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‘When will people stop referring to me as Vijay Mallya’s son?’
For Sidhartha Mallya, the surname that was a matter of pride for many years turned into a burden when things got worse for his tycoonturned-fugitive dad, Vijay Mallya.
“My surname was never a burden while I was growing up in the UK. I was sheltered from all of this (the negativity that comes with the name). But even today, when I am doing my first book, you read headlines that say, ‘Vijay Mallya’s son wrote a book’. (I wonder) at what level people will stop referring to me as Vijay Mallya’s son and give me respect for something I have done for myself,” says Sidhartha, who wonders whether he will be able to come out of the shadow of his surname as he released his first book, If I’m Honest: A Memoir of My Mental Health Journey.
He adds that he does get affected by the things written about him. “But does it (the negative sentiment that comes with the name today) get me in a spiral, thinking I am a loser? No! Even on social media, when people find it hard to detach me from my dad, it gets a little frustrating. If you don’t like my book, or the mentalhealth work that I’m doing, that’s fine, as everyone is entitled to an opinion. But don’t not like me because you associate me with someone else you don’t like,” he opines. The 34-year-old, who currently lives in Los Angeles, USA, adds that the book “is a piece of art”. “I would like to think that I have contributed to society in a positive way, to help people. I’m hopeful that it would give me the respect to be my own person, which I deserve,” he says, as he goes on to discuss the part of his book, where he has talked about harbouring deep resentment for his father.
Talking about the mantra he follows, Sidhartha says, “Growing up, I learnt to deal with people with empathy, look at things empathetically and put myself in other people’s shoes. I’m not saying you have to agree with what other people do, but it does help.”
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