Sooraj Pancholi has his been waiting for his big follow-up after much-talked-about debut, Hero. His personal life has also been tumultuous, but the boy seems undeterred. Conversing with Sooraj is like chatting with a regular lad, who's toiling to find his feet in a workspace, without being beaten by the pressure of what's-next. In a candid conversation with BT, at a bustling suburban cafe, the 26-year-old talked about his career, his equation with his father and why he doesn't expect anything more from Salman Khan. Excerpts...

What's next, really?
I was expected to start Faruk Kabir's film, which is taking a while, but we'll be on course soon. I've been prepping for it. There's also a Remo D'Souza film, which will hopefully start once he completes his next with Salman Khan. And, there was another movie that never took off.

It's been two years since Salman Khan launched you, but your second film hasn't taken off yet. Does it unnerve you?
I have been through something so drastic in my life so early on, that I see the world in a completely different light. I've been through what no one goes through at the age of 21. It changed the course of my life and my world view. So, the slow pace of my career doesn't bother me. Hero did decent business, particularly for a film with newcomers. With two star kids being launched by Salman, the expectations for Hero to clock in magical figures were high. I agree that two years is a long gap, but I am using the time to travel and read, and to prepare myself to be noticed as an artiste. I wanted to do something more performance-oriented, which is the reason I took up Faruk's film.

When you made your debut, it was expected that Salman might bankroll your next film too...
I don't expect too much from him. Salman Khan has already done way more for me than what I deserved.

But there must have been additional pressure on you compared to other newbies to find your way out of a superstar's shadow...
My journey has been different from other newcomers'; easy or difficult, I don't know. I have a few other battles to win before I can become a winner at work. So, it's not like I have an easy life. I don't have a superstar father or mother who can handhold my career or a parent who is a producer. Salman sir helped me with Hero and backed me in more ways than one. Having said that, I'm just 26; I'll find my way around things.

What did you learn from your tough times?
I wouldn't say my experiences taught me something because you need to do something wrong to learn what is right. I was in a relationship, which didn't work. I was young then. I didn't know what life meant. At that age, how many youngsters know what they want in life or the meaning of life? I don't really think that there was something to learn there, but yes, time has made me wiser and brought me closer to my loved ones. My family has stood by me like a rock and I value that completely. My sister and mother (Sana and Zarina) are exceptionally strong women, but my father (Aditya Pancholi) tends to get very emotional.

Considering the fact that your dad is an established actor, did he have a strong role to play in your career?
He never made a call to anyone for me and he wouldn't ever do it. That's how he is. And I like it that way. I am not a baby. It was okay if he had made that call when I was 19. At my age (26), he was already a father. So, we bond more as friends. He gave my sister and me a lot of freedom in our formative years.

You come across as shy and reserved. Have you been able to make friends in this industry?
I am shy, but I am not uptight. Once I get comfortable with people, I'm like an open book. I have a lot of friends, but only about five of them know me inside out, at times even better than what my family would know.

Your circle of friends includes Athiya (Shetty), Rinzing Denzongpa (Danny's son) and Tiger Shroff among others. How often do you guys catch up?
I spoke to Athiya just recently. Tiger and I are still very thick, but he's so caught up that we hardly get to see him. He's the busiest among us. Actually, we meet his dad (Jackie Shroff) more often. He's very social and friendly.

Tiger's dad Jackie and your father are also thick friends. Like Tiger, I am sure you get compared to your dad, too...
Our fathers actually bond over drinks, and sometimes catch up on the phone. Come to think of it, if I were a girl, I would have run away with Jackie Shroff, he's so hot (laughs). Look, it's good that we are compared to our dads. I don't think anyone of us feels bad when women say, 'Tumhare daddy kitne handsome hain.' Our kids, hopefully, will get to hear the same thing. Actually, we have beautiful mothers too, but no man dare say, 'Hey, your mother is really hot.' They'll be crushed (laughs).

You continue to live in Juhu while your family has moved to Versova. Do you ever feel lonely?
I am not leaving my old house in Juhu; too many memories are attached to the place. I like being alone. My house is very tiny, so at times, I host three to five friends. If Rinzing (Denzongpa) comes over, then only three can be accommodated because he takes up all the space (laughs). On a serious note, I am hardly home. I leave home at 8 or 9 am and return 12 hours later. If I am not doing anything, I sleep by 11 pm. I like the idea that there's no one at home. As for the void, I meet my parents every day for lunch; they stay just a few minutes away. My room in their Versova pad has been converted into a TV room, which means I've officially been kicked out (laughs).