Sooraj Pancholi Says He's Done Relying On Salman Khan For Work: 'I Know My Limits'

News18

14-07-2025

Sooraj Pancholi says he's thankful to Salman Khan for launching him but won't ask him to 'resurrect' his career. 'He's a superstar, and I know my limits,' he says.
Actor Sooraj Pancholi is back on the silver screen with Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath, marking his return to cinema after a four-year hiatus since his last outing in Time to Dance (2021). While many still associate his debut with Salman Khan, who launched him in the 2015 film Hero, Sooraj now wants to chart his own path—without leaning on his mentor's star power.
In a candid interview with ETimes, Sooraj acknowledged his bond with Salman but made it clear he doesn't want to keep depending on him for work. 'I'm in touch with Salman sir, but I don't want to disturb him. He's a superstar, and I know my limits. Though he launched me in Hero, I don't expect him to resurrect my career. What he's done for me is more than enough, asking for more would be greedy. I'm very grateful for everything he's done for me," Sooraj said.
His remarks come just months after Salman publicly supported him on Instagram, promoting the release of Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath, which hit theatres on May 23. While appreciative of the gesture, Sooraj is firm in his belief that success must now come from his own merit.
Son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, Sooraj faced turbulent years following his connection to the tragic death of actress Jiah Khan in 2013. Accused of abetment to suicide, Sooraj was acquitted by a special CBI court in 2023 due to lack of evidence. Now, the actor is determined to move forward.
'The worst is over," he said, reflecting on a decade of professional uncertainty. 'I never went to producers for work. The one question they always had was when would the case end? If I were a producer, I might have the same reservations. But that's behind me now. In this industry, patience is key. The ones who are patient make it, the rest don't. I'm patient. After my acquittal, I didn't expect things to change overnight… I am a different person now, inside and out."
For Sooraj Pancholi, the past may have been fraught with setbacks, but the future is something he's finally ready to claim on his own terms.
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