After Flying Jatt, I learnt that there are no safe bets, says Tiger Shroff
Tiger Shroff can’t stop raving about his Munna Michael co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Talking about the experience of shooting with the Gangs of Wasseypur actor, he says, “I remember the first day I went to work with Nawaz sir, meri andar se bahut p**t gayi thi because he is such a fine actor. Especially for a newcomer, it is even more intimidating. He is such a lovely person to talk to in person on the sets but then he transforms into the character of a cunning villain in a spilt second when the shot is ready. I learnt a lot from him. I never troubled him. I am sure that a lot many actors go to him and ask, ‘Sir yeh kaise kiya, woh kaise kiya.’ But I used to observe him from a distance and try and learn.”
He had a lot of fun teaching the senior actor how to dance. “Teaching him to dance was initially a challenge but he was always willing to learn and so, I would break down the steps for him. He is a great actor and if he takes out time to practice, he could be a great dancer too,” he says.
Tiger, who once saw Michael Jackson perform live in Mumbai, says that paying the legend a tribute wasn’t an easy task. “I learnt a lot of dance forms for this film. Michael Jackson is a big icon. I couldn’t have fooled the audience because he is so famous. It was very challenging for me. There was a scene where I have to pay tribute to MJ with a dance item in his style. I had to do that scene 40 times before I got it right. One day I want to reach the level of MJ.”
Talking about his parents and what he has imbibed from them, the 27-year-old says, “My father has a great reputation and goodwill in the industry and I don’t want to spoil that. I have grown up seeing him treat a star and a spot boy with same respect. I try not to let him down and I want to take his legacy forward. About acting he has always advised me to remain composed.” He adds, “But I am more like my mother. I am very reserved and shy.” Tiger also shot for Munna Michael in the house where daddy Jackie once lived. About that he says, “It was quite nostalgic for me. I could recall all the stories he used to tell me and sister about that place and it was overwhelming to be there.”
Asked if with Munna Michael, he is coming back to a familiar ground like Heropanti and Baaghi after Flying Jatt didn’t do well, he answers, “There are no such things as a safe ground. After Baaghi, I began expecting a lot and I thought Flying Jatt would also be a smashing hit. I have more fan following among kids and so ‘one plus four’ tickets should have sold but that didn’t happen. So, now I don’t think there are any safe bets.”
Lastly, asked about his dream roles, he reveals, “I’d love to do something like La La Land or what John Travolta did in Grease.”
