I want to prove that I am not a one hit wonder: Tiger Shroff

Just one film old, Tiger Shroff managed to win over a huge fan base comprising children and adolescents, with his debut film Heropanti, itself. And unlike his contemporaries, Tiger is reserved and social media-shy. “I am not tech-savvy, I stay away from gadgets,” he tells me. Promoting his upcoming release, Baaghi oppposite Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger talks about the importance of this second release and his much-talked-about relationship with model-turned-actor Disha Patani.

They say an actor’s second film is more important than his first. So, will Baaghi be the decider? And if it is, how does that make you feel?

I think the audience is quite lenient with newcomers and are sometimes kind. They were kind to me at least. I got lucky in my first film. In the second film, I want to prove to people that I’m not a fluke or a one-hit wonder. We’ve worked very hard and I want to show people my growth as an actor and dancer and an action star or whatever you call me. I want to make my family happy and proud and I’m not overconfident, but I am quite confident with our products.

Varun, Sidharth, Ranveer and Arjun are all doing some incredible work. Do you feel the pressure? 

Now, there is so much competition. The actors are so prepared. Keeping that in mind I always ask myself, ‘How am I different?’. I always motivate myself this way. And not just because I’m my father’s son — that doesn’t give me a right to be a hero — but what is my identity? How can I express my talents? Keeping those things in mind, I always push forward and I always want to differentiate myself in the crowd. I am a big fan of Hrithik Roshan and I believe he is different and I want to go along that path. I want to follow his blueprint.

During your first film, there were many memes likening you to actresses. Now that that is behind you, can you laugh about it?

Who am I to complain so early on in my career? The fact that people have already noticed me is success in itself.

Your reaction to the buzz that Baaghi is similar to The Raid ? 

I haven’t seen The Raid. After this whole thing started, I saw the trailers that were being compared and I don’t know why people make such a big deal of it, because if that’s the case, then every hero is riding a horse. Lawrence Of Arabia should file a case against them or something like that. This only means that the trailer has definitely hit people in the right spot and it’s already made a mark and made some sort of impact and stirred some sort of an emotion. But, you know, you cannot put down somebody’s hard work like that. So what if we have a building in our movie? We can keep a fight scene on the ground or atop a building — wherever we want — that’s my director’s vision. What else can I say? I think we’ve worked so hard, it’s very upsetting that people would put such things on often like that because that’s not our intention at all. This is a Bollywood film, we have a love track, we have songs, we have Shraddha Kapoor who is fighting, there are so many characters.

Your detractors feel that you that your dances and action are already looking similar. You know you have to showcase more than that, right?

I love that.

You don’t take it as criticism?

When I go to watch a Jackie Chan film, I know what exactly I’m going to watch and that’s what I want and I want to be on the edge of my seat. I want to be entertained. The fact that I have made an identity and the fact that people are already expecting that out of me, it means I have already won. I have made an identity. People already know me for a reason.

Aren’t you worried of being stereotyped ? 

No. But at the same time, I want them to come with that notion and I want them to go through the film, experience the film, and I want them to see the journey of my characters, I want to shock people. You cannot judge, the fact that they are judging me from one film that they are expecting Tiger Shroff film to be like this and like this, what does that tell you? I mean in one film have I already made my mark? I don’t think so, but it’s a very nice thought that people are thinking of me that way.

Your mom is your biggest cheerleader. While your dad is more of a silent supporter. Comment.

I think my father is most insecure about me and most stressed and worried about me. My mother is a lot cooler. My father doesn’t show it, but he definitely feels very protective of me because he’s been through it. He’s been through the grind, he’s seen the dirty side and the good side.

Are you dating Disha? There are pictures of you both on a movie date..

All I can say is that I’m taken, I’m married to my work.

What was your reaction when Disha was replaced with Shraddha? In hindsight, do you think it was a good decision?

I wasn’t aware of any of that. I was just focussed on and my prep was going on at that time, I found out about that quite late.