Starting out as a boy-next-door in Heropanti , Tiger Shroff has managed to grab eyeballs with his action and dance moves. His entry has opened a new window for action thrillers where the stunt choreography aspires to match international standards. Recently in the Capital to introduce his Prowl workout at Cult Fitness club, he talks about his fitness philosophy, action genre in India and his latest release Baaghi-2 .
Excerpts:
How do you approach the fitness aspect of characters for different films?
For Baaghi 2 , I had to learn a different kind of combat because it was a blend of kickboxing, taekwondo and Chinese boxing. I had to undergo weaponry training in an action master facility at Bangkok. In my diet, I had complex carbohydrates, high glycaemic index (GI) carbohydrates like rice and simple sugars after workout and a moderate to high amount of proteins. Now I am losing muscles for my role in Student of the Year-2 through intermittent fasting and focusing on cardiovascular activities done on an empty stomach in the morning. This uses fat as a source of energy. I eliminate all my carbohydrates and stick to fats from dry fruits like walnuts or a spoon of peanut butter in my whey protein.
You have also co-created your own Prowl workout with Cult Fitness. How is it different?
We are starting a workout based on movement that is a fusion of martial arts, dance, and functional training. When you grow muscles through weights, it is not the organic way. In a mixed approach, you build muscles but they do not just become a weight on your body. The workout helps you to move more efficiently and makes you more mobile. You feel lighter.
Is martial arts a philosophy to you or just a fitness routine?
For me, martial arts is a way of life. It has taught me not only about physicality, but also given me a sense of discipline in my daily life. So in a way, it is both a philosophy and a fitness routine for me. Martial arts techniques like punches and kicks are not only meant to make you a sportsperson but also boost your existing workout. I have incorporated that into my Prowl routine where you learn a skill like a dance or martial arts move as you do the exercise. It helps the cardiovascular endurance and it is fun because of the music.
Who were your role models?
I am inspired by Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Whatever fame I have earned so far is because of them. I watched Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon and Jackie Chan’s Rumble in the Bronx at a very early age. My father (Jackie Shroff) was very busy with film shootings, but my mother pushed me. Martial arts flowed with my body naturally and I felt like it was something that I was destined to do. I never used to think about the accolades but only the training. I became very popular in my school because of my stunts. I was not good in studies, but sports kept me engaged in school.
How different it is being directed by a choreographer in Baaghi 2?
People may presume that Ahmed Khan and Tiger Shroff can only make films on dance, but I am sure they will be shocked to see a film that has superb action sequences as well as an honest story to tell. It is a complete contrast to what Khan is.
I am completely a director’s actor but if the director gives me the freedom to improvise, I improvise too. The experience that Khan has built up all these years as a technician reflects in his work as a director. Instead of focusing on the kind of punch and kicks, he asked me to focus on the motivation behind those actions and translate that into my emotions.
Any inspiration from Bollywood in this regard?
I respect Hrithik Roshan for what he has managed to bring on screen through his on-screen presence, dialogue delivery and obviously, dance. I think he is a whole package, and I am a big fan.
Do you think the action genre can withstand the wave of content-based cinema in Bollywood?
I totally believe that action will not only compete but also win hearts of the masses. Be it Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn or the other superstars, they have always been macho action heroes and people relate to action the most because it is the loudest form of expression. See the craze for Chinese films in India where the viewers do not understand the aesthetics, but can relate to the action in the film.
Violence and vendetta have lived for the longest time in cinema…
The blueprint of a hit film will remain the same and the newer filmmakers will recycle the same for the audiences who have contemporary sensibilities. You can watch any of the action films; they all have more or less the same larger idea and blueprint.
Do you think that multiplex culture or video-on-demand platforms have questioned the larger-than-life hero?
I think cinema theatre and its large canvas will always invite audiences to witness something which they cannot watch in their day-to-day life.
The laptop or mobile phone cannot allow you to witness it even though the quality and content is good. The spectacle of a movie like Baahubali or a superhero film can sustain the larger-than-life aspect of cinema as viewers are totally engrossed in watching it on a big screen. .
But only a few superhero films such as your Flying Jatt are made in India…
We lack the budgets. It is as simple as that. We have stories and emotional content in our superhero films but we do not have the resources to compete with the international standards of the visual effects and technology. We have tried and made Baahubali 2 , which is a matter of pride, but still, we are far away from Avengers. A superhero franchise is a tricky business because there is a direct comparison to international brands.
