Meet Sooraj Pancholi And Athiya Shetty
The latest additions to the new generation of Bollywood star kids foraying into acting, SoorajPancholi and AthiyaShetty didn’t have their Bollywood debuts handed to them on a silver platter.
The son and daughter of AdityaPancholi and SunielShetty respectively, gave auditions and landed film roles on their own, instead of asking their famous fathers to produce a film for them to star in.
How it all began…
When Subhash Ghai came to Salman Khan with the idea of making Hero with him, the actor refused, instead suggesting to turn it into a modern movie as Salman really liked the plot of the film. Subhash refused. While working with Sooraj (as an assistant director) on Ek Tha Tiger, Salman realised that Sooraj would fit into Hero very well. So that is how they planned Hero, but as soon as they planned it, they knew that casting a heroine was going to be a tough task.
Salman was at first apprehensive to ask his friend SunielShetty if his daughter was interested in acting, having last seen her when she was very little. Fortunately, when she was asked, Athiya agreed to be a part of the film. It wasn’t all smooth sailing though, as both Sooraj and Athiya were subjected to numerous screen tests for their dance skills, acting skills and action skills before they were cast for Hero.
Abraxas NU recently caught up with the debuting duo along with mentor Salman Khan when they were in the Capital to promote Hero.
Excerpts from the interview:
This film marks both your debuts and Sooraj you got to work with your father in your very first movie… How was the experience?
Athiya: Honestly, I wanted to be an actor since I was little. It has always been my passion; it has always been my dream. It was my hobby and my hobby became my profession, and hopefully it will remain my profession after the release of the film.
Sooraj: I only got to know 2 days before the shoot began that my father was also working in the movie and my reaction was like phasgayayaar. At home I am a bit quiet, not because I’m scared of him, but because I respect him a lot. We don’t really talk in front of him and here I was scared because I needed to deliver dialogues in front of him. But while we were on set, I never really felt that he was my father because he played his role too well and too professionally. And at the same time it was an amazing feeling working with him.
How did your father get to know about your interest in acting?
Athiya: My father got to know about it pretty late. I would always hide my interests from him like dancing in front of the mirror, reciting dialogues, etc. I remember when I was looking for some colleges in America, we were at Heathrow Airport, and I was really upset. My father asked me what happened, but before I could say anything, I started crying and said that I wanted to be an actor. He asked why I was crying and I told him that I didn’t know how he’d react. He has been really supportive – he was positive and just told me to work extremely hard and to enjoy doing whatever I wanted to do.
People think it is easy for star kids to enter into Bollywood, but we’ve been told that it wasn’t easy for you at all. What was the struggle like?
Sooraj: Yes, we definitely struggled. It is not easy for every star kid to make a debut in Bollywood. Even if you get a chance, you have to work hard to retain that success. Our struggle was very different – it was really difficult sometimes to be a star kid as our parents have been in the industry for more than 2 decades and people would often compare us with them. So it is not as easy as it seems.
Did your father give you any tips?
Athiya: He has not given me tips about acting, but as a father he has always been there and has always guided me. I think he knows that I have my own mind. However I do ask him when I am stuck somewhere and he is always there for me.
What is your opinion about this film?
Sooraj: This is, of course, a dream launch for anyone. I couldn’t have had a better script, a better director than Nikhil, a better producer than Salman and I couldn’t have had a better co-star than AthiyaShetty.
How much were you mentored on the sets of Hero?
Sooraj:Salman sir never came on the set of the film, but he knew everything that was going on during the shoot. He has been an amazing mentor, the biggest support in our lives for sure.
How does it feel to have Salman Khan as a producer?
Athiya: It has been amazing as he was really supportive and on the other hand he was protective too of both Sooraj and I. I think meeting him was an experience in itself. He has that quality to make you feel special – no matter who you are, he will make you feel special.
Was there any pressure to match the level of the original Hero?
Athiya :When we were shooting the film, neither Salman sir nor Nikhil sir made us feel the pressure. We were quite comfortable in that environment. While making this film, we actually never felt that we were shooting a remake because everything was new – new ideas, new concepts, new scenes and new songs. I think the pressure is when you know that your film is releasing and there are only a few days left, that was the pressure we actually felt.
Salman: When I have Hero in mind, I have that film (the original) in my mind, but today’s generation doesn’t know about that Hero. They are just aware of the fact that this film is a remake of that film. They will experience the freshness in this movie because we have changed a lot. We have changed the language and the look, but the plot remains the same somewhere. We were scared about the music, but it was incredibly well-received by the audience. Even when I go back and try to remember Hero, I just remember 2 or 3 glimpses of that film so it is a nice way to recall that feeling of Hero.
In Student of the Year, Karan Johar launched 3 new faces in Bollywood and is now considered to be their mentor. So like Alia asks Karan Johar before signing any movie, will you also ask Salman about the same?
Athiya: Yes, Why not?
Salman: No, she shouldn’t. She has got so much to experience anyway from this film and from her parents and of course we all are there, but she doesn’t have to come and ask every time. Both have got their own sensibility. In fact Sooraj has already rejected around 20 scripts. So they know what they want, but if in any case they need our guidance then we all are there anyway. But I really want them to make their own decisions.
Who do you think is the more emotional or romantic one – Athiya or Sooraj?
Salman:Sooraj is a shy person, he is often an introvert. He doesn’t come out so often, but on seeing him you can feel his honesty, sincerity, niceness and softness. Athiya on the other hand is very spontaneous – she picks up things very fast and never hesitates to speak her mind.
Sooraj: Yes, I am a bit of a serious person and Athiya is the opposite. In fact, I think most boys are quiet in comparison to girls.
