The going has been tough for Sikander Kher but with his next film and his recent engagement, things seem to be looking up for the actor on all fronts.
The going has been tough for Sikander Kher but with his next film and his recent engagement, things seem to be looking up for the actor on all fronts.
Sikander Kher, son of veteran actors Anupam and Kirron Kher, has not really had a golden stint in Bollywood so far. The actor, who will be seen essaying a double role in his upcoming film Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive, talks about his struggle to get work, the flip side of being a star kid, his parents and his lady love Priya Singh. Excerpts:
Do you take your parents’ advice while choosing scripts My parents are established actors and like every other parent they give me basic advice to work hard, be strong and be persistent. They never sit and discuss the roles I choose — they don’t interfere in my work decisions. In fact, in so many years, only once my mother came to my sets to have lunch with me.
You have done only six films since 2008. Was it by choice This is a tough industry and I have stood up after each fall. Barring Tere Bin Laden the other five films that I have done so far have been serious ones. When they didn’t work, I lost my market value. True, I wasn’t getting much work and the offers I got, I wouldn’t be convinced about them. I have no regrets though. I am blessed with the best in life.
In spite of coming from a film family, you seemed to have struggled a fair bit Yes, as a star kid, I haven’t got a lot of work. Films are a high-risk business and nobody is here to do favours. There is a lot of pressure of star kids — they are bound to be compared to their parents and then judged and scrutinised.
So yes, actors from film families can meet people easily, but to sustain a career is tough. But I love acting and I will continue to do so.
How do you react to your father’s political conflicts I never follow them. He handles them the best. I am too busy promoting my film these days.
Do you feel the pressure of carrying the Tere Bin Laden franchise forward No. My friends would tell me that I should do comedies, since I am very crazy and wacky as a person. I was looking out for a script that could match my sense of humour. And then it was Abhishek Sharma who called me one day and read out the script to me. Fortunately, I cleared the audition too.
How challenging was the double role It was quite a challenge. I had to put on weight for one role and then quickly lose it for the other one. And both the characters were quite interesting.
On the personal front, your hush-hush engagement created quite a stir It was destined. My to-be wife Priya is a blessing to me from the universe. She is a lovely girl. Our journey is like a fairy tale but I really don’t want to speak about it right now.
