Fourteen years after Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a crackdown on gutkha, pan masala and scented supari advertising, the battle over surrogate promotion has resurfaced, this time involving three Bollywood stars.

Former Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Mahesh Zagade, who led the 2012 crackdown, says the action forced gutkha and pan masala brands to pull advertisements from television and hoardings and dried up their sponsorship of Ganpati mandals in Mumbai and Pune.

Now, the FDA has issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their endorsement of Vimal Elaichi, alleging that the campaign is a surrogate front to promote Vimal Pan Masala.

The notices were delivered to Khan's Mannat residence in Bandra, Devgn's bungalow in Juhu and Shroff's production firm. The actors have been asked to place their explanations on record and pull down promotional material from their social media and digital channels within 15 days.

The FDA has invoked Sections 24 and 53 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, along with provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. It has alleged that the use of identical brand identity, dialogues and presentation creates deceptive brand recall for a prohibited product.

Zagade said the issue was tackled during his tenure more than a decade ago. “When I banned gutkha, pan masala, and scented supari back in 2012, it was the first time such a blanket ban was imposed in Maharashtra. The moment the ban took effect, all promotional advertisements were immediately taken off air and stripped from hoardings.”

Adv Jamshed Mistry, Bombay High Court, said Section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 prohibits direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products. “Surrogate advertising is strictly prohibited under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. Section 5 prohibits direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products, and the statutory rules explicitly recognise the use of a tobacco product’s name or brand to promote other goods, services, or events as indirect advertising. If an ad for a product like elaichi is used as a vehicle to promote a banned brand, it attracts regulatory scrutiny.”

Zagade said the crackdown also hit corporate sponsorship of Ganpati mandals. “Back then, Ganpati mandals in Mumbai and Pune were heavily sponsored and flooded with hoardings by gutkha and pan masala giants. That year, their funding dried up completely. Many mandals approached me seeking exemptions, but I refused point-blank. For the next two years during my tenure, not a single ad appeared. If these ads crept back in, subsequent commissioners clearly failed to pursue the enforcement stringently.”

He said the FDA had also acted against celebrities over misleading endorsements. “I had issued personal notices to top actors for misleading endorsements—including fake joint-pain oils—and registered over 450 cases against fictitious claims under food and drug laws. When one veteran actor was confronted, he immediately withdrew. Ground-level action has to be sustained and systemic, not just occasional media hype.”

The case also raises questions about how much responsibility celebrity endorsers have to investigate the brands they promote, particularly where a brand is also associated with a restricted or prohibited product. Adv Behzd Irani and Adv Ruchika Sharma, Advocates, Bombay High Court, said the advertisement would have to be assessed as a whole.

“The FDA’s allegation essentially raises the question of whether the advertisement of an otherwise permissible product is being used to indirectly promote a prohibited product under the same brand umbrella,” they said.

“Legally, the mere use of a common brand name may not, by itself, establish surrogate advertising. The advertisement has to be considered in its entirety, including its presentation, packaging, brand recall, and the overall impression it creates upon the consumer. Importantly, a show-cause notice is an initiation of regulatory proceedings and should not be equated with a conclusive finding of contravention.”

They said celebrity endorsers should exercise greater due diligence when a brand has an established association with a restricted or prohibited product. “In such circumstances, due diligence should extend beyond verifying the legality of the product being advertised and should include an assessment of whether the campaign could reasonably be construed as indirect or surrogate promotion.”

The lawyers said the actors should cooperate with the FDA and submit relevant agreements, legal clearances and due-diligence material. They added that, unless removal has specifically been directed, a show-cause notice itself does not amount to a final finding of illegality, though continuing the campaign would require caution.

A copy of the show-cause notice issued by the Maharashtra FDA to the actors over the advertisement

They have made audiences laugh across three franchises and now the cult quartet is ready to take on the undead. mid-day had earlier reported that producer Firoz A Nadiadwallah was planning to reunite Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, and Suniel Shetty, potentially for the fourth instalment of the Welcome franchise (More mischief in the making, March 8). Now, a source reveals that the foursome will reunite in director Ahmed Khan’s yet-untitled zombie comedy, headlined by Tiger Shroff.

The film will see the veteran actors reprise their iconic characters — Yeda Anna (Shetty), Uday Shetty (Patekar), Majnu Bhai (Kapoor), and Dr Ghunghroo (Rawal) — crowd favourites since Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015).

“While the movie is a horror-supernatural-drama, it is also a comedy as it will cater to all kinds of audiences, including children,” shares a source from the creative team. Nadiadwallah wants the film to be “a part of the family universe”.

While Kapoor and Patekar did not feature in Welcome To The Jungle, Rawal appeared as Das rather than Dr Ghunghroo. “The idea was to bring back their characters in some way as people love and miss them.”

Shroff’s action hero persona is certain to draw children to theatres, the source assures. “Tiger will play the main protagonist who fights the zombies. Children love and connect to him and that was a major reason for getting him on board.” The veteran actors are also “excited to play the 2.0, new-age versions” of their iconic characters.

“Firoz wants a grand, stylish, and larger-than-life look and feel of the film with ample VFX and comic doses. The film will be shot in UAE, Europe, and across India, and is expected to roll by end of the year. Once the scripting is complete, the heroines will be finalized,” adds the insider.

Although Suniel Shetty was initially hesitant about joining Welcome To The Jungle, today, the actor is happy he did a rethink. Ahmed Khan’s directorial venture has reportedly crossed the Rs 50 crore mark over its first weekend.

“Initially I was skeptical about doing it as I wasn’t sure whether justice could be done to so many actors,” said Shetty of the ensemble film that has a principal cast of 30-plus actors. “I knew the script was over-the-top but because I was comfortable with my producer Firoz A Nadiadwallah and Ahmed, I said yes to it.” 

Many have drawn parallels between Welcome To The Jungle — also starring Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, and Disha Patani, among others — and Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder (2008) where a film crew’s shoot in the jungle turns into a real-life combat operation.

The comparisons don’t affect Shetty, who reasoned, “Comparisons will keep happening. What makes a difference is the writing, performances, the director’s vision, and our belief that over-the-top, brain rot cinema will also work. We are nobody to judge. Audiences have enjoyed Welcome To The Jungle.”

After the laugh riot, the senior actor is shifting gears to the action thriller, Hitman. In the Sachin Ravi-directed offering, Shetty plays a mentor to Tiger Shroff’s character. Chatter suggests that Shetty’s role has grey shades — something that he remained tight-lipped about, only saying, “I cannot say anything till the producer announces it. Grey is always good, but black never is.”

Suniel Shetty noted that making comedy films is as important as doing spectacle films like ‘Dhurandhar’. “I love Aditya Dhar’s cinema. For me, entertainment is [a movie] that appeals to kids and families. The way they are going to the theatres for ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ speaks for itself,” he said.

As football fever grips fans across the globe with the FIFA World Cup in full swing, actor and avid football enthusiast Aparshakti Khurana reveals his deep passion and enthusiasm for the sport.

“Despite my hectic professional commitments, just the adrenaline that football carries keeps bringing me back to it,” he shares, adding that the sport is his “biggest stress buster”.

With excitement building for the ongoing World Cup, the 38-year-old shares his match-day ritual: “I try to keep my day easy at work so I’m fresh enough to watch the match... you need a lot of energy as a fan too.”

Aparshakti also adds how it fascinates him to witness the standard of football on display. He says, “The quality of football has gone up so much in the past few years — the fitness, the competition and the intensity.”

While among Indian footballers, the actor reserves a special admiration for former player Sunil Chhetri and calls him a “legend”, on the global stage, Argentina’s Lionel Messi remains his favourite. “He’s inspired generations while remaining grounded, and his journey reflects what football is all about — passion, perseverance and teamwork,” he says.

While the actor feels Indian football is progressing positively, he stresses the importance of investing in grassroots development: “More investment in youth academies and football infrastructure would help. Consistent success from the national team and stronger domestic leagues can inspire a larger fan base and create a long-term football culture.”

Having played several matches for All Stars FC, a celebrity football team dedicated to raising money for charity, Aparshakti is quick to name actor Tiger Shroff as the best footballer in the team. “His fitness is unmatchable.”

Comparing football dressing rooms with film sets, Aparshakti adds, “Even though I haven’t played football at the highest level, I know one thing for sure — no film set can compare to a locker room or a sports field. That’s where we find the real heroes. We make only films on them.”

Croatia: Technically strong, disciplined and capable of surprising bigger nations

Argentina’s Lionel Messi

Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain

Argentina lifting the World Cup in 2022

Sunderland ’Til I Die (2018)

Jason Statham (Hollywood actor). From Bollywood, I’d say Ranbir Kapoor and Tiger Shroff

Badminton

Argentina vs Spain with Argentina emerging as winners

Forty-three years is a long time to stay in the game. Long enough to not just watch empires rise and fall, but also for a young man from a Mumbai chawl to become one of Hindi cinema’s most handsome and enduring actors. Today, Jackie Shroff, who began his journey as a leading man with Hero (1983), is strapping on the costume of a superhero with Manish Saini’s The Great Grand Superhero – Aliens Ka Aagman.

Over the years, he has become synonymous with the ‘cool guy’ persona and remains no different today. Ask him about box office anxiety; he laughs it off. Ask him about the National Awards; he shrugs warmly. From the brooding, smouldering Hero of 1983 to becoming India’s first superhero grandpa in 2026, he carries the ease and satisfaction of a man who has made peace with every chapter of his story.

Before taking on the role, Jackie says he spoke to his son, Tiger Shroff, who played a superhero in A Flying Jatt (2016). He shares, “He told me, ‘It’s very tough, dad. The costume keeps you so hot, your skin can’t breathe. It’s an ordeal. Jitna easy dikhta hai, utna easy hota nahi hai’.”

Playing a superhero at 69 is not simply a matter of saying yes; it comes with physical challenges. “Mere haath-pair tootele hain, muscles phatele hain while doing the action. People don’t see what goes into it. Recovery mein bhi time lagta hai, bhidu. Shooting action koi khaane ka game nahi hai. Dum nikal jaata hai,” explains the actor.

While he credits Tiger’s discipline for his own physical resurgence, Jackie insists that in his mind, he is still young. He says, “My mind is still stuck at 19. My genetics don’t let me grow old. The power and energy are still there. In fact, I feel stronger now than I did in my teens.”

Tiger, Jackie proudly says, has also shaped his outlook towards fitness. “Tiger has always been my inspiration. I had never worked out, but looking at him makes me want to push my limits. I’m grateful to my son for making me see the real light. Woh hamesha bolta hai ki jitna strong main rahunga, utna strong hamaara parivaar rahega.”

What has remained unchanged through the decades, however, is Jackie’s approach to relationships within the film industry. In an environment often driven by networking and strategy, he says he still values personal bonds over professional calculations. “Relationships matter more than strategy. If a cameraman offers me a role that requires four days of shooting, I’ll do it without thinking, if it helps him,” he says.

Speaking about his equation with actors like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, Jackie adds, “I’ve known Salman, who is five years younger, since my modelling days, when I was the cool dude in the area. When he says, ‘Meri picture kar’, how can I say no? How can I say no to Shah Rukh? If he says, ‘I want you to do a film and just look good,’ I say, that’s easy,” he laughs and adds, “You have to reciprocate and stay open to people, friends and colleagues.”

Jackie traces that outlook to his upbringing in Mumbai’s chawls. “I am a chaali boy. Living in chawls means community. Ek doosre ke ghar mein jhaakte hain, khaana milta hai. Kahin se baraf aati hai, kahin se biryani. You help each other. There were 21 chawls where I lived. Six of us, including my parents, stayed in a 10x10 house. That life makes you see everyone as equal,” he says.

Amid reports of actor Tiger Shroff teaming up with Vijay Krishna Acharya for a new action entertainer, the filmmaker has dismissed the speculation, calling it “incorrect”.

The project, which was widely reported to go on floors in August this year, with a 2027 theatrical release planned, was also said to be produced by Vinod Bhanushali and Tony D’Souza.

However, Acharya, best known for directing Dhoom 3 (2018) and Thugs Of Hindostan (2018), clarifies that no such collaboration is currently in the works: “I’ve been busy travelling and I saw these stories too. It’s conjecture and the news is incorrect. I find these reports very strange because they are not true.”

Meanwhile, Tiger is currently shooting for filmmaker Sachin Ravi’s next, who will be marking his Hindi directorial debut with the untitled project. It is produced by Murad Khetani.

Where there is Tiger Shroff, there is an action film — sooner or later. Sure enough, the actor’s next with producer Murad Khetani and director Sachin Ravi, which was to originally roll in October 2025 and was postponed twice over, is finally set to go on floors on April 10.

According to sources close to the development, the repeated delays were due to scheduling conflicts. An insider revealed, “The team wanted to ensure everything was locked, especially the action design, before rolling.”

Pre-production is reportedly complete, with action blocks and international stunt teams already finalised. “The yet-untitled film is designed as a stylised action spectacle. From April 10, it will be shot across Mumbai, particularly in sets built in Goregaon and Malad,” added the insider.

Shroff will juggle the project with Lag Jaa Gale, a romantic drama that he has been filming with actors Janhvi Kapoor and Lakshya Lalwani.

Om Raut, best known for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, is likely to come on board to helm an upcoming actioner featuring Tiger Shroff and Vidyut Jammwal. The project, backed by Bhushan Kumar, is in the early stages of development. A source close to the production reveals that Raut has already pitched a script to the actors. “He has pitched a script and they are currently jamming over it. It is at a nascent stage,” the source states.

Interestingly, Milap Zaveri was earlier rumoured to be directing the venture. However, he has since been announced as the director of another film with the same production house, starring Harshvardhan Rane.

“The story by Om is completely different. He has not stepped into Milap’s shoes. If everything goes well, the film will go on floors this year,” the source adds. This will mark Bhushan and Om's reunion post the debacle of Adipurush.

Earlier while talking about Adipurush's performance at the box office, Om in an interview said, “Our first day was Rs. 70 crore, and that’s just in India. Our total box office was over Rs. 400 crore. So, the numbers were very large… With Adipurush, there was a loss of perception, not a loss of revenue. If the perception was positive, if the perception was under control, we would’ve seen an exorbitant number, which we did not see. That was disappointing.”

Actor Tiger Shroff’s recent work includes big-budget action films such as Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024) and appearances in projects like Singham Again (2024), continuing his image as one of Bollywood’s most prominent action stars, though some of his recent films have struggled critically and commercially.

Meanwhile, martial-arts specialist Vidyut Jammwal was last seen headlining the sports-action film Crakk: Jeetegaa… Toh Jiyegaa (2024) and also appeared as an antagonist in the Tamil film Madharaasi (2025), maintaining his reputation for physically demanding action roles. Filmmaker Om Raut, on the other hand, last directed the mythological epic Adipurush (2023), starring Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan, a high-budget adaptation inspired by the Ramayana that generated massive buzz but received mixed to negative responses.

Until mid-January, director Milap Zaveri and producer Bhushan Kumar were going full throttle on their next, an intense action drama with Tiger Shroff and Vidyut Jammwal. But things have a way of changing overnight in the film industry. Now, it is heard that Zaveri and the T-Series head honcho will start another project, which will see the director reuniting with his Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat (2025) actor Harshvardhan Rane.

mid-day has learnt that Anil Kapoor is in talks to play a pivotal role in the yet-untitled movie that is expected to roll this month.

A trade source revealed, “The makers are in the final stage of discussion with Anil. Milap will direct the actor for the first time.” What of the Shroff and Jammwal-starrer then? Apparently, the actors had started training for the actioner.

The source indicated that creative differences led to the film being put on the backburner. “Milap chose to do Harshvardhan’s movie over the other as too many creative differences were creeping in. It can happen when you cast two action heroes, but they shouldn’t interfere in the script. That said, it was an amicable parting. There was also a date clash as the makers wanted to begin the Harshvardhan movie in February, and no way would the Vidyut-Tiger film be complete by then.”

Krishna Shroff has recently found her footing in the reality TV space. The sister of Tiger Shroff and daughter of Jackie Shroff took her time figuring out her true calling. Certain that she did not want to enter films like the rest of her family, she discovered her passion in the world of fitness and MMA.

Talking about how her life unfolded, Krishna says, “It used to make me feel miserable. I come from a family of successful people. I didn’t want to be that privileged, spoiled kid who lives off daddy and mommy’s name, fame and money. Independence is power. I am grateful, but I knew very early on that I needed to break away and be my own person. I have a very alpha thought process and personality, so I’m not okay just being in the background or being a side character. I love having that main-character energy. That phase where I was figuring out what to do in life was hard. But I did find fitness at that time. The gym became my therapy. It gave me discipline and focus, and I channelled all that frustration in a very positive way.”

In an earlier conversation, Krishna had mentioned that she never wanted a career in films because the industry gives a lot but takes away much more. Elaborating on that thought, she says, “My father is a lot more free-spirited than my brother. Success or failure doesn’t really matter to him as much as it matters to my brother. My brother has given a lot to his craft. He works on it thoroughly. He doesn’t have a social life. Even on his days off, he is working on his body. For someone like me, I need balance in life. I’m happy to work hard, but I also need my long vacations. I want to explore cultures, etc.”

Krishna, who was last seen in the reality show Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, recently launched her own fitness brand. Reflecting on her journey into fitness, she says, “My brother got into fitness at a very young age. I got into it much later. I would always look at him doing these things, and it was very inspiring. So he has definitely been the pioneer of fitness in our family.”

In October, mid-day had reported that Lakshya of The Ba***ds Of Bollywood fame and Tiger Shroff were set to lock horns in Lag Jaa Gale, a revenge actioner (Here to fight, here to rise, Oct 21). For now, the two actors seem to be taking their rivalry to the dance floor.

Sources have told us that director Raj Mehta began shooting a dance-off at Mukesh Mills in Colaba on December 24. Over 100 professional dancers have been flown in for the Ganesh Acharya-choreographed number.

An insider close to the production said, “It has been conceptualized as a full-blown dance-off. Every beat is designed to contrast Tiger’s explosive dancing style with Lakshya’s easygoing moves.”

The two actors have been rehearsing for the past three weeks, before they came together for the joint run-throughs earlier this week. The song is expected to be wrapped up by December 29. 

Early December, mid-day reported that Dharma Productions’ new hero Lakshya and Janhvi Kapoor’s actioner, tentatively titled Lag Jaa Gale, is set to go on floors (From ‘Ba***ds’ to badla/Dec 3). Now, sources tell us that the shoot of the Raj Mehta directorial film is in full swing, with the production planned over a three-month schedule.

“Lag Jaa Gale is going to be shot in a start-to-end schedule, from December to March, in Mumbai. The actors have given block dates to Raj, who is keen to wrap up the film by March end,” a source informs. 

The film also stars Tiger Shroff, who plays Lakshya’s nemesis. The makers aim to ready the film for a theatrical release in the second half of 2026.

“It’s going to be an out-and-out actioner with enough drama between the three primary characters to ground the film. The action sequences between Lakshya and Tiger, who both excel in this genre, are being envisioned as the film’s highlights. The theme of revenge forms the core of the film,” says another insider, adding that if all goes as per plan, the film is likely to arrive in theatres by the second half of 2026.

What’s next for Lakshya? That’s what many are wondering after he caught the attention of the masses with his lead role in director Aryan Khan’s satire The Ba***ds of Bollywood. It looks like the actor has bagged another big-ticket production. He has been signed on for Dharma Productions’ action drama, to be helmed by Raj Mehta. Joining Lakshya in the action extravaganza is one of the experts in the genre — Tiger Shroff.

The film will be a homecoming for Lakshya as Karan Johar’s banner had launched him in movies with Kill (2024). A source tells mid-day, “Kill was an out-and-out action fare. But this time, a revenge story is at the centre of this action offering. The film is in its final stage of prep and Raj plans to take it on floors by November.”

Another source indicates that the two actors are pitted against each other in the movie. “It will be Tiger versus Lakshya. Both actors have shown their prowess in the action genre, and the film will benefit with them sharing screen space,” says the source. The buzz is that Janhvi Kapoor, a frequent face in Johar’s productions, is the female lead.

Interestingly, this is the same action film that Johar had announced on his 50th birthday in 2022 and was supposed to direct after Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), marking his foray into the genre. But the filmmaker changed his mind and has now passed the project to Mehta, who has helmed ensemble dramedies  Good Newwz (2019) and Jug Jugg Jeeyo (2022).

“Karan has set his eyes on another story now, something that is more in his zone of drama and emotions. He is confident that Raj will blend masala with big-screen action well,” shares an insider.

On the morning of April 28, Salman Khan announced on Instagram that The Bollywood Big One, his upcoming shows in the UK, was postponed in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. 

The superstar’s post read, “In light of the recent tragic events in Kashmir, and with profound sadness, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone The Bollywood Big One shows... We feel it is only right to pause during this time of grief.”

Scheduled to take place at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 4 and OVO Arena in Wembley on May 5, the shows were to include performances by Salman, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, and Tiger Shroff, among others. 

mid-day has learnt that the decision was taken by Salman after a long meeting with brother Sohail Khan, organisers Jordy Patel and Farhath Hussain, on Sunday.

An insider shares, “Rehearsals had begun and the shows were a sell-out. But on Sunday, Salman called for a meeting at his Panvel farmhouse, where Sohail and Jordy were in attendance while London-based organiser Farhath joined over a video call. The superstar was clear that given the tragedy the country is going through, the timing was not conducive to host such a show. The organizers understood that the move would incur losses as both the venues were sold out, and there was high anticipation among the fans as Salman was to perform in the UK after a long time. But they unanimously agreed that rescheduling the tour was the respectful and right thing to do.”

We’ve heard that the two shows may happen in August, but the final decision will be taken only later. For now, the ticket holders will be issued refunds.

When mid-day reached out to Patel, one of the organizers, he said, “It was a big event, and we had got an excellent response from the audience, but that is fine. The shows will happen only when the time is right. It may be sometime in August, but only after everything settles down. It was a decision taken by all of us as we felt it wasn’t correct to go there and perform when such a big tragedy had taken place in our country. The current sentiment doesn’t allow us to perform. The money will be refunded to the ticket holders.”

Tiger Shroff put his chiseled chest on display as he walked the ramp – for the second time in his life – recently for fashion designer Tarun Tahliani. Fresh after the show, the War actor says, "I've walked the ramp once before in my life. So, I was excited to be a part of such a prestigious fashion show." He goes on to further add, "I just surrender myself to the designers usually, and I think I'd rather not challenge what their vision and perspective is, especially when it comes to fashion. So, I'm open in that sense."

​Tiger, known for his agility on screen, may effortlessly kick multiple flies in the air or execute flawless backflips, however, experimenting with his sartorial choices is a different story altogether. Tiger's sense of style is decidedly casual and classic.

"I like to be in comfortable clothes like a pair of track pants. I don’t think my style has evolved over the years. I liked to be less clothed or less covered. I like to be in my shorts or a pair of gym clothes most of the time and that has remained constant for my life. I am more comfortable with the classics because I am not that confident in terms of what I can, or I can’t carry off so I try to keep it simple most of the time and make it as much classy as I can," he explains.

For Tiger, fashion is not just about donning the latest trends, but about self-expression and confidence. "Fashion is about expressing your identity and being comfortable in your skin and aura," he says succinctly.​

Actor Tiger Shroff made a promising debut in Bollywood with Heropanti (2014), which garnered significant box-office success. However, his subsequent journey in the industry has been marked by its fair share of ups and downs.

Reflecting on his journey, the actor, who will next be seen in Baaghi 4, tells us, “Heropanti set the tone for my journey, but it was with Baaghi (2016) that people started associating me with action and high-energy performances. That carved my niche in the industry.”

While he tasted success with Baaghi, War (2019) and Singham Again (2024), the 35-year-old also faced setbacks through projects such as A Flying Jatt (2016) , Student Of The Year 2 (2019), Ganapath (2023) and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024).

Point this out and Tiger says that failure is an essential part of growth: “Obstacles and hardships force you to introspect and grow. If everything came easy, you’d never push yourself beyond your limits. Every setback is an opportunity to come back stronger.”

As someone who has grown up in the industry, Tiger, who is the son of actor Jackie Shroff, feels that people’s biggest misconception about Bollywood is that it is “glamour and easy success”. “People don’t see the years of struggle, rejections, and hard work behind every role. It takes relentless dedication, perseverance, and constant evolution to sustain a career here — luck may open a door, but only hard work keeps you in the room,” he asserts.

In Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), many were surprised to see Sheeba in a blink-and-miss role. With the cameo, the actor — who starred in many ’90s movies, including the Salman Khan-led Suryavanshi (1992) — returned to films after an eight-year hiatus and followed it up with an appearance in Jigra (2024). Next, the actor will be seen in Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi 4. Sheeba reveals that while she was shooting for the actioner in Film City last week, Khan, who was filming Sikandar in the vicinity, dropped in to meet her.

“Besides Suryavanshi, I had done one more movie with Salman that never released. While we met briefly at events and parties over the years, it was after 23 years that we met properly on the sets of our movies,” says Sheeba fondly. Over the decades, their fantasy horror film, Suryavanshi, has become popular among a section of the audience.

Did they discuss making a sequel to the reincarnation drama? “I don’t think that will happen,” laughs Sheeba. “Every time we talk about the movie, it’s a bit of a joke with Salman. He cracks up about his wig and chest hair. We didn’t talk about Suryavanshi or doing a movie together, but caught up on our lives.”

Khan is known to give good career advice. Though she is starting her second innings at the movies, Sheeba says she didn’t get an opportunity to seek his guidance. “We need to have a longer conversation, which will be an advisory session. We were both in between our shoots, so the catch-up was briefer than we wanted it to be.”

The actor, who tied the knot with filmmaker Akashdeep Sabir in 1996, says she cherished the past two decades as she raised her two sons. “Now, I want to do age-appropriate roles and work with good makers,” she smiles.

Eighteen years ago, Neil Nitin Mukesh debuted as an actor with Johnny Gaddaar. Ask him about the challenges he faced in getting a foot in the door, and he says, “It is ironic that you ask about my struggle from eighteen years ago because the struggle still continues. I am still struggling.” Excerpts from a conversation.

Talking about his struggle, Neil confesses, “We tend to glorify our struggles. My grandfather had his struggle, my father had his struggle, and maybe I’ve just inherited that struggle.”

Neil, who recently donned the producer’s hat, is baffled by the social media game. “We are in an era where social media has just taken over. I have been told by producers and filmmakers to up my social media game a little bit because they need actors who have ‘numbers’. When I asked them about the other options they were looking at, I was told that they were people who weren’t even actors. Are you ready to take that risk? You’re demoralizing an actor who’s worked so hard for so many years,” he says.

Neil, who will be seen in the Telugu film MaayaOne, and is also making his digital debut with GOAT, adds, “There is no dearth of actors. Someone or the other is being launched every week, and they are all brilliant. They are all trained. I come from an era where I’ve seen slightly overweight actors also remain superstars for decades. Now, you need to not only have a body, but you should also be able to dance, do backflips and more. Today, the benchmark is Tiger Shroff (in terms of physicality and fitness). So, in that space, how do you survive?”

Neil admits that he has no reservations about calling filmmakers for work. He shares, “I don’t feel shy about going up to someone whether it’s a casting director, producer or an actor who I know personally and ask, ‘Sir, I’m looking for work. Could you help me?’ Everyone gets so busy setting up their work or being in their comfort zone that sometimes they forget you exist or that they might have worked with you in the past. It is important for me to reach out to them and remind them of my existence.”

Eighteen years and over 20 films later, after working with many National Award-winning filmmakers, does Neil think that he has not gotten his due as an actor?

The Saaho actor replies, “Of course, when you still have to pick up a call and relive every moment of yours from 18 years and put it out there to remind someone what work you have done up until now, you feel that you haven’t got your due. Sometimes, when I sit back alone in my room, I pray and think about it. I’m a very emotional human. I do feel that I have not got my due. However, now, with the kind of opportunities that are out there for actors, the way ahead looks promising.”