Among the many points of interest that Baaghi 2 has generated among fans of action, Tiger Shroff and the Baaghi franchise - in that order, is the alleged real-life pairing of Tiger with his rumoured girlfriend, Disha Patani.
The couple is yet to acknowledge their real-life partnership. So how does Tiger fob off all the media inquisitiveness about their relationship?
Says Tiger, “Well, I don’t deny my friendship with Disha when I am asked about it. That would be stupid. I handle it with a smile and a dose of evasive diplomacy. But I have to admit, the curiosity about our relationship is definitely helping our film. If people see us as a real-life couple, they will definitely appreciate our chemistry on screen.”
Tiger is all praise for Disha, “Baaghi 2 is not really her debut film. In Dhoni: The Untold Story, she had a 15-minute role. But what a deep impact she created. In Baaghi 2, she’s the central character. I am just there to help her. I am very proud of her.”
Tiger is busy guiding Disha through her media interactions. “She is new to all this and very nervous. In fact she fell ill for two days. She has just recovered.”
Time to talk about the makeover in Tiger Shroff’s personality, from being ridiculed for his allegedly effeminate looks in the first Heropanti, to now being hailed as the desi Sylvester Stallone in Baaghi 2.
Tiger laughs modestly, “All God’s grace and my parents’ blessings and of course the audiences’ love. I’d be nothing without them. I do realise that there is an unprecedented anticipation about Baaghi 2. This is only my fifth release and my last two films didn’t do well. And yet there is such a huge buzz over Baaghi 2. I can’t afford to let the audience down.”
The action scenes in Baaghi 2 are being widely discussed as the most dangerous derring-do ever witnessed in a Hindi film.
Without sounding immodest, Tiger confesses that what we’ve seen in the trailer is only the tip of the iceberg. “Those aerial shots of me lunging for the chopper etc are not even teasers. Even I am taken aback by what we’ve achieved in terms of the action in Baaghi 2. It’s scary to watch.”
So life-threatening were these sequences that Tiger apparently didn’t reveal the nature and extent of the stunts to his parents.
“They would have freaked out if they knew the risks I was taking. I never tell them when I’m going to shoot an action scene. I let them know after it’s shot. I’m like, ‘Hi Mom, guess what I did today?’ And she’s like, ‘Don’t you dare’.”Tiger Shroff
But daring stunts are part of Tiger’s DNA. “I can’t help doing them. When I am in the middle of the stunt there is just me and the moment and an irresistible rush of adrenaline. I don’t think of the danger and risk involved. If I did, I may not be able to do it.”
Interestingly none of these stunts are any part of the original Telugu film Kshanam, on which Baaghi 2 is based.
Says Tiger eagerly, “In fact there WERE no action scenes in the original. This is our contribution to the original and we’re very proud of it. Because we’ve worked really hard on it. Baaki sab toh uparwale ke haath mein hain.”
Tiger’s Hindi has also improved. He is happy for the growth that people see in him. “Speaking of growth, I was laughed at in my first film for not having any facial hair. I didn’t have a beard back then. But now that’s not a problem at all.”
His new short-hair stubbled look in Baaghi 2 has triggered of a Tiger trail on the internet. “I am so glad people like my cropped-hair look. I don’t know whether I will keep this look. My hair has already grown back. We will do a looks test for Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year 2 to decide whether I should sport a short or long haired look . All I know is, I should look like a student in the film. We’ll leave the final decision to the director Puneet Malhotra.”
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