It’s not been an easy time for Sooraj Pancholi, for long under scrutiny for the death of actress Jiah Khan.
“I am over that now. In fact I laugh at those making a desperate effort to keep that controversy alive. I have far better things happening in my life,” says Sooraj.
A new release, the dance film Time To Dance, for one.“It’s my first full-fledged dance film.Both my co-star Isabelle Kaif and I had so fun doing the dancing. It’s all done in the Latin style. So all the dancing is collaborative. I must say Isabelle is a fabulous dancer. As for me. I think I dance well too. I’ve always been good at hip-hop. The Latin dancing was new to me.”
Sooraj says the film has not lost any of its freshness, “We completed it before Covid19 and the lockdown. It’s coming out only now. But the best part is, it’s being released in both theatres and a some days later on Netflix.We all know people are not going to theatres. So I’m very excited about millions of viewers seeing Time To Dance on Netflix.”
How was the rapport with Isabelle? “Oh, we were friends from long before we started shooting. We spent a lot of time rehearsing our dance steps. She is an absolutely hassle-free co-star, great fun to be with. I enjoyed the experience shooting the film with her. I hope it is a success for her sake as well as for mine.”
Sooraj has not had much luck with the boxoffice. His last film Satellite Shankar, though praised by critics never got an audience. “That’s because it wasn’t promoted well at all. Giving my hundred percent to a film is all I can do. What happens to it after it is complete is not in my hands.”
Sooraj is now ready to start shooting for his next film. “I play a real-life Haryanvi boxer Hawa Singh. I think I’ve always had a boxer’s build. So I didn’t need to work on my physique for the role.”
Sooraj lived away from his parents through his childhood and teen years has now moved back with his parents. “I grew up in my grandparents’ home.After then I continued to stay alone with my dogs. But now I live with my parents(actors Zarina Wahab and Aditya Pancholi) and I am very comfortable with this arrangement.”
