Star kids Athiya Shetty and Sooraj Pancholi will soon be seen on the big screen in Salman Khan’s home production Hero. Salman shares that he is happy and proud to launch them both. By Rupinder Kaur
They’ve been part of the film circuit for long now and have had direct access to what the industry had to offer over the years. Accompanying their star parents to shoots and being awed by the glamour, learning the intricacies of filmmaking while assisting the best, is what they’ve already crossed off their bucket lists. The next dream project for both Athiya Shetty (Suniel Shetty’s daughter) and Sooraj Pancholi (Aditya Pancholi’s son) must definitely be to star in a Salman Khan production. That, too, comes true with the release of their forthcoming film Hero on September 11. Directed by Nikhil Advani, Hero is a remake of Subhash Ghai’s film of the same name produced under SKF banner.
“I think both Athiya and Sooraj are brilliant. People have been saying that since their parents are my friends, I’ve launched them but it’s nothing like that. I have many friends whose kids I haven’t launched yet. They both have worked hard and are sensible, unlike their producer and I’m very proud and happy to launch them both,” the Bajrangi Bhaijaan star said while addressing a press conference.
Sooraj Pancholi was assisting Khan during his film Ek Tha Tiger, when the latter decided to cast him.
“Before Yashraj or Adi Chopra coulduthao him, I decided to take him. But we didn’t know what to make and at that time I thought that Hero was good enough. As soon as we planned Hero, the heroine was confirmed,” he shared. But asking a friend if his daughter would be interested in acting was “very awkward” for the Kick star.
“Suniel has been a childhood friend. We’ve known each other for the longest time and we are like one family. I had seen Athiya only when she was little. We were looking for a girl to cast and a friend of mine suggested Suniel’s daughter. I said ‘pagal hai, who is going to ask him if she’s interested’, but then she was. Thank you Athiya ma’am for saying yes,” Khan said as he smiled at the 22-year-old actress.
Despite their filmy connection, the two had to undergo auditions for the roles in their debut film.
“Halwa nai tha…They had to audition for acting, dance and other things. It was not because they are Aditya or Suniel’s kids but there are many other things. The kid needs to have something in him/her that will make a director or producer go to them and ask if they are interested in acting. I remember when I was growing up, I would ask my dad that you’re recommending other actors’ names for your films but why not my nameIJ He said ‘Salman, you see all these producers coming over but have you seen anyone say that Salim saab let’s cast Salman.’ I said never. He then told me that you need to get yourself to that level that someone should recommend your name. That never happened to me and I had to go outside for work. Athiya or Sooraj’s father could’ve very easily produced a film for them but they’ve come outside to work. This I think is the biggest quality a newcomer should have,” Khan shared.
The actor, who will soon be seen in Sooraj Barjatya’s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, called Pancholi “shy and more of an introvert” while Athiya apart from being “very tall” is “spontaneous”.
“You can see Sooraj standing there and you can tell what he’s feeling. You can judge his emotion and feel his sincerity, honesty and simplicity. Athiya picks up on things really fast and speaks her heart and mind. She has an opinion which is very real,” he added.
Twenty-five-year-old Pancholi calledHero “a dream launch”. “I couldn’t have had a better script, a better director than Nikhil sir or a producer like Salman sir and I couldn’t have had a better co-star than Athiya. Though Salman sir never even came on sets to see how we were performing, he knew everything that was going on in the film. He has been an amazing mentor and the biggest support in our lives.”
Two days before they started shooting, Pancholi learnt that his father Aditya, too, was to play a part in the film. “At home I’m really quiet in front of him not because I’m scared of him, but I respect him a lot. I thought how would I do the dialogue-baazi in front of him. But when we were on set, he never made me feel that he was my father because he played his role so well. He is so professional in what he does. It was amazing to work with him.”
Athiya Shetty recalled how she told her father at the Heathrow Airport that she wanted to be an actress. “It has always been my passion. My father got to know about it much later. I remember I was going to look at all the colleges in the US and we were at Heathrow Airport. I was really upset and he asked me what was wrong. Before I could say anything I started crying and told him that I want to become an actress. He was really supportive and told me to work extremely hard and enjoy what I’m doing. It’s been a dream and a hobby which became my profession. Hopefully, it’ll remain my profession after September 11. I am extremely happy and blessed,” she said.
While shooting, the two shared that they felt “extremely comfortable”.
“There was no pressure and it didn’t feel like we were re-making the film. It’s fresh, it is a new idea and there are amazing songs. Now, of course, since the film is releasing in a few days, we are nervous but also extremely excited,” claimed Shetty.
Khan pitched in added on to say that the setting and the look of the film has been changed since technology over the years has improved. “But the plot remains somewhat the same. We have incredible music. Even when I go back to Hero, I remember two-three scenes like the ding-dong song, the bike chase and then I remember Pasha’s character. But I remember that at that point I had liked the movie. I thought that we already have a script and now we’ll work on it. So I though Sooraj perhaps will be able to pull it off,” he laughed.
The 49-year-old actor also picked the microphone for his home production and crooned the title track Main Hoon Hero Tera.
“I cannot sing to save my life. I’m just doing it for fun. If you ask me to sing the same song right now, I will not be able to sing at all. It won’t sound the same. But when I am in the studio, after every line is sung in front of me, I can mimic that, no matter where the sur is,” explained Khan.
photo Sanjeev Kumar