I have observed Tiger Shroff from afar and close. On all occasions, he has been polite but distant. I have often wondered whether one can shake him up a bit, in an attempt to get him to drop his guard. But I let that thought pass. If someone like Karan Johar has failed to make the boy ‘open up’, I’m unlikely to. However, meeting him face-to-face definitely brings me closer to him. At the end of a 15-minute conversation, I know that Tiger will always keep his guard on. He lives with his aspirations, goals and beliefs. And, he honestly doesn’t care whether the media buys into his ideology or not. This baaghi (rebel) knows his cause and no one can come in the way of him and his ultimate goal! Excerpts from a chat with him…

I’m told you don’t bother with competition. You’re rather Zen-like in your approach towards your work.

I am a race horse. I have huge goals and dreams. I do not have time to spend my energy looking left or right. There is no time for detours (read as, see what others are doing) because I have to look straight ahead at the finishing line.

Please share some of your immediate goals...

While growing up, I always looked up to Michael Jackson. Every person in every country, every girl, every boy in the gully knows him. I also admired Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Lee. Their stories are so awe-inspiring. These guys have attained great heights in their respective careers. I know until I have reached such heights, I am not going to stop. There has to be an answer, some result to all the work which I put in every single day.

You sound obsessed…

To repeat myself, I have big dreams and big goals to achieve. Since I am constantly living with these thoughts, people may think, ‘Arrey, yeh toh bada introverted ladka hai,’ ‘anti-social hai.’’’ However, I must tell you that there is a reason behind all this.

Would you say you are anti-social?

Yes, I am anti-social because I’m work-oriented and obsessed with my goals.

How much more can you do with your dancing and fighting?

Well, one can change the environment in which it’s done. There is a trick in the way you approach things. Film on film, you depend on your director’s vision; you always take into consideration what your action-director or choreographer (if it involves dance) has in mind for you.

There are a million things you can do when you physically express yourself. With the help of technology, you can make things appear more dynamic each time. That is the idea. To constantly aspire to do something different.

Will dynamism do it every time?

No, no. You haven’t got what I’m trying to say. There has to be an emotional drive. There has to be incentive for the character to do what he is doing. Like in Student Of The Year 2, my character is initially doing what he is for the love of his life. Later, he ends up doing it for himself and follows his dream.

Anyway, coming back to the initial part of your question, there has to be a story during the course of which I do some action and dancing. It cannot just be — arre, this one is a Tiger Shroff film, so it will be a showreel of action and dance. I have to play the hero with a purpose whether it’s saving the heroine, fighting for my country or taking on the baddies. These are very broad strokes that I am painting, but unless there is purpose, my stunts will not have relevance. There has to be a motivation to everything that I do on screen.

Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan

Your contemporaries, Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan, have high regard for you. They think you stand out because you have some unique skill sets like your brand of action and dancing style…

Let me start this answer by saying — I hold Varun and Ranveer in the highest regard too. Not in my wildest dreams can I attempt what they do; they are so daring in their experiments. That is what makes them special and unique in their work. They are both super-successful in their own right.

Coming back to me, I am pretty clear about the path I want to take. Some people may even think that I am stereotyped in every role. Honestly, they are missing the bigger picture. I want to be this guy who has this identity, not just here, but across the world for his ability to do a certain thing in the best possible way. Whether it is my action, my dance or whatever else it is, I want to reach world-class standards. Not because I want to be able to brag about it or discuss it with you, but because I genuinely believe in pushing my limits.

So many big filmmakers have sought you out. Do you have a wish list of whom you would like to work with?

No, I have no such wish list. I’m not greedy. I believe in destiny and good energies. Frankly, I am going with the flow because I am enjoying where it is taking me.

How was it serenading two newcomers — Tara Sutaria and Ananya Panday — on screen?

Well, they weren’t newcomers at all. Ananya and Tara were so confident and knew so much about the craft. They were so self-aware that I didn’t feel even once they were debutantes. Both the girls were so well prepared. I must credit Punit (Malhotra) sir and Karan (Johar) sir for the way they presented them on set. They were saying their lines like a conversation and I was like, ‘Wow!’”

However, everyone joked saying you were the biggest diva on set.

Oh, they are just trying to ruin my reputation (laughs).

Tiger Shroff with Alia Bhatt in Student Of The Year 2

Tell us more about Alia Bhatt, who has danced with you in the Hook Up Song.

I was expecting something else and something totally different happened. When I was doing the song with Alia, I didn’t even think so much about the dance. I just wanted her and me to look good together as a pair. I wanted both of us to complement each other. There were no attempts to outshine each other. The feedback on the song has been quite positive, so I am happy. It is inspiring to be around Alia. Despite all the success she has had and the accolades she has won, she is so hardworking.

Is there another side to you?

No, I’m one-dimensional.

How come your father’s (Jackie Shroff) ‘naughty’ side didn’t rub off on you?

I am more like momma (Ayesha Shroff). My sister, Krishna is more like my dad. Dad is so bindaas. He doesn’t care about what people think. I am uptight and focussed. My father was born a star. On the other hand, I had to work hard to get out of his shadow and make my own identity. I didn’t want to just be — Jackie Shroff ka beta.

You came into your own quickly enough.

Yes, I am grateful for the opportunities. I am happy to be where I am (touch wood)!

Disha Patani

Is Disha Patani the only person who gets to see you unwind? We only see this work-oriented guy.

Disha is a friend who has been a part of my close circle for a long time. So, she interacts more with me.