The De De Pyaar De 2 actor, who is the face of Killer jeans’s new “I Wear India, I Wear Killer” campaign, talks about getting offered a debut by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, reminisces about Sunday lunches with his grandfather, late actor Jagdeep, and ranks his dad Jaaved Jaaferi above Prabhu Deva and Hrithik Roshan as a dancer. Excerpts from a quick but candid chat.
Three words that define you:
Hungry, humble, and driven.
Three essentials you don't step out without?
Phone, wallet, and keys.
Three go-to fitness workouts on a no-gym day?
Running, swimming, and taekwondo.
The best and worst thing about taking up acting as a profession?
Depends if it's purely acting or stardom as well that you're chasing. For me the best is the people recognising you and letting you slide with various things. The worst is also people recognising you and you not being able to just be or do normal things in public.
One Bollywood movie that had the biggest impact on you while growing up.
Welcome. Me and the boys know the film by heart.
Your favourite memory of your grandfather [late actor, Jagdeep]?
Sunday lunches with him at his place. The reason why I loved the lunches was because of the endless life lessons and stories regarding films he shared with me. Whether it was from his own experience or from stories of colleagues.
What according to you was the biggest strength of your grandfather as a comedian and what is your dad’s [actor Jaaved Jaaferi]? Pick your favourite character of each.
My grandfather’s ‘nothing to lose’ attitude, and my father’s is his willingness to make a fool of himself. My favourite character played by my grandfather was Soorma Bhopali. As for my dad, I loved his Vicky Thakral from Meri Jung…but it's a serious role. For comedy, it is Manav from Dhamaal.
Which Jaaved Jaffrey were you the most in awe of while growing up—the actor, the dancer, or as the voice of Takeshi's Castle?
The dancer.
And which one is the most difficult role to follow?
Difficult would be that of an actor as he can do any role.
If you had to pick a moment or an incident that made you decide that you want to take up acting as a career, what would that be?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali offering to launch me.
What was your most expensive luxury purchase in 2025?
Sunglasses.
A gadget you aspire to own in 2026?
A full-fledged editing machine.
Biggest fashion faux pas at an event:
Length of my trousers gone wrong.
If you had to style yourself for a red-carpet event, what would you pick?
A suit.
The most precious possession in your wardrobe and the most expensive:
Precious are my Metallica tour T-shirts. Most expensive are my chrome hearts jeans.
One item you have too many pieces of in your wardrobe?
Denims. I have at least 30-40 denims, some are almost the same colour. For the past few months, Killer has filled my closet.
The most overworn piece of outerwear in your wardrobe?
It was this pair of jeans which tore. Then I stitched them and tried to keep them alive but they gave up on me. So now it's just my black shirts.
One Indian brand you swear by:
Killer, because they have all styles of jeans which I alternate according to occasion.
One 2025 instagram trend you absolutely hated:
That 2025 trend where everyone pretended waking up at 4:59 AM made them a philosopher!
As a dancer, rate the better dancer—Jaaved Jaffrey, Shahid Kapoor, Prabhu Deva, Hrithik Roshan
Number one is Jaaved Jaaferi. Followed by Shahid Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, and Prabhu Deva respectively.
Three things that nobody knows about you:
I overthink more than I show.
I dream bigger than I admit.
I feel everything I little too intensely.
The most useless talent you have
Speed untangling headphones!
The biggest life lesson from a movie quote
“Do, or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda from Star Wars
One new thing you have tried this year:
I've really been focusing on my vocal training specially this year.
Top 3 things on your 2026 to-do list:
Perform a song on stage for a big crowd. Release an EP. And do two films and an OTT show.
