Sooraj Pancholi: The new hero on the block

Young actor Sooraj Pancholi got a dream debut in Bollywood when superstar Salman Khan launched him in his home production Hero (2015). Though the film didn't exactly go great guns at the box office, Sooraj believes that the entire experience has made him a better and a stronger human being.
The son of veteran actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, 25-year-old Sooraj was in Dubai recently for the Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) 2016, where he won the award for Best Debut (Male). The trip to Dubai also happened to be his first one after three years. He also found time to meet up with Galadari Printing and Publishing's Suhail Abdul Latif Galadari, who warmly welcomed the actor at the Khaleej Times office. We spoke to the Hero star over a telephonic conversation from Mumbai, and he gushed about winning his first TOIFA award and his love for movies and Dubai.
How was your trip to Dubai?
Dubai is always amazing. I am travelling abroad after three years and happy that I got the opportunity to come here. It is my favourite holiday destination. It was made even more amazing because I won the TOIFA award, so this holiday turned out extra special.
Who was the first person that you hugged after winning the award?
Salman Khan was sitting right in front of me, so I hugged him and thanked him. He doesn't like to be thanked, but I still did. Thanks, is all that I can give him in return for everything he has done for me, so after I won, I went up to him and hugged him.
Were you anticipating winning the Best Debut Male award?
Whenever I attend an awards event, I have never actually thought of winning. I just go with the flow. I never prepare a speech in advance. If I win, I win; if I lose, I lose. There is always someone better than me. But I won this time, so I hope I get to perform on the TOIFA stage next year.
How did the people in Dubai people react to you?
I was actually surprised that people recognised me; I think it's because of my Main Hoon Hero song, which is extremely popular everywhere. I didn't really expect people to notice me, but I got a lot of love from Dubai residents. It was really surprising. It feels really good when you are not in your country and people recognise you at malls or restaurants. It makes me feel that I have done something with my life.
What did you do in Dubai after the awards?
I was in Dubai for five days and went to Dubai Mall around six times. I am a shopaholic and picked up many pairs of shoes from there. Even before I boarded the flight back to Mumbai, my last trip was to Dubai Mall! Places I really enjoyed eating at are The Cheesecake Factory and Shake Shack.
Do you think star kids have it easy when it comes to getting a big debut in Bollywood?
That is such a wrong notion. Actually, it is exactly the opposite. I have worked really hard, starting out as an assistant director when I was 18. I assisted filmmakers Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Kabir Khan on their films.
It is not easy to be an actor, especially when your parents are in the film industry, because people don't compare you against your parent's first releases, but with their last ones. Nothing comes easy these days; you are painted out as either good or bad.
Are you still in touch with your Hero co-star Athiya Shetty?
Athiya is one of my closest friends, and I was really sad that she couldn't make it to Dubai. I wish she'd been able to enjoy TOIFA.
 What are your forthcoming projects?
I can't make any announcements yet, but hopefully there will be one soon. Hopefully, I will have a release this year itself. I like romantic films, so I hope someone offers me a nice romantic film.
How do you keep fit?
My motto is that the more you think about getting fit, the more unfit you get. One should just go with the flow. When I want to get fit, I give myself three weeks to get in shape. But I also think one should eat whatever they want and enjoy life. Being in films is not just about being fit or looking good, but primarily about being good actor.
arti@khaleejtimes.com