It’s over a week and half left for Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty’s debut film Hero to hit screens and the newcomers are already seen everywhere, promoting their film together. Both star kids belong to legions of heavyweight actors and have a reputation to live upto. Not just that, none other than Salman Khan has provided them with the perfect launch pad to kick start their careers in Bollywood. So expectations from both of them are bound to be huge.
Talking about expectations, Suneil Shetty tell us, “There is no pressure on Athiya from our end. She knows that no matter what happens, we are always there for her and we always will be. And I am sure Athiya will do a great job.” Right after the trailer launch, Sunil has called friends for a feedback. “Everyone I spoke to reporters here who are my friends, they keep telling me both Sooraj and Athiya are fantastic kids. That’s the best compliment I can get as a father. Sooraj is like my own son too,” he says.
Right from the trailer launch event to the promotions, Athiya seems to be really confident and has always caught attention. Talk about it and Sunil smiles, “Whether it’s her acting, voice modulation or the dialogues, she seems really confident.” Any advice he’s given to her daughter? “I am someone who’s extremely emotional. Athiya has seen my Fridays so she knows a bit of how it works over here. I have always told her, ‘Never fear failure, fear success instead’. Everyone here is hardworking but you have to be passionate because if you are like that, you will work your way out even during your lows.”
But Sunil makes one thing very clear. He will stand like a rock to both his kids, no matter what happens. “Today’s kids are comfortable in being out there. Athiya hardly knows anything about the real world. I am happy that I am there for my kids and not let them mess it up for themselves.”
Given that she was a newcomer on the set, didn’t Athiya ever complain? Sunil answers, “She never complained. She’s extremely hard-working and passionate. The only thing she told me once that was ‘Dad I did so many takes and I am not happy. Nikhil sir has okayed a take but I don’t like it.’ Then she messaged Nikhil and then she did one more take for the shot. She’s never said that she’s tired or anything.”
To the world, she will be known as Sunil Shetty’s daughter but the actor claims that very soon, it would be the other way around. “Athiya has no stress because her mother is not an actor. Ahaan might face that. But then again, I always want to be known as Athiya or Ahaan’s father and I know that is going to happen very soon. I don’t have any issues with people not calling me Sunil Shetty anymore. Bohut saal bula liya, main theek hoon. Log bolenge Athiya ke papa hai, I will be really happy,” smiled Athiya’s proud papa! And here you go girl, we’ve already said it!
