My dark days are now over: Sooraj Pancholi

According to Sooraj Pancholi, life’s much better now. Obviously, the 25-year-old was charged with abetting former girlfriend Jiah Khan’s suicide, he was jailed, then bailed, spent a few tormented months dodging various accusations but now, he has Salman Khan’s blessings and is currently giving the Bollywood career his all — promoting his debut film, Hero.

“To this day, I still don’t understand why Salman helped me. I had tears when the first look from Hero was released. I was so overwhelmed. with emotion. Salman has actually helped our entire family — my father, my mother, my sister. When people say I’m like Salman, I just tell them that I can’t be compared to him. If I become even one per cent like him, then I will believe that I have made it in life,” says Sooraj.

Salman has also been grooming the newcomer with careful inputs. “He said, ‘be yourself’. The day I met him, he put his hand on my shoulder and it’s still very much there. But I do hope his blessings will always stay... he brought me back on my feet after all.”

The actor also took time to recall the “dark days”. “When the case was going on those were really bad days. I wasn’t really scared because I knew I was not wrong and was sure the truth will come out. I want people to get to know the real me once the truth emerges because I really have not spoken out,” he says.

The naughty streak has been on since childhood. “I would never finish my home work but I was good at drawing and craft. I preferred sports over studies and PT was my favourite period... And I used to be a sprinter and loved playing football. That love for sports comes from my dad but despite all my naughtiness, I was one of the teachers’ favourites. Mum was strict about studies but dad was the cool one. In fact, I’m the perfect mix of both,” Sooraj reveals.

Bollywood’s latest big star also has a very strong connection with Hyderabad. His mum, Zarina is as Hyderabadi as they come.

“Oh, she loves to cook and she’s like a child — full of energy and always walking about. She cooks all three meals — from breakfast to dinner. She also makes amazing Hyderabadi biryani, pulli-haara (lemon rice) and delicious idli-dosas. She is a complete mum. I was a complete mama’s boy but now that I’ve grown up, I have started sharing a great rapport with dad... He doesn’t give me any big advice and instead asks me to listen to mum.”

Sooraj’s father Aditya Pancholi was also infamous for his temper.

“Yes, dad is very short tempered and he does not listen to anyone once he’s angry. I have tasted the wrath of his anger as a child but he never hit me. Even if he’s short tempered, he is an incredible father and a very honest and an emotional person. I am very lucky that I have my father’s heart but I also have my mother’s brains. Personally speaking, I’m not a short-tempered guy like dad but I always do make it a point to calmly tell him about where he went wrong.”

The family is also very spiritual and Sooraj has gone on to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

“We follow all religions. Mum is a Muslim, dad’s Hindu and we also believe in Christianity. During my bad days, mum would pray at a Sai Baba temple and I would attend church. I’m sure Mother Mary’s somewhere and listening to all my prayers,” the actor adds.

But for now, it’s preparing for the movies. Besides all the advice and the suggestions, Sooraj makes sure he hits the gym to relax and de-stress — just like his mentor.

“I train twice — in the morning as well as in the evening, for one hour each. During my gym time, I don’t pick up any phone calls. It’s just me and some music because I use this time to de-stress.

“I want to be a very real person. I do not want this industry to change me as a person and I will never let that happen to me.”