Exclusive - Sooraj Pancholi talks about the difficult phase of his life: 'I never bent to Bollywood, Salman Khan sir did a lot for me'

Sooraj Pancholi will make a comeback in Kesari Veer

Sooraj Pancholi, who is the son of seasoned actor Aditya Pancholi and Zareena Wahab, is making a comeback to the silver screen after a gap of almost four years with Kesari Veer.

In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Sooraj got candid about the difficult time he faced in his life, the jail time after Jiah Khan suicide case and how he navigated through it.

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His life took a 360-degree turn when he was blamed for the tragic death of young actress Jiah Khan in 2013. The court case shadowed him for many years.

Sooraj Pancholi made his debut in Hero (2015), produced by Salman Khan, but his career didn't take off as planned due to the ongoing case at that time.

In 2023, a sessions court acquitted Sooraj Pancholi of all charges, citing lack of evidence and prosecution lapses. And yet, the scars remained—emotional, professional, and reputational.

Today, as he makes his comeback to the screen in Kesari Veer, a historical epic in which he portrays a Maratha warrior, Sooraj spoke not only about the film but also about enduring years of personal turmoil, maintaining silence amidst the chaos, and discovering tranquility according to his own terms.

Sooraj in Kesari Veer

“I never bent to Bollywood,” he says, firmly, as he reflects on the years following the case.

“I didn’t look for support from the industry. I didn’t go asking anyone to speak for me. My family was there. That was my circle,” he said, making it clear that despite his lineage—being the son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab—he fought this battle mostly alone.

He also thanked superstar Salman Khan, who launched him in 2015 and being by his side. Sooraj said he can't thank Salman Khan enough.

For Sooraj, the last few years were less about films and more about survival. “I just had to be strong. When your heart and your mind are clean, you still have hope. That hope kept us going.”

Endless Media Trials 

The legal ordeal, endless media trials, and public judgment could have broken anyone. But Sooraj remained composed—“I didn’t want peace from the outside world; I wanted it inside my head. And that became my fight. I wasn’t chasing fame, I was chasing peace.”

The Jiah Khan case was one of the most high-profile legal battles in recent Bollywood memory. It began in 2013 when Jiah, who had worked in films like Nishabd and Ghajini, was found dead in her Mumbai apartment. Her mother, Rabia Khan, alleged that Sooraj abetted her suicide.

Sooraj with Salman Khan

Sooraj was arrested and spent time in jail. For the next decade, the case lingered. While the industry moved on, Sooraj’s name remained inextricably linked to the tragedy.

“I don’t know whether to blame the lawyers, the media, or the judicial system,” he says, quietly. “All I know is, it was a long fight," he added.

After a nearly four-year hiatus, Sooraj returns with Kesari Veer, a historical action drama directed by Rajesh Ranshinje. He plays a fierce Maratha warrior battling against an invading force, flanked by Suniel Shetty and Vivek Oberoi in pivotal roles.

“It’s my fourth film, and each role I’ve done has been different. But this one—it was a dream role,” he says with a smile.

With his father Aditya Pancholi and mother Zarina Wahab being industry veterans, Sooraj is no stranger to the nepotism debate.

He doesn't deny the privileges of access but offers a nuanced take. “Contacts in the industry only get you your first film. If you’re good, you’ll get work. If you’re not, you won’t. It's that simple,” he says.

This second innings in Bollywood isn’t about box office wars for Sooraj. “There’s no race. I’ve seen top stars who have everything but aren’t happy. I just want peace.”

Sooraj Pancholi may never erase the shadows of the past, but with Kesari Veer, he’s stepping into the light—sword in hand, and heart on sleeve.

Excerpts from the interview: 

Ques: How was it to return to shoot with Kesari Veer after a hiatus of almost 4 years?

Sooraj: I feel like I never left the set. I was living it every day. I was living it every day. Even though I was not working at that point, I was still working on myself. I was still picturising myself on set and I was living it in my head.

Ques: Did you have jitters also at one point of time that after a long time?

Sooraj: Not really, not until Mr. Suniel Shetty spoke on the mic, not until then. I was completely fine until he started speaking.

Ques: How did you adapt for your role in Kesari Veer and how was it? You're playing a warrior in this period drama. So it must have come with some challenges. How did that role resonate with you?

Sooraj: You see anybody, whether it was Salman (Khan) sir, even Vicky Kaushal in Chhaava or Ranveer doing Bajirao Mastani. The biopics came very later in their careers, once they were properly used to everything. And for me, it came suddenly out for my fourth film, you know. So I really had to match up to Mr. Sunil Shetty and Vivekavaraya. And Vivek Oberoi being the villain, everyone knows what a great performer he is. So I said, iss baar toh aar ya paar. I have to do it. I not only worked on the diction. I worked on my acting, my emotions. I spent a lot of time with my director. I wanted him to like me the most on sets. (he laughs)

Kesari Veer Still

Ques: How is this role different from the ones you have done earlier? 

Sooraj: I've done 4 films and in all of them I play different characters. I always wanted to play a warrior. Kesari Veer was my dream role. I wanted to play a warrior someday. And all the films are very different, but this film is something I really put my heart, soul, blood, sweat, everything into it.
Ques: How was your mom Zareena Wahab's reaction to the role?

Sooraj: She hasn't seen the film yet. Every mother thinks that their kid is the best. So I will never ask her. I don't feel I want to get her reaction. Actually, I want to see what the audience has to say because I just want to be appreciated and that's it.

Ques: What kind of prep went into this role?

Sooraj: It was a lot, actually. It was learning how to fight in those costumes. It was learning how to say those dialogues with the pain, the characters, what the actual characters were feeling at that time to understand the period of what you're shooting in.

Ques: If we talk about your tough phase in your life, how did you and your family navigate during that time?

Sooraj: We just had to be strong. And till your heart and your mind is clean, I think, until there's no sort of guilt in any human. So that hope is always there. The hope only kept us going. And my parents, whenever I was even low, they said, because God is watching. They said, you know, things will get better. I just went with what they had to say.

Ques: During that difficult period, were you still working for you?

Sooraj: I was working on myself. We do have some other businesses, which I was helping with. At that time, actually, I wanted to finish my legal difficulties in my life. I was really focused on that because that was my main thing. The biggest thing in life is not money, it's not fame, it's not nothing. It's peace. It's a peaceful mindset. So that is what I wanted. So I was really fighting for that.

Ques: And looking back at that period of your life, did you get support from Bollywood or any individual? And did anybody actually without even asking for you?

Sooraj: I never looked for support from Bollywood. My family was there for me. So I didn't ever bend down to anyone in the industry. Of course, my first film was after my life turned upside down. Of course, all the credit goes to Salman Khan sir who supported me. He's done too much for me. I can't ask for more.

Ques: Was there any point in time you felt that somebody you thought would support but wasnt there?

Sooraj: It was purely my family and myself. 50% family, 50% me battling my own mind. Bollywood never misunderstood me. Producers never misunderstood me. Everyone knew the truth. And everyone knew this is the outcome. If I was somebody who didn't come from a film family, this would have been over a long time. I don't know whether to blame the lawyers, whether to blame the media, whether to blame the judicial system. But I had to deal with it. So the producers never thought I was wrong, but it's the perception that the media creates. Or rather, may I be producer or not? I don't know, there are other actors, let's focus on them. So I don't blame them. And I'm very aware that even though Salman Khan has launched me I am not going to get many films served in a platter. I always knew that I will have to battle myself.

Ques: Your thoughts on nepotism? Do you feel the pressure of being a star kid and that they get advantages?

Sooraj: I think your contacts in the industry will only last till your first film. If you're good, you'll get work. If you're not good, you will not get work. And also, I see a lot of people talking about nepotism. This particular studio only takes star kids, or he's only favoring these people. But how can you tell the owner of a production house to cast somebody when it is his company, his money, his hard work - he will decide whom to cast or not. So it's very debatable. But at the same time, if you see, there are as many people from outside film families who are in the industry, then people from the film families who are in the industry.

Because if you perform, you get a fair chance. The biggest example is Karthik Aaryan. He's one of the biggest stars we have now. So outside or inside, I don't think there's much to this. If you perform, you'll get work. If you don't perform, you'll get kicked out.

Ques: Your parents have been public figures for years and what kind of strength did they offer?

Sooraj: Earlier, the nepotism word was not there. We used to have passion for movies. It was not really about nepotism. My parents still today are not as filmy as the other parents are. We don't talk about films at home. We don't have awards at home. To be honest, we want our house to be a very homely kind of environment. They only support it as to two parents, that's it. We keep our work and we keep everything separate.

Ques: How did your parents support you in your difficult time of your life?

Sooeaj: I took care of myself. I would want to give that 100% credit to myself. Waking up on time, taking care of myself on time. Not getting into bad habits. Keeping a very positive mindset was all my hard work.

Ques: One word to define your second innings in Bollywood

Sooraj: I am grateful for everything God has given me. And I'm happy with where I am. There's no rush, no race with anybody. For me, I've seen the top stars who have everything, who are not happy. I just want peace.

Ques: On Salman Khan launching in Bollywood

Sooraj: I think I was very young when I did my first film. I don't think I should have made my debut then. To be a superstar at today's day and age is very difficult. There's a lot these people have really struggled a lot to be where they are. And if I expect myself, to to become Shah Rukh Khan after my first film then it's not possible.

Ques: What do you think is different this time when you are returning to the silver screen? Do you also see competition from OTT?

Sooraj: The industry has changed. There is OTT now and it has a good and a bad side to it. Good side is that many people are getting work and hired as actors. The bad side of it is that not many people are going to theatres and think that the movie will eventually land on OTT, which is not good for the industry. So that is one that I don't know how they will fix it. I don't know.

Ques: Do you feel that over-promotion at times also kills the movie? Do you believe that?

Sooraj: I don't know. But now promotion is important because it is the times of Reels now. You don't even remember. Do you remember which is the last Reel you saw? You will not even remember because while you are in the rickshaw, while you are in the car, in the plane you are only watching Reel. So forget who you have seen the last time. So I think just to be out there and keep showing the film. I think it's important now. I guess it's the part of the business.

Ques: Did your father Aditya Pancholi have any special reaction to anything that you had?

Sooraj: He just wants to watch the film. Both my parents just want to watch the film.

Ques: How do you feel with Sooraj 2.0 ?

Sooraj: I just want to be humble towards my work. That's it. Like I said, there's no race. I just want to do good work.
Ques: Are you open to OTT and what is your dream role?

Sooraj: Yes, if a good part is offered then I would want to do OTT. I want to pursue it. I would love to do a sports film one day. I would love to play an Indian gold medalist or an Indian unsung hero from the sports.Ques: Any of your father or your mother's movie that you feel fits you if it's remade in this generation?

Sooraj: I think one of my dad's films may be Aatish. It was a film about brotherhood. And my mom's... I mean, she did nice, very sweet films. She's done Chitchor, Gharonda to name a few. Maybe one of them.

Kesari Veer also starring Suniel Shetty and Vivek Oberoi will hit theatres on May 23.

Watch full video interview here: