‘I WISH I HAD FOLLOWED MY PARENTS’ ADVICE’

Vivaan Shah feels he took the wrong approach early in his career by chasing stardom

Vivaan Shah started his career with small roles in big multi-starrers, such as 7 Khoon Maaf (2011) and Happy New Year (2014). But looking back, the actor, who is the younger son of actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, feels he took the wrong approach at the start of his professional journey. “I made the mistake early in my career of chasing stardom and success. I started off in the business thinking I am here to be a star. Somewhere along the way, I realised that no, I am an actor [first],” the 32-year-old tells us.

The younger Shah’s career has seen a slow growth ever since. Speaking of what his parents think about his journey, he says, “They never bought into this business of stardom. But when I started in 2010, it was a very different climate in the industry. My peers were filling my head with all kinds of idiotic advice on how to be a leading star. My parents told me not to listen to the bulls**t. But as a young immature person, I did not listen to them. Rather than trying to evolve as an actor, I was greedy to become a star. Ultimately, that has been to my detriment. I wish that I had followed my parents’ advice.”

But Shah does feel fortunate to have done the big films that he did. “The projects of mine that the audience is familiar with, are the ones with big people. For the last six to seven years, with the exception of A Suitable Boy, the stuff that I have done has not reached an audience,” he says, while adding that he has been constantly employed in the last 12 years. “I am still working hard, developing my craft and evolving as an actor. I hope that people get to see more of me,” he signs off.

Rather than trying to evolve as an actor, I was greedy to become a star. Ultimately, that has been to my detriment.

VIVAAN SHAH ,

PHOTO: AALOK SONI/ HT Actor

PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH