Latest news with #SoorajPancholi
NDTV
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Sooraj Pancholi Says He Doesn't Expect Salman Khan To "Resurrect" His Career: "I Know My Limits"
Actor Sooraj Pancholi recently returned to the big screen with Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath, four years after the 2021 dance drama Time to Dance. In a new interview, Sooraj Pancholi said he can't keep on running towards Bollywood superstar Salman Khan whenever he needs work. Salman Khan launched the actor in his 2015 production Hero along with Suniel Shetty's daughter Athiya Shetty. What's Happening Actor Sooraj Pancholi told Etimes that he is in touch with his mentor and first producer Salman Khan, but he doesn't expect him to get him more films in future. "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," he said. The actor's remarks come months after Salman Khan gave him a shout-out on Instagram, promoting his new film release Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath, which released in theatres on May 23. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) Sooraj Pancholi, who is the son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, was accused for abetting the suicide of his then girlfriend Jiah Khan back in 2013. A special CBI court in Mumbai acquitted him in 2023 citing paucity of evidence. In the same interview, the actor said "the worst is over" and he was looking forward to a good future. "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," he added. In A Nutshell Sooraj Pancholi says while he is in contact with Salman Khan, who gave him his first break in the movies with 2015's Hero, he doesn't depend on the Bollywood superstar to keep getting him more work.
News18
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sooraj Pancholi Says He's Done Relying On Salman Khan For Work: 'I Know My Limits'
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. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sooraj Pancholi on his comeback! Says I don't expect Salman Khan to resurrect my career
Sooraj Pancholi In April 2023, Sooraj Pancholi was acquitted of abetment charges in the Jiah Khan suicide case. Two years after that, Sooraj, who says he is a 'different person today,' saw the release of his fourth film, Kesari Veer. Having endured a decade of uncertainty, the actor who was launched by Salman Khan with Hero (2015), talks about how he is ready for new challenges in his career. 'My fourth film felt like my first real film' Sooraj says, 'Within two to three months of my acquittal, I got Kesari Veer. It was quite surprising because after the verdict, I went to the Somnath Temple to seek blessings. Once I got back, I bagged the film, which is based on the temple. I was under a lot of pressure during my first, second and third film due to the legal case. So, my fourth film felt like my first real film.' 'Now, I am a different person inside out' In his decade-long Bollywood journey, Sooraj acted in only four films. Reflecting on it, he said, '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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo I know I have to prove myself, and I'm ready for that. Peace is what I longed for because my 20s were a big chaos. If I went through that battle (the case), this battle won't be as difficult. I am a different person now, inside and out. The worst is over, and I only see a good future now.' 'I am seeing my parents get older, and I need to spend time with them' Sooraj also wants to focus on spending time with his family now. 'Apart from my career, I am also focusing on other aspects of my life - my family. I am seeing my parents get older, and I need to spend more time with them. Professionally, I am now able to focus more. I have a blurry vision of the past. It did take me a long time to move on as the case had become a part of my day-to-day life for 10 years,' he said. 'Sooraj on his bond with his mentor Salman Khan' Sooraj continues to share a warm and strong bond with Salman. '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.' On his friendship with his first co-star Athiya Shetty "I've stayed in touch with Athiya, and we often talk about how we should've waited a couple more years before making our debut with Hero. We were both young, and our faces hadn't matured yet. I think 25 is the right age to make your debut."
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sooraj Pancholi says actors' ‘visibility' and ‘perception' can be managed by money: ‘Everybody is doing it'
Sooraj Pancholi , who was last seen sharing screen space with Suniel Shetty , Vivek Oberoi and Akanksha Sharma in the historical drama 'Kesari Veer', has never really managed to stay away from controversies. Over the years, the actor has often found himself in the middle of heated discussions, yet he has largely chosen to stay quiet rather than respond to every accusation or bit of negativity that came his way. 'If it was up to me, I wouldn't have social media' In a chat with Hindustan Times, Sooraj opened up on how social media has changed everything in the world of showbiz. Talking about how he feels when he sees other actors staying away from social platforms, he said, 'If it was up to me, I wouldn't have social media. There are so many actors who do not have social media, and I am so jealous of them.' He then spoke about how money plays a huge role in deciding how people see a star. 'Everything can be managed by the amount you have in your bank, at least your visibility can be, and sometimes even your perception... Everybody is doing it,' he added. Young actors know how to play the game Sooraj also praised the younger lot of actors for being clever with social media and PR. 'They are very smart. I wish I thought like that. People like me can do damage control, but that's about it. As for perception about me, pehle kaam to karoon (first let me do some work),' he shared. 'There is no mystery now' Sooraj went on to talk about how things were different before social media became such a big deal. Back then, there was a certain magic around stars because people didn't know every little detail about their lives. Now, everything is out in the open. 'There are people as hardworking as the superstars. But, social media has made everything so available now. Agar yeh nahi hota, people would have still been superstars. Mystery nahin hai ab (If this wasn't there, people would still be superstars. There is no mystery now). And there is nothing without it,' he said. His latest film 'Kesari Veer' Sooraj was last seen in 'Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath', a 2025 Indian Hindi-language historical action film. 'Kesari Veer' was a grand period drama set against the backdrop of the legendary battle of Somnath. However, despite its big scale and powerful story, it did not fare well at the box office.
News18
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sooraj Pancholi On Losing Films After Jiah Khan Case: 'They Had To Protect Their Investment'
Last Updated: Sooraj Pancholi opens up on his return to films, industry rejections post Jiah Khan case, and why he holds no grudges: "They had to protect their investment." In a small studio tucked away in Mumbai's Andheri, Sooraj Pancholi seems almost too restless for the confined space. He suggests walking and talking—an idea betrayed by the modest dimensions of the room. So instead, the 34-year-old actor settles for a traditional sit-down interview, though the energy in him is hard to contain. It's been just a few days since the release of Kesari Veer, a historical epic that marked Sooraj's long-anticipated return to the big screen. The film may not have set the box office ablaze—it grossed ₹25 crore worldwide against a reported ₹60 crore budget—but Sooraj isn't dwelling on the numbers. 'I get messages from colleagues, directors, and fans who say I've grown since my first film," he says. Then he pauses and adds with quiet candour, 'But I'm still not satisfied. I want to do better work, better films, and work with experienced directors." Kesari Veer, which featured an ensemble cast including Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, and Akanksha Sharma, might not have been a commercial triumph, but for Sooraj, it represents something far more personal: a reset. 'Each film, no matter its fate, builds more confidence in an actor. Even a flop teaches you something. Still a long, long way to go," he reflects. His journey in cinema has been anything but linear. Since his debut in 2015 with Hero, Sooraj has appeared in just four films as a leading man—largely because the past decade saw him caught in a legal storm. In 2013, his then-girlfriend, actor Jiah Khan, died by suicide. Sooraj was arrested and charged with abetment. It wasn't until 2023 that a CBI special court acquitted him, citing lack of evidence. For Sooraj, Kesari Veer isn't just a film. It's a personal milestone. 'This is the first time there is no other load on me," he says, acknowledging that the burden of public scrutiny has finally begun to lift. And yet, even after two years of acquittal and over a decade since the tragedy, the questions persist. '2025 is the last time I'm talking about this," he states firmly. 'It's done. Everyone has seen and read all about it." Does he feel bitter about how the industry reacted? 'Many filmmakers backed out of films I was cast in," he admits. 'But I understood. Paise unhi ke lag rahe hain, boss (They're the ones investing money). I wasn't producing those films. They had to do what they thought was right. Everything has its own time." But there's no trace of self-pity. If anything, Sooraj sees the uphill climb as a badge of honour. 'I like it this way," he says with a shrug. 'I prefer having everything the hard way. Fire will always test gold." Now, with Kesari Veer behind him, he's looking ahead with optimism—and clarity. 'In the end, I'm only as good as my directors," he muses. It's no surprise then that his wishlist includes names like Kabir Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, both of whom he assisted before stepping into the limelight. 'It would be full circle," he smiles. 'And once that happens, I hope we can sit on these very chairs again and talk about that phase of my life." First Published:
