Girish Kumar's upcoming romcom suggests that relationships today begin with a one-night stand; admits that being a 'star son' is emotionally tough.
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 21, 2016)

Girish Kumar, who debuted in Bollywood with Prabhu Deva's romcom, Ramaiya Vastavaiya, in 2013 dropped off the radar despite being offered four films in the last three years. Choosing to sit at home instead of settling for films he was sure would tank, producer Kumar Taurani's ladla learnt how emotionally challenging it is to be a star kid.

"I debuted with a good film which worked at the box-office but the industry did not welcome me. I had a nervous breakdown and constant meltdowns. It's been an extremely tough, emotional journey," admits the 26-year-old actor, pointing out that it's difficult for a child of the industry because everyone presumes his Mr moneybags dad will make a film for him. "But that's not what any of us want and there are innumerable star sons who have not lived up to their father's or family's legacy. The pressure of living under the shadow of another person is insane."

He admits his dad can't understand what all the stress and fuss is about and often wonders if Girish is being too hard on himself. "It bothers him but I don't want anyone to say that my father is producing a film for me," he says. He will be seen next in Loveshhuda, whose tagline suggests that relationships these days begin in bed and end in love. Ask him if his offscreen relationships also started with one-night stands and he guffaws, "I've already played the Casanova and playboy for real. But all the stories about my women are for me to know and for you to wonder. I don't mind it as long as my mother doesn't find out what I'm up to."

He believes his co-star, Miss India 2013 Navneet Kaur Dhillon, is a natural on screen. "Navneet's not had any formal training in acting or dancing. We've become good buddies," he says. The chemistry between them is evident in "Aaj phir peene ki tammana hai", a rip off of the Lata Mangeshkar number from Guide, and the tipsy "Total Talli".

Meanwhile, with the censors on his mind, Girish refused to say the cuss word chu**ya and was censored by his director Vaibhav Misra. "He was hell bent on me using it and we ended up having a huge spat which spilled over to the unit. Soon everyone was giving gaalis and I realised how naturally the word slips out. I ended up listening to my director for the rest of the film," Girish admits with a sheepish smile.

He admits that he has no plans of going behind the camera. "I'll stick to acting and will follow my heart," he signs off, not before admitting that writing is the most under-rated and under-paid profession in Bollywood.

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 18, 2014)

Girish Kumar, son of producer Kumar Taurani, is in Mauritius filming an yet-to-be-titled urban romcom. It is being directed by debutant filmmaker Vaibhav Misra.

The actor's first film was the Prabhu Dheva directed Ramaiyaa Vastavaiya which was produced by his father. But now he has stepped out of the home banner and is cautiously testing the waters.

"I took a year to sign my second film as all the offers that came along were so predictable and boring," he sighs. "This film is in a fairly realistic space about a guy meeting a girl at a turning point in his life. I could connect with the emotions he goes through."

He insists that he is proud of the fact that though his father launched him, he has nothing to do with his second film which is being produced by Vijay Galani of Veer and Ajnabee fame.

He admits that the young crop of actors have made the game tougher. "Look at the kind of films Varun (Dhawan), Arjun (Kapoor) and Siddharth (Malhotra) are doing. It's crazy and inspiring. But the competition is tough. I need to be extremely careful about what I choose to do," he says, quickly adding that he's not feeling insecure or threatened. "I know my strengths and weaknesses."

The frown turns into a smile when the subject veers towards his co-star, former Miss India Navneet Kaur Dhillon.

"We have been shooting for over a month together. She's so confident in front of the camera. I was seriously impressed!" he raves. 

BOMBAY TIMES (December 16, 2014)

Check out the first look of Girish Kumar and Navneet Kaur Dhillon (Miss India 2013) from Vaibhav Misra's modern, contemporary, yet untitled love story being currently shot in Mauritius

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; December 7, 2014)