Like most men of 'action', he is also a man of few words. Tiger Shroff's filmography - Heropanti, Baaghi, A Flying Jatt, Munna Michael and now, Baaghi 2 - is unique. He is probably the only star to have done all movies only in title roles. He has three films on hand - Rambo, Student Of The Year 2 and a Yash Raj Films' untitled project with Hrithik Roshan, his idol. So, as of today, the title fever continues.
Also, Tiger is the only actor to make a sequel to his biggest hit to date with such less work. And Baaghi 2 sees him in a new crew-cut look and promises a higher zone of action than ever before for Mr. Fitness. Tiger smiles and expresses gratitude to his mentor, producer Sajid Nadiadwala, for announcing Baaghi 3 even before the release of Baaghi 2. "I am very happy that Sajid-sir has so much confidence in our team," he said. "I am also happy about the fact that the trailer has been so well-received. And I think the audience expectations are already high from Baaghi 2, and we have a great story and a great cast to back the great action." Tiger is clear that he will definitely take up any film his mentor offers him in the future.
Anything for the role
Baaghi 2 also demanded a transformation in his body, complete with a short haircut that Tiger was very reluctant about. "Sajid-sir and Ahmed-sir (director Ahmed Khan) convinced me about it, but I felt very emotional and even scared, if you have watched the video of how I got my look. I felt naked! I did not want to go out, and even wore a cap for some time. But people liked my look and now I am very happy I cut my hair. It now gives me the confidence to experiment and take risks with my looks. Besides, it is growing back now, which is the look I will have in my next film."
The physical transformation, far more demanding, needed almost 10 weeks of hardcore training to build muscles and also to pick up various forms of combat training. "The mornings went in my workouts, the evenings in combat training," reveals Tiger. "I had to build muscles and hence had to consume more calories. So, in place of four meals in a day, I would need, say, six."
Why does he think action in Hindi cinema is not as prevalent as in the past? "I don't know, yaar," he replies. "Actually, all the mass heroes have been action heroes, like Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol and my father Jackie Shroff, and later Salman Khan. Action is universally appealing, and the rom-coms and chocolate boy kind of movies are more urban and for the multiplex."
Tiger admits that he enjoys being typecast as an action hero. "That gives me an identity and an acceptance in a small way. I am very happy in my own space, trying to be like Bruce Lee, Sylvester Stallone and Jackie Chan here. I am happier that other heroes are trying it only once in a while because that gives me that much more opportunities!" But he smiles and humbly adds that while all his contemporaries may not be as good in action as he is, they are doing great stuff of the kind that he couldn't.
His next film, Student Of The Year 2, will be the image-breaker. "I am bullied and beaten up in the film, and it's the story of a regular guy, and a musical," he reveals.
Of hits & flops
Coming back to Baaghi 2, he admits that he is "s**t scared" as he has had two hits and two flops. "I want this film to work not just for me but also for my team who worked so hard. My last hit was the prequel to this film."
Tiger adds that he would rather take the blame for his last two films not doing well rather than passing it on to his director. "It's very childish to do that!" he feels.
But how does he deal with brickbats in general? "I can't every time, But I just go to my next film. I used to worry a lot earlier after my first flop - I would go into an introspective mode and the blame game would start in my mind until I would snap out of it and think that next time I would not repeat the same mistake. I would absorb everything like a sponge, but today, I can take what I want and leave the rest."
The story of Baaghi 2, he says, is what charges him the most. "The trailer is cut to emphasise the action, but there are so many important characters that drive Baaghi 2, besides mine," he says. "There is Disha Patani in a meaty role, there's Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee, Pratik and Deepak Dobriyal." The action sequences, he adds, were so physically draining that he would go home and just "faint into my bed, all sweaty, and not able to move a muscle. I would not even have dinner!"
How necessary, and then intimidating, was it to jump 130 feet off a cliff, or on a moving helicopter? And did he have to do it himself rather than have a 'double' do it? "If I only think about how badly I will be injured, I will be holding back on my energy and will be cheating my audience, which I can't," he declares. "But it was challenging and I have never done anything as dangerous before."
What were the differences for him between Baaghi and Baaghi 2? "Oh, it's a totally different film with totally different requirements. I play an army officer here, so he is more complex and mature," replies the actor.
Working with Disha Patani as his reel sweetheart made things easy as they are a real-life couple. "She has evolved as an actor since the time we shot our music video 'Befikra' in 2016. She also has an amazing screen presence as was evident in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. So, it was easy to romance her and do emotional scenes because of the relationship I share with her."
Do hits and flops matter to him? "Of course, they do!" he says. "During Heropanti, I did not understand what Rs 55 crore lifetime business meant, and why the film was a hit because it starred two newcomers and cost only Rs 12 crore. Now, I know things. Baaghi had double that budget and did even better. I was mentally flying in the air till A Flying Jatt made me land on the ground! My biggest critics are my fans and public. I must keep in mind what they say, want and enjoy!"
Would he like to do a period action drama? "Why not? I would love to do a film like Troy."