My Dad Is My Hero: Tiger Shroff

On Father’s Day, Tiger Shroff talks about his dad Jackie Shroff and how he hates being compared to him.

Tiger Shroff with his father Jackie Shroff. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

It isn’t easy being the son of Jackie Shroff. He is and has always been overpowering in his personality without trying to be. For a very long time, Tiger was extremely awkward in his father’s towering presence.

I didn’t like being compared with my father. There was nothing to compare! I was, and still am shy, gawky and very under confident around women. My father could charm anyone with just one look. What was I? Not even a chip off the block.

Tiger Shroff, Actor

Initially, it was a struggle for Tiger to dodge comparisons with his dad.

“I would’ve never done a remake of my father’s film Hero. Not at the start of  my career. Not now! The comparisons would have killed my career! My father oozed sexy confidence in Hero. In my debut film Hero-panti I could barely  hold my own on camera. I got clobbered by critics in my first film. My dad was loved from the start,” says the affectionate yet reverent son, who admits he  didn’t get much time with his dad during childhood.

When my sister and I were growing up, dad was out shooting constantly. Mom chose to give up her career and look after us. But dad would still make sure he was around for all mine and my sister’s important occasions, birthdays  included.

So which of his dad’s films are Tiger’s favourites?

“Oh that’s easy. Shiva Ka Insaaf is my all-time favourite film! As a child, I’ve watched it over and over again. Every son’s first hero is his father. My dad was my first superhero. For me, he was Superman and Batman combined.”

Tiger’s greatest joy was when in The Flying Jatt he got to play a superhero like his dad had played in Shiva Ka Insaaf.

“I was thrilled when I  got to play out a childhood fantasy in The Flying Jatt. There was no risk of comparisons with my dad since his Shiva Ka Insaaf was a different superhero story.”

Shiva Ka Insaaf  was the first 3D film in Hindi and Tiger  recalls the allure of watching his dad fly across the sky.

I loved to see my dad play the desi superhero. My father didn’t have to try to be a superhero, it came naturally to him. He was tall, well-built and his body-language rendered itself effortlessly to the superhero mold. I had to work hard to get into the superhero mold. I hope I’m never compared with my father or with him.

In fact, Tiger has been consciously working towards a career that cannot be compared with his dad’s.

The dancing star’s image is a clean break from Jackie’s two-left-feet reputation. Jackie Shroff could never play the dancer that Tiger is playing in the forthcoming Munna Michael.

Ever the dutiful son, Tiger quips,

Let’s put it this way. He may have pulled off <i>Munna Michael</i>. But I could never do his <i>Hero</i>. Not in this life. Not in any life.

Tiger’s thoughts on his dad on Father’s day?

“I think about him everyday. I don’t need one special day to do so.”

(This admission season, The Quint got experts from CollegeDekho.com on board to answer all your college-related queries. Send us your questions at [e-mail])