Riddhi’s parents wanted him to focus on acting and not on the rat race

Actor Riddhi Sen, who was recently seen in the film Helicopter Eela playing Kajol’s onscreen son, wanted to become an actor since the time he could barely talk properly. He reveals, “I knew that I wanted to become an actor, at the age of three. I grew up in an acting family. Both my parents are film and theatre actors. It’s not as if it is a family tradition. The entire idea of being someone else, living someone else’s life without facing the consequences has always attracted me.”

He adds that he was only able to fulfil his dream because his parents were supportive. “I’d help people in music, stage design, lighting...Whatever little I’ve achieved is entirely because of my parents. They told me, ‘You don’t have to score 100 out of 100 in Maths, Physics or Chemistry; you focus on what you really want to do. We’ll help you achieve that.’ After my class 10, they shifted me to home schooling, saying you don’t have to get into that rat race. So, I was doing exactly what I wanted to do.”

Riddhi, who won the National Award for best actor for the 2017 Bengali film Nagarkirtan, maintains that all this helped him to grow as an individual. He says, “My parents taught me how to be independent, and make the right choices. Even if I made the wrong ones, they were like you have to learn from them.”

My parents taught me how to be independent, and make the right choices.

RIDDHI SEN, ACTOR

PHOTO: SARANG GUPTA/HT Actor Riddhi Sen says whatever little he has achieved today is entirely because of his parents

Still from Days Of Thunder

Still from Constantine