let me use my skills?'. Heropanti was one such script, and the rest, well... (shrugs)
So you do plan to be Bollywood's next Khiladi?
No, I've actually used Hrithik Roshan as a model. I really admire him for what he did with 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'. He was the whole package.
There have lots of comparisons to Salman.
(Laughs) It's because I've been taking off my shirt.
Are you happy about it?
It's a huge compliment because Salman sir is such a huge personality. But no, I don't perceive myself as the next Salman. If there is a role model, it's Hrithik.
You've been working on your body for a while now...
Yeah. Physicality is something I cherish. I take care of my health.
So have you enjoyed taking off the shirt and showing off?
Like I said, I'm a shy guy but sometimes people don't give me a choice. They're constantly asking me to dance, do a flip, perform a kick and I'm an entertainer. I'm going to do it.
But isn't it even a little awkward to take it off in front of a crowd?
(Laughs) I'm always wondering that if I say no, will the crowds think I'm arrogant. Will they hate me for it? I just want to be accepted and I'll do anything for it. I've worked so hard and so if it comes down to taking off my shirt, why not?
There's nothing you'd say no to?
Maybe I'd say no if someone invited me to a party. I hate parties.
Really?
Really. I'm quite anti-social and I don't have many friends. I'm probably the most uncool person you'll come across.
And yet you've chosen perhaps a profession that would need you to be twice as social as compared to most others...
Yeah (laughs). I'm not saying I'm not made for it, but what else was I going to do?
The debuts of star kids are usually received with a lot of cynicism. Does that bother you?
You know, I get it. I know how many people out here want this chance and if I were one of them, I'd probably be saying, what's he got that I don't other than his star father. That said, I'm working my hardest to be accepted and I believe that if you are truly good, good will come to you.
Are you worried about comparisons to your father Jackie Shroff?
Of course. However I am hoping that once audiences see the film, they'll see how different we are.
What was your first time in front of the camera like?
I was so nervous. The first shot I took was in front of three hundred people and I cracked under pressure. I went back to my van and cried...
You cried?
Yeah, I'll be honest. Why would I lie?
Ok, go on.
So yeah, I went back to my van and I cried but then I thought about my father, psyched myself up and went back and filmed the scene. It was smooth sailing after that. I guess I just needed that initial kick.
So it was it easy filming that kiss?
(Laughs) You know, I'm shy in person but my character is not like that at all. I'll do anything for my character, even stripping, as long as it makes sense and it's taking the story forward. That kiss was necessary and that's why I couldn't be shy about it. I had to do it and I did it.
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